A Whirling Dervish is a member of the Mevlevi Order, a Sufi religious group founded in the 13th century by the followers of the poet and mystic Rumi. This practice involves a form of physically active meditation, where participants spin in repetitive circles to achieve a trance-like state. The whirling symbolizes the spiritual journey of the soul toward perfection and unity with the divine. The dance is performed in a special ceremony called the Sema, which includes music, chanting, and the whirling itself. The Dervishes wear distinctive garments, including a tall hat called a sikke and a flowing white robe, representing the spiritual journey from the material world to the spiritual realm.