Absolute Serenity Within Movement: Sema is Not a Dance, but a Cosmic Remembrance of God

A pair of eyes watching Sema sees at first glance only an aesthetic transformation, a captivating harmony. They observe the dance of the white robes in the wind, the mystical atmosphere mingling with the sound of the ney (flute). Yet, this visible movement is the outward expression of an unseen, immense stillness, a profound contemplation.

Sema is not a folklore performance or a stage art. It is one of the most "challenging" forms of worship, where the worshipper confronts their own truth, their nothingness, and the universe. Our journey as Asri Sema begins precisely at this point: to aspire to the unseen behind the visible, that is, to the "secret."

"What is in the smallest particle is also in the universe."

The Rhythm of the Universe and "Cycle"

In Mevlevi Sufism, the term "spinning" is rarely used; instead , "Sema" is used. This is because this movement is not a physical dizziness, but rather a participation in the fundamental law of existence, from atoms to galaxies.

As modern science shows us today through microscopes and telescopes, everything that exists is in motion. From electrons orbiting protons to planets revolving around the sun, the universe is in a silent and continuous "cycle." Everything rotates, from the circulation of blood in our bodies to life beneath the earth.

When the whirling dervish emerges, he joins this cosmic orchestra. As he spins around his own axis, he is, in fact, sensing the pulse of existence. He is no longer an individual, but an unnamed particle participating in the remembrance of the universe.

The Alphabet of the Body: Becoming the Letter Elif and Opening Up to Nothingness

Every movement of the whirling dervish is like a letter in a spiritual alphabet. When he first appears on the stage, crossing his arms and holding his shoulders represents the letter "Elif." This is a testimony to the oneness of God and an acknowledgment of his own helplessness. But only when his arms open like wings does the union with God begin.

• Right Hand: The palm faces the sky. This means, "I have nothing, everything comes from You, I beg for Your grace." It is the gateway to truth.

• Left Hand: The palm faces the earth. It signifies , "I distribute what I receive from you to the people without appropriating it for myself or claiming ownership of anything."

The whirling dervish here is not a reservoir, but a conduit . Just as light passes through glass, the light of truth passes through the prism of humanity and spreads across the earth.

Silence in the Center: The Eye of the Hurricane

While the whirling dervish appears to display breathtaking speed and dynamism from the outside, absolute serenity reigns within his inner world. Like the eye of a whirlwind, no matter how great the storm raging around them, the center always remains calm.

As the whirling dervish spins, he sees the world as "blurred." Objects, matter, forms, and colors blend together and disappear. This blurriness seen by the eye allows the heart to become clear. As the world fades away, meaning becomes clearer. Mevlana Celaleddin-i Rumi describes this state as "existence in nothingness." As the spinning intensifies, ego, ambition, anger, and worldly worries are swept away. Only pure consciousness remains.

Dying Before You Die

The final posture of the whirling dervish at the end of the Sema ceremony is a symbol of the death of the ego and the resurrection of the soul. The white robe he wears is his shroud, and the cap on his head is his tombstone. In the Sema hall, he has attained the secret of "dying before death."

Therefore, Sema is not just a momentary ritual, but a life practice. It reminds us that amidst the chaos, speed, and noise of life, we can only find balance if we remain steadfast in our own center, in our own truth.