Whirling Dervish Turning

Experience inner stillness in movement

©EmmaBrownPhotography

Many people are drawn to approach inner stillness through physical movement and music.

A Sufi way to come to inner stillness through movement is offered through the 'Whirling Dervish Turning' tradition. Some of our members love this traditional method, taught and practised with others.

We regularly hold a remarkable ceremony (Mukabele, meaning ‘coming face to face’) that follows an original form originating in Turkey within the Mevlevi order of Dervishes founded by Jallaluddin Rumi in the thirteenth century.

Visitors are welcome to watch this turning ceremony, held on a Friday evening usually once a month.

Although the Dervish turning comes from a Sufi environment, it is available to anyone regardless of religion or background.

"You must be like a compass with one foot fixed in the centre of your faith or religion - the other makes a circle of the whole world taking and learning from the best of everything and every other faith."
Resuhi Baykara

Newcomers can learn how to 'turn' in class groups that are held from time to time.