As you start to walk on the way the way appears

Kategori: Sufi (page 1 of 4)

New Release: “Gülistan” by Hakan MengUC

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.

New Release: “Gel” by Hakan Menguc

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.

Spotify: Gel

Youtube: Gel

I Thought It Was the End… But It Was the Birth of a New Me


I Thought It Was the End… But It Was the Birth of a New Me

Sometimes someone leaves…

And all that’s left is silence.

A vast emptiness.

No words.

No sound.

Only the hollow ache of absence.

That person is gone—

but no one sees what they took with them:

the dreams you built together,

the quiet moments you shared,

the words they once said to you…

or the look they never had the courage to give.

The one who leaves is not just a person.

It’s a time in your life that ends.

A version of you disappears with them.

The old “you” is no longer there.

Because some goodbyes don’t just change your world—

they transform the world inside you.

But that’s where transformation begins.

Because the soul awakens most… when it loses something.

And sometimes, the greatest strength

rises from the quietest collapse.

Hard times are often the loneliest.

The world keeps spinning, people talk, life goes on…

But inside, you’re frozen in a different time.

No message arrives, no voice calls out—

it feels as if the world has forgotten you.

And in that silence, you begin to ask yourself:

“Where did I go wrong?”

“If things had been different, would we still be together?”

“Was I not enough? Or did they give up too soon?”

These questions have no clear answers.

But your heart always returns to the same place:

Longing…

Woundedness…

And still—love.

And this… this is the rawest form of being human.

To pray for someone’s happiness,

even when they’ve hurt you.

To wish them well,

even if you’ll never see or hear them again.

That’s not weakness.

That’s your greatest strength.

Some pains can’t be spoken.

You just carry them.

There are feelings you can’t explain to anyone.

Because even if you tried, no one would truly understand.

So you stay quiet.

You smile.

You pretend you’re okay.

But deep down, a part of you still burns like it did on the first day.

And you can’t show that to anyone—

because the world assumes you’ve moved on.

But you know…

You haven’t.

It’s just that the pain now sits quietly in a corner of your heart.

But hear me, my friend…

It is in that silence where we find ourselves again.

As you walk through the fire of pain,

your eyes begin to see differently.

And one day, you look in the mirror—

and the person staring back at you

is softer, deeper, stronger than you’ve ever been.

That’s the day you realize:

What felt like a breakup…

was actually a rebirth.

And from deep inside, a voice rises:

“I didn’t fall apart.

I wasn’t destroyed.

I simply grew.”

One day, the sun rises inside you again.

You wake up and the thing that once broke you—

is now just a memory.

Not erased.

But no longer piercing.

You’ve made peace with it.

You’ve let it be.

Your heart may still have cracks…

but they no longer define you.

And you begin to realize:

What once shattered you…

actually built your strength.

You ask yourself:

“How did I get back up?”

“How am I still able to love?”

“How do I still trust people?”

And the answer comes gently:

You didn’t just lose something—

you were reborn.

You now walk through life

with a softer heart,

a deeper soul,

and wiser eyes.

Because pain didn’t destroy you.

It shaped you into who you were always meant to be.

So pause now.

Take a deep breath.

And set this intention in your heart:

“I allow every experience I’ve lived

to turn me into someone wiser, kinder, and more loving.

I honor the past, embrace the present,

and look to the future with hope.”

Because no matter what you’ve lived through,

someone, somewhere still loves you.

Maybe a friend…

Maybe a prayer…

Maybe the sacred part of you that never stopped believing.

Remember this:

You are not broken.

You have simply been reshaped.

And now, with the light inside you,

it’s time to help light the way for others.

Even the darkest nights give way to morning—

and sometimes, that morning isn’t outside…

it’s born within.

You didn’t just walk through that darkness—

you brought light into it.

And those who do that…

make this world a more beautiful place.

You are precious, my fellow traveler.

🌿

A Soft Whisper to the Soul: This Too Shall Pas


A Soft Whisper to the Soul: This Too Shall Pas

I know…

There’s so much you’ve been holding inside.

Unspoken emotions,

Unshared sorrows,

Thoughts that live in your heart but never quite made it into words.

You know that kind of silence we carry sometimes?

It’s not really silence.

It’s the echo of all your uncried tears, your unseen exhaustion, your quiet disappointments.

Maybe you’re living in that silence right now.

But please don’t forget this:

Every silence carries the seed of awakening.

Every turning inward is a sacred preparation—

a space where your soul gets ready to be born again.

You are far stronger than you appear.

And this life…

It isn’t here to teach you everything.

It’s here to help you remember the truth you already carry within.

Feeling tired…

Crying…

Breaking down…

All of it is deeply human.

And you, my dear, are human.

To be human is to feel.

To fall, to rise, and to keep walking again.

As Mevlana Rumi said:

“Even if you’ve broken your vow a hundred times, come, yet again, come.”

Do you know what that means?

It means:

“Even if you’re tired, rise again.

Even if your heart is broken, love again.

Even if you’ve forgotten, remember again.”

Because your heart…

Is a compass that remembers.

It will guide you—

if only you choose to listen.

Everything you’re going through right now

might just be the path that leads you to your hidden treasure.

Perhaps life paused you at this very station

so you could finally look at where you’re going—with awareness.

Don’t abandon yourself

just because others have left you.

Some doors may have closed, yes—

but maybe those doors hid things that drained you,

that no longer helped you grow.

And now…

It’s time to let go of the old burdens.

The guilt, the past, the responsibilities that were never yours.

Gently set them down.

Because you are not just your past.

You are the infinite potential within you.

You are the parts of you still waiting to be discovered.

Life’s challenges…

They don’t come to turn you into something divine.

They come to make you deeply, tenderly human.

To soften your heart.

To make it more compassionate.

More aware.

So this moment—

let it be not an end,

but a beginning of transformation.

Now close your eyes…

Come back to yourself for a moment.

Maybe it’s been a while since you checked in.

Since you asked that child within: “How are you, really?”

Ask them now:

“Are you okay?”

And tell them:

“I’m here now.

I will take care of you.

I won’t ignore you anymore.”

This is where healing begins.

In hearing yourself.

In forgiving yourself.

In gently holding yourself again.

Because you…

You are the healing you’ve been waiting for.

You are the very words you’ve been longing to hear from someone else.

You are… a miracle.

And miracles—

they are born from fragile hearts.

So now, come closer…

Let’s whisper together:

“This too shall pass…

All of it shall pass…”

And once it has…

You will look back on these days with gratitude.

Because it’s these very days—

that will shape who you truly are.

Farewell for now, my fellow traveler.

With love and light always. 🌿


Spiritual Detox: Cleanse Your Heart with the Arrival of Spring

Hakan Mengüç, April 2025

In recent weeks, I’ve been traveling across many cities in Europe for seminars and book signings.

And in every city I visited, I could hear the footsteps of spring…

The budding trees whispering in quiet alleys,

the gentle sunlight touching faces with kindness,

and that lightness quietly resting in people’s eyes…

It was as if everything around me was speaking.

I believe that every season has its own language,

and every scene invites us to listen inward.

If we know how to see, life always carries a message for us.

So, what is spring telling us?

What do flowers say as they bloom?

What do the trees teach us as they let go of their dry branches?

Spring is not only the awakening of nature—

it is the awakening of the soul.

Just as the earth sheds its old skin,

we are called to release what we carry within.

Every new leaf is like a quiet intention

breaking free from the past.

And every spring,

we are gently reminded to let go of what no longer serves us.

Sometimes, we carry burdens for years without noticing:

A word we couldn’t forgive,

a disappointment buried deep inside,

a regret we pretend to forget but still echoes in the silence of the night…

Spring leans in and softly whispers:

“Let it go now. It’s time to renew.”

Just as we clean our homes in spring,

we must also cleanse our hearts.

As the Sufi sages say:

“The heart is a mirror; but once it’s covered with dust, it cannot reflect.”

So how do we cleanse ourselves?

It all begins with an intention.

A simple but profound one:

“With this spring, I choose to purify my heart,

to let go of what weighs me down,

and make space for something new to bloom.”

Sometimes it’s like a prayer.

A whisper carried on a walk,

a sentence written in silence,

or a moment of simply listening within…

True cleansing starts not on the outside,

but deep within.

And each step taken from the heart opens a new path.

Every spring, I do a small ritual.

I take a piece of paper and write down what feels heavy inside—

a feeling I haven’t released,

a person I haven’t yet forgiven,

or words I’ve never spoken out loud.

And then I gently release that paper into flowing water.

Softly, I say to myself:

“I release you with love. I no longer choose you—I choose peace.”

Maybe not everything changes in that moment.

But a lightness begins to rise inside.

And that lightness becomes a new breath for the soul.

Don’t forget, my dear friend,

Life becomes clearer not from the outside,

but from within.

And sometimes you find your answer

in the blooming of a flower,

in the cool air of morning,

or in the quiet peace that comes after a single tear.

So this spring—

don’t just open your windows…

open your heart, too.

And now… leave a gentle intention in your heart.

This is my intention…

With this spring,

I choose to lovingly release the burdens of my past,

to cleanse the old wounds that left marks on my heart,

to awaken the joy that has been quietly sleeping inside,

and to approach myself with more softness, more compassion.

I choose to welcome each new beginning with hope,

to patiently nurture the change blooming within me,

and to embrace the spring blossoming in my soul with love.

Because I know—

true spring does not begin outside…

it begins within.


Walking with Lions: Lessons in Love, Care, and Courage from Africa

Lion Care: A Journey Beyond Fear

🦁 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.

aslan_maması
The lion milk powder we used in Africa
aslan_mamasi_yapimi
The blender we used in Africa
beyazaslanhakan.jpg

🍼 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.

aslan_emzik

Biberonların olduğu kovanın içine koyulan tablet ilaç
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.

You don’t need to be loved to feel valuable

Hello, my fellow traveler 🌙

You don’t need to be loved to feel valuable.

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.

Hakan | 3 January 2025

The Sufi path is the path of the heart

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.”

as you start to walk on the way the way appears

As you start to walk on the way the way appears

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

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.

With love and light,
Hakan