20/07/2024
One week ago I had my workshop Sufi Whirling Space in Kyiv, Ukraine.
It all started with the fact that Kyiv was incredibly hot. And by some miracle, I managed to move the venue from the 4th floor under the roof to the basement. It was very cool and safe there. Plus a perfect floor. It was exactly what was needed.
Then a miracle happened that my Facebook follower Chrystian Mobus, an American from California, whom I had never seen before in my life, came to my master class. On the way to Ukraine, he accidentally met my friend Oksana Danilyuk in Romania and brought me a gift from her.
For 2.5 years, I conducted my master classes exclusively in English and only with my partner (and husband) Dervish Aziz.
In addition, it was my first workshop in the Ukrainian language. Before I did in Russian language. But I was supposed to translate myself into English. And I already know many things in English, not in Ukrainian. So it was another challenge for the brain.
For the first time in my life, I alone conducted zikr (this is the repetition of the names of God) and gave the technique of whirling in the Mevlavi tradition (Turkish school).
During this part the lights were turned off very mystically and it was very symbolic that when we started to whirl the lights came back on. And it was until the end of the event.
Another incredible surprise was Lesya Roy's offer to play Sufi music with musicians I had never seen before. 4 years ago, Alimah Chichibabina and Yunus Miskin organized the Sufi group Nari Ashk in Kyiv. I was sure that the band ceased to exist in 2021, but I did not know that the seeds had germinated. Many thanks to all the musicians. It was incredibly powerful.
I also used cards called "Excuse to Celebrate" from my previous job in the US at People I've Loved.
And deep gratitude to my dear friend Juliya Imish. She is always in touch, she supported this idea of a master class and helped put everything together, made a poster. And she keeps my skirts in Kyiv while I travel around the world.
Thank you Iryna Antoniuk for the tea and your presence.
Another interesting fact is that on February 20 in 2022, I held my last master class before the full-scale invasion with Aziz in this place, next to Sofia of Kyiv.
Now the circle has closed and I have opened this space in a new capacity.
Thanks to everyone who joined.
I am very grateful for this opportunity.
I believe that Ukraine WILL WIN and we will celebrate our Freedom.
