The Sufi Experience: beyond its monuments, its rich history, and the radiant exoticism that Morocco displays in front of those who visit it; beneath the hustle and bustle of its lively streets, and the sensuality of its everyday life, there’s a strong sense of spirituality, mysticism, and transcendence, expressing itself through ancient rituals and ceremonies which are only available to those who are genuinely interested in them. The true Moroccan soul is a very delicate thing; you have to qualify to be invited to enjoy it.
Sufi Ceremony in Fes
Not long ago, I was fortunate enough to attend a Sufi ceremony in Fes. Sufism is a dimension of Islam, and Fes is one of its most important centers; its followers see themselves as travelers embarked on a spiritual lifelong journey towards the divine, and this feeling governs even the smallest acts of their lives. Unlike other more conservative trends of Islam, it does not consider music and dance as undesirable distractions which prevent the soul from following its true path. On the contrary, they conceive them as metaphysical ambits where the encounter with the divine is true—and longed for—possibility.
It was Mustapha, one of our guides, who took me to his Sufi brotherhood. It was sunset, and the muezzin sang their call to prayer from the green-tiled minarets. We walked down several alleys of the medina until we stopped in front of the door of a house that looked like any other: naked walls, windowless. Then the first surprise came; when the door opened, I was ushered into a beautiful courtyard with tiled walls and floors, illuminated only by the flames of several candles and lamps. Incense perfumes were being burned; on a corner, a boy was preparing mint tea on a brazier with the gracious, seemingly effortless movements that are so important to the tea ritual.
We were offered tea, sat down, and five musicians, dressed in djellabas, came in, holding reed flutes and frame drums in their hands. Then the performance began.
The Music
It’s difficult to describe the music. To say that it’s monotonous and hypnotic would be to fall short. It’s more like a soft and repetitive melody that unwinds gradually through infinitesimal variations, supported by the beat of the drums. After a few minutes of listening to it, one finds oneself being invaded by distant memories that until that moment seemed lost forever. The feeling of peace and inner satisfaction is powerful and overwhelming. It’s not infrequent that participants in the ceremony fall into a trance.
Book a Private Ceremony
The ceremony can be privately enacted for discerning travelers with a genuine desire to reach a deeper understanding of Moroccan spirituality. If you think your clients might be interested in it, please do not hesitate to ask for further information about this and other out-of-the-box possibilities.
