Terms and Symbolism

Beloved, Friend, Lover, King

God in His loving aspect

The lover

The Sufi in search of the Beloved

Burning

The process of purification of the soul

Darvish, Dervish

Sufi mystic

Drunk, drunkenness

Intoxication with the love of God

Reed

Longing for return to the source

Killing

Breaking one's attachment to the ego

Nightingale

Symbol of the soul's longing

Ocean

The limitless universe of God

Rose

Symbol of the beauty of the Beloved

Rose-garden

Paradise and eternal beauty

Sema, Sama

Spiritual whirling dance of the darvishes

Sufi

Mystic in search of the Beloved

Wine

Symbol of the ecstasy of the love of God