Whirling Dervishes!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

Dec. 17th is the Urs (Saint's Day) of Jelaladin Rumi, the famous Sufi poet and mystic. His order, the Mevlevis, do a ceremony where they turn in ecstacy (where the term "whirling dervishes" comes from). The ceremony is greatly moving to watch, and will be performed in this country. For more information about this, check out the Mevlevi Order of America site at http://www.hayatidede.org

Here's a translation of one of Rumi's poems(as best I can remember):

The Reed

Harken to the reed forlorn
Weeping ever since 'twas torn
From its rushy bed of flame
Of compassion's joy and pain
The secret of my song so near
None can see and none can hear
Oh, for a friend who knows the sign
Who'll mingle all their soul with mine!
'Tis the wine of Love that fires me,
'Tis the fire of Love inspires me
Do you know how lovers bleed?
Harken, harken to the reed.

[flamingyouth]

1. Ah, I love Rumi

And I've always loved the tales of the dervishes as well. In fact, I have a book of them - I believe it's compiled and translated by Idries Shah. Now I have to go find it!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. Idris Shah

wrote several books on the Sufis, all great!