A Garden of Sound Where Poetry, Ney & Deep House Bloom Together
🎼 About the Artist
Hakan Mengüç is a globally known Sufi composer, author, and ney musician whose spiritual and artistic works have reached millions. With over 3 million books sold in 15 languages and performances in more than 30 countries, Mengüç continues to inspire with his ability to blend ancient wisdom with modern sound.
🎧 The Track: Gülistan
Meaning “rose garden” in Persian and Turkish, “Gülistan” is a deeply evocative journey where mystical poetry, the soulful breath of the ney, and atmospheric deep house elements unite.
This track reflects a different emotional color in Hakan Mengüç’s musical palette — a piece that opens the door to introspection, healing, and transformation.
It’s more than music. It’s a sonic garden for the soul.
🔊 The Genre: Sufi Deep House
Blending spiritual depth with hypnotic beats, Gülistan stands at the crossroads of:
Sufi-inspired soundscapes
Electronic minimalism
Organic & Deep House textures
Mystical downtempo aesthetics
Perfect for meditative dance, breathwork journeys, or simply losing yourself in the poetry of sound.
📲 Available Now on All Major Platforms
Listen to “Gülistan” now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and more.
Let this sacred rhythm plant a rose in your heart.
A Mystical Blend of Sufi Soul & Deep Electronic Rhythms
🌿 The Artist: Bridging Ancient and Modern Worlds
Hakan Mengüç is an internationally renowned author, composer, and ney player, whose books have been translated into 15 languages and sold over 3 million copies. As a musical performer, he has graced the stages of over 30 countries — offering listeners a deep, healing sound inspired by Sufi spirituality.
🎧 The Track: Gel
“Gel” (meaning “Come”) is not just a song — it’s an invitation to an inner ritual.
Blending the sacred breath of the ney, grounding deep house textures, and poetic whispers by Hakan himself, the track explores how tradition and electronic expression can coexist to open the heart.
It’s a soundscape where stillness meets movement, and where the mystical meets the modern.
🌍 The Genre: Sufi Deep House
As part of Mengüç’s growing exploration into Sufi Deep House / Sufi House, this release expands the boundaries of spiritual music. It is perfect for lovers of:
Organic House
Spiritual Downtempo
Ethnic Electronica
Meditative Sound Journeys
📲 Now Available On All Platforms
“Gel” is now streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and all major digital platforms.
🦁 Lions… The majestic kings of the wild, symbols of strength and grace. For many, approaching these magnificent creatures is only a dream. But sometimes, life opens a door for those who dare to step in. I was lucky enough to walk through that door in South Africa.
🌍 During my training at the Limpopo Predators Park & Animal Rehabilitation Center, I not only observed lions but helped raise their cubs. It was a soulful experience—one that taught me more about love, responsibility, and surrender than any book ever could.
Protecting Cubs from Male Lions
In nature, male lions often harm cubs that aren’t their own. That’s why, in wildlife centers, cubs are separated from their mothers within the first few days. Yes, it sounds harsh—but in the wild, survival sometimes means making difficult choices.
Once separated, the cubs are bottle-fed with a special milk formula every four hours—200 ml each time.
Feeding Lion Cubs
The milk used is called “Lion Milk Replacer.” We add 600 ml of this powder into a blender, add water, and mix it until smooth. Then it’s poured into bottles and gently warmed in hot water before feeding.
The lion milk powder we used in AfricaThe blender we used in Africa
🍼 I remember waking up at 2 AM to feed the cubs. It was exhausting, especially when feeding the white lions. They were picky eaters and often refused the bottle. But in every struggle, I saw an invitation: to meet myself deeper.
Disinfecting the Bottles
Since the cubs are so young, hygiene is critical. Before feeding, we disinfect our hands in water mixed with a capful of bleach. After feeding, the bottles are washed and placed in a tub with Milton tablets to kill bacteria.
The tablet medicine placed into the tub containing the bottles
🧴 Life, like bottles, needs regular cleansing. Sometimes it’s not what we carry that’s heavy—it’s what we never clean out. Let go, refresh, begin again.
Helping Cubs with Toileting & Sleep
After every feeding, we help the cubs urinate and defecate by gently rubbing their genital area with a warm wipe. If not, they may soil their bedding. All their waste is monitored on a checklist to ensure health. Any signs of blood are taken seriously and require immediate vet attention.
At night, they sleep in a shelter that is warm yet well-ventilated. Safety, rest, and peace—that’s all they need. That’s all any of us need, truly.
Final Thoughts
The time I spent with these lion cubs was one of the most heart-opening experiences of my life. I realized that caring for a lion is not about taming its wild nature—it’s about taming the fear inside us.
I wrote this article to share that story, hoping it helps someone connect more deeply with life, nature, and themselves. In a world that teaches us to roar, don’t forget to purr too.
💛 With love, stay close to your heart and wildness.
“You were born not to cage your inner lion, but to walk beside it in peace.” – Hakan Mengüç
This article was originally published on February 24, 2014.
Your worth cannot be measured by how much others love you.
You are unique and precious just as you are.
Sometimes, you simply need to pause and recognize the light within yourself.
Remember how valuable you are without needing anyone else’s approval, just by being yourself.
Because you are whole and enough just the way you are.
Today, show yourself a little love and compassion, because you are the one who deserves it the most. 🌟
And never forget, when you start loving yourself and let go of the thought “I must be loved,” those who truly love you will find their way into your life.
The heart cannot see the truth until it opens to love.
Last week was Mevlana Week, and on December 17, people from all around the world flocked to Turkey, particularly to Konya. Among them were not only Muslims but also Christians, Jews, Buddhists, and even those who identified as atheists. How is it, then, that Mevlana continues to attract so many people centuries after his passing? How is it that people of such diverse beliefs find peace in the same place?
This is the power of Sufism, which embodies the essence of Anatolian wisdom. Sufis have always spoken to the heart. They transformed their words into poetry, their emotions into music and dance. People listened to them not with their ears but with the ears of their soul; they watched not with their eyes but with the eyes of their heart. This was not merely a doctrine but a state of being, a journey.
In a talk I gave in Germany during Mevlana Week, I shared the profound messages of Sufi philosophy that inspire people. I’d like to share some of those insights with you.
The heart is an ocean; the tongue is its shore. What is in the ocean washes up on the shore.
Mevlana’s influence lies not only in his words but in the love behind those words. He taught us to see people not for their outward appearances but for their souls. His message is universal: “Come, come, whoever you are, come!”
The Sufi path is not one of knowing but of feeling. It requires leaving behind the mind’s chaos and descending into the depths of the heart.
As Mevlana said: “The heart is an ocean; the tongue is its shore. What is in the ocean washes up on the shore.”
This journey is less about reading and more about experiencing. Sufism is not just a teaching; it’s a state of being, a way of life. The heart is the door to the deepest truths of humanity. Open that door, and you will find the truth there. For the Sufi, the path is the path of the heart; the truth is not external but internal.
Love is the essence of Sufism. It is not merely a feeling for another person but the ability to see the Creator in every breath, in every being. Love is a state of forgiveness and acceptance. Sufism teaches us to embrace ourselves, others, and ultimately, all existence. A journey without love is not a journey. If your heart is closed, you cannot reach the truth. But if you take love as your guide, the paths will open naturally. Just as a river finds its way past the stones, love overcomes all obstacles and leads you to the truth.
Who am I?
A Sufi asks, “Who am I?” but not with their mind; they ask with their heart. The mind is occupied with the burdens of the past and worries of the future; it seeks logic, demands evidence, and draws boundaries. But the heart speaks from another dimension, whispering with a silent yet profound wisdom. That whisper can be heard not only in moments of peace but also amidst chaos—sometimes in the stillness of a breath, in a child’s laughter, or in the touch of a raindrop on the earth. And the Sufi knows that the answer always lies in love.
Love here is not just an emotion; it is a way of being. Love is like a bridge where one redefines themselves and the universe. Those who cross that bridge see how the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary. Just as a stone, with patience, effort, and love, becomes a gem, the heart can also become purified, clear, and a reflection of truth. But this can only happen when the heart is open to love.
Opening the heart to love takes courage. Love requires not only the willingness to embrace joy but also the risk of being hurt. Love demands tearing down the walls of the heart, letting go of fears, and stepping into uncertainty with trust. A Sufi keeps their heart open in this way, knowing that love is not just about receiving but also about giving. Love is not about possession; it is about letting go.
This is why the heart is like a garden. If you plant it with love and nurture it patiently, it will bloom with the most beautiful flowers. But remember, it is also your responsibility to weed out the garden. Emotions like fear, anger, and jealousy are the weeds. A Sufi clears these weeds from their heart, knowing that the light of truth can only shine in a clean heart.
And love is both the beginning and the end of this journey. Love transforms you. It brings you back to yourself and then takes you beyond yourself. Love is not just a personal experience; it is a universal connection. It elevates the ordinary to the extraordinary, unites the individual with the universal. When your heart is purified by love, Sufi wisdom says you are no longer just a human being; you become a messenger of love.
Let us end with one of Mevlana’s sayings:
“The heart cannot see the truth until it opens to love.”
Once, a young man, feeling lost in life, wandered aimlessly through a forest. His mind was clouded with uncertainty and fear, tangled in the complexities of his thoughts. He didn’t know which direction to take or how to move forward. At the peak of his despair, he spotted a horse approaching from the distance. The rider was a dervish, carrying an aura of calm and wisdom, as if the burdens of the world were effortlessly lighter in his presence.
The young man hurried to the dervish, saying with urgency:
“Master, I don’t know what to do with my life. Which path should I take? How many steps do I need to make? What if I choose the wrong one?”
The dervish paused, gazing at him with a serene, knowing look. He stopped his horse and spoke gently:
“My child, life is not a map to be deciphered all at once. If you try to solve everything at once, your mind will fall into confusion, and your courage will falter. Life unfolds as you walk. You only need to see the next step. When you dare to move, the path will reveal itself to you.”
The young man, still bewildered, asked, “But how do I even begin?”
The dervish pointed to the ground before him and said:
“Beginning is simply seeing the step that lies directly before you. Focus on the next step alone. When you take it, the next one will appear. The path is made by those who walk it. With every step you take, you build your own way.”
Hearing these words, the young man released the weight of his overwhelming thoughts. He took his first step, then another. With each step, the path became clearer. When he eventually emerged from the forest, he looked back and realized the complexity of the journey he had traversed. But in that moment, he understood that the essence of the journey was not in its length or challenges but in the courage to take the first step.
The Wisdom of Life: The Path is for Those Who Walk
The dervish’s advice reflects one of the profound principles of Sufi wisdom: The path of life reveals itself only to those who dare to walk it.
There are moments in life when we all feel lost, unsure of which direction to take. Our minds become entangled in trying to control the future, which only magnifies our fears. The Sufi way teaches us to focus on just one step at a time, for life is not about seeing the entire picture at once but about discovering its beauty piece by piece with every step forward.
1. The Key to Achieving Goals: Small Steps
Big goals often appear intimidating. Whether it’s starting a new career, improving a relationship, or seeking personal transformation, the sheer magnitude of these dreams can leave you paralyzed. But as the dervish taught, break them into smaller, manageable pieces:
• If you’re aiming for your dream job: What’s your first step? Preparing a resume? Enrolling in a course?
• If you want a healthier life: Start with a short walk or a single healthy meal today.
Each small step brings you closer to your ultimate goal. Remember, even the longest journeys are completed one step at a time.
2. Action Dissolves Uncertainty
Inaction only magnifies the chaos within. The young man in the story realized that the path became visible only after he took the first step. Similarly, in life, clarity comes when we move. Even mistakes are valuable guides on the journey.
Sufi wisdom reminds us: “Do not fear mistakes, for even they are lessons from the Divine.”
3. Stay in the Moment: The Key to Wisdom
The dervish’s advice, “See only the next step,” emphasizes the power of living in the present. Life is not shaped by dwelling on past regrets or worrying about future uncertainties. It is built by what we do in the here and now.
• If you have decisions to make today, focus only on what today requires. The present moment is all you can truly control.
4. Trust: The Path Will Show Itself
Uncertainty is an inevitable part of life. But instead of succumbing to it, choose to trust. The path opens itself to those who believe and move forward. As the dervish said, “The path appears as you walk.”
This trust is the key to action. If you want life to unfold its mysteries to you, take that step into the unknown with courage. The Divine’s grace is always with those who dare to move.
Final Words: Take the First Step, and the Path Will Reveal Itself
This story reminds us of a simple truth: In life, we cannot discover all the answers at once. But as we take that first step, the path begins to unveil itself. Achieving great goals starts with the bravery of a single, small action.
Never forget, the secret of the journey lies in the courage to embark on it. If you wish to change your life, take the first step and let the rest unfold naturally. The path is for those who walk, and only by walking will you find your way. 🌿
Today is December 1st… the first day of the final month of the year. As another journey nears its end, it’s time to listen to the quiet truths whispered by our soul. Every season carries a story, and every moment holds a lesson.
What has this year taught you? Which challenges came wrapped with hidden gifts? And which moments allowed you to feel the love in your heart more deeply?
Remember, the past asks to be remembered with gratitude, not regret. The future awaits to be met with surrender, not fear. Life unfolds its beauty when you choose to flow in harmony with it.
Today, open a door within your heart and set this intention: “Dear life, guide me to your truth.”
Everything happens when you are ready. Let this month mark the beginning of that surrender and your inner journey.