TURNING OF THE SUN
A 24-Hour Sufi Solstice Ceremony
Join us for our next 24-Hour Sema gathering, featuring continuous, uninterrupted live devotional music, whirling, poetry, and prayer. From sunset on June 20 to sunset on June 21, we will turn together through the longest day, honoring the sun’s turning point and inviting stillness, devotion, and light.
At SRV Retreat Center in the Hudson Valley. Greenville, NY
HOW WILL THIS WORK?
This gathering will bring together music groups from across the Northeast, sharing their sacred sounds to create a prayer for unity and healing. Each set will weave Rumi’s timeless teachings of love and connection into a collective experience of spiritual reflection and celebration.
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At sunset on June 21st, we will step into an unbroken 24-hour portal of whirling, music, and prayer. The ceremony flows uninterrupted, with musicians and whirlers shifting in and out to sustain the sacred container. Exact details of programming will be provided upon registration.
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No, you may arrive and depart as you need, though we encourage staying for significant portions to experience the arc of the ceremony. While on the property, you are welcome to flow in and out the ceremony space to eat, rest, enjoy the surrounding nature, and take care of any of your needs.
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No. Resting is part of the journey. You may lie down on the periphery of the ceremony space or step away to sleep as needed. Camping is available, and a limited amount of shared accommodation is available for an additional cost.
The music and whirling will be go on uninterrupted for 24 hours, join in for however long you want / have capacity for. Be mindful of your body and needs.
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Yes. Three meals and snacks are included with all tickets. Meal timings and details TBA.
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Whether you are new to Sema or have walked this path before, all are welcome to join with an open heart.
MORE FAQS BELOW
FROM PREVIOUS GATHERINGS
MUSICAL OFFERINGS
TBA
Learn more about extended Semas
The inspiration for our 24-hour gathering comes from the profound multi-day Sema tradition we’ve had the blessing of experiencing in Türkiye and a return to how Sema was practiced during Rumi’s time. Learn more about it by watching this short film.
Produced by LILA Devotional Arts, it offers a window into the essence of Sema: its roots, its intention, and the lineage behind extended gatherings. Filmed in 2024 during a three-day retreat hosted by Tümata in southern Türkiye.
FAQS
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Sema is a gathering rooted in the Sufi tradition that combines devotional chanting, live music and whirling dance 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 the music, you allow the ego to subside. This tangible world starts to melt away and a greater sense of peace develops 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. -
This practice of Sema has Islamic, 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. This gathering is open to all, whether you are new to sema or have practiced for years.
Upon registration we will send you instructions on how to prepare and practice Sema. This will include basic whirling instruction and safety tips. 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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No. Resting is part of the journey. You may lie down or step away to sleep as needed. Optional private rooms are available for an additional cost.
The music and whirling will be go on uninterrupted for 24 hours, join in for however long you want / have capacity for. Be mindful of your body and needs.
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Comfortable, modest clothing you can move in (covering shoulders & knees). Many people wear white or light colors, but this is not required.
Indoor shoes that have soft leather soles are highly recommended to help you whirl. Otherwise, bring thick socks! We will also have whirling socks and skirts for sale.
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Yes. Three meals and snacks are included with registration. Schedule TBA
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Absolutely. However, 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.
Children under 12 come for free.
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No. Please keep your pets at home. Only service animals are allowed. Please reach out to us for further questions on disability accommodation.
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We ask that there be no photography or recording inside the ceremony space. We want to honor the depth and privacy of the ritual.
We will have a method of capturing a limited number of photos discreetly and with participant consent.
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Yes. We offer sliding-scale tickets, work exchange, and a limited number of scholarship spots.
Email: collectivesema@gmail.com
In sema,
hidden corners of the heart
send wordless messages,
soothing the exiled heart
Listen to the musicians.
Listen with your heart.
Listen with your skin.
Doors open.
Round after round of joy
and no one has drunk
even a drop of wine.
Music, the sweetest orator of all,
has climbed into the pulpit.
I’ll sell my tongue now
and buy a thousand ears.
— excerpt from Rumi, Divan-e-Shams
Translated by Haleh Liza Gafori from her book Water