Whirling on my roof (Photo: Emily O'Dell)
Whirling with the world
Thanksgiving is sweeter than bounty itself.
One who cherishes gratitude does not cling to the gift!
Thanksgiving is the true meat of God’s bounty;
the bounty is its shell,
For thanksgiving carries you to the hearth of the Beloved.
— Rumi
I celebrated Thanksgiving today by whirling with Sufis in Beirut. The Sufis liked hearing about a holiday devoted just to giving thanks. The history of the holiday has long been of interest to me–from both sides of the fabled table. I used to spend my Thanksgivings as a child (and Indian princess) reading from a book written about the Native American (Creek) members of my family…
As I was reminded yesterday, the Arabic word for “turkey” in most places is “dik Rumi”–meaning “Roman fowl.” “Roman” in this case refers to the Eastern Roman Empire–i.e. Anatolia or Greece–which is why the poet Rumi was called Rumi too–the one from Rum–the one from Anatolia–(or, as the Sufis would say)–the one from the One…
