Dances of Peace with Rumi Poetry

As adults bow in a unity circle, Molly Maloney, 6, rests on the floor watching at Unity Christ Church in Surfside Beach on Sunday. About 50 people participating in the Rumi poetry reading and universal peace dances. Rumi was a poet in the thirteenth century. The event was jointly sponsored by Unity Christ Church and Meher Baba Circle of Friends. Janet Blackmon Morgan / jblackmon@thesunnews.com

Dances of Universal Peace: The Invocation ("Darood")

Toward the One,

The Perfection of Love,

Harmony and Beauty, The Only Being,

United with all the Illuminated Souls

Who form the embodiment of the Master,

The Spirit of Guidance.

The Clear Bead

The clear bead at the center

changes everything

there are no edges

to my loving now,

I have heard it said, there's a window

that opens from one mind to another.

But if there is no wall, there's no need

for fitting the window, or the latch. Rumi (Translated by Bly)

Solomon and all his Wives

They try to say what you are, spiritual or sexual? They wonder about Solomon and all his wives. In the body of the world,they say, there is a soul, and you are that. But we have ways within each other that will never be said by anyone. Rumi (translated by Bly)

The Guest House
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
As an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!
Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you out
for some new delight.
The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond

(translated by Coleman Barks)

The minute I heard my first love story,
I started looking for you, not knowing
how blind that was.
Lovers don't finally meet somewhere,
they're in each other all along.
Translator: Coleman Barks

Margaret Hiller of Unity Christ Church lights candles as others sit in a circle reading poetry at the church in Surfside Beach on Sunday. Janet Blackmon Morgan / jblackmon@thesunnews.com

People come and go at Unity Christ Church in Surfside Beach on Sunday.


Melinda Abeles (left) and Jan Joyner joke around while learning the movements of a peace dance.



About 50 people form a circle, touch palms and weave between each other in a dance.




Gabriel Sufi prays as people form a circle to begin a peace dance.





Anne-Marie Tobias pauses picking a direction to turn at the stain glass window of Unity Christ Church in Surfside Beach on Sunday.






Between chants of unity and poetry recitals, Dorothy Backus (left) and Andra Baylus laugh as they get confused on which way to turn during a peace dance