Can a woman be a whirling dervish?
Women in Mevlevi Tradition: Can a Woman Become a Whirling Dervish? The Mevlevi order, with its deep roots in the Ottoman Empire, is a mystical order that continues to influence people today. One of the most well-known rituals of this order is the Sema ceremony. Sema is a form of dance that symbolizes the rotation of the universe and the human being's love for God. The dervishes who participate in these ceremonies are known as semazens. However, the question of whether a woman can become a semazen, both historically and today, is an intriguing topic. Historical Background Rumi, the founder...