A “Moveable Feast” #2
AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday June 22nd, 2025 2-4 PM
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3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC - 2 Blocks from Cleveland Park Redline Metro Station in Library’s “Lower-Level Meeting Room”
On June 22nd a beautiful gathering of Peace, Rumi Poetry Readings [in English and Farsi] and Sufi Circle Dances. Our Friend Aliya Ecstatically whirled for us demonstrating the grace & exquisite beauty of the traditional Konya Sema Dance. In a time of war, a shelter of Peace & Kind-hearted Friendship: We had guests from Iran, Turkey, Morocco, Afghanistan, Mainland China as well as people of Western origin. We are hoping to make this a recurring event on the 3rd Sunday of every month held at the Cleveland Park D.C. Library. The Library staff was warm and helpful. We hope Our Budding Rosebush is a "Community" in the making!
AN INTERFAITH “SEMA” AT THE TENLEY-FRIENDSHIP LIBRARY
Sunday May, 4th 2025, from 2-4 PM
4450 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC - across from Tenleytown Redline Metro Station
🌹A Rose by any other Name! On Sunday, May 4th we gathered at the Tenleytown Library for the first of what we hope will be many blossomings of our "Rosebush". Thirty-two people of numerous faith and meditative traditions gathered to experience our Sema - a recitation of Rumi’s Sufi poetry. Our Persian friend Giti read in the original Farsi language which was then translated into English. Participants also had the opportunity to share short pieces of Rumi’s Mystical poetry. A wonderful Sufi friend [Aliya] shared an exquisite meditative demonstration of “whirling” - an aspect of the Mevlevi Sufi order’s sacred rite. Friend Peter similarly animated the room with his soulful and humorous renditions of Hafiz’s poetry. Zamin shared an “Intro 101” to Sufism & Rumi, and taught some sacred forms of Sufi Dance [Zikr] and chants drawn partially from the “Dances of Universal Peace” * Time was adequate to close prayerfully and to joyously greet one another!
🌸What are the “Dances of Universal Peace”? The “Dances” are a spiritual practice generally done in large group circles. Their intention is meditative - to joyfully elevate our consciousness and to promote peace between people of diverse religions. The DUP form originated via Murshid S.A.M. Lewis who was a beloved Sufi Disciple of Hazrat Inayat Khan. These joyous and devotional "Dances" combine Sacred Chants from the many world faith traditions with easily learned circle dance movements, some whirling. The "Dances" invite and evoke a group harmonization through breath, movement and chant - they can be accompanied with musical instrumentation - and can also be woven with Sacred Story & Poetry [in a form called a “Sema”.]
On Sunday June 2nd 2024 Rev. Rebekah Savage welcomed three IFC faith representatives for a "Human Library" panel event: Hillary Chapman representing the Baha'i faith, Rev. Jay Moses a Presbyterian Minister, and Matthew Regan a Buddhist Dharma Teacher. Zamin Danty was privileged to serve as facilitator.