The Turkish Dervishes

They processed in slowly to the haunting music of Ney, Sas, and Drum. Like a funeral dirge, the Dervishes move solomly, wearing the tombstone Sika and the black funeral shroud. After four circuits around the Teka, the Dirvishes bowed deeply, then, dropped their black shrouds to reaveal a white robe which flared out as they began to turn.

Soon, they were whirling as they circled the Old Man who stood robbed in white at the center of their circle. Like planets circling the Central Sun, they turned like tops, floating slowly around the Sun. The audience of the faithful and tourists watched in rapt attention.

Four times, the music stopped, then, restarted. Four times, the Semezans turned in ecstasy. It was the annivery of Rumi’s wedding day, his Urs, when he was reunited with The Beloved. Rumi, the great Persian poet who gave us such lines as:

”Come, come, whoever you are, even though you’ve broken your vows a thousand times, Come, come again.”

And

”There is a field beyond right and wrong. Meet me there.”

🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌🕌

☪️☪️. ☪️☪️. ☪️☪️☪️. ☪️☪️☪️. ☪️☪️☪️. ☪️☪️. ☪️☪️

This sacred ceremony traces its roots to the life and times of Jalaluddin Rumi, a Persian mystic of the thirteenth century. Rumi’s life was changed permanently when he encountered a wandering Dervish named Shamsuddin. This mystic cracked open Rumi’s heart.

The sacred ceremony we observe today comes directly from this loving communion of these two Sufi mystic teachers.

if you are considering a visit to Turkey, you will want to schedule time at Konya, the center of Rumi’s legacy.