Flying Free, the joy of letting go,

and proven to be key

in letting me know

that there is more to see

and more to show

than what is in me.

Just this past week I added a photo and some writing to the book; this photo and writing expresses what it felt like for me to turn. I describe it as Flying Free; able to let go of the fear of what others may think or say about my personal spiritual practice.

This is really what I gained the most of from my touring with the Dervishes, the knowledge that a spiritual practice cannot be boxed in, that your belief in God is a personal belief. That experience, which continues with my deep friendship with many of the Friends, took me beyond what doctrine tried to box me in with and allowed me the freedom to fly free.

Flying free without fear…fear grounds you in a way that is detrimental. Fear’s acronym is False Evidence Appearing Real. When we drop the fear and truly fly free, then we are able to see the possibilities and hear what God is telling us is our next step on the path.

I highly recommend Flying Free.

For those who have returned from the gathering in Washington, I hope you have landed well. Please remember to go to the link below and order your book in this pre-sale push. The final decisions are being made in the actual design of the book (cover color, etc.) and I am still shooting for end of September for release. It would be wonderful if it happened on Rumi’s birthday, which I share!

http://journeywiththewhirlingdervishes.com/?page_id=313

Huuuuu

The women of the Mevlevi Order of America taught me about friendship with women. I remember my first meeting with a very special woman in the beginning of my association with the Dervishes, even before I had taken on the work of photographing them on their tours and during Maui based events. As I walked up the lawn of the community center in Maui where a Zikr was about to start, I saw a beautiful woman, Karima, resplendent in blue turning clothes. She is the one in the center of the photo on the right, becoming almost transparent in her turning. She said something to me that evening that didn’t really register as the real truth of the statement until writing the book.

Barbara, on the left, and Lillian behind her, have both taken a special place in my heart. I know that no matter the day or season, I can call on them for support. West Coast ladies, it isn’t often that I am able to see them.

The ladies of the Order have shared many of the deepest joys and pains of my life. Three and four day workshops, seeing them transform in front of my camera lens, always ended with a feeling of great love and satisfaction, sorry to part but knowing distance was the only thing that separated us.

Maile will remain one of my truest, bestest friends. She and Cynthia were such fun, loving ladies to hang with. I miss seeing Maile’s face as often as we were able to do while living in Maui, and the book is dedicated to Cynthia who shared a special dream with me that fit us both.

There are many preconceptions a person can carry around with them in their baggage of life. Prejudices, fears and damage inflicted in past life situations, set me up to not see the beauty of the human beings who share my gender. If I were to have to choose the thing that I am most thankful for from hanging with the Whirling Dervishes, I would be hard pressed not to say: learning how to be true friends with women, and the women of this order specifically.

Don’t let old junk in your attic keep you from enjoying the many treasures that can be found in friendships with women. Love shared with women friends is the most amazing love. This blog post cannot hold all the women friends I have made through the years. Just a few more mentions before I close: June Ure, Gulum, Khadija, Rebekah, Mariam, Tasmin, Patricia, Jamila….so, so many I cannot even list them all. So don’t think I have forgotten you. Each and every woman that I met and came to love is in my heart. Huuuuu

I will never forget my introduction to the Whirling Dervishes. My first official shoot for them was at a camp on the North Shore of Oahu. I had a new camera and really was struggling with the flash. Within a few hours of my working with this group I realized that flash was not going to work due to the nature of the Turn. Whirlers spinning in a circle cannot be interrupted by a flash; kind of like Weebles Wobble But They Don’t Fall Down–Unless You Use Your Flash!

Photo to the left is my first of many photos taken with Postneshin Jelal Loras. The elaborate scarf do on my head came undone not long after this shot was taken. I could never get that whole scarf thing to work for me. It was good that it was not a requirement that I wear any special head covering as they just never stayed put while I was shooting photos.

My first full retreat on the North Shore was actually not my first introduction to the Turners on a tour. The Winter before I met up with them in Brittenbush, Oregon, for an overnight stay and then back to Portland to visit a friend there. Walking across the grounds that first day in knee high rubber boots (courtesy of my friend who brought me) and a bathing suit in the falling sleet was a definite eye opener to the facilities there at Brittenbush. The hot springs and sauna were fabulous; the weather not so much. The introduction to the Friends was a bit intimidating, and I cried when I left my husband with the group and went back to Portland. I was not sure what he was getting into and the unknown scared me. I remember walking across the grounds that visit with Jelal, talking to him of my fears. His encouragement helped me to let go of my fear and allow what was to happen to happen.

As my years of association grew with the friends of the Mevlevi Order of America, I developed a deep love for them and began to understand what it meant to embrace unconditional love for our fellow humans, even those that hurt us. The message they taught, of love and cleansing of the heart and being a conduit of love from the Divine to the earth below, is no different than the spiritual message of many practices. Jesus said to love thine enemies, and Ghandhi said that “an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind”. I have yet to find a spiritual practice that does not espouse this practice.

This photo also reminds me that we are never aware of where a path you are guided to take will lead you. When you are prompted to do something, listen. Learn to be discerning. There is a scripture that says to “…test everything.” By that I think it means we should practice our connection with God every day so that we can test these promptings against what we know He is teaching us to do.

As the work on the book “My Journey With the Whirling Dervishes of America” comes to a close, I would encourage all to go to this page (http://journeywiththewhirlingdervishes.com/?page_id=313) and pre-order the book due out this Fall. I would dearly love that all those lovely Friends, and friends of friends, get a copy. The joy and love I witnessed is so evident in the photos. You will go on a journey through this book, of not only the turners, but of my own spiritual journey. This journey healed me. I really want to share it with you all. If you still have not given me your waiver, the time period allotted for this effort is quickly coming to a close. The photos are under “Private Viewing” on the bottom menu of the site and the password is knotinthehair. Please be aware that the photos are in CMYK (printer ready) and do not reflect the true colors of the photos.

Huuuu

Wow, it is headed to the printers for the color proof next week. Once that is verified the book will be printed up and within 4-6 weeks from that date will be sitting in my office all lined up in their neat little boxes.

I am offering the book up for pre-sale, in a signed, limited edition with a special treat tucked inside, and a regular print. Go to http://journeywiththewhirlingdervishes.com/?page_id=313 to view this announcement.

The journey is almost complete! And what a ride it was!

Dear Friends,

This week I hope to have the book to a stage where it can be sent to the printer’s for a color proof. Once I get that back I will be able to make any corrections and then off to the printer.

You may or may not know, Jelal has given his blessing on the book. The final thing I need from all of you is to get your waiver, permission to have your photo in the book. I am looking at mid-May to send to the printer so hoping all are in by then. If not, I guess I take my chances. But the fact of the matter is I cannot think of one person who would not give their permission or have an issue with their photo appearing in the book.

As this process comes to an end, I know that it is just the beginning. Soon I will be releasing the information on how to purchase a special signed edition for pre-sale.

Thanks to all who have responded to the waiver request for photo publication. Please ignore this reminder if you have already complied with my request.

Enjoy this beautiful weather; I have a feeling it is going to be a hot summer!

Listening to the radio, driving down the road, I heard this line in a song:

You are the only one who let go a breath
and a stream of galaxies was left behind.

Trees have begun to bloom, and blossoms blow about in the March wind. White flowers from the Bradford Pears, and delicate red ones from the Redbud Trees.

Thinking of the delicacy of the flowers of these trees, the enormity of the galaxies, and all the beauty in between, makes me happy to be a child of God.

Consider the system between this yellow Iris and the tiny little bee, and the grasses that form a soft palette to further enhance the Iris’ beauty. A small example of the beauty He has set in place.

God cares about even the smallest of his creatures; He has a bond with each and every creature in His creation. And here is what the world gives back:

This world is intent upon screaming as loud as it can, a collective voice of dissent, each one trying to get their rights established. You’re wrong, I’m right; I’m right, you’re wrong! Believe my way or leave! Even those of this world that are considered harmless, just ordinary citizens, spend hours complaining and moaning about their plight. Oh Why Oh Why Oh Why they ask? Gossip, hateful talk, disrespect, self-centeredness, mine, mine mine. I heard a description of a speaker coming to our town to lecture, he is conducting “a war on hate.”  Huh? I’m going to hear him speak tomorrow and I am curious about his special weapon for this war on hate!

Screaming, searching, they don’t hear God’s instruction,
telling them the path to take, the way to go,
how to avoid a predicament.

Whispers are heard when you are still and listen;
if you are not still and listen,
you won’t hear the whisper.

Missing the whisper has repercussions,
not all disastrous,
but all unpleasant.

Listen for the whisper, hear it in the stillness,
witness the beauty of God’s creation,
receive healing in your Spirit. 

by Hafez

Love sometimes wants to do us a great favor: hold us upside down and shake all the nonsense out.

 Your love

Should never be offered to the mouth of a stranger,

Only to someone who has the valor and daring

To cut pieces of their soul off with a knife

Then weave them into a blanket

To protect you.

 Stay close to any sounds that make you glad you are alive.

 Ever since happiness heard your name, it has been running through the streets trying to find you.

I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in the darkness, the astonishing light of your own being.

 There are different wells within your heart.

Some fill with each good rain,

Others are far too deep for that

 Fear is the cheapest room in the house. I would like to see you living in better conditions.

 Even after all this time the sun never says to the Earth, “You owe me”

 There is no pleasure without a tincture of bitterness.

I did not know where this poem came from so put out an inquiry. From a person on Dost to Dost: 

This is a compilation of poem fragments, of Daniel Ladinsky, all mixed together. Most of the poems referenced here are in “The Gift”. There are parts of 7 separate poems interwoven here.

Do You Know What the Whirling Is?

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is hearing the voices of the spirits saying “Yes” to God’s question.

“Am I not your Lord?”
It is a deliverance from ego and reunion with the Lord.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is escaping one’s existence, continuously tasting
the everlasting existence in the absolute non-existence.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is making one’s head a ball in front of the Friend’s kicks of love
and running to the Friend without head and feet.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is knowing Jacob’s sorrow and remedy,
it is smelling the smell of the reunion with Joseph from Joseph’s shirt.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is swallowing Pharaoh’s spells just like Moses’ staff every moment.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is the secret from the Prophetic tradition:
“There is a moment for me with God where no archangel or no prophet
can come in between God and me.”
It is reaching that place without any means where no angel can fit.

Do you know what the whirling is?
It is, like Shams-I Tabriz, opening the eyes of the heart
and seeing the sacred lights.

The Sunrise Ruby (translation Coleman Barks)

In the early morning hour,
just before dawn, lover and beloved wake
and take a drink of water.

She asks, “Do you love me or yourself more?
Really, tell the absolute truth.”

He says, “There’s nothing left of me.
I’m like a ruby held up to the sunrise.
Is it still a stone, or a world
made of redness? It has no resistance
to sunlight.”

This is how Hallaj said, “I am God”,
and told the Truth!

The ruby and the sunrise are one.
Be courageous and discipline yourself.

Completely become hearing and ear,
and wear this sun-ruby as an earring.

Work. Keep digging your well. 
Don’t think about getting off work.
Water is there somewhere.

Submit to a daily practice.
Your loyalty to that is a ring on the door.

Keep knocking, and the joy inside
will eventually open a window
and look out to see who’s there. 

Dear Friends,

Over the past few weeks I have had several of the Friends that have photos in the book to send in waivers via email. They are simple documents, just your name stated as it is legally and a short sentence expressing your permission to have your photo(s) published in the book.

Photo left: Rebecca after receiving her Green Eliflâmet. This photo does not appear in the book but is a favorite.

I would ask any who have not completed this little piece of legal beagle action to please take a moment out of your busy lives to do so. The photos are in a private viewing area on this site and require a password to enter. Please email me at eelprod@yahoo.com requesting the password and I will send it asap.

Efendi has been talking to me for years about completing this compilation of photos from my travels with you into a book, and now that it is close I am getting very excited.

My plan is to offer a special edition, signed copy to the first 200 people who buy the book in the pre-sale time period. If you are interested in purchasing one I am offering these for $75. Some have already indicated they wish to purchase one so make sure you let me know if you are interested. The rest of the books will be offered for a lower price, as yet undecided upon.

Thanks to all of you who have already responded.