2008 Woodie Awards
Spinning expanding on campus
Poetry class examines life of Whirling Dervish
Kevin Simpson
Issue date: 4/24/08 Section: Features
Remember as a child spinning in circles for no reason at all?
Eventually we grow up and stop spinning.
In Turkey and small areas of America however, there are adults that still spin in circles.
This is not just aimless spinning though- this is called Whirling Dervish.
"The Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi order are Sufis (mystical Muslims) who whirl to induce an ecstatic state of mind," said Professor DJ Moores.
"The order was founded by Jalal al-Din Rumi the son of a noted Islamic prophet. Rumi was a Persian who lived in what is today Konya, Turkey. He would whirl, sometimes for hours and enter into ecstatic states of mind that would lead to union with God."
As of most inspirational acts came inspirational works.
According to Moores, Rumi would sometimes become "poetically inspired" and would recite poetry while whirling while a scribe would write down his words.
In the early 1970's Jelaluddin Loras brought the practice of whirling from Turkey to American borders where it is slowly increasing in popularity.
It has made its way to the campus of Sacred Heart through the literary works and is being taught by professor Moore.
Moores is also teaching the culture and practices involved in the Whirling Dervish. Father Antony Gatt, a campus priest who has studied many spiritual systems, has been demonstrating to Moores' classes the practice of whirling.
"I think Father Antony Gatt is awesome," said senior Sarah Hou, a student in Professor Moores literature class. "He's teaching us a new way to look at meditation and it helps me be able to interpret Sufi poetry better."
This literature class involves more than just interpreting poetry, but experiencing it as well.
"Although the poetry is quite complex, the class seems to be responding to the material quite well, and they particularly love to whirl," said Moores.
Moores has high hopes of his class gaining more popularity amongst the students.
Eventually we grow up and stop spinning.
In Turkey and small areas of America however, there are adults that still spin in circles.
This is not just aimless spinning though- this is called Whirling Dervish.
"The Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi order are Sufis (mystical Muslims) who whirl to induce an ecstatic state of mind," said Professor DJ Moores.
"The order was founded by Jalal al-Din Rumi the son of a noted Islamic prophet. Rumi was a Persian who lived in what is today Konya, Turkey. He would whirl, sometimes for hours and enter into ecstatic states of mind that would lead to union with God."
As of most inspirational acts came inspirational works.
According to Moores, Rumi would sometimes become "poetically inspired" and would recite poetry while whirling while a scribe would write down his words.
In the early 1970's Jelaluddin Loras brought the practice of whirling from Turkey to American borders where it is slowly increasing in popularity.
It has made its way to the campus of Sacred Heart through the literary works and is being taught by professor Moore.
Moores is also teaching the culture and practices involved in the Whirling Dervish. Father Antony Gatt, a campus priest who has studied many spiritual systems, has been demonstrating to Moores' classes the practice of whirling.
"I think Father Antony Gatt is awesome," said senior Sarah Hou, a student in Professor Moores literature class. "He's teaching us a new way to look at meditation and it helps me be able to interpret Sufi poetry better."
This literature class involves more than just interpreting poetry, but experiencing it as well.
"Although the poetry is quite complex, the class seems to be responding to the material quite well, and they particularly love to whirl," said Moores.
Moores has high hopes of his class gaining more popularity amongst the students.
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