2026
A SEMA AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY #10
Sunday, February 8th, 2026
A "Universal Worship Servive" celebrating
the "Urs" of Hazrat Inayat Khan
With new friends and old we celebrated the "Urs" of Hazrat Inayat Khan with an Interfaith "Universal Worship Service." This included Sacred Chants, Candle lightings [LED], and Scriptural Readings from the World's great Religious traditions followed by a beautiful period of Sacred Dance ["Dances of Universal Peace."] Rumi once said that to lovingly speak of a Saint was to evoke their Blessing. [The name "Inayat" in Arabic/Urdu means both "Blessing" and "Grace."] Inayat Khan was a famous Indian classical musician who brought the "seed" of Sufism to the West staring in 1910. Before journeying West, Inayat's teacher [Abu Hasim Madani] gave him the blessing: "Go forth, my son, and unite East and West with the harmony of your music, for to this end you are blessed."
"The Dances of Universal Peace are in many profound ways an outcropping and expression of the "Universal Worship Service" which was Hazrat Inayat's inspiration in 1921. For Murshid H.I.K. each religion was like a unique note in the cosmic symphony - spirituality was recognizing this Universal truth - if a single note was missing the melody would be incomplete. While in San Fransico in 1923, Hazrat Inayat initiated the young Sam Lewis into Sufism. In the late 1960s Sam Lewis [a.k.a. "Murshid SAM"] began to teach his own Sufi disciples the inital spiritual walks and dance practices that are now collectively known as the "Dances of Universal Peace."
A SEMA AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY #9
Sunday, January 11th, 2026
The Urs of S.A.M. Lewis
What a joy to celebrate the "Urs" [Wedding Feast] of Murshid Sam Lewis today - a few days early. Sufi Sam, as he was affectionately known, began to teach mantric circle dances ["Dances of Universal Peace"] to his disciples in the late 1960s in San Fransisco. Murshid passed in 1970. We did many of his early dances today - from the Islamic, Christian and Hindu traditions - before settling into some beautiful Rumi, Hafiz and Kabir poetry; and also a touch of Hasidic Jewish story-telling. A very beautiful dialogue emerged about the spiritual needs facing people today.
Some new friends - some old friends - gathered in our "sacred library" space. "Inch by inch and row by row, gonna help this garden grow." The radiant beauty of community and budding friendships.🌹
2025
A SEMA AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday, December 14th, 2025.
Today we celebrated the Rumi "Urs." [The passing of a Saint is seen as "Union" - as a "Wedding Feast."] We recounted the 'exodus' of Rumi fleeing the Mongol hordes as a youth, his visit to Attar in Baghdad, and the origins of the whirling dance. We were very graced with some lovely readings of Rumi's Poetry in the original Farsi [Persian] language from our Persian "Guests." [Thank you!] Sacred Chanting and Dance filled out our program. So much of Sufism is trying to bring the Beauty through Life's adversity. Roses are sometimes grown in the most arid of deserts! The Beauty of Kindness is perhaps its highest expression.
We also touched on the beautiful Universalism present in Hazrat Inayat Khan's Sufism which gestated in the Indian subcontinent - one place where the Sufis first encountered the luminous spiritual traditions of India and the East. It is so gratifying to meet new Friends! We truly aspire to make our Sema a safe communal space for people of all Faiths and Traditions to Spiritually gather and share with one another!🌹
"A MOVEABLE FEAST"
Interfaith Thanksgiving at U.U. Congregation of Rockville, Md.
November 27th 2025
We had a wonderful "Interfaith Thanksgiving Potluck" gathering hosted
by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Rockville on Thursday,
Nov. 27th! We had been welcomed by Rev. Rebekah Savage and our Interfaith feast & festivities concluded with a few "Dances of Universal Peace" [Sufi Dance].. We were so happy to be joined by Hayat & Bari Bain, Dance leaders from Richmond, Virginia. The beauty of this Path can be the Friendships one partakes in along the way. Zamin explained a few aspects of Sufism with a touch of Rumi poetry. We shared three beautiful Dances: An introductory "Allah Dance," A Heartful U.U. Communion Dance [From You I Receive] and a joyous solar "Ram Nam" from the Hindu Tradition.
A SEMA AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday, November 9th, 2025.
Our 7th Sema gathering turned out lovely - we had beautiful Sacred chant & Dance circles. Peggy dropped in from from Oella with a beautiul Dance offering. Aliya also brought her exquistite 'Whirling Dance' from the Mevlevi Sufi tradition to our circle - pure Beauty in motion. A new friend, Judith, taught us a Christian Dance - "Ubi Caritas" - from the Christian Taize tradition. {Meaning: "Where there is Love & Charity there is God."}
Of course dear Peter K. read Hafiz! We had many wonderful Afghanis today! A new friend Esther read a piece of her own poetry and a lovely Muslim woman brought her two small children today - they were so peaceful in our circle. All felt good Spirited - a feeling of Kindness & "Unity" prevaded. We're so very grateful that new people are arriving - and others returning - so we're gradually starting to feel like "Community." Zamin, following the luminous example of Amy-Durga, brought Manderin oranges for Prasad. We're hoping to weave in musicians and poets from other Interfaith traditions in the future.
A SEMA/DIALOGUE GATHERING
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 12th, 2025
This afternoon we experienced a wonderful opportunity to share in both Sema and Dialogue. Our Sema attunement began with a singing the Sufi "Zikr of Love" ["Ishq Allah Ma'bud Lilliah"] which translates from the Arabic as 'God is Love, Lover and Beloved.' We then entered into some background on Rumi's journey & some of the foundations of Sufism. Continuing on the theme of Love, Jamila shared a beautiful reading "On Love" from Khalil Gibran's "The Prophet" - followed by sweet Winecups of Hafiz, Ibn Arabi, Rumi and Kabir. [Ibn Arabi's poem "O Wonder" is below...] We've now started a tradition of taking our last 1/2 hour for: Community-building, stories of peoples "Spiritual Journeys" and Soulful Dialogue. Our dear Amy-Durga brought us some jujube fruits to share as an after-Sema prasad!
- 🌹 “O WONDER”
O wonder - a Garden among the flames!
My heart can take on any form:
A meadow for gazelles, A cloister for monks,
For the idols Sacred ground;
a Ka'ba for the circling pilgrim;
The Tables of the Torah; the Scrolls of the Quran…
My creed is Love!
Wherever its caravan turns along the way,
That is my belief, My faith…
A DIALOGUE AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday Sept. 14th, 2025
An afternoon of intercultural and spiritual dialogue. An opportunity to know one another's life journeys and cultures. We ended in a beautiful reading of Rumi, a silent meditation and finally a beautiful chanting of Zikr with Aliya's exquisite Whirling Ecstasy. [As one of my teachers said, "Whirl, whirl, till you become a Pearl."]
THE 2025 UNITY WALK
Sun. Sept. 7th, 2025
SUFI DANCE WORKSHOP @ COMMUNITY OF CHRIST CHURCH
In our workshop portion we first offered a brief introduction to Sufism and the mysticism of sound; and then shared in an introductory “Allah Er-rachman Er-rachim Dance.” Peggy from the Dance Circle in Ellicott City then offered a syncopated heart-opening Christian Spiritual dance. We ended with a festive Hindu Ramnam Dance - offering a sense of solar celebration and radiance…
U.W. CLOSING CEREMONY @ ISLAMIC CENTER OF WASHINGTON
We were later blessed to be part of the Unity Walk’s closing ceremony at the Islamic Center of Washington where we joyfully shared the introductory “Allah Dance” on the portico of the Mosque. Peter K. offered an exquisite rendering of Hafiz to close. Many thanks to the Interfaith Council of Washington and the many participating Houses of Worship for continuing the wonderful tradition of the 9/11 Unity Walk!
Interfaith Sema #4
AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday August 17th 2025 2-4 PM
.
On August 17th we met for our 4th Interfaith Sema. We had a decided Interfaith focus with numerous attendees from multiple faith traditions: Christian, Yogic, Buddhist, Jewish & Sufi heritages. All who came participated in reading short poems from Hafiz, Kabir and Rumi. We also enjoyed a few of Rumi's lengthier teaching stories. Our dear friend Giti read Rumi in the original Farsi! The Sacred Chanting [Zikr] and Dances were Beautiful. After the Sema we spent a ½ hour in our circle personally sharing and learning about one another. Our lovely Durga gave us all small gifts of Prasad to take home. We are so very grateful for the beautiful meeting space at Cleveland Park.
Sema #3
AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday July, 20th 2025 2-4 PM
.
3310 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC - 2 Blocks from Cleveland Park Redline Metro Station in Library’s “Lower-Level Meeting Room”
On July 20th we met for a third time - sharing in Beauty and meeting new friends! Our Persian Friend Giti read in Farsi [translated into English] and helped us to delve into the Universality of Rumi and our traditions. Our Friend Aliya ecstatically whirled for us, demonstrating the grace & exquisite beauty of the traditional Konya Dance. She also taught a very subtle and beautiful circle dance. Music & beautiful sacred chanting filled the air! We will now be meeting monthly at the Cleveland Park D.C. Library. We hope Our Budding Rosebush is a "Community" in the making!
A “Moveable Feast” #2
AT THE CLEVELAND PARK LIBRARY
Sunday June 22nd, 2025 2-4 PM
.
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 will now be meeting monthly 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!
A “Moveable Feast” #1
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”.]
2024
"AN IFC ASK ME ANYTHING? FAITH-BASED HUMAN LIBRARY"
ROCKVILLE UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH
JUNE 2nd, 2024
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.
We certainly are living through tumultuous and fragmenting times and our gathering presented a rich opportunity to interact with three differing faith traditions. Before opening to questions and interactions with the U.U. Community, sequentially each representative had time to reflect on their religious traditions & practices, and their own spiritual journeys. We finished with a large group discussion - an opportunity to reflect on what we had discovered through our interactions.
As a large group we eventually began to explore how we might better relate to the cultural and religious diversity in the communities in which we find ourselves. Collectively we came to a coherent place of recognizing our mutual need for "Transcendence" in what Rev. Jay described as a "post-denominational age." We deeply thank Rev. Rebekah and the U.U. Community for warmly hosting us!
