Last evening, as the winter solstice was preparing to turn the season, I enjoyed an online celebration of Sufi poet Rumi's reflections on the theme of our unity. Our time together was sponsored by the Dances of Universal Peace movement (see links at the end for information about them)...So, as we listened to the readings, we were encouraged to get up and allow our bodies to add movement to the poet's mystical imagery.
At selected times, we were also given opportunities to share a favorite Rumi poem or a poem or reading we had selected in advance. My "Turn, Turn, Turn" offering in below.
The next Zoom presentation will also coincide with a solstice event:
Friday March 21 7-8:30 PM
To get notified about these events:
Feel free to contact Mariam (brodger55@yahoo.com), Dahlia (dahlia@dragonfly-moon.com) or Uwais (abrnd2@aol.com) with any questions.
Visit our website for past readings, poetry and links to events of interest:
We are one song...
These thoughts helped us prepare our hearts for our evening together:
Beloved Friends,
Please join us on Friday, December 20, 2024 at 7:00 PM for a sacred celebration of the season and in praise and celebration of the Sufi master and poet, Mevlana Jelaluddin Rumi. Join hearts, hands and voices in poetry, song and prayer to honor the light and love within and with us all.
Our gathering will intertwine Dances of Universal Peace with the poetry of Rumi and reflections on this sacred season. We'll have an introduction to the practice of dervish "turning" with time and space for your own sacred turning with our semazens.
Help us create a deep, immersive experience into the ecstatic unified awareness of Love, Harmony and Beauty that Rumi offered us through his poetry. Our sharing time will be dedicated to the poetry of Rumi. If you wish, please bring a short Rumi poem (or other love poem) to offer into the circle.
We hope you'll join us for this special celebration of Love and the return of the Light.
Look Within...
In our opening moments, someone read their abbreviated version of a Rumi poem about looking for G-d...This is what I remember:
"I walked into a temple looking for G-d and he wasn't there...
I walked into a church looking for G-d and she wasn't there...
I walked into a mosque looking for G-d and they weren't there...
Finally, I looked into my own heart and there I saw Him; He was nowhere else.”
Why we turn...To know and experience at the same time...
Here's a 3-minute video introduction to the Rumi-inspired Whirling Dervish movement:
"Turn! Turn! Turn!"
"To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones
A time to gather stones together
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace
A time to refrain from embracing
To everything - turn, turn, turn
There is a season - turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it's not too late!"
The Tambourine...
The spiritual meaning of the tambourine is often associated with its role as a rhythmic and celebratory instrument in various cultural and religious traditions. It symbolizes joy, unity, and the power of music to connect individuals to the divine. The tambourine’s vibrant sound and its use in rituals and ceremonies are seen as a means of invoking spiritual ecstasy, facilitating communal worship, and inviting the presence of higher energies or deities. Additionally, its circular shape and jingling bells can represent the cyclical nature of life and the harmony that can be achieved through collective expression, making it a symbol of spiritual connection and celebration. (Source link below)
Sufi Whirling and Ecstasy
In Sufi Islam, the Sema ceremony involves the mesmerizing practice of whirling, accompanied by the rhythmic sound of the tambourine. The whirling dervishes use the tambourine’s beat to enter a state of ecstasy and divine communion. The spinning motion and the music together create an experience of transcendence, where the boundaries of the self dissolve, and the individual becomes one with the divine. (Source link below)
Life is a Circle Game...
"And the seasons they go round and round..."
The evening's concluding song...
We were sent out into our worlds with the mission of being peacemakers. Our guitarist combined the words of the "Shalom Shalom Shanti" mantra with the music of "Silent Night." I was not able to find an online version. But I did find this one:
As I was taking in the music of "Silent Night", this Simon and Garfunkel song started playing. The background radio news track reminds us why we need to be peacemakers...
For more on the Dances of Universal Peace...
#music #dance #peace #Sufi #DancesOfUniversalPeace #TheByrds #BobDylan #Rumi #tambourine #JoniMitchell #PS22Chorus #circle #SimonAndGarfunkel #AnanthMenon #VedanthBharadwaj
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