Sufi Play
Aug 24, 2024 6:34 pm
Hi there,
I was reading through Adnan’s Early Writings looking for something to write about in this week's newsletter and I came across this self-observation by Adnan: "A lot of work I do is like playing."
Thinking about his comment, I had to agree it was true and this triggered a shift in my understanding of how to teach his work.
When I hear the word “play,” I think:
· Small children running around giggling and laughing
· Impromptu theatrical productions, preferably funny
· An effective strategy in a game
· Creative projects like making jewelry or a costume
All these activities happened at Adnan’s summer camp.
During Adnan's slow movements, we would giggle when he rolled over backward kicking his feet in the air and we followed him. Sometimes he would lead us in bouncing one foot on top of the other, over and over, until our legs were suspended in the air. Then he would playfully wiggle his toes at us. We almost forgot our effort in that moment of silliness.
He was especially playful when teaching chapters of the Quran -- the sacred text of Islam and the Sufis. Complex Arabic words were broken into smaller sounds that we could more easily mimic. For example, the gh sound in ghayril which sounds like “grrrrrr,” only the gr comes from the back of the throat, like you're holding it back there or cycling it through a blender. After grrring, 6 or 7 times, Adnan reassured us that all babies make this sound. So we grrrd like babies. You can hear the laughter in the recording.
Another time he taught us the special sound of Ah in Arabic. Not ahhh as it sounds in English, but Ahah! like the sound of a seal when it barks. Indeed, that is how we sounded -- like a herd of barking seals “Ahah, Ahah, Ahah!”
Adnan's playful teaching made learning these Arabic prayers both fun and easy.
Adnan explained:
When you play you are involved in what you are doing and have better concentration. You see that in children. When they play, their mind is fixed on what they are doing. Then they finish, they drop it. If people do not play, they will have no consciousness and no spirit.
Those of you who worked with Adnan, know firsthand how often he incorporated play in his workshops.
He choreographed elaborate belly dance shows breaking us into small groups by height -- each doing a veil dance routine complimentary to our size.
We spent hours sewing together bras and belts of long glass beads and shiny sequins, flowing skirts, and light-as-air veils.
Then there were the funny impromptu theater productions with imaginative props and inventive costumes. One featured Adnan’s “Beauty Parlor” which transformed you from tense and ugly into radiant and beautiful. Another favorite was a show about the Uber cows threatening to take over the world.
Let us not forget the sing-alongs with Janet or the weekly Sinbad movies with pans of popcorn.
Then there were Adnan’s funny stories, like Wild Bill Hickock and the French Bread, read with appropriate cowboy and French accents by Janet Norquist.
Sometimes we can make the mistake of thinking that spirituality is all serious business. Growing up Catholic, I worked diligently to be a good girl -- avoiding impure thoughts (whatever they were) and saying my prayers. After all, our "savior" suffered and died on the cross to redeem us from sin! Serious business indeed!
And don't Buddhists believe that human life is a cycle of suffering and rebirth that we can escape only by achieving a state of enlightenment (nirvana)? Sounds pretty serious to me.
Bring on more play! Life and spirit are much more enjoyable when infused with laughter and fun. This is what Adnan taught us in his work.
And . . . he also taught the rhythm of contraction and expansion necessary for spiritual development. So Sufi work is not all play. But for many of us raised on an ethic of hard work and no pain, no gain. . . play is often the first thing we forget to include.
The good news is that Tamsin is continuing the tradition of play in her Sufi teaching. The dance circle this summer often began with Janet Norquist satirizing the dramatic tone of the dance music with exaggerated Diva movements.
Maybe it is because we are older or fewer, or no longer worried about Adnan judging us, but there seems to be a lot less competition between the dancers. There is much less effort to outdo each other and much more fun!
Here's a private link to a video of veil dancing play: https://vimeo.com/1002176984/b7ac68061e?share=copy
On my last day, we had a musical concert with impromptu drumming. Lots of fun and a late-night feast of hummus, homemade pita, and Bagdad delight!
When doing slow movement or dance, I invite you to go easy and enjoy it. Put fun and pleasure into every gesture and see where it takes you. If it gets a little challenging, embrace that too.
Come join me for some Sufi Zoom play this Sunday, August 25, 8:00 am PDT, and Monday and Tuesday, August 26th and 27th at 10:30 am PDT.
Yes, I will be teaching Heinz’s Monday class next week, so use my link to participate.
The ZoomLINK: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88050735178?pwd=zkrVoc4Mtg0pSXtAAWmoCrHWQb2qb1.1
Don’t forget to use the password SUFI all in caps if you are asked for the password.
Be brilliant,
Dr. Michelle
Life Transformation Coach
Empowering Women to Reinvent Their Life After Loss
Secrets of Life and Death
