My teacher Adnan often reminded us to trust ourselves when it came to spiritual work: "Try it out and see what happens!"

He did not do a lot of explaining ahead of time. He wanted us to experience the work without activating too much thinking. On occasion, he would invite students to his stage to answer their questions. He also wrote about the work. But mostly he was committed to the try-it-out approach to spiritual practice.

I’m a little different. I prefer to let people know ahead of time what they can expect or the meaning of a particular Arabic chant. I believe understanding can enhance the effect of the spiritual experience and encourage participants to wait just a little longer before deciding whether to hit the "leave" button.

With this in mind, I will share some of my understanding of the various Sufi exercises I use in my classes

My classes typically consist of slow movement, breathing, dance, and chanting. I might change the order, use different music, explain an exercise, play one of Adnan's drumming tapes, or read from one of his books. The slow movement, breathing, dance, and chanting, however, are the backbone of my classes.

These are not the only spiritual practices available to me but they make the most sense for a 90-minute Zoom class.

The objective of my class is to shift awareness into the present moment and achieve that delicious state of meditation. This state gives cosmic energy, insight, inspiration, creativity, and of course peacefulness. With consistent practice, my classes can enable students to develop their capacity to enter into the moment and meditation with greater ease at any time. 

The slow movement combined with slow breath allows you to focus on the moment and stop the internal mind chatter. It brings you into a meditative state with little effort. 

Sufi dancing also uses breathing and movement to captivate your attention while adding rhythm and guidance through spiritually attuned music. The body, breath, and music become entwined.

I find dancing to be the easiest method for me to shift into the moment. Once you let go of worries about the judgment of others and your own judgment, you can relax and enjoy the dance.

Over the years of study, I have learned many Middle Eastern dance moves from the numerous accomplished dancers who attended Adnan's workshops. Learning a few moves is like acquiring a bigger vocabulary in a foreign language. It provides more ways to express yourself and makes your dance more interesting and fun. Occasionally, I will demonstrate some of the more common moves that work with Middle Eastern music. You could just follow me.

On Zoom it is possible to turn off your video and dance in private. This was not possible at Adnan's in-person workshops. To help silence the internal critic, he told us to tie a scarf around our eyes. Blindfolded, we became unaware of others in the room and were able to focus on the movement.

The blindfold is a very effective technique but can introduce a risk of falling or bumping into others. I do not ask you to do this in my Zoom class because I have no control over your space. But it is something you could try on your own by putting a blanket or towel on the floor to define your area. Your bare feet will help keep you within your safety zone. Closing or blindfolding your eyes has an amazing effect and can enhance the meditative aspect of your dance.

Through slow movement and dance, the body works new muscles and develops strength, agility, and grace. Unlike sitting practice, the body is essential to the experience. Slow, yoga-style movement allows the body to develop its capacity for spiritual work as well as human existence. Sufi work, you will discover, is good for the body as well as the spirit!

Chanting, at first, can feel a little more challenging because you are sitting and barely moving while the monkey mind tries to run away with your thoughts. Pretty soon you are thinking about grocery lists or imagining what you will do on the weekend. Fortunately, the sound of the chant and the rhythm of the movement are hypnotic and can draw you back to the moment. You must concentrate, however. Without concentration, nothing will happen.

Adnan explained, “You have to do a lot of work to stop the mind. Once it has stopped, you receive cosmic energy and become open to many things -- understanding, awareness, and perception.”

I am teaching a Sufi Meditation class this Friday and Sunday. Come early and chat with me. Friday, January 12 at 9 am PST and Sunday, January 7th at 8 am PST. Take a break from the already ramping up speed of January. Enjoy the exercise, play, and creativity of this playful and powerful work.

The Zoom link is the same for both.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89999494833?pwd=V2pOS28yYUdXM3hkaW1rVWIvSjBUdz09

Meeting ID: 899 9949 4833

Passcode: SUFI

Here's a time converter link to check the time in your location.

Be peaceful.

Michelle

Dr. Michelle Peticolas

Life Transformation Coach

Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss

Secrets of Life and Death

https://www.facebook.com/secretsoflifeanddeath.com