Fragrant Dervish

The Fragrant Flow

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:15:53 -0700

Join me and talented acupuncturist Marie Najjar of Flora and Fana Acupuncture at Willow Street Yoga Center for an afternoon of community acupuncture and aromatherapy. At Willow Street Yoga for the The Fragrant Flow workshop, part of the Sufism & Daoism Healing Series.

Sunday, July 27, 2025 • 3:00-4:30 PM

Immerse yourself in a sensory journey of stillness and subtle energy with The Fragrant Flow, a unique healing workshop weaving together the philosophies of Sufism and Daoism.

This gathering offers a peaceful container for gentle restoration through community acupuncture, poetry, and aromatherapy—practices thoughtfully cultivated to support harmony, purpose, and well-being. Grounded in ancient traditions, these shared healing modalities invite deep inner reflection and energetic attunement.

Facilitated by Yasemin Kasim Luebke, Aromatherapist, Author, Founder, Sufi Aromatherapy and Dr. Marie Najjar, DAc, LAc, Doctor of Acupuncture.

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Beautiful Patience

Tue, 15 Apr 2025 19:08:54 -0700

Beautiful Patience (sabr jameel) is a noble and graceful way of enduring life's trials. It is highlighted in the story of Prophet Yaqub (Jacob) a.s. when he faced the sorrow of being separated from his son, Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) a.s. In 12:18 of the Holy Quran Prophet Yaqub a.s. says, "So ˹I can only endure with˺ beautiful patience! It is Allah’s help that I seek to bear your claims." Beautiful patience is about enduring hardships with dignity, hope, and a steadfast heart, knowing that Allah ﷻ's support is with those who are patient.
The essential oils used in this blend are inspired by two of Allah ﷻ's Divine Names: Al-Jamil: The Source of Beauty and As-Sabur: The All-Patient.
3 drops of Yuzu (Citrus junos)
2 drops of Damiana (Turnera diffusa)
2 drop of Valerian (Valeriana officinalis / wallichii)
If you need more than 6 drops in your blend, multiply to scale up.
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5 EOs to Connect with Allah ﷻ's Forgiveness

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 15:40:09 -0700

Essential oils extracted from flowers open our hearts and help us blossom. Essential oils in the Forgiveness category gently clear away negativity in the form of guilt and shame. They are extracted from ray/disc flowers of the Asteraceae family and have an agrestic, herbal aroma. (Rather than the evocative, heady aroma of traditional floral essential oils like Jasmine, Rose, and Ylang Ylang.)
These oils are:
German Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla)
Roman Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis)
Helichrysum (Helichrysum italicum or Helichrysum angustifolium)
Blue Tansy (Tanacetum annuum)
Blue Yarrow (Achillea millefolium ct. chamazulene)
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Sufi Book of Essential Oils now available!

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 15:50:58 -0700

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Salt from the Tomb of Hz. Ateşbaz Veli

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:01:50 -0700

Hazrat Ateşbâz-ı Veli (Yûsuf bin İzzeddin/Şemseddin Yusuf) was the cook of Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī (Mevlana/Rumi) and an influential figure in the Mevlevi Order. He died in 1285 AD (the Seljuk era) at the age of 100. His tomb is in Konya, Türkiye.
Not only the cook, Hz. Ateşbaz Veli was also Mevlana’s confidante. He traveled from Khorasan to Karaman and then to Konya with Mevlana's father, Bahaeddin Veled, serving him, Mevlana, and Mevlana’s son, Sultan Veled.
As for how Şemseddin was named Ateşbaz: one day there was no wood left in the stove at the dervish lodge. Mevlana instructed Şemseddin to put his feet in the stove, where the wood would be. Şemseddin put his feet there and flames began to rise from his feet. While staring at this marvel, Şemseddin questioned whether his feet would burn. Because of his doubt, his left toe began to burn.
When Mevlana heard of this, Şemseddin felt ashamed. Şemseddin cut off the burnt toe by placing his right foot on his left foot. After that day, Şemseddin became known as Ateşbaz: the one who plays with fire. The start of the whirling sema, when dervishes place their right toes on their left toes, harkens back to this story.
Mevlana prayed over Hz. Ateşbaz Veli, saying, "May those who take from your salt find serenity; may those who visit you heal. May their food increase but not be lacking, may it overflow but not spill.” Because of this, Hz. Ateşbaz Veli’s salt continues to be cultivated to present day (by mixing the original salt with more salt, and continuing the process.) The keeper of Hz. Ateşbaz Veli’s tomb provides this salt for visitors to take home, mix with their salt at home to cultivate for their own use. This is the salt I’ve brought back and mixed to make more.

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EmPOWERed

Wed, 27 Oct 2021 05:12:27 -0700

Hi there. It's been a long time since I posted. I found a few more resources to read on the 99 Divine Names, which I wanted to incorporate for Al 'Aziz, and that took some time. This project is such a labor of love - and a work in progress - that I am finding my way through it as I go along. And as I go, I grow, meet new people, join different gatherings, find new books, all which I would like to incorporate. I actually met (one in real life and one online) two Sufi women who live in my neighborhood. It is so interesting how the more specific I am about what I want to put into the world - which is the interplay of Sufism and Aromatherapy - the more people like-minded (like-hearted!) people I meet. Allaha şükür!
One thing I have been thinking about is our relationship with the Divine Names. As we meditate upon these Divine Names, these divine attributes of God, we are not trying to become God or become independent of God or usurp God's attributes (as if that would be possible...). Rather, we are trying to activate these qualities that are already inherent in us. And by getting a glimpse of these qualities within us, we can 1) appreciate and praise that so much more in God and 2) offer that part of ourselves in service to others.
I remember when I became pregnant with my son I was overjoyed, but panicked. My anxiety was off-the-charts terrible. I know some women who have told me that they had wonderful pregnancies in that they felt this joy - but most of my joy was eclipsed by sheer panic. I was terrified that I would not be able to carry my baby to term - not because of anything the doctor said. - but because of my panic. Having a baby was my dream come true and it was terrifying.
Once my son was born, the panic became worse. Within two weeks I had lost my mind - I am not exaggerating at all. I am thankful that I live in a time and a place where I did not experience any shame or stigma from having a post-partum mood disorder. In fact, I was wondering why they hadn’t locked me up. But I was treated and supported and worked my way through it.
As a mom, though, the panic of having your heart, your life, and your world with someone else never goes away. I try really hard not to let my mind go down that rabbit hole. And, I pray. I didn’t know this mantra / dhikr / zikr / remembrance at the time - but had I known, I am sure I would have been repeating it non-stop. And had I know about essential oils at the time, I...Read More

Faith

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 05:09:35 -0700

Suggesting Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi) is difficult for me because it is critically endangered. It is no longer a sustainable option to use for aromatherapy and essential oil meditations. It is unfortunate. But, there is no other oil that I find comparable. Some suggest Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) or Valerian (Valeriana officinalis), but it's really not the same. Spikenard is exquisite, and has a profound connection to Jesus. Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus’ feet before the Last Supper with what was most likely olive oil infused with spikenard roots:
Spikenard has been used for meditation and prayer - the foundations of faith - for centuries. The sixth name of God, according to Islam and Sufism, is al Mu'min, which translates to One who provides Faith. Faith so strong you feel secure and assured.

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Peaceful Patchouli

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 05:06:53 -0700

The fifth name, or attribute, of God is Peace / the Giver of Peace, As-Salaam. As-Salaam-Alaikum & Wa-Alaikum-Salaam - one of my favorite greetings comes from Arabic - peace be with you and peace also with you.
Other times I’ve been greeted with peace - at church and at the end of yoga, om shanti, shanti, shanti.
I couldn’t resist - I chose Patchouli Pogostemon cablin because of its association with the peace movement of the 60's.
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Sanctuary

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 05:04:27 -0700

The fourth name of God is Al Quddus, defined as "The Holy" and "The Sacred." One of the things I try to remember when reading about the names of God is that at first they may seem to be describing a noun, but they also describe a verb. Meaning, God is so beyond our human comprehension that we would be limiting God if we viewed God simply as a noun - a being. God also includes verbs - forces and states of being. (And so much more...)
In his book The Sufi Book of Life:99 Pathways of the Heart for the Modern Dervish, Neil Douglas-Klotz describes the state cultivated by Al Quddus as "Sacred Space." What really struck me was this observation:
Totally resonates with me. Other than my yoga practice and my bike rides - where I am doing - I really haven't made space for myself for just being. Until now. Until I kicked my son out of our shared office. LOL. (Not as harsh as it sounds, but true.)