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The Dervish At the Center of Your Whirl
Part One: What Sets You Spinning?
Part One: What Sets You Spinning?
While some might be hesitant to call our preoccupation with hoopdance an obsession, only a very few of us would
call our dedicated hoop-love a "hobby." In this week's two-part series, we take a cue from the Order of the
Whirling Dervishes to explore just what exactly keeps many hoopers coming back for more.
"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.
The stars form a circle, and in the center we dance." - Rumi
The Sema, or whirling, ritual is just one part of the branch of Islamic Sufism we know as the Whirling Dervishes
(Mevlevi). But it is a stunning practice that has long inspired my imagination and certainly my hooping. Based on
the belief that the "fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve," those who whirl as part of their spiritual
practice do so in order to "intentionally and consciously participate in the shared revolution of [all] beings."
(whirlingdervishes.org) The spiritual practice of whirling is rich with history and symbolism, assigning layers of meaning
to each segment of what is a carefully and deliberately organized religious ritual.
But as legend has it, it didn't start out that way. The whirling tradition is attributed to renowned 13th century poet
and Sufi master, Rumi. It is said that Rumi, discerning the name of God in the rhythmic sounds of the gold
hammerers in the street, began spontaneously spinning, arms outstretched, in celebration ... compelled to turn,
and turn, and turn in the public streets in impromptu honor of this synchronicity.
While my first hooping experience can't be couched in terms of the divine, it was no less ecstatic. Today, my
hooping has become more stylized and has developed its own rituals. And like the modern whirling dervishes, I
often feel that I hoop to re-create that first life-altering encounter with spinning and sound.
What fascinates me so about the legend of Rumi's first whirl is the idea of a "spark" in his mind, or heart, that sent
his body into intuitive and immediate motion -- and how that (r)evolved into an entire tradition of physically
engaged worship and meditation. I've begun to wonder what that "spark" was for me, and I just can't put my finger
on it exactly. I know how I feel when I hoop -- free, playful, graceful, calm. I know what I get out of my hoop, but I
can't seem to articulate to my satisfaction why I get into my hoop again and again. Why I can't put it down. Why I
keep coming back for more.
Is there a purpose to my hoop-love that eludes me - something more than feeling good and having fun? Maybe
not - I don't feel that there necessarily has to be a purpose - but I can't help suspecting that, for me, there is.
I am inspired to peel back the layers of my hooping, as the dervishes spin off their attachments to the world, to
find what my own heart is celebrating as I twirl.
If you've felt a similar yearning to know what sets you spinning, please join me for Part Two of this series for a pair
of compelling exercises designed to prompt your own discovery of the dervish at the center of your whirl.
call our dedicated hoop-love a "hobby." In this week's two-part series, we take a cue from the Order of the
Whirling Dervishes to explore just what exactly keeps many hoopers coming back for more.
"We come spinning out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust.
The stars form a circle, and in the center we dance." - Rumi
The Sema, or whirling, ritual is just one part of the branch of Islamic Sufism we know as the Whirling Dervishes
(Mevlevi). But it is a stunning practice that has long inspired my imagination and certainly my hooping. Based on
the belief that the "fundamental condition of our existence is to revolve," those who whirl as part of their spiritual
practice do so in order to "intentionally and consciously participate in the shared revolution of [all] beings."
(whirlingdervishes.org) The spiritual practice of whirling is rich with history and symbolism, assigning layers of meaning
to each segment of what is a carefully and deliberately organized religious ritual.
But as legend has it, it didn't start out that way. The whirling tradition is attributed to renowned 13th century poet
and Sufi master, Rumi. It is said that Rumi, discerning the name of God in the rhythmic sounds of the gold
hammerers in the street, began spontaneously spinning, arms outstretched, in celebration ... compelled to turn,
and turn, and turn in the public streets in impromptu honor of this synchronicity.
While my first hooping experience can't be couched in terms of the divine, it was no less ecstatic. Today, my
hooping has become more stylized and has developed its own rituals. And like the modern whirling dervishes, I
often feel that I hoop to re-create that first life-altering encounter with spinning and sound.
What fascinates me so about the legend of Rumi's first whirl is the idea of a "spark" in his mind, or heart, that sent
his body into intuitive and immediate motion -- and how that (r)evolved into an entire tradition of physically
engaged worship and meditation. I've begun to wonder what that "spark" was for me, and I just can't put my finger
on it exactly. I know how I feel when I hoop -- free, playful, graceful, calm. I know what I get out of my hoop, but I
can't seem to articulate to my satisfaction why I get into my hoop again and again. Why I can't put it down. Why I
keep coming back for more.
Is there a purpose to my hoop-love that eludes me - something more than feeling good and having fun? Maybe
not - I don't feel that there necessarily has to be a purpose - but I can't help suspecting that, for me, there is.
I am inspired to peel back the layers of my hooping, as the dervishes spin off their attachments to the world, to
find what my own heart is celebrating as I twirl.
If you've felt a similar yearning to know what sets you spinning, please join me for Part Two of this series for a pair
of compelling exercises designed to prompt your own discovery of the dervish at the center of your whirl.
| Hooposophy articles are written by Superhooper.org's Lara Eastburn All Rights Reserved |
Comments are updated nightly.
"Thank you for sparking my curiosity! I didn't even know what a whirling dervish was (cyclone? duststorm? Tasmanian devil?) until
reading this. Here spinning has been a spiritual practice long before the most recent incarnation of the hoop.
Now that I know Rumi danced in a whirl, I can better understand his references to feeling drunk with love - haven't we all felt tipsy
in the hoop? Blessings on your writing, and your whirling!" - Heather Horst facebook.com/Hoopla.Goshen, 8/25/10
"I so love this series! I know that I talk w/ other hoopers & hear that they are addicted to hooping but your words are exactly what I
feel. I feel that hooping found me for a reason. I am a 25 year old mother of 3, I had my first child @16 and seemed to lose myself
somewhere along the way. Hooping seems to have a big purpose in my life, I can’t explain it but it defiantly calls to me almost
every waking & sleeping hour. Best wishes & happy hooping, from Myztical Hoops in Springfield, MO." - Myzticalhoops@yahoo.
com http://www.myspace.com/myzticalhoops 2/28/10
"Thank you for sparking my curiosity! I didn't even know what a whirling dervish was (cyclone? duststorm? Tasmanian devil?) until
reading this. Here spinning has been a spiritual practice long before the most recent incarnation of the hoop.
Now that I know Rumi danced in a whirl, I can better understand his references to feeling drunk with love - haven't we all felt tipsy
in the hoop? Blessings on your writing, and your whirling!" - Heather Horst facebook.com/Hoopla.Goshen, 8/25/10
"I so love this series! I know that I talk w/ other hoopers & hear that they are addicted to hooping but your words are exactly what I
feel. I feel that hooping found me for a reason. I am a 25 year old mother of 3, I had my first child @16 and seemed to lose myself
somewhere along the way. Hooping seems to have a big purpose in my life, I can’t explain it but it defiantly calls to me almost
every waking & sleeping hour. Best wishes & happy hooping, from Myztical Hoops in Springfield, MO." - Myzticalhoops@yahoo.
com http://www.myspace.com/myzticalhoops 2/28/10
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