The Whirling Dervishes: Religion, Meaning and Sense of their Mystical Dance

The Whirling Dervishes: Religion, Meaning and Sense of their Mystical Dance

The dance of the whirling dervishes has fascinated for centuries. Inherited from the Sufi tradition and popularized by the Mevlevi order founded by Jalâl ad-Dîn Rûmî in the 13th century in Konya, this spiritual practice combines movement, music and meditation. But behind the mesmerizing aesthetic of the white robes that rise in a spiral, are hidden deep spiritual meanings. 

What is the religion of the whirling dervishes?

Whirling dervishes belong to Sufism, a mystical path of Islam that emphasizes divine love, purification of the soul, and spiritual union with God.
The mevlevi order, founded by Rumi and his son Sultan Valad, gave rise to the practice of samâ, the ritual dance where initiates spin around in a state of active meditation.

What does 'whirling dervish' mean?

The term "derviche " comes from Darvîsh Persian, meaning "poor" or "humble". It designates a Sufi initiate who chooses to lead a life of material stripping to devote himself to the inner quest.
The name "turner" refers to the circular movement characteristic of their dance, a symbol of the cosmos, the rotation of planets and the eternal cycle of life.

What is the function of the whirling dervishes' dance?

The dervish dance, called samâ, is much more than an artistic show:

Thus, the dervish dance is a spiritual experience where the body becomes the vehicle of the soul.

What is the function of the whirling dervishes' dance?

Whirling dervishes turn to the left, that is to say, in the direction of the heart. This movement is not trivial: it symbolizes openness to divine love and connection with the universe.
En tournant autour de leur axe, les derviches reproduisent le mouvement des planètes autour du soleil, affirmant que l’homme fait partie d’un cosmos en perpétuel mouvement.

A living and universal tradition

Today, the dance of the whirling dervishes continues to move and inspire people around the world. Classified as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO, it recalls that spirituality can be experienced through the body, through breath and through the circular movement that connects the visible and the invisible.

As Rûmî said:

"Do not stand still at the door of the house. Enter into the whirlwind of love."

Dervish oracle

What is the Dervish Oracle?

It is a silent spiral. Each card is a step in an invisible dance where we join the rhythm of the world. The oracle is not static: it vibrates, it breathes, it allows itself to be tamed by slowness.