Rumi's Circle

a community of lovers

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

Altrincham Interfaith Cultural Evening Thu 6 Jul

Rumi’s Circle will be reciting poetry and Sufi songs as part of Altrincham Interfaith Group’s evening of cultural entertainment. Join us!

June 27, 2017 · 2 Comments

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

International Women’s Day

A tribute from RC to our sisters on IWD. Please do share with the men and women who are dear to you, inspire you or you seek to empower.

March 8, 2017 · 2 Comments

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

Happy New Year!

As we move forward to embrace the first day of this new year, we take a moment to consider how to embody love in the year ahead.

January 1, 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’s Urs 2016 Manchester, Bradford & London

Rumi’s Circle with Mevlevi whirling dervishes from The Threshold Society are pleased to announce the 2016 celebration of Mevlana Rumi’s Urs, the anniversary of his union with the Beloved. Join … Continue reading

November 14, 2016 · Leave a comment

Inter Faith Week SoulScript, Hale Barns Sat 19th Nov

Join us for Inter faith Week SoulScript where we will share reflections on scriptures that speak about “Divine Difference”. Saturday 19th November 2016, 10:30am, FREE John Clarke Room, Hale Unitarian … Continue reading

November 6, 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

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

DATE CHANGE: Healing Srebrenica, Manchester Fri 8th Jul

Please note change of date! Friday 8th July, 2016 Chorlton Central Church, Barlow Moor Road, Manchester M21 8BF Please arrive by 7.15pm for 7.30pm prompt start. Free Entry. Generously supported … Continue reading

June 22, 2016 · Leave a comment

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

Come, Come, Whoever You Are

The super talented and beautifully humble Medina Tenour Whiteman sharing a Rumi poem, recorded at half-midnight in a hotel corridor in Bradford!

June 2, 2016 · 4 Comments

Ruminations: Spiritual Practice, Hale Barns Sun 5th Jun

Rumi’s Circle invites you to attend a poetry circle on the theme of ‘spiritual practice’. The world’s many different faith traditions have both similar and differing spiritual practices but the … Continue reading

May 30, 2016 · Leave a comment

Zhikr & Poetry in Kendal, Fri 13th May

Rumi’s Circle and the South Lakes Interfaith Forum invite you to an evening of zhikr (Divine remembrance) poetry, and meditation. Friday 13th May, 7 to 8.30pm FREE Kendal Unitarian Chapel, … Continue reading

April 25, 2016 · Leave a comment

Wisdom Stories from the Sufi Tradition, May 1-28

Wisdom Stories from the Sufi Tradition:  an eCourse with Shaikh Kabir Helminski through Spirituality & Practice, May 1-28 What is Sufism, and what is a Sufi story? What we mean … Continue reading

April 24, 2016 · Leave a 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

The Moment

The moment ends… A few years ago I came across a song by a band from Vermont named Phish. The song was titled “The Moma Dance”. The chorus is a … Continue reading

March 31, 2016 · 2 Comments

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

Sharings from Ruminations: Opposites

Thank you to everyone who attended the first Hale Barns Ruminations. It was beautiful to share time with so many hearts. We are pleased to share the poems we read … Continue reading

March 2, 2016 · 2 Comments

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

Ruminations: Opposites, Hale Barns Sat 20th Feb

Rumi’s Circle invites you to its first poetry circle of 2016 on 20th February on the theme of ‘opposites’. Rumi’s poetry often invites us to consider things which might be … Continue reading

January 31, 2016 · 1 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

Working with Intention

We welcome the first of, hopefully, many reflections by Gunter Richter. Working with Intention In October of 2015, I attended a retreat held by the Threshold Society of America at … Continue reading

January 8, 2016 · 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

Winter Solstice

As the world turns inwards for the Winter Solstice, some words of Mevlana to remind us that the pull of love is everywhere… One cold day a bearskin was floating … Continue reading

December 21, 2015 · Leave a comment

Mevlana’s Urs

Today my Sun and my moon have come. Today my hearing and sight were born— The mine of all my silver and gold is here The one who made my … Continue reading

December 17, 2015 · Leave a comment

Sharings from Divine Flame Ruminations

We had a wonderful time last night at Interfaith Rumination on the Divine Flame at Kendal Unitarian Chapel. Thirty beautiful souls braved the stormy, rainy weather and gathered to share … Continue reading

November 19, 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

Rumi’s Urs 2015 Bradford & London

Rumi’s Circle with whirling dervishes from The Threshold Society are pleased to announce the 2015 celebration of Mevlana Rumi’s Urs, the anniversary of his union with the Beloved. Join us … Continue reading

October 30, 2015 · Leave a comment

Ruminations: The Divine Flame Kendal Wed 18th Nov

As part of Interfaith Week 2015, Rumi’s Circle and the South Lakes Interfaith Forum would like to invite you to an evening of poetry, music, meditation and reflection on the … Continue reading

October 29, 2015 · 1 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

Happy Birthday Mevlana!

Today is Mevlana Rumi’s birthday. May his light be blessed and continue to shine down upon us. And here are his words about the wondrous birth of his namesake… The … Continue reading

September 30, 2015 · Leave a comment

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak friends! Eid al-Adha is the festival/feast of sacrifice, honouring Prophet Ibrahim’s (Abraham’s) trust and willingness to sacrifice what he held most dear – his son Ishmael. Before he … Continue reading

September 24, 2015 · Leave a comment

Turning to the Quran: Reflections on Learning to Whirl

The Quranic verse most often associated with whirling is Wheresoever you turn, there is the face of God [2:115]. However, as I have struggled to learn the practice, another passage … Continue reading

August 19, 2015 · 3 Comments

The Drunkards

The Drunkards, from the album You are Joy. Kabir & Camille Helminski with musicians from around the world.

August 4, 2015 · 2 Comments

Eid Mubarak!

Eid Mubarak to all celebrating! May your celebration be joyous and full of Love. *** Life After Ramadan Ramadan is like a beautiful landscape we enter once a year. The … Continue reading

July 17, 2015 · Leave a comment

Rumi Retreat! Aug 28-31st

We’re looking forward to another wonderful weekend with Mevlevis and other Rumi lovers at the Threshold Society UK Annual Retreat (Aug 28-30/31st) down at lovely Gaunts House in Dorset. Set … Continue reading

July 2, 2015 · Leave a comment

Threshold Society Bradford Zhikr Sat 25th Jul

Join us for the Threshold Society zhikr gathering in Bradford on Saturday 25th July from 1:30-4pm. We hope to share in meditation, zhikr, prayer, and discussion of Mevlana Rumi’s work. … Continue reading

June 30, 2015 · 2 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 17, 2015 · 1 Comment

CANCELLED Ruminations: Spiritual Fasting Manchester Sun 14th Jun

We are sorry to cancel our Manchester Ruminations. We hope to reschedule later in the year.

June 7, 2015 · Leave a comment

Threshold Society Bradford Zhikr Sat 13th Jun

Join us for the Threshold Society zhikr gathering in Bradford on Saturday 13th June from 1:30-4pm. We hope to share in meditation, zhikr, prayer, and discussion of Mevlana Rumi’s work. … Continue reading

May 29, 2015 · 2 Comments