Sufi Whirling Gatherings in NY & Beyond
Sema Collective
Upcoming Gatherings
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Sema | Brooklyn
Thursday July 16, 7-10PM
@ The Golden Drum
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Summer Sema: 24 Hour Gathering
August 8-9, 2026.
"What is Sema, do you know? Opening the heart like Shams al-Tabrizi, and seeing the Divine light" - Rumi
"What is Sema, do you know? Opening the heart like Shams al-Tabrizi, and seeing the Divine light" - Rumi
What is Sema?
Sema (Arabic: سَمَاع) means “deep listening” and is a gathering rooted in the Sufi tradition that combines devotional chanting, live music, poetry and whirling meditation.
This whirling dervish tradition was founded by the 13th century mystic poet Rumi, whose poems of love and union with the divine spirit are still widely popular today.
Through the spinning movement and focus on devotional music, you allow the ego to subside. This tangible, material world starts to melt away and a greater sense of peace, stillness and connection emerges from within. You remember that the divine life force is an inherent part of you. The experience can only be described as blissful. Participants leave feeling lighter, more at ease and peaceful.
Community Reflections
“So much gratitude for all the hands and hearts that brought this gathering to life. Thank you thank you thank you for giving us all a space to drink with the Beloved”
“May this love fill our hearts, expand our awareness, and radiate through every aspect of our being, dissolving all boundaries, healing all wounds, and awakening us to our true nature as love itself.”
“The reverberations from having stepped into the most safe sacred container of the living revelation of this exquisite exalted Şeb-i Arus Solstice Sema surrounded on all sides by the most sincere Friends of the Beloved, is that my heart has completely shattered & I now walk around with this aperture wide open fully showing unashamed, is that now my soul wakes up into this dream singing dhikr echoing from that holy night we all wedded our souls to our Beloved”
“There were portals and doors to the Divine opened to us that are beyond our sight but very real and transformative. We walked through these portals together, and I see you all as Friends along the Path.”
“My heart is full with light and nourishment for my soul”
Our Journey
From Türkiye to New York: A Living Tradition, Carried Forward
The story behind how the Sema practice found its home in our community.
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Curiosity & Calling
The journey of bringing the Sema practice to our community in New York began with a deep curiosity about Sufism, the whirling dervishes, Rumi, and ancient practices that bridge art and spirituality.
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Listening, Learning, Witnessing
In 2021, as part of LILA’s documentary series exploring sacred music and dance traditions, Omar Aena and filmmaker Alex Allaux traveled to Türkiye to create a film about Sema.
Along the way, they met elders, young artists, and diverse communities, each practicing the whirling dance in their own way, shaped by lineage, place, and devotion.
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From Documentation to Transmission
Through meeting Cem Baba, a Sufi master living in southern Türkiye, the journey shifted from documentation to transmission.
What began as a film project became a living relationship, one that would ripple back to the United States.
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An Entrustment
When Cem Baba visited New York, he shared the teachings of Sufism and the embodied practice of Sema with our NY community.
But before returning to Türkiye, he offered words that became our compass:
“I may be going back to Turkey, but Sema is staying here.”
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Monthly Gatherings · Growing Roots
For the past 3 years, we have honored that trust through monthly Sema gatherings in Brooklyn.
The practice has since traveled with us to New Jersey, the Hudson Valley, Massachusetts, Vermont, and internationally to Indonesia and Egypt, carried by community and care.
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A Call to Deepen
While monthly gatherings kept the flame burning, there was always an intention to offer something deeper and more immersive: an extended Sema, similar to what we experienced in Türkiye, where music and whirling continue uninterrupted for days.
This form was revived by the late master Örüc Güvenç, who discovered that Rumi himself engaged in multiple days of continuous Sema.
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24 Hours of Continuous Sema
On the Winter Solstice of 2025, in commemoration of Seb-i-Arus, Rumi’s “Wedding Night” with the Beloved, we hosted our first 24-hour continuous Sema gathering with over 120 people.
A tapestry of devotional music carried the ceremony through day and night, and our collective heart was fully alive.
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2026 & Beyond
As we move into 2026 and beyond, it is our intention as The Sema Collective to continue serving this way of beauty, love, and harmony - through whirling, poetry, devotional music, and community.
Sema Collective Organizers
OMAR AENA
LEEN ABAZA
AMIRA RADWAN
MAYA ABAZA
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Sema has Sufi roots, but this gathering is multi-faith and open-hearted. People of all backgrounds and traditions are welcome.
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No experience is required. Our gatherings are open to all, whether you are new to sema or have practiced for years.
We will also go over basic technique and etiquette before the ceremony.
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There are many ways to participate in ceremony. You may whirl, do a walking meditation, or simply witness the ceremony in stillness and presence.
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Comfortable, modest clothing you can move in. Whirling shoes are highly recommended if you have them, otherwise, bring thick socks!
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The space is contemplative and devotional. Mature teens may attend; younger children are welcome if parents feel confident that they can remain quiet and not disrupt the ceremony.
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There will be no photography or recording inside the ceremony space. This is to honor the depth and privacy of the ritual.
We make some exceptions only for extended sema ceremonies.
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We offer sliding-scale donations for all our gatherings. Please support the sustainability of these gatherings by donating generously within your means.
All donations go to paying for the sema space & musicians.