The ceremony begins with the recitation of the Naat-ı Şerif, a poem expressing love and admiration for the Prophet Muhammad. This is followed by the Ney Taksimi, an improvisation on the ney flute. The haunting sound of the ney symbolizes the soul's longing for its Creator — a cry of separation from the Divine.
Then comes the Ayin-i Şerif, the formal part of the Sema. Dervishes begin to whirl with the permission of the Sheikh, the spiritual leader of the ceremony. The dervishes' movements are not random; every gesture, step, and rotation has meaning. The Sema consists of four salutes, each representing a different stage of spiritual development:
1. Becoming aware of one's own existence and relationship with God 2. Witnessing the power and grandeur of God 3. Experiencing the love of God, leading to self-annihilation in divine love 4. Rebirth as a perfected human being, now connected with the Creator and all of creation
As they turn, the dervishes hold their right hand open and raised toward the heavens, symbolizing the reception of divine grace, while their left hand faces downward, passing this grace onto the Earth. This reflects the belief: "What I receive from God, I give to the people."
The ceremony concludes with a prayer, signifying the return of the soul to the worldly realm — transformed, purified, and enlightened.
By Mevlevi Guide
Cultural Heritage Team