A whirling dervish is a practitioner of the Sufi tradition known as the Mevlevi Order, famous for its practice of whirling as a form of active meditation and spiritual exercise. This practice symbolizes the soul's ascent towards God and reflects the Sufi belief in the importance of achieving spiritual ecstasy through movement and music, particularly during rituals called 'Sema.' The whirling dance serves as both a form of worship and an artistic expression that intertwines with Sufi poetry and philosophy.
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