Today, December 17, is the Urs of Rumi, the anniversary of the death of the Sufi poet, Jelaluddin Rumi. This day is observed by Sufis much as a “feast day” is observed in the Christian tradition. In honor of this mind-blowing poet, I’m highlighting him in the Freedom Series. I got to pondering, what made Rumi free? I come back to his practice of turning toward Creator at every opportunity. The “turn,” or moving meditation done by the dervishes, is said to have originated with Rumi, and is not only metaphoric but physical. Dervish literally means, “doorway,” an ecstatic dance of surrender whereby the one who turns is pulled ever toward the center of the universe, the empty space where human and divine meet. Definitely sounds like an Inner Constellation metaphor to me! Rumi was a matzub, or holy person, who not only arrived at union or presence but expressed the turning toward his North Star most beautifully. Enough jibber-jabber, it’s time for some of my favorite Rumi lines—let the man speak for himself!
- "Stop the words now.
Open the window in the center of your chest,
and let the spirits fly in and out."
- "Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are hundreds of ways to kneel and kiss the ground."
- “These pains you feel are messengers.
Listen to them. Turn them to sweetness.”
- “Let the beloved be a hat pulled down firmly on my head.”
- “The universe and the light of the stars come through me.
I am the crescent moon put up
over the gate of the festival.”
- “Listen to the presence inside poems,
Let them take you where they will.
Follow those private hints,
and never leave the premises.”
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