THE SEMA RITUAL

Sema or whirling is part of the inspiration of Mevlana M. Celaleddin-i Rumi, famous mystic thinker and turkish human poet of 13th century. He invite us to unity, to toleration, to God love, the God of all of us and to mankind love whithout discrimination of religions, races and social classes... When we examine Sema from a scientific viewpoint, we witness that contemporary science definitely confirms that the fundamental condition of existence is to revolve. There is no object, no being which does not revolve and the shared similarity among beings is the revolution of the electrons, protons and neutrons in the atoms, which constitute the structure of each of them.

The ceremony we are about to assist is in 7 parts. It begins with praising the Prophet. To praise him, is to praise all the Prophets before him and above all the Creator, who created all of them.

This eulogy is followed by a drum voice symbolizing the Divine order "Kun-Be" of the Creator...

The 3rd part is a reed "song" symbolizing the Creative Divine Breath.

The 4th part is the three Sultan Veled tours, it is a circular rhythmic march, symbolizing a soul to soul salute, hidden behind the forms of dervishes.

The 5 part is the Whirling in 4 Selam's:

1st Selam is the concept to realization about one's self as a creature and the existence of GOD as a CREATOR.

2nd Selam is looking around to the creation...Admiring and feeling the bewilderment.

3rd Selam, love coming out of "bewilderment, beatitude ".

In this 3rd Selam, the reason, the intelligence is getting dissolved in the Divine Love. This degree of ecstasy is called "Nirvana" the highest degree in Boudhizm.  In Islam it is called"Fenafillah? But the highest degree in Islam, as a creature, is to be the servant of GOD, so at the end of every Selam the Whirling Dervish stop and representing the number "One" testimony by his appearance to the Unity of GOD.

The 4th Selam symbolise the rebirth. During this last Selam, the Dervish in conception of his reason of being and his duty in this world, surrender to the Divine order with his thoughts, his feelings and his love joining the Creation all over again with Wisdom. The Dervish with his right hand opened as in a prayer in order to receive teh gifts of GOD, left hand turned to the earth gives whatever he receives. He turn from right to left, around the heart, embracing all Humanity with love whithout discrimination of races, believes and social classes.

At the six part the Sema, verses from the Coran is readen, specially: "Wherever you turn say this is the face of GOD...."

At the last part, the ceremony takes end with a prayer for the peace of the souls of all Prophets and   believers.