Rumi's Circle

a community of lovers

Rumi’s Urs 2022

Watch the 2022 celebration of Mevlana Rumi’s union with the Beloved – the anniversary of his passing into the Unseen – with Shaikh Kabir & Camille Helminski and Mevlevi Whirling Dervishes for zhikr, music, and poetry on the theme of Gratitude for the Journey

November 20, 2022 · Leave a comment

Rumi’s Urs 2021

Join us for our annual Urs celebration, online this year!

November 26, 2021 · 1 Comment

Fall From Green by Latifa Nur

A receptive heart has much to learn from the wisdom of nature. A student of Rumi’s teachings speaks of her healing friendship with trees and the inspiration for her debut … Continue reading

April 30, 2020 · 1 Comment

In Conversation with Camille Helminski

Urs Mubarak dear friends! We are happy to share a recent conversation from Tazeen.TV with Mevlevi teacher, Camille Helminski, on how she fell in love with Rumi, the Sufi path, … Continue reading

December 17, 2019 · Leave a comment

The Sultan and the Saint, Kendal Sun 10th Nov

Sunday 10th Nov 2019, 4pm–5pm ~ free entry Kendal Unitarian Chapel, Branthwaite Brow, Kendal LA9 4TN We are pleased to present a screening of the award-winning film, The Sultan and … Continue reading

October 28, 2019 · Leave a comment

Rumi Retreat! Aug 23-26th

It’s that time again! We’re off to spend another wonderful weekend with Mevlevis and other Rumi lovers at the Threshold Society UK Annual Retreat (Aug 23-26th) down at lovely Gaunts … Continue reading

July 9, 2019 · Leave a comment

Rumi and the Mystery of Being Human

An audio recording of Shaikh Kabir Helminski exploring how Rumi’s wisdom helps us to become more fully human, unlocking latent qualities within us that have their source in Spirit. From … Continue reading

June 17, 2019 · Leave a comment

*CANCELLED* Awakening with Rumi, Madison USA, Jun 14-16

We are sorry to inform you that this event has been postponed until next year due to unforseen circumstances. Tickets will be refunded. We apologise for the inconvenience and hope … Continue reading

April 23, 2019 · 1 Comment

MACFEST Whirling Workshop, Manchester Sat 12th Jan

Rumi’s Circle, in association with MACFEST, present our first Manchester whirling workshop. Saturday 12th Jan 2019 2:30-4pm Longsight Library, 519 Stockport Rd, Manchester M12 4NE Register your FREE place on … Continue reading

December 7, 2018 · Leave a comment

**CANCELLED** MACFEST Whirling Workshop, Manchester Sat 17th Nov

  This workshop will be rescheduled at a later date with MACFEST – we will post more details soon. *** We are proud to be supported MACFEST, Manchester’s first Muslim … Continue reading

October 15, 2018 · Leave a comment

CANCELLED Women of Faith: Following in the Footsteps of Khadija & Noor-un-Nisa

We are sorry to announce that we have to cancel this event.

September 16, 2018 · Leave a comment

Women of Faith, London Tue 28th Aug

Tuesday 28th August, 6:30pm ~ £5 on the door, refreshments will be provided St Ethelburga’s Centre, 78 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 4AG Camille Adams Helminski explores stories of women of faith … Continue reading

July 30, 2018 · Leave a comment

Rumi Retreat! Aug 24-27th

It’s that time again! We’re off to spend another wonderful weekend with Mevlevis and other Rumi lovers at the Threshold Society UK Annual Retreat (Aug 24-27th) down at lovely Gaunts … Continue reading

July 10, 2018 · Leave a comment

Bradford Literature Festival July 7-8, 2018

Shaikh Kabir Helminski and Rumi’s Circle will be at the Bradford Literature Festival this year over the second weekend, July 7-8, 2018. Book your tickets for each event: Sat 7th … Continue reading

May 30, 2018 · Leave a comment

Ninety-Nine Names of God: Ramadan Ecourse

Join Shaikha Camille Adams Helminski and Daniel Thomas Dyer for a Ramadan Ecourse on the Ninety-Nine Names of God. Based on material from Camille’s book, Ninety-Names of the Beloved, and … Continue reading

April 25, 2018 · Leave a comment

Book Review: Holistic Islam

Author: Kabir Helminski Publisher: White Cloud Press From one perspective, Holistic Islam is a love letter to the spiritual path of Sufism that has nourished its author for many decades. … Continue reading

February 8, 2018 · Leave a comment

Suleyman Dede’s Urs

Today is the Urs of Shaikh Suleyman Hayati Loras (1904-1985). Suleyman Dede was a great Mevlevi Shaikh of Konya. He travelled to America and planted the seed of Sufism in … Continue reading

January 19, 2018 · Leave a comment

Reflecting on Kindness & Beauty

Be kind, for when kindness is part of something it beautifies it; and when it is removed, it tarnishes it. ~Hadith On the Sufi path, adab (courteous etiquette) is of … Continue reading

December 3, 2017 · Leave a comment

Feminine Symbols in Islam

Islam and the Divine Feminine? Really? Yes, as improbable as it may seem, really. In our times we have become so accustomed to a male-dominated, authoritarian and repressive interpretation of … Continue reading

November 24, 2017 · 1 Comment

A Love Affair

Reflections by Matthew Wright on being an Episcopal Mevlevi – balancing Christianity and Islam This post represents the first piece of “new” content on A Waking Heart, and it’s probably … Continue reading

September 19, 2017 · 4 Comments

Greenbelt, Kettering Fri 25th Aug

We’re proud to be participating in Greenbelt this year, offering a late-evening Sufi Soul Session with music, zhikr and whirling! Friday 25th August, 10:30-11:30pm Amal Tent, Boughton House, Kettering NN14 … Continue reading

July 31, 2017 · 2 Comments

Rumi Retreat! Sep 1-4 2017

We’re looking forward to spending another wonderful weekend with Rumi lovers at the Threshold Society UK Annual Retreat (Sep 1-4) down at lovely Gaunts House in Dorset. Set in 1600 … Continue reading

July 11, 2017 · Leave a comment

Spiritual Values into Action: Sufism & Peace, Wed 12 Jul

    Join us for an evening with Syed Salman Chisty In collaboration with St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Wed 12 July, 2017 7-8:30pm St Ethelburga’s Centre, 78 … Continue reading

July 5, 2017 · 2 Comments

Ramadan with Shams: The Ambush of Love

This Ramadan, I drank from the wisdom of Shams of Tabriz contained in the wonderful book Rumi’s Sun: The Teachings of Shams of Tabriz. “Shams” means “Sun” of course, and this year the summer equinox fell in the month of Ramadan; something which felt significant.

June 28, 2017 · Leave a comment

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating! May your celebration be joyous and full of Love. What a Nourisher The sensible man doesn’t pay attention to what increases or decreases, since both … Continue reading

June 24, 2017 · Leave a comment

Bradford Lit Fest Whirling Workshop Sun 9 Jul

Back by popular demand at Bradford Literature Festival, join Rumi’s Circle to explore the roots of the whirling dervish sacred tradition

June 12, 2017 · Leave a comment

The Messenger’s Gift

Robert Abdul Hayy Darr explores how training a parrot to speak using a mirror becomes, in Rumi’s hands, a metaphor for how revelation is transmitted to humankind.

March 21, 2017 · Leave a comment

The British Islam Conference Feb 25-26

We’re excited to be presenting at The British Islam Conference this year, organised by New Horizons. We’ll be speaking about Sufi Activism. Sufism recognises that harmony must be achieved between … Continue reading

February 17, 2017 · Leave a comment

America of the Heart: Whitman and Rumi

As we enter deeper into the introspection of the winter months and America continues to search its soul in the aftermath of the presidential election, I find myself turning to … Continue reading

January 27, 2017 · Leave a comment

Spiritual Activism, London Sat 7th Jan

Join Rumi’s Circle and St. Ethelburga’s for an evening with Dr Omid Safi, to discuss Spiritual Activism: Love and Justice in our Times. Faith communities find themselves under assault on … Continue reading

January 3, 2017 · Leave a comment

Wisdom – An Ongoing Conversation with Divine Reality

The Prophet Muhammad said, “Wisdom is like the truly faithful one’s stray camel; he (she) will recognize it when he (she) finds it.” Within the Way of Islam and the … Continue reading

December 20, 2016 · Leave a comment

Rumi Retreat! Aug 26-29th

It’s that time of year again – registrations are open for the Threshold Society UK Annual Retreat (Aug 26-29th). Join us for a long weekend to deepen our spiritual understanding … Continue reading

July 27, 2016 · Leave a comment

Tweeting the Qur’an

This year was the second year that I read and tweeted the Qur’an, though also a first of sorts in that I started at the beginning, the previous year I … Continue reading

July 11, 2016 · 2 Comments

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak friends! May the blessings of Ramadan be with you year-long and may we meet each other in peace and goodwill. It is from My kindness that the smell … Continue reading

July 6, 2016 · Leave a comment

My Times With Rumi

My first encounter with Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi was many years ago in Boise, Idaho. I was living in Mexico at the time on a foreign service assignment and I used … Continue reading

July 4, 2016 · 1 Comment

The Power of the Heart: In Memory of Muhammad Ali (1942-2016)

I want a heart torn open by longing to  share the pain of this love. Whoever has been parted from his source longs to return to that state of union. … Continue reading

June 17, 2016 · 4 Comments

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan Mubarak to all those who are fasting during this time! May it be blessed with worldly emptiness and spiritual fullness! O moon-faced Beloved, the month of Ramadan has arrived. … Continue reading

June 6, 2016 · 1 Comment

Whirling from Mevlana’s Urs

A moment captured from our Urs celebration last December 2015, filmed by David Aldred at the atmospheric St Mark’s Church in London, with beautiful music by Amir Koushkani (tar) and … Continue reading

April 3, 2016 · Leave a comment

Events at Bradford Literature Festival May 28-29th

We are excited to be part of the fantastic Bradford Literature Festival this year! With over 200 events featuring world renowned speakers, artists and authors, Bradford is the place to … Continue reading

April 1, 2016 · Leave a comment

Gathering Feedback

We’re gathering some research on the impact of Rumi in peace-building. We would really appreciate your feedback: What effect has Rumi had on the way you perceive Islam and other … Continue reading

March 11, 2016 · 4 Comments

Welcoming the Light, London Sat 26 Mar

Join us this Easter in London at the Threshold Society gathering with Shaikh Kabir Helminski. Welcoming the Light Originally we are beings of Light, but we have forgotten ourselves. The … Continue reading

March 3, 2016 · Leave a comment

Threshold Society Bradford Zhikr Sat 12 Mar

Join us for the Threshold Society zhikr gathering in Bradford on Saturday 12th March from 2:30-5pm. We hope to share in meditation, zhikr, prayer, and discussion of Mevlana Rumi’s work. … Continue reading

February 25, 2016 · Leave a comment

Suleyman Dede’s Urs

Today is the Urs of Shaikh Suleyman Hayati Loras (1904-1985). Suleyman Dede was a great Mevlevi Shaikh of Konya. He travelled to America and planted the seed of Sufism in … Continue reading

January 19, 2016 · 1 Comment

Mary & Muhammad: Part 2

Happy New Year and welcome to part 2 of our Urs theme reflections. Fatimah Ashrif contemplates the power of Mary and the Divine. My Relationship with Mary In recent years … Continue reading

January 1, 2016 · 3 Comments

Merry Mawlid & Christmas!

What a wonderful synchronicity we have this year with the birth celebrations for two prophets falling this week, Muhammad and Jesus, may eternal peace and blessings be upon them and … Continue reading

December 24, 2015 · Leave a comment

Rumi’s Urs: Poetry and Picture highlights

We had two wonderful Urs celebrations in Bradford and London. Thank you to everyone who came and shared their hearts, we feel very blessed to have brought together such an … Continue reading

December 22, 2015 · Leave a comment

Mary & Muhammad: Part 1

We’re so pleased to share the first of two pieces focusing on our chosen theme for Rumi’s Urs this year, Receiving Spirit: Mary & Muhammad. First, Julian Bond on a … Continue reading

December 10, 2015 · Leave a comment

Light Upon Light

In the moments before I first learned of the darkness unfolding in Paris on Friday, I was sitting in a circle of light. Some fellow seekers and I were seated … Continue reading

November 16, 2015 · Leave a comment

Affirming the Real: Ya Haqq

Some reflections on Haqq [Truth] inspired by the Quran and Rumi’s work by Tazeen Ahmad. Affirming the Real: Ya Haqq The Quran states: Alhaqqah, Mal-haqqah, Wa maa adraka mal haqqaqah. … Continue reading

October 25, 2015 · Leave a comment

Happy Islamic New Year!

  Today is the first day of the Islamic new year, the 1st of Muharram, 1437! We wish everyone a Blessed New Year — may it be full of love, … Continue reading

October 14, 2015 · 1 Comment