Photo by Emily O'Dell
Photo by EOD
In “Sharing the Sufis of Syria”, I mention a medieval Sufi tekke, or dervish lodge, which nestled in the middle of Damascus. Having spent time in tekkes in Turkey, Egypt, Syria and Central Asia, there’s no way I could choose a favorite–but when I came across this Ottoman dervish dwelling in Damascus, I was taken immediately with its exquisite arches–the turquoise mosaics above the doors–and, most of all, the chocolate and white checkered pattern on its facade. Part of the charm of this historic whirling dervish abode, I suppose, is that it’s at the foot of several tall apartment buildings–as you can see in the photo above…
This is a gathering of Lovers.
In this gathering,
there is no high, no low,
no smart, no ignorant,
no special assembly,
no grand discourse,
no proper schooling required.
There is no master, no disciple.
This gathering is more like a drunken party,
full of tricksters, fools, mad men and mad women.
This is a gathering of Lovers.
— Rumi
Photo by Emily O'Dell
