SANCTUARY
MONTHLY ONLINE CIRCLE SHARING SPIRITUAL SELF-CARE PRACTICES THROUGH EMBODIED DEVOTION
Drawing upon feminine mystic wisdom, we make space to come into deeper connection with our Self and God, by whichever Name we call upon that Great Mystery, using meditation, invocation, and sacred poetry.
We weave a container of care exploring monthly themes
through facets of embodied wisdom:
Spiritual Hygiene
Clearing and strengthening our energy through the elements
ABLUTION ~ ANGELS ~ GROUNDING
Dying Before You Die
Dissolving our ego barriers along the path to wholeness
TAWHID ~ SURRENDER ~ SACRIFICE
Dancing with Pain
Connecting to our body through joy and difficulty
MOVEMENT ~ SENSUALITY ~ ECSTASY
Hearing Creation
Aligning with nature and cosmos in solar and lunar spirals
ALTARS ~ RITUAL ~ INTENTION
Quarrelling with God
Developing a devotional relationship with self & Self
ZHIKR ~ JOURNAL ~ ART
Personal Sovereignty
Unblocking and amplifying our innate gifts and purpose
ARCHETYPES ~ SUFI TAROT ~ SERVICE
Love Notes from within the Sanctuary
“What I find particularly special about Sanctuary is how it manages to be both international and intimate… how it holds to the Sufi tradition while welcoming individual responses and expression.”
“Another concentrated succinct power- and light-filled time of Embodied spirituality and the topic of Shame. You are creating a wonderful work – maybe a blind spot in our spiritual-based work of transcendence.”
“Thank you for introducing me to new perspectives and gracious ways of thinking such as the idea of quarrelling with a God who is equally keen to be known by us.”
Enter the Sanctuary
Sanctuary is offered as a monthly membership on an sliding scale. Our aim is to make the offering as accessible as possible and we are grateful for those who can contribute more to support others and also make the offering sustainable for RAY.
Please choose the option that is most appropriate for you now – perhaps one month you may need support, another month you may become a supporter. All are welcome in our circle of remembrance!
SUPPORTED
£11/mo
Scholarship access for those in need
STANDARD
£33/mo
Standard access to sustain our work
SUPPORTER
£55/mo
Contribute toward scholarships & sustainability
Sanctuary meets the 4th Friday each month at 6pm BST/GMT UK time for 90 mins:
Jun 26th, Jul 24th, Aug 28th, Sep 25th, Oct 23rd, Nov 27th, Dec TBC
“All parts of the session built on each other. From imagining our own buds, drawing them, reading through the poems together, writing our own, sharing our experience. It was a beautiful blooming through the session. I also really liked the seasonal aspect of it – the sense of aligning to the rhythms of nature.”
“I have been reflecting on the [mystic] Unayzah poem and the idea of a more reciprocal relationship with God. Thank you for gently sharing these ideas with us through the language of poetry.”
“The choice of poetry is staggeringly appropriate. You have such an eye for this – I thank you so much for bringing through specific focus and theme an easy access to these treasures, and addressing them at multiple levels of spirit, psyche and embodiment together.”
Sanctuary Holder
Saimma Dyer creates encounters with the sacred feminine in spiritual retreats and prayer circles, sharing wisdom from historical and contemporary female saints and guides from the seen and unseen realms, beyond religion and borders, within the heart of the Great Mystery of Being. She is immersed in the Mevlevi Sufi wisdom of that great lover of God, Hazreti Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi. Saimma inhabits the embodied world through dynamic disability and is dreaming into spiritually centred spaces that honour the beauty and pain of existence.
Please note that due to Saimma’s fluctuating chronic health needs, she may need to reschedule calls at short notice and appreciates your patience.
“Saimma’s invitation to breathe, guided meditation, and sacred poetry reflections created a much-needed spaciousness–an opening to expansiveness–that melted my winter heart.”
“A beautiful safe space that is held with deep love. An invitation to gather, reflect and rest. Felt like I was fireside with beautiful hearts. The poetry was exquisite and in perfect harmony with the offerings. Thank you! So looking forward to the next session already 🙏🏾✨”
“I am so amazed at your ability to bring Camille and other mystics’ writings to us in a new and practical, visceral, emotional context – what a beautiful relevant work!”
Sanctuary is an interspiritual space that welcomes seekers from any gender, tradition, or background.
We use Islamic Sufi terminology which is clearly explained and translated into accessible English, and we draw upon and share practices from different traditions that all speak to the Great Mystery of Being.
While meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression, and anxiety, our space is not a substitute for therapy or counselling.
We invite participants to be mindful of what they choose to share in the space, to receive confidences with compassion, and be generous with each heart’s journey.
Sacred Poetry Selections
I set up house for You in my heart
As a Friend that I could talk with.
I gave my body to someone else
Who wanted to embrace it.
This body, all in all, is good enough for embracing—
But the Friend who lives in my house
Is the lover of my Heart.
Rabi’a al-Adawiyya1
Why am I so cold, Lord?
Nestle me in Your heart
that I may burn and warm myself and others—
healing us with Your heat.
Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski2
I was passionate,
filled with longing,
I searched
far and wide.
But the day
that the Truthful One
found me,
I was at home.
Lal Ded3
Sophia!
you of whirling wings,
circling encompassing
energy of God:
you quicken the world in your clasp.
One wing soars in heaven
one wing sweeps the earth
and the third flies all around us.
Praise to Sophia!
Let all the earth praise her!
Hildegard of Bingen4
I do not complain of suffering for Love,
it is right that I should always obey her,
for I can know her only as she is in herself,
whether she commands in storm or in stillness.
This is a marvel beyond my understanding,
which fills my whole heart
and makes me stray in a wild desert.
Hadewijch of Antwerp5
- Doorkeeper of the Heart: Versions of Rabi’a by Charles Upton
- Words from the East by Camille Hamilton Adams Helminski
- Women in Praise of the Sacred edited by Jane Hirshfield
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
SEASON OF REST
Jan, Feb, Mar
SEASON TO RISE
Apr, May, Jun
SEASON TO RIPEN
Jul, Aug, Sep
SEASON OF RETURN
Oct, Nov, Dec
“Sitting with friends in stillness, in this Sanctuary I found a safe place to just Be. Nourished and quiet I returned back to my to do list. Thank you!”
“Thank you for this space, your companionship and the sacredness that has been amplified. ❤️”
“Thank you for helping me return to myself, tonight. I’m very grateful for your heart, voice and wisdom. Allah bless you and yours, always, Saimma. Xx”
Additional Information
Who can enter the Sanctuary?
Our space is for all spiritual seekers, poetry admirers, and curious hearts from any gender, tradition, or background.
Do I need to understand poetry or religion to join?
No in-depth knowledge is required, you are welcome to share as much as you wish in the circle and just bring an open heart. If you are reading this you are already part of the community!
How do I access the Sanctuary?
Once you have registered and received confirmation, you will be emailed the readings and reflection prompts, and a Zoom link for the live call. The 90-minute Sanctuary sessions will be held on the 4th Friday of every month (unless otherwise stated) at 6pm UK time (GMT/BST).
Do you offer refunds?
We do not offer refunds unless we need to cancel. Your monthly membership can be changed at any time.
More questions?
Contact us here.