Mevlevi Sufi dervishes practice a physically demanding form of active meditation where they spin in continuous, perfect circles for hours while wearing tall felt hats and wide white skirts.

A closer look

Mevlevi Sufi dervishes practice a physically demanding form of active meditation where they spin in continuous, perfect circles for hours while wearing tall felt hats and wide white skirts. This mystical spinning is meant to symbolize the planets orbiting the sun, allowing the dancer to completely abandon their personal ego and become an empty vessel to receive and distribute divine love to the universe. To achieve this trance without violently vomiting all over the temple, they train rigorously to keep their eyes unfocused and their bodies perfectly balanced on their left foot. It is honestly incredibly impressive that they managed to turn extreme, prolonged dizziness into a highly respected path to spiritual enlightenment, proving that if you spin around fast enough and wear a cool outfit, people will assume you are talking directly to God