The Arts of the Soul, the Path of Beauty and Remembrance,
an eleven-day immersion in Turkiye for friends of Threshold.
The cost will be $3550. ($800 for single room supplement)
Write Fohzia at eyeoftheheart@sufism.org if you would like to join us on this trip and if there is a place available she will tell you to fill out the registration form.
We begin with a welcome dinner on Monday night, followed by one day in Istanbul with a special event, and then five nights at Yenice Vadi, an organic retreat center on the Datca peninsula (pictured above), near the Mediterranean coast, and then three nights in Konya, and finally returning to Istanbul on Thursday night for a special conclusion.
This year’s Turkey Trip will include a 5-day Creative Retreat during which we will have the options:
*to deepen in Sufi music with the participation of master Mevlevi musician Selçuk Gürez; * an introduction to Sema & “turning,” * several occasions of group Zikr, and a program with Kabir: * Finding Our Voice, an Exploration of Poetry and Writing as Spiritual Practice. Following our time in Datca, we’ll fly to Konya, the fountain head of our tradition, drinking from the “Presence” of Rumi and Shams for three nights, before returning to Istanbul for a closing night celebration. In case someone cannot take the full eleven nights, we will consider offering a 7 night (not including Konya) at a reduced price still to be determined.
In planning this year’s journey, we had to begin on Monday night instead of the usual Friday night. We were constrained by the availability of an appropriate retreat center for the heart of our trip , a place in a natural setting that we can wholly occupy ourselves, and that also had an appropriate meeting space with a floor suitable for turning. However, this has led to the discovery of the beautiful Yenice Vadi. What we have now planned is a new approach to a retreat in Turkey, by staying longer in one place where we can focus on Sufi culture and practice, deepening spiritually and creatively rather than touring several locations.
Rose Garden & Mevlana’s Dergah, Konya
For those who might not be able to take the full 11 nights, you may register for the first seven nights, and return to Istanbul on Monday evening* as the group transits to Konya via Istanbul airport. We do not offer a “Konya only” portion because adding a substantial number of people in the middle of the journey would detract from the “energetic coherence” of the group process.
How to Register for the core journey:
1) Please let her know if there is someone you are thinking of sharing a room with, but we will do our best to find a good room-mate for you – or let us know if you would prefer a single room (there may be limited availability). We expect a lot of interest in this trip, so don’t wait too long to register. Inshallah, it will be just the right moment for just the right amount of people. **Fohzia will let you know if there is still space at this moment, or add you to the wait list.
2) After you have received confirmation from Fohzia, you can use PayPal to make your $800 deposit for the core journey (for a shared double room) use the corresponding “Turkiye trip” deposit button.
A check is even better made out to Threshold Productions, 2775 Las Palmas Ave., Escondido, CA 92025
3) If you want a single room for the journey (and Fohzia has confirmed that one is available), you should also pay the single supplement of $800 at this time by using the deposit button a second time.
*Note: All initial deposits will be 75% refundable until August 5th, or possibly longer if there is a waiting list and someone to take your place.
4) Once your deposit has been received, you have a place “on the tekke bus”! Fohzia will send you a registration form that you can fill out and return to her.
Total land expenses for the main trip will be approximately $3550 for double occupancy including breakfasts, most lunches, and all dinners — this does not include your airfare to and from Istanbul that you will arrange on your own.
A second payment of $2550 will be due August 1. And then the balance of the costs (approximately $250 in cash) will be collected in lira or US dollars in Turkey as needed, paid to our bursar bashi to be used for donations and expenses incurred along the way. (You will probably wish to bring additional funds for some personal expenses, snacks, free time adventures including a couple of individual lunches, gifts, etc.) We will share more information by email.
Turkey 2024, Fethiye/Gocek, our group with some of the very friendly local staff of Kerpic Evler.
