Whirling dervishes, the Sema ceremony (sacred dance)

The dervish’s journey is a quest for love and devotion. He’s a servant of time. At the Sema ceremony, which is a form of prayer, whirling dervishes live a profoundly intimate experience. Suspended between heaven and earth, they embrace the Lord and turn with Him in a world of light and silence. With one hand they receive, with the other they give. During this ritual, they let go of all thoughts and immerse themselves, body and soul, in the eternal present. To accomplish this whirling dance, a dervish must both concentrate and let go. The revolving movement purifies and transforms the atmosphere. What a wonderful gift it is to share this instant of light and peace, to be connected to the divine!