A walking or cycling route lives on through maintenance and travelers who share their findings with us. Especially in this time, when fewer pilgrims are on the road. The stories Marian brings are, as he puts it himself, not facts but stories. Marian has endured saddle pain and in a private conversation he told us: “I feel like floating, you must know the feeling of floating in Konya". We still have to wait for his story. When he gets back home to Istanbul we love to know and share more...  

Through writing and translating, by painting and crafting, and by hosting pilgrimages and online classes, Aslınur desires to contribute to the revival of Anatolian wisdom culture. Anatolia literally means 'full of mothers.' In ancient times, this geography hosted societies in which a matriarchal culture flourished. Anatolia is a cradle of civilizations and religions, a place of cultural cross-pollinization. However, this wisdom has been largely forgotten. But the potential of Anatolian culture is still alive. Turkey needs to remember its Anatolian heritage right now, especially its feminine aspects. 
In college, she received training in English and Turkish Literature. This helped her connect West and East through the power of words. She received her MA degree at the Islamic theology department to immerse herself into Anatolian Sufi literature. This made her discover another passion: Translating texts of Anatolian Sufism from the past into languages of today, such as modern Turkish and English. For her, this is a sacred work towards collective healing and peace.

She transcribed a 17th century commentary on Rumi’s Masnavi into modern Turkish. She focused on the first 18 verses, known as the story of the reed flute. It's a perfect story for our times. It tells of separation, of loneliness, of complaining, of longing for love and community, and of attaining unity in the end. This first book of hers which has been recently published carries the title 'The Shining Gems of the Masnavi.
Right now she is working on her second book 'Returning Home.' It will be a guidebook for modern readers to journey from separation to unity in their personal lives with the help of practical exercises from the Sufi tradition. Besides her book projects, she has been producing podcasts and essays in which she reflects on the Sacred in Anatolian Sufism. A series of online classes on Sufi culture and literature is on its way starting in 2021.
For years she has been facilitating circles - Awakin Circles, women circles and online learning journeys. She has guided women through dream work. She is deeply inspired by Mother Fatima, the daughter of Prophet Mohammad, as a source of the divine feminine. She has received the inspiration to create a brand named 'Dowry of Fatima.' Her vision is to design objects for rituals, rites of passage and celebrations based on divine feminine principles.
If you would like to check and support her work, you can visit her Patreon page 

We started pedaling from Yalova. We are now in Eskişehir. Our goal is to go from sufi road to Afyon .... or Konya Aksehire and move from there to Isparta Eğirdir. We would like to thank mr. Ahmet (Yalova), Mr. Hakan (Bilecik), Mr. Ayhan (Sogut) who cared about us on the road and shared their Sufi Trail knowledge... More cyclists on the Sufi Trail who found a great campspot! Right next to Seyit Battal Gazi, under the stars in Seyitgazi.