The Wedding Day
Every 17 December, the night of Mevlana's death, thousands of people from all around the world gather at the magnificient 13th century Mevlana Mausoleum to celebrate Seb-i Arus, his 'Wedding Day', his reunion with his Beloved, with the Divine.

During his last hours his wife pleaded with Mevlana to not leave and ask God to let him stay here a little longer. Mevlana's reply was thus:

Am I a thief?
Have I stolen someone's goods?
Is this why you would confine me here and keep me from being rejoined with my Love?

So we see his opinion of death. It is the time of release from this cage of the body; the time when the bird of the soul flies free. But it is thus for the soul which has realized the Divine within and has become purified of all earthly desires. For those on the path of Mevlana, Seb-i Arus is a celebration, like a festival of the beauties being offered every moment to the Lovers of God.

According to Mevlana's teachings, human beings are born twice, once of their mothers and the second time of their own bodies. The real birth is the second, spiritual birth. Mevlevi dervishes, guided by a spiritual leader, are expected to live as members of the Mevlevi Order, according to the principles of his teaching. A long period of spiritual progress is necessary before they can participate in the whirling dance, for which they wear a tall cap symbolizing the tomb of carnality, and a white robe which is its shroud.

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Strong in humbleness, sweet in humour, wondrous in nature and ways of life. This journey tells the story of hospitality and hearts that meet each other, coming from all cultures. Anatolia is a tapestry of cultures with an ever-changing landscape, geographically, socially, and spiritually. Susan Elliott pulling her Dixon Roller pack through this challenging terrain, without speaking Turkish, after a hip operation, camping wild and on a small budget managed to report a momentous six weeks pilgrimage on the Sufi Trail in Turkey. In May 2021, she was diagnosed with cancer for the fourth time, being resilient like a reed meant the Sufi Trail book was coming fast. This is what is in our hands, the story of a walk through life meeting the things our hearts call out for and love to share.

İhla Mur (Linda) & Ahmet Yiğit

When the autumn ends and all the leafs have fallen from the trees, most of the work on the trails ends. Winter is coming and it is time to contemplate.