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Sufi Elders, Mystic Musicians, Performers and Facilitators

DARVESHA

DARVESHA VICTORIA MACDONALD
(USA)
Murshida - Sufi Ruhaniat International

Darvesha Victoria MacDonald is a Murshida in the Sufi Ruhaniat International lineage, a Ziraat Experienced Farmer, and a Buddhist practitioner. What Darvesha teaches is based on her understanding and experience of interdependence arising originally in her Buddhist practice. Her teaching encompasses themes of sustainability, deep ecology, simplicity, sensory awareness, movement awareness, mindful eating, and feminine spirituality. When it comes to personal growth practice she tries to create a space in which students and mureeds are able to look at where there is self-deception blocking their direct experience of the Ultimate. She draws on practices from all 3 branches of Buddhism and from the Inayati lineage of Pir-o-Murshid Hazrat Inayat Khan. Darvesha is a Senior Mentor of the Dances of Universal Peace. She has served as Chair of the Guidance Council since June 2007 and as President of the current DUP International board of directors since January 2008. She has travelled extensively worldwide teaching and leading the Dances. Her major focus for the last 20 years has been seeding the Dances in South America and encouraging local leadership and mentorship. Her areas of special interests in leading are the Aramaic work of her Sufi guide Saadi Neil Douglas Klotz, the dances of the divine feminine, and zikr.

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ROXANA CAMPOS ARRAYA
(CHILE)
Medicine Woman

Roquita works with Four archetypes; The Maiden, The Mother, The Witch, The Elder, Four lunar phases, Four seasons. Chilean actress graduated from the School of Theater of University of Chile, who has traveled around the world with the Grand Circus Theatre Company and participated in the recovery of democracy in her country. Parallel to this she began to awaken in her Inner Path, starting with her own healing (internal and external), which brought her to experience in the Amazon jungle of Peru with several shamans with Earth’s medicines. And She met great Masters who initiated me in various ​ Sacred Paths of the Goddess, meditation, yoga, Quantic healing, Reiki, Zen Massage, Shamanism, Tantra, Sexology and she is a Certified Leader of the Dances of Universal Peace, Peace Activist, Women’s Circle Leader, Moon Dancer, Sahumadora, Professor of Ovarian Breathing, Doula (formed with Michel Odent and Guadalupe Trueba), Co-Founder of the Matríztico Circle, Moonmother. ​ Currently She travel through Chile and around the world, initiating women in the sacred fire , making offerings to the spirits and elements of Nature ,Our sacred Mother and facilitating Dances of Universal Peace . ​ BLISS, La Posada de la Abuela.

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ISSA BABA
(TÜRKİYE)
Chisty Sufi Order

Shaykh Issa Nessim Baba. A native of California, Issa baba spent ten years between there and Turkey focusing on studying the rich tradition old Sufi music in the centuries-old Sufi lodges of Istanbul. He is the son and successor of the late Ibrahim Baba in the Ajmeri Chishti and Qadiri Sufi lineages, serving a community that is based in Turkey but has members around the world. The spiritual path which he represents is grounded in the teachings of Hazrati Moinuddin Chishti, Khawaja Gharib Nawaz, the Friend of the Poor, who taught a message of openness of heart to all manifestations of the Divine.

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    MAHMOUD CHOUKI
    (MOROCCO)

    Master guitarist, Multi-instrumentalist and Composer

    Mahmoud Chouki (Morocco, 1984) is a master guitarist, multi-instrumentalist and composer currently living and working in New Orleans. His art draws together music from several different international contexts to explore how music may speak across cultural divides. His own compositions incorporate musical influences from across the globe, ranging from European classical, Andalusian from Southern Spain, Levantine music from the Middle East, Maghrebian music from North Africa, Latin American music and jazz from the United States. Integrating sounds and rhythms from many different cultures, Chouki combines classical guitar with instruments such as the loutar, the oud, an oriental lute; the Algerian mandole, the Bağlama saz, the banjo, and a variety of percussion instruments.  is the consulting curator of music performances at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Most recently, he composed the music score for the 2021 Sundance Award winning film, “Ma Belle, Ma Beauty,” directed by New Orleans based filmmaker, Marion Hill. Also in 2021, Chouki was awarded 2020’s “Best Emerging Artist” by OffBeat Magazine’s annual “Best of the Beat”, Chouki recently was awarded 2022 “Best World Artist”

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    ASHIRA (SHIRI) GURFINKEL
    (ISRAEL)
    Singer, Vocal Artist, Vocal Sound Healer

    Leading workshops, song circles and ceremonies of spiritual, emotional and physical transformations through our voice. In her workshops, Ashira is Using Shamanic methods, Tribal and Sacred singing, breaths, movement, and ancient prayers with an intuitive language of the soul. Leader of the "Neshamani" tribal and World Folklore choir, Israel Ashira graduated from Tel-Aviv University with a B.A in theatre and an M.F.A in directing, with a focus on research of ritual theatre. She is a certified Therapist in Bio-energy, Reflexology and Theta-Healing. Was initiated by Shaman White Eagle from Alaska during their Sacred Sound Healing tour in Europe.

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    TÜMATA
    (TÜRKİYE)
    The Group for the Research and Promotion of Turkish Music

    TÜMATA was founded in 1976 with the aim of researching and promoting the birth, development, therapeutic value, repertoire and instrument richness of Turkish music. It was founded by Rahmi Prof. Dr. Oruç Güvenç. After operating under Istanbul University Ethnomusicology Research and Application Center between 1991 and 1995, it continued its activities as the Turkish Music Research and Promotion Unit at Marmara University Turkic Studies Institute. The repertoire, performance styles, dances, clothing and decorations, socio-cultural and psychological resources of Turkish music, which is claimed to have a history of at least 6,000 years, and the application materials of music therapy rediscovered in modern medicine are the general areas of activity of TÜMATA. For this purpose, six centers were established in Mannheim, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Madrid and Barcelona, ​​and a school training music therapist was opened in Rosenau, Austria. The first graduates of this school received their diplomas with the Turkish music concert they gave at the Sultan Bayezid II Hospital in Edirne in October 1995. Very respected Teacher RAHMİ Oruç Güvenç’s two daughters Süyümbike and Kanikey aims to walk their Fathers path and spread all this richness of Turkish Maqam music, hymns and Middle Asian Music with their therapeutic approach.

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    TUNCAY KORKMAZ 
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Contemporary Sufi Poet, Singer, Song Writer, Composer

    Tuncay is a contemporary Sufi poet, researching the golden ratio and the healing frequencies of Nature and in all living beings including birds and flowers. He was born in 1978 in Istanbul. Studied at Yıldız Technical University of Faculty of Art Design. He graduated from the Composition department. Bands he played with and their albums, from Anima/ Musician Melodies / Andan içeri Tuncay, who filled the hearts with hymns, to the sacred instruments he played; He gives life to the harmonica, guitar and oud with his voice. Lover Tuncay, whose deepest musical pursuit is to express Yunus Emre's poems through music, gives workshops on music and harmonica, touches the spirit of music in every being, gives pentatonic music concerts to pregnant and baby mothers.

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    ÖZGÜR BABA 
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Ethnic Musician

    Meet the wise white bird we call him "baba of freedom" His heart rhymes and sound of his cura invites heaven on earth with rainbow bridges. Özgür Baba is a Turkish folk musician and singer. He plays the cura baglama, a traditional Turkish string enstrument. His music is an enchanting, minimalist interpretation of old, traditional Turkish folk songs and his own music. He also uses a small karnatic percussion called Kanjira.

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    BATUHAN POLAT
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Musician, Singer, Song Writer

    The one who whistles his words harmoniously to the strings of love Batuhan, the bird that lands on our ear. ​ Born into a musical family, he started playing the guitar when he was 9 years old. he started singing in high school and never stopped. Polat, who is still continuing his education at the Music Department of Bilgi University, gives concerts with his different poetic music where he sings the songs he has written for the last eight years, and released some albums.

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    ERTUĞRUL  KÜÇÜKBAYRAKTAR
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Multi-instrumentalist, Musician

    He is a multi-instrumentalist musician who had the opportunity to perform many ethnic instruments he has learned with both authentic and modern approaches during his far travels around the world. He conducts musical researchs and incorporate local music, also takes part in the Nani Nani project with this vision.

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    AGDER SANCHEZ ITZTACMITL
    (MEXICO)
    Medicine Man

    Mexican healer. With 20 years of experience, following the medicine path of his father meets these path at the age of 8. He is a Sacred Chanupa (Sacred pipe) carrier, Vision quester and Sun dancer, a dedicated roadman of Camino Rojo (Red Path Shamanic way), Medicine man holding Temazcal and Hikuri (Grandpa) ceremonies, he was adapted by Yuwipi man Cristopher Long. He carries his wisdom, the ancestral altar of sacred medicines and mythic stories of creation to India, North and South America.He is sharing these ancient ways of connections also in Turkey since 2016.

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    ELİF ÖZKOÇ
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Sacred Seven Shamanic Arts

    She is a graduate of Fine Art Academy, Mimar Sinan University in Istanbul. in 1998 she moved to New York. in 2006, She completed a 3 year program of the Blue Stone Institute for Healing Arts, founded by a healer of Native American descent, George Kamana Hunter. This deep and intensive learning and remembering in BlueStone institute of Healing Arts, allowed her to get in touch and re-awaken her ancient wisdom as a healer. After 11 years of deep healing, letting go and remembering in NewYork, she returned to Istanbul in 2009. In 2013 she met Patricia Whitebuffalo, who combines her Shamanic tradition and her deep connection with the Earth , as a teacher, therapist, energy practitioner and musician to guide and heal others for personal and planetary transformation. Immediately upon her meeting, Elif was invited to the “Walking the Shaman’s Path” Personal Transformational Training Program by Patricia, as an apprentice. After a unique and extensive 3-year training program specialising in the utilisation of Patricia's perceptive blend of Shamanic and hands-on-healing science techniques with the teachings of “The Wheel of Awakening,” her complete model for personal transformation and SELF realisation, Elif became one of the teachers in the same program in France in 2015 and is still teaching in the same program. She is a pipe carrier, who is dancing with the Sun and a Dervish who is praying to unite within the heart of the hearts through sacred ways of life. Her energy medicine is based on creating a sacred medicine wheel and healing rituals, by inviting and activating the spirit of the sacred directions, the sacred elements, animal spirits & spirit guides and becoming a clear channel for healing energy to come through​ ​"this is the moment, love is the way"

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    SÜMEYRA UĞUR
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Musician, Song Writer

    Being born as a music lover, Sümeyra always loved singing songs in her childhood. Yet, she thought it was only musicians' job to make music and never tried playing instruments till the age of 25. Her story started with The Beatles musical play "I wanna sing my song" that she organized as a year-end show with her students and friends in 2013. While writing this musical play, she never knew that one day she would hit the road to sing songs leading to her spiritual path. At the age of 25, she started to play the ukulele and left home to find her voice. In 2019, her path crossed with Tuncay Korkmaz and thus journey into music began. Since 2022, she has been composing the poems of Yunus Emre who has an important place among Anatolian sufi lovers and in Turkish literature. Her intention is to spread the unheard words of Yunus Emre among lovers. Lately, her focus in on their children's songs band Nani Nani Çocuklar which aims to make music for children, babies and parents expecting babies, with the instruments tuned in nature compatible frequencies by applying pentatonic musical approach.

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    RİLA KÖKSAL
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Musician, Song Writer, Ritual and Experience Designer

    I have always believed that what we seek is inside of us. A treasure to be discovered by listening our heart, love is the way to connect with our essence, holding the hand inside others, finding the road to our home, ascending together and sharing the path of growing. My life has always been a search for the divine truth and a willing to find the garden of alchemy where all the prayers blossom. I have Born in 1981, Studied Philosophy, Theater , Filmmaking, practiced Meditation, Sufism, Kabbalah, Amazonian Shamanism, Native American Red Path and ethnic Archaic music. I have learnt many ancient rhythmic patterns played with Al Kindi Ensemble gave concerts all around the world with my frame drum. The Rhythms and the ancient tunes has opened a portal for me to tap into Music of Spheres. During my travels in South America I met a lot of spiritual masters and learnt to work with the forces of Nature, self discovery and ancient healing techniques. I worked with voice healers, composers and therapists , released an album in Spain called Spreading the wings, Organized many women circles and healing ceremonies of Toltec, Quechua, Mapuche, Amazonian and Lakota medicine. ​Collecting different prayers and power songs from all around ancient paths which leads to devotion became my way to create and share a common language of love through music and dances of universal peace with my sacred instruments . My life path is dedicated to open spaces to inspire lovers to find their unique essence to use self expression to create a harmonious community and build a conscious evolution. ​The Conference of Birds Gathering vision was a revelation to fulfill this purpose to unite the spiritual paths,practices and songs together in the sacred temple of the birds .

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    UYGAR KARADENİZ
    (TÜRKİYE)
    Music Lover, Song Writer, Inter-traditional Meditation Guide

    Studied Electrical and Electronics Engineering, earned his master’s degrees from Middle East Technical University and spent 20 years of his carrier working as Systems Engineer, Consultant, Program Manager and Regional Director on advanced military communication technology. He met with Mindfulness Meditation concept based on Vipassana Tradition at 2010. After an intense practice period, he observed dramatically positive changes in his life. Until then he speared most of his time experiencing and working deeply on different kind of meditation techniques. He travelled many countries for this purpose. In time he started to share his experience with people around him and started to provide support and guidance for their meditation practices. ​​Had a strong intention to find ways to solve many common problems of urban living with the potential of mindfulness based meditation. At 2018 he finalized his professional carrier, turn back to Turkey and founded Acaryasati Meditation Academy. He is teaching meditation, designing specially crafted guided meditations and meditation programs. He is very attracted to Sufizm and harmonizing Vipassana with Sufizm. He is also a Mindfulness Alliance certified meditation teacher.

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    MITIA KLEIN
    (FRANCE)
    Sound Healer, Speaker

    Born and brought up in the International community of Auroville in South India to French parents, I grew up in a diverse multi-cultural social playground. At 17, I stopped school and set out on the road across India for 6 months as a free-lance photographer and blog writer and then came back to Auroville and worked in education, photography and community building processes. I studied Ancient Thai Massage at the Healing Hands Center and learnt how to work with Tibetan bowls. In 2020, I founded « Espace Anahata », a sound healing, yoga and holistic practices studio in Paris. The project evolved into a nomadic wellness concept called « Move & Sound » that we founded with my friend Lily, blending massage, yoga, sound healing, retreats, an online studio etc.

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    BITA AFSHAR MOGHADDAM
    (IRAN)
    Seven Valleys of Love

    Bita was born in Khorasan, Iran. Has been active in performance, research and education for about 17 years in the field of ritual and Sufi dances around the world Her main focus is in the field of leading and teaching the way of Sama(hearing) , which is mostly associated with its philosophy, technique and Tariqat. This contemporary education comes from old knowledge One of them is Attar's book Mantiq al-Tair,(conference of birds) which in this regard has innovated the Sama in seven cities of love which uses different methods along with Sama and whirling method, such as dance therapy and dynamic meditation and play therapy, story therapy, dance of universal peace , and repetition of dhikr and poetry another her education is training semah with zikr that main focus is on the properties of Allah zikr along with Sama Since 2019, she has been the leader of dance of universal peace , which has formed various circles. ​ During her activity with children, she has also been active in the field of ritual dances and has been their executive leader in various festivals such as brave kids.

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    Dr. CHIRAG ASWANI
    (INDIA)
    Holistic Chiropractor

    Imagine your body, mind, and soul intertwined, struggling under the weight of imbalance. Dr. Chirag Aswani, a renowned healer, brings clarity and realignment, restoring harmony. His compassionate approach integrates ancient and modern techniques, helping thousands achieve renewed vitality and peace. With nearly two decades of experience, Chirag has treated over 50,000 patients, specializing in natural, non-invasive healing. Awarded Best Healer of 2021-22 by the Indo-Euro Association of Healers, he believes in empowering the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive. *Main Healing Modalities:* - Vedic & Thai Chiropractic Care - Craniosacral Therapy Additional healing modalities - Hypnotherapy - Reiki Healing - Pranic Healing - Crystal Healing - Access Consciousness - Lama Fera - Ho’oponopono - Gemstone Healing - Candle Healing - Body Process Healing - Acupressure - Tantra and Mantra Healing Dr. Chirag’s mission is to help individuals reconnect with their innate ability to heal, guiding them towards a life of balance, freedom from pain, and energetic alignment. Chirag will be at the conference of birds for the first time offering sessions in the wellness room between the 9-13th of October. For session booking and further information please get in touch with Isahela Peres on +4366475542820.

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    NEOVI VLASSOPOULOU
    (GREECE) 
    Deep Tissue and Relaxation Massage Therapist

    A unique massage experience tailored exactly to every individual's needs, leading to a state of perfect happiness. Where Neovi combines her knowledge of the physical & spiritual body, the meridian system and works her magic hands with her intuition to nurture you back to alignment. You will float off of the massage table in a state of Elysium, the perfect state of happiness and bliss

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    AÇELYA SEMA GÜLTEKİN
    (TURKİYE)
    Felt Artist and Puppeteer

    It all started with a dream and then a journey to that dream! I am a follower of my heart that beats :) I dedicate myself to produce and color life! After working as a costume designer for many years, I moved to village life and met felt. I put felt in many forms. Felt puppets fascinated me the most. Every character born in the workshop started to whisper something to me. They told me their stories, the land they came from, they sang their songs :) And I became the messenger at the gate of the land of Efsunya. Being the puppeteer girl who brought them from that land to this world has turned my life into a fairy tale. Nowadays, I live in the world of costume design - practice and puppetry... Producing, being in the field of creation is indispensable for me... Art is a language we speak to life. A meditation. A bridge between us and the outside world. A space that reminds us that we are alive. While working in the workshop, I put an emotion inside me into a tangible and visible form. I invite the unknown to the world of the known. I think the big thing that feeds me in this life is to bring together colorful fabrics and felts by pouring my creative energy out of my hands. And now it is a great pleasure for me to share all the experience I have gained on this journey with everyone, big and small, and to be the aunt tailor of children...

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    EVA EVERS
    (NETHERLANDS)
    Spiritual Retreat Facilitator, Sound Healer and Breathwork Guide

    Eva is a spiritual retreat facilitator, coach, sound healer, and breathwork guide. She has a background in transformational and psychedelic integration, Reiki, NLP, and several coaching modalities for both individuals and teams. Eva is a student of shamanic lineages from both North and Central America. She is the founder of the Institute of Ancestral Ceremonies, an organization dedicated to expanding indigenous knowledge and ceremonies in collaboration with traditional healers and their communities based out of Colorado, USA, and Mexico. Eva splits her time between the Netherlands and Mexico, where she lives with her husband, son, and dogs.

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      ROSA CHICO DE LA CRUZ
      (MEXICO)
      Marakame Healer

      Rosa Chico de la Cruz, whose Wixarika name is Tukima, meaning the sparks and the power of fire, was born on March 15 and is now 60 years old. She is deeply respected among her people as a Marakame, a traditional healer. Unlike those who become Marakames through study, Rosa was born with this gift. Since the age of 8, she has been offering powerful healing to her community, and over time, her deep wisdom has been widely recognized. She has dedicated her life to healing souls and honoring the Earth. Her strength and sacred connection lie in the elements—water, fire, earth, animals, and nature. Through ancient sacred songs, she is able to connect with her ancestors. Her chants are full of power, reverence, and deep spiritual connection. Rosa comes from the Sierra of Jalisco, from a village called Tierra Azul in San Sebastián. She is a woman who carries light, wisdom, and healing for the world.

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        AYŞENUR
        (TURKIYE)
        Child Development Specialist

        I’m Ayşenur — a child development specialist who is deeply inspired by children and childhood. My path naturally led me to early childhood education, where I encountered alternative educational philosophies such as Montessori and Reggio Emilia. I’ve received training in these areas both in Turkey and abroad. From Yalova to Istanbul, then Van — one day, I found myself in Fethiye. I love being in touch with nature, learning through play, dreaming big, and exploring new ideas. I truly believe in the magic of learning, discovering, and imagining together with children. And yes, I’m still on the journey. A journey I hope will never end. These days, I’m living close to nature, continuing to study alternative education, eager to learn, try, and explore more. I wonder what awaits me, what calls out to me... and I follow with curiosity.

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          MALIKA ELENA SALAZAR
          (COLOMBIA)
          Senior Mentor- Sufi Ruhaniat International

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            Roxana
            Issa Baba
            Mahmoud
            Shiri
            TÜMATA
            ÖZGUR BABA
            AGDER
            Tuncay
            BATUHAN
            Ertugrul
            Elif
            Sumeyra
            Rila
            Uygar
            Mitia
            Bita
            Chirag
            Neovi
            ACELYA
            EVA
            Malika
            Marakame
            Aysenur
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            +905373828200

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