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Pamela L. Travers, the author of Mary Poppins, was a dedicated, lifelong follower of mystic spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff, deeply integrating his Gurdjieff International Review teachings on self-awareness and consciousness into her life and work, a connection she kept largely private but which informed her spiritual quest, leading her to organize Gurdjieff Society resources and form study groups, viewing him as a significant guide for awakening inner being. 

Key Aspects of Travers’s Connection to Gurdjieff:

• Spiritual Path: Travers was introduced to Gurdjieff’s complex system (often called the “Fourth Way”) by his disciples and found resonance with its methods for achieving higher consciousness and self-understanding, seeing it as a path beyond ordinary “waking sleep”.
• Influence on Her Work: While not overtly stated, Gurdjieff’s ideas about inner work, different “brains,” and the search for meaning likely influenced her writing, even Mary Poppins, suggesting a deeper spiritual quest behind the whimsical tales.
• Role in the Gurdjieff Society: She became a vital member, meticulously organizing the Society’s library, linking Gurdjieff’s work with broader spiritual traditions (Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, etc.), and fostering study groups, says Gurdjieff International Review.
• Secrecy: Travers was intentionally secretive about her personal life, including her deep commitment to Gurdjieff, adding an air of mystery to her connection with the enigmatic teacher.
• Search for Meaning: Her dedication stemmed from a profound desire to explore and understand human being and consciousness, a quest that Gurdjieff’s teachings promised to fulfill, says themarypoppinseffect.com. 

In essence, Gurdjieff provided Travers with a framework for her spiritual journey, impacting her understanding of self and reality, and she, in turn, contributed significantly to preserving and sharing his legacy within his circles. 

(Image from IMDB.com)

Pamela Lyndon Travers (August 9, 1899 – April 23, 1996) was an Australian-British writer who spent most of her career in England. She is best known for the Mary Poppins series of books, which feature the eponymous magical nanny. Wikipedia