A Dervish Moving Moment

Summary

This webpage presents a poetic description of a Sufi whirling dervish dance, along with personal experiences and videos for further understanding.

Abstract

The webpage titled "A Dervish Moving Moment" explores the beauty and spiritual significance of the Sufi whirling dervish dance through a descriptive poem and personal reflections. The author, who once practiced belly dancing, shares their enthusiasm for dancing and the profound happiness it brings. The poem describes a scene of dancers moving to a mix of Latin, Turkish, Persian, and jazz rhythms, with smiles, sweat, and fluid movements. The author then explains the concept of whirling, an integral part of Sufism, and introduces the "Dervishes," who perform the mesmerizing whirling ceremony. The page includes links to videos of the whirling dervish dance and emphasizes the spiritual significance of the practice, where the left hand faces down to discharge negativity to the earth, and the right hand faces up to receive positive energy from heaven. The author encourages readers to experience the thrilling and meditative effects of the Sufi whirling dervish dance.

Bullet points

The webpage features a poem about a group of dancers moving to a mix of Latin, Turkish, Persian, and jazz rhythms.
The author shares their personal experience with belly dancing and the profound happiness it brings.
The concept of whirling in Sufism is introduced, with a focus on the "Dervishes" who perform the whirling ceremony.
Links to videos of the whirling dervish dance are provided for further understanding.
The spiritual significance of the dance is emphasized, with the left hand facing down to discharge negativity and the right hand facing up to receive positive energy.
The author encourages readers to experience the thrilling and meditative effects of the Sufi whirling dervish dance.

Poetry in motion; motion in poetry

Under a soy ceiling we dance the workshop cat feigns nonchalance we are molten chocolate in liquid bubbling motion

Latin Turkish Persian jazz percolates in old-time coffee pot rhythms rain pelts the roof quick staccato beats rush to escape the stalking sunshine

smiles and sweatiness stretched sinews in smoothness and fluidity furs and silks they decorate the warm and safe tranquility of our sequined Sufi state

If you would like to hear this poem read aloud, please click the link below!

In one of my former lives, I was a belly dancer—not a very good one, but certainly enthusiastic. Dancing makes me smile down deep in my interior and fills my whole body with wild energy and sublime happiness. A major part of my practice was whirling, which is an integral part of Sufism, an order of Islam founded by followers of Rumi.

Sufi practitioners of whirling are called “Dervishes,” and the show they put on is thrilling, beautiful, and utterly mesmerizing. Don’t miss this if you have an opportunity to witness it.

If you’ve never seen a whirling ceremony, I encourage you to watch this video. Sink into the rhythms. Notice that the left hand of the whirler faces palm down, the right hand palm up—up to receive positive energy from heaven, down to discharge negativity to the earth.

I cannot watch a performance, nor perform it myself, without experiencing a thrilling chill and icy shiver race up my spine comparable to the best orgasm I ever had. And I’m not kidding.

For the full meditative Sufi Dervish experience, settle down in a quiet place and wallow in this most gorgeous and compelling of all religious rituals: Sufi Whirling Dervish.

And remember, do not try this at home! It’s not as easy as it may appear!

Thanks for reading! :D