Rumi

ANSARI QADIRI RIFAI SUFI ORDER (AQRT) - UK TUESDAY ZIKR/MEDITATION The Ansari Qadiri-Rifai Sufi Order (London branch), under the guidance of Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari, is pleased to invite men and women, regardless of your faith or beliefs to our weekly Tuesday zikr. We are a Sufi order whose origins started with two great Saints of early Sufism: Shaykh Abdul Qadir al Geylani and Shaykh Ahmed er Rifai. Our Tradition is one of inclusiveness and of welcoming. This tradition has passed down to us through the current Spiritual Guide of the Order: Shaykh Taner Vargonen Ansari, who now resides in New York and is helping establish Sufism in the West. Come, Come whoever you are, wanderer, worshiper, lover of leaving. Our's is not a caravan of despair. Come even if you have broken your vows a thousand times, Come, come yet again. (Mevlana Rumi) Sufism is the spiritual/ mystical path of Islam. During the Zikr (the ceremony of remembrance) we practice some simple movements accompanied by frame drumming, hymn singing and chanting. In Zikr, each member of the group effaces him or herself in the remembrance of God using the energy of the entire group synergistically for the development of all. We start at 19:15 with the group zikr for about one hour. We welcome everyone who comes in peace. The Zikr is free but a donation to help with the venue hire would be greatly appreciated. We hope to see you soon. Please contact : Rita on 07941 653337 (ritaglh@yahoo.co.uk) or Reeyaaz on 07875 569921 (smreeyaaz@gmail.com) if you want any information about our Sufi order or Sufism in general.

Whether you have never drummed before, a beginner, or a skilled drummer, the workshop is open to all. We have such fun and play gigs in and around London as well as Penge. Gigs include local community events/festivals, support charities at the London Marathon or Royals Parks Run, fundraisers, and wider festivals. We also play with our associated group ,Tribo, from West London, where you have a chance to play at the Notting Hill Carnival every year. Come, join in some Brazilian vibes, and develop drumming skills you didn't know you had! First session FREE and £12.50 per session after. It's a drop in so no pressure. For people who are interested in: drumming, Brazilian drumming, samba reggae, samba. Please visit: www.pengenistadrummers.org

Join us for a Free Ongoing Course - Learn to Meditate - Tuesdays in Covent Garden @ 7.30pm - Sahaja Yoga Meditation Please arrive early - join any week - all welcome Friends Meeting House, 8 Hop Gardens Covent Garden, London, WC2N 4EH To enter - please press the Bell marked - 'The Fry Room' Achieve Yoga & enter into a state of ‘thoughtless awareness’. In the heart of London, very close to Covent Garden, there is a weekly class in free meditation. **Achieve Yoga & Learn to Meditate in 2026 - 7:30- 9:00pm Tuesdays** The first experience of Sahaja Yoga meditation is called Self Realisation. With Sahaja Yoga Meditation we generally sit on chairs to achieve Yoga, effortlessly & spontaneously. As such no Asanas (exercises) are required, no mat or special clothing ## What is Meditation? Meditation is a state of mental silence or rest, where our attention is aware, but not engrossed in thinking. It is known as ‘thoughtless awareness’. It is achieved when the indwelling Kundalini energy awakens and carries the individual attention beyond the level of the 6th chakra, into the seventh chakra, known as Sahasrara. ## Yoga! It is here we achieve Yoga! As the mind finds rest and silence, we become able to feel our inner Self (Spirit). This can be tangibly felt, it actually manifests, as a cool wind, breath or breeze, often experienced on the palms of the hands or at the top (crown) of the head. It is a spontaneous, effortless natural happening. Each week many people experience this actualisation at one of the many free meditation classes on offer ## How to get into balance? The secret of the Sahaja Yoga method resides within us, at the base of the spinal chord, in a triangular bone called the “sacrum bone”. Since our birth in our sacrum bone dwells an inner energy called in Sanskrit Kundalini; it is characterised as a feminine energy and once activated, this energy rises along our spine until it reaches the top of the head and finally connects with the universal energy. This union is called “yoga” in Sanskrit. ## Kundalini As our indwelling Kundalini rises through the central channel, this benevolent feminine energy activates the chakras, removing all the impurities from them and nourishing the entire inner system. It is through this happening that we are elevated into ‘thoughtless awareness’, the mental silence of true meditation www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk Free Meditation & Yoga Classes in London Want to experience it now – Experience Self Realisation now – Guided Meditation ([https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/](https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/ "https://www.sahajayogalondon.co.uk/articles/experience-your-self-realisation-online-now/")) ###

**Join our Free Hatha Yoga classes in the beautiful ambience of our London Centre!** **Mats are provided**. As a **registered charity**, we are dedicated to teaching authentic spirituality and to bringing the principles of **yoga** and **tantra** to as many people as possible who are open to receive it. Yoga has so many amazing benefits, and we believe everyone should have access to them. In our free drop-in yoga classes, you will discover that yoga is much more than just a physical practice. Amongst many things, yoga can help you to: * Harmonise your body * Focus your mind * Feel more energised * Feel more fulfilled * Open your heart * And… help you to **go deeper into yourself** More info here [https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/free-hatha-yoga-2/](https://tarayogacentre.co.uk/free-hatha-yoga-2/)

**London's first multi-sensory aerial relaxation experience with live ambient music, gongs, aromatherapy and aerial hammocks. An Oasis of Calm in our Busy Lives.** # Aerial Relaxation Pods - Sound Journey Gong Bath Meditation in Hammocks ### **ABOUT AERIAL RELAXATION PODS™** London's first **multi-sensory aerial relaxation experience with a short guided meditation, live ambient music: gongs, crystal bowls, vocals, other live instruments and nurturing electronica, aromatherapy eye pillows and scents, sky-blue silky aerial hammocks** to soothe your stresses away and lift your spirit! **A very unique, next level sound journey experience!** *"An oasis of calm in our busy lives."* Londoners stressed out by their busy lives can now turn to Aerial Relaxation Pods™ to transform their tension to calm, and restore the body’s natural healing wisdom. ***(please confirm all dates / times / venue via eventbrite. Not all dates are correct on meetup!)*** **PLEASE NOTE:** Please book via eventbrite. There are very limited spaces, and no sales on the door. an RSVP here on meetup is not a ticket! **For more information and bookings:** [https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aerial-relaxation-pods-sound-journey-gong-bath-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-84883457707?aff=oddtdtcreator](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/aerial-relaxation-pods-sound-journey-gong-bath-meditation-in-hammocks-tickets-84883457707?aff=oddtdtcreator) *“Our pods are here to help Londoners relax. As a former teacher myself, I am fully aware of just how busy and stressed a lot of people are. And most of us just don't find the time to unwind. Our **Aerial Relaxation Pods** are going to help you alleviate stress, providing time & space to allow your body to deeply rest, harmonising your nervous system. You’ll feel rejuvenated and refreshed after one session.” -* Seth Newman, co-founder of Aerial Relaxation Pods**™**.

We will begin with a talk giving some background to the School of Sufi Teaching and our meditation practices. We will then sit together in meditation. Following this there will be an opportunity ask questions arising from your experience during the meditation. Please arrive at 7.00pm so as to benefit from the short introductory talk. Meditation will commence at 7.30pm . The session should be completed by 9.00 pm. The meditation will start promptly at 7.30 pm when the front door will be closed so as to ensure an undisturbed period of solitude. Location of Meeting **Entry is via the side door which is located in the side road between our building and the pub.** **Follow the plant containers.** 253 Globe Road London E2 0JD https://goo.gl/maps/6Ng5rhHKsLXe16jz6 Nearest Underground Station is Bethnal Green For individuals interested in learning more about Sufism, our practices and their transformational role on the individual we recommend reading **Click here** [http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463](http://www.amazon.co.uk/Turning-toward-Heart-Awakening-Contemporary/dp/1887752463) **Turning Toward the Heart: - Awakening to the Sufi Way** **Forty Questions and Answers**

Come along to the Maxilla to enjoy a drumming workshop open to all levels, whether you're beginning or an advanced drummer, you can learn how to play the authentic afro brazilian rhythms with Marcos Santana all the way from Salvador de Bahia! £10 Any queries call Marcos on 07772 470198 As featured in Time Out's "1000 things to do in London for under £10"! http://photos1.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/f/8/c/event_243632652.jpeg

A regular meetup for those committed to practising and improving their Arabic. It is designed for those who know the very basics and want a structured opportunity to practise reading, listening, speaking, and building confidence. If you're still learning the very basics but want some motivation to keep going, you're very welcome to join. Note: This is a practice group facilitated by a native speaker - not a formal teacher or taught class, and not a Quran teaching session. 📚 SESSION FORMAT: ⏱️ 30 mins Intro & Social: We'll go around and introduce ourselves in Arabic. Feel free to prepare 2-3 sentences beforehand if you don't like being put on the spot! 🗣️ 60 mins Structured Practice: A focused session practising together with guidance : ◾ Taking turns reading passages aloud ◾ Listening to excerpts from an audiobook ◾ Working together to translate and understand the text 💬 Continued Socialising: Feel free to stick around afterwards for more informal chat and connection. ✊ Note: Active Muslims is equally about focusing on the actual activity, in this case, it is a practice session requiring mental engagement and active participation (and not just a social), therefore it is advised to approach and attend these events with that mindset, intention and purpose. 📍 LOCATION: Barbican ⌚ MEET: By the cafe G Level (Benugo) ⏱️ TIME: Meet from **11:00am** for intros and socialising. The practice session starts promptly at **11:30am** insha'Allah. 🎒 What to bring: 📚 Any Arabic texts you would like to read 🎧 Headphones (optional, if you prefer listening privately) ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ If you can no longer attend, please update your RSVP to free up your spot for someone on the waiting list. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖ 🌐 **[@Active.Muslims](https://www.instagram.com/active.muslims)** *(Follow for latest events updates)*

Join us for a free 5km timed run, walk or jog around Bushy Park. The event starts at 9:00 am sharp, so meet and Emily and Chris near the coffee shop by the Diana car park in Bushy Park for 8:45 am (by the gate from the nearby car park), then we will walk over to the starting line together. Afterwards, we'll head to the Pheasantry for a coffee and some well-deserved breakfast. If you would like to be timed, make sure you register on the Parkrun website, here: [https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bushy/](https://www.parkrun.org.uk/bushy/) *** **Donate**: Kingston LGBTQ+ Forum is run by unpaid volunteers and funded by the generosity of the local community. If you'd like to donate to Kingston LGBTQ+ Forum, [please click here](https://www.kingstonlgbtforum.org.uk/donate).

**Uzbekistan Tour April 10 - 19, 2026 - Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva and Nukus** Uzbekistan is one of the most architecturally beautiful countries in the world. And three of its cities along the Silk Road, Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva have all been painstakingly restored to their former beauty. On this tour, you will learn about the history of these magnificent cities from our wonderful local guide who has excellent English and is knowledgeable and proud of his heritage. We will take you on walking tours in the centres of these fascinating cities and by minibus to any monuments and buildings that are further away. Shop in the incredible bazaars where you can buy beautiful ceramics, scarves, hats, embroidered wall hangings, puppets, ikhat (hand-woven printed cotton or silk) as well as nuts, dried fruits, spices and local vodkas. Shopping in Uzbekistan offers amazing value for money. You will travel by Uzbekistan’s efficient, fast trains whenever possible. Groups will have a maximum of 12 fellow travellers but you will also have time to explore on your own. These tours are designed for small groups who have the option of joining the the guide and group for meals or doing your own thing whenever you wish. Jo Weir who has been travelling to Uzbekistan since 1995, will travel with the group and will offer advice on shopping and dining and will talk about the massive changes in the country over the last 30 years. Jo will arrange dinner reservations for those who want to dine with the group. **Itinerary** **Day One : Tashkent** Arrivals in Tashkent 14.00 Optional Tashkent City Sightseeing Tour including: Old Tashkent - The Last Imam Ensemble (16 century) with the tiled domes and minarets of its mosques and madrassas as well as the famous Chor-Su Oriental Bazaar. Modern Tashkent - The modern centre where Amir Timur Square’s statue of rehabilitated local Uzbek hero, Tamerlane The Great, has replaced a list of Czarist and then Soviet statues. We will see the Navoi Opera and Ballet Theatre which was completed by Japanese prisoners of war in 1940. We will see Tashkent’s earthquake proof metro system and have an opportunity to explore some of the most beautiful stations including Kosmonavtlar which celebrates cosmonauts and space. Welcome Dinner at Caravan (included). **Day Two : Samarkand** After breakfast, an early transfer to the railway station to check in for the high speed “Afrosiyob” to Samarkand where we arrive just after 10am. Trade routes from all directions formed a major Silk Road crossroads and emporium in Samarkand. Tamerlane’s city of sky-blue domes and minarets continues to awe visitors today as it has throughout centuries. Our private coach will pick us up from the train station and take us directly to the Registan, Samarkand’s most famous sight and the greatest of all the grandiose and magnificent works in Uzbekistan. We will then take in the other sights which require coach travel, St Daniels’s Tomb and Ulugbek’s Observatory. After checking into the hotel there is free time to enjoy a leisurely lunch. We will try to see the Registan at night when it is beautifully lit. Quite often there is a sound and light show projected on the Registan at 8pm. **Day Three : Samarkand** After breakfast in the hotel, we will see Samarkand’s other jewels, Bibi-Khanim Mosque, Gur-Emir Mausoleum and The Oriental Bazaar Siab and, a personal favourite, the Shah-I-Zinda complex where the most beautiful ceramic tiles can be seen. Shah-I-Zinda has been described as “perhaps the most stunning sight in a city of superlatives”. Wherever possible we will walk between sights. Free time in the afternoon. **Day Four: Samarkand to Bukhara** Early breakfast in our hotel before boarding the high speed train to Bukhara where we will arrive before noon. Our minibus will pick us up at the train station and take us to two sights on the outskirts of Bukhara: The Emir’s Summer Palace - this collection of dwellings and staterooms was built by the Russians in 1911 for the last Emir of Bukhara to get him out of the Ark Fortress in the centre of Bukhara. Bakhauddin Nakhshbandi Ensemble - Bukhara’s holiest place of shrines, stories and superstition and the burial place of one of its holiest saints Baha-al-din (1318-1389) Check into hotel and lunch at one of Bukhara’s many cafes or the chaikhana beside Lyab-i-Hauz’s 16th century pool. Bukhara is very easy to navigate and a great city for shopping. You can explore its beautiful streets including the Jewish quarter and its synagogue. **Day Five : Bukhara** Breakfast in our hotel followed by a half day sightseeing tour (mainly on foot) of this beautiful Silk Road city where most of the highlights are located in the old town. The tour will include The Ark Citadel, the perfectly preserved 1000 year old Samanoi Mausoleum which was discovered under sand in 1934 and Zindan Prison where British Captain Stuart Conolly and Colonel Charles Stoddard were held in the infamous Bug Pit. We will also visit the five vaulted and domed Bukhara Bazaars and the Poi-Kalon Ensemble (12-14 century) with its towering Kalon Minaret which was spared by Ghengis Khan when he razed the city in 1219. Free time in the afternoon. The bazaars are easy to reach on foot and it is easy to explore Bukhara’s many charms. **Day Six: Bukhara - Khiva** Breakfast at the hotel and a chance to have a morning stroll through Bukhara before boarding the train (if available) or coach to Khiva. Khiva has the status of a museum city and indeed this walled city is like an open-air museum, lost in time. Parts of the wall are thought to date from the fifth century and stepping through one of its gates is like stepping into a different era. Evening arrival in Khiva and check-in to hotel. Dinner at leisure and the chance to wander the beautiful streets of Khiva at night when the moonlit silhouettes of columns and madrassas from twisting alleyways are at their most captivating. We will book a restaurant in advance for those who would like to join the group for dinner. **Day Seven: Khiva** Breakfast at the hotel. 10am - 1pm - Walking tour of Khiva’s Ichan Kala (inner walled city) including: Kunya Ark (12c) - Khiva rulers’ own fortress and residence including the harem, mint, stables, arsenal, barracks and mosque. Kalta Minor Minaret - the unfinished, fat turquoise-tiled minaret Free time for lunch, shopping or walking the walls of Khiva. **Day Eight: Khiva** Breakfast at the hotel. 10am - Walking tour of Khiva including: Juma Mosque - 218 wooden columns - each different and some from the tenth century - support the roof of this interesting mosque. Tosh-hovli Palace - this palace contains Khiva’s most sumptuous interior decorations including ceramic tiles and carved stone and wood. Allakuli Khan Bazaar & Caravanserai - a domed market arcade still catering to traders and opening onto Dekhon Bazaar. Afternoon at leisure **Day Nine: Nukus** Nukus is in the semi-autonomous province of Karakalpakstan and is home to the Savitsky Collection which is the second largest collection of Russian avant-garde art in the world Early breakfast followed by coach to Nukus via the Kyzylkum Desert with visits to Toprak-Kala - the ruins of an ancient city of 2500 where Khorezmian kings lived from 2nd to 6th centuries - and the ruins of the feudal fortress of Ayaz-Kala. Visit to Savitskiy State Museum of Arts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan followed by dinner near the airport. Flights to Tashkent and transfers to hotel. **Day Ten: Tashkent -** Breakfast at hotel followed by departures **Price: GBP£2187 double occupancy. Single supplement GBP£385** **International flights not included.** **Deposit £500 (Non refundable after 3 days). Please RSVP and send email** **Bring:** Comfortable walking shoes Lip balm and moisturiser (it is a very dry climate) Sun screen A jacket or sweater - morning and evenings can be cool Cash - many places do not take credit cards although this is changing. US dollars can be used in some places outside of Tashkent and US dollars, euros and sterling can be easily exchanged at banks. There are some cash machines but they tend to charge a hefty surcharge and give a poor rate. **Included:** International arrival/departure transfers Accommodation in central hotels with breakfast Experienced local guides throughout the trip Jo of 45+ Not Grumpy experienced leader with the group All ground transportation by comfortable air-conditioned minibus Group Airport transfers from Nukus to Tashkent Train Station transfers Business class Afrosiyob train tickets Tashkent-Samarkand - Bukhara Coach from Bukhara to Khiva (train if available) Domestic economy flight Nukus -Tashkent Welcome Dinner Lunch in Samarkand Sightseeing with local English speaking guides Entrance tickets to the monuments and museums on all tours Bottled water provided daily (one bottle per person per day) Visa support letter (where required) Bottled water is provided on every bus journey Tips for drivers **The price does not include:** Visa cost (no visa required for EU, UK, Canada, Australia) International flights Lunches and dinners (except for welcome dinner) Any additional transportation to anywhere not listed in the schedule Any charges at monuments and museums for using video or cameras Hard drinks Porter service if required Tips for local guides International arrival/departure transfers can be arranged for approx GBP£25 each way

Main Library, Meeting Room 3B Join us for a welcoming evening of reflection, gentle music, and meaningful conversation. We’ll begin with a short grounding moment, followed by a brief reading from spiritual or philosophical traditions, and an open reflection circle where participants can share (or simply listen). Libera Animae is an interfaith community focused on inner growth, creativity, and authentic connection. All backgrounds are welcome.

**Our April novel is: *The Hong Kong Widow* by Kristen Loesch** **This month’s novel blends gothic atmosphere with historical fiction and chilling horror, set against the haunting backdrop of China. The book is 368 pages in print and 10 hours and 42 minutes on audiobook.** In 1950s Hong Kong, Mei is a young refugee of the Chinese Communist revolution struggling to put her past in Shanghai behind her. When she receives a shocking invitation—to take part in a competition in one of the city's most notorious haunted houses, pitting six spirit mediums against one another in a series of six séances over six nights, until a single winner emerges—she has every reason to refuse. Except that the hostess, a former Shanghainese silent film star, is none other than the wife of the man who once destroyed Mei’s entire life. It is promised the winner will receive a fortune, but there is only one prize Mei wants: revenge. Decades later, the final night of that competition has become an infamous urban legend: The police were called to the scene of a brutal massacre but found no evidence, dismissing it as a collective hallucination. Mei knows what she saw, but now someone else is convinced they know what she did. She must uncover the truth about the last night she ever spent in that house—even if the ghosts of her past are waiting for her there. . . .

Join Neurospicy Columbus at the Stauff's for coffee and then a stroll through the Book Loft nearby! This will be a friendly chat for like minded individuals with Autism and/or ADHD (or somewhere on the Neurodiverse Spectra).

Let's bedazzle some books while we discuss our April pick: Bloodguard by Cecy Robson! Book description: One hundred years. Tens of thousands of gladiators. And today, only one will rise… Everything in the Kingdom of Arrow is a lie. Leith of Grey thought coming to this new land and volunteering to fight in the gladiator arena—vicious, bloodthirsty tournaments where only the strongest survive—would earn him enough gold to save his dying sister. He thought there was nothing left to lose. He was wrong—and they took everything. His hope. His freedom. His very humanity. All Leith has left is his battle-scarred body, fueled by rage and hardened from years of fighting for the right to live another day. Then Leith meets Maeve, an elven royal who is everything he despises. Everything he should hate. Until the alluring princess offers him the one thing he needs most: a chance to win the coveted title of Bloodguard—and his freedom. But in a kingdom built on secrets and lies, hope doesn’t come cheap. Nor will his ultimate revenge… Event: Please bring your own book, journal, bookmarks, etc to bedazzle. If you have bedazzling supplies, please bring them as well. I will supply gems, glue, and picker tools, but if you have certain colors in mind, you may want to bring your own.