Michael J. Reinhart

Michael J. ReinhartMichael J. ReinhartMichael J. Reinhart
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Michael J. Reinhart

Michael J. ReinhartMichael J. ReinhartMichael J. Reinhart
  • Home
  • Bio
  • Stories
    • Africa Central America
    • Baruti: A Photo Essay
  • Prints
  • Podcast
  • Books & Gear
  • Galleries
    • Humanitarian Portfolio
    • Turkey 2021
    • The Sea
    • Keyna
    • Faces of the Maya
  • Video
  • Social Media
  • Contact

Expedition Turkey 2021

Cappadocia Turkey

The underground city of Kaymakli

Four thousand years ago, the people inhabiting what is now Cappadocia, a region in central Turkey, excavated an underground refuge to defend themselves against marauding bandits.  As the centuries past, the digging continued and this refuge grew


In the early centuries AD, Christians used these rooms and tunnels to escape Roman persecution.  The labyrinth of tunnels and rooms grew to a depth of eight levels.  


Kaymakli's underground rooms include wineries, stables for livestock, living quarters, storage rooms and churches. The narrow tunnels, blocking stones and booby traps kept the people safe in times of peril.  It is estimated that up to 3,500 people could live here.

Photo gallery of The underground city of Kaymakli

The underground city of Kaymakli

    Video

    The Sema: The Whirling Dervish Ceremony

     The Sema, also more popularly known as the whirling dervish ceremony, is  the inspiration of 13th of the Sufi mystic and Islamic scholar Rumi.   Believed to have been born in a province of Afghanistan, Rumi settle in  the Anatolia region of what is now central Turkey.  (Note: I refer to  Rumi as a "Turkish" holy man in the narration to keep the geography  simple.)   Rumi became a "Molvi" (teacher) and he attracted many  followers and the Mewlewi Sufi order was founded after his death.   Rumi's teachings spread throughout the Islamic world.  


    The Sema, more commonly known as the Whirling Dervish Ceremony, is a  religious practice attributed to Rumi and the Mewlewi order.  This  ceremony has seven parts with each part symbolizing a stage in a mystic  journey to perfection.  Turning towards the truth, the devotee's seek to  grow through love by deserting the ego and to return to be of better  service to all creation.  


    The practitioners, called Dervishes, are dressed in a purposeful way.   The tall hat represents the ego's tombstone.  Their white skirts  represent the ego's death shroud.  The Dervishes are spiritually reborn  when they remove their black cloaks.  While whirling, the Dervish open their arms.  Their right hands are  directed to the sky ready to receive God's will and the left hand is  directed to the earth.  Gazing up, they turn from right to left pivoting  around the heart.  Revolving around the heart, the Dervish seek to  embrace all mankind and all creation with love.  


    In 1925 the Turkish government ordered the dissolution of all Sufi  orders and strictly limited the practice  of the Sema.  Despite this,  the Mevleviyah order continues to exist and practice the whirling  dervish ceremony. 



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