The centuries-old spiritual practice of Sufi whirling will be at the heart of an immersive overnight experience taking place at one of Britain’s most historic Turkish mosques next month.
The Alchemical Night, at Masjid Ramadan – better known as Shacklewell Lane Mosque – in East London on Saturday 12 September, brings together Sufi whirling, guided visualisation and creative reflection in a programme centred on self-discovery, inner transformation and spiritual connection.
Running through the night, the experience has been devised to allow participants to leave behind the pace and distractions of everyday life and immerse themselves in an extended sequence of movement, contemplation and rest. Alongside the whirling and visualisation, the programme includes periods for creative reflection, silence and integration, as well as food and drink.
Organisers describe The Alchemical Night as a “carefully woven journey” intended to create space for self-discovery and deeper connection, using the idea of alchemy not in its literal sense of turning base metals into gold, but as a metaphor for personal and spiritual transformation.
Central to the night is Sufi whirling, a meditative form of movement most famously associated with the Mevlevi tradition that developed in Konya following the death of the great 13th-century mystic and poet Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi.
In the Mevlevi Sema ceremony, the repeated turning of the semazen, or whirling dervish, forms part of a spiritual practice of remembrance and devotion. The Mevlevi Sema Ceremony is recognised by UNESCO as part of humanity’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The choice of venue gives the event another strong Turkish connection. Shacklewell Lane Mosque was established in 1977 by the late Turkish Cypriot businessman Ramadan Güney to serve the spiritual needs of London’s growing Turkish Muslim community. This sacred space became the UK’s first Turkish-owned mosque and over the decades has evolved into a place of worship serving Muslims from many different ethnic backgrounds.
The Alchemical Night starts at 6pm on Saturday, with doors opening at 5.30pm, and continues overnight into Sunday. Tickets are currently priced £98.22 and can be bought online through Eventbrite.
Performance Details
Date: Saturday 12 September 2026, continuing overnight into Sunday 13 September
Doors: 5.30pm
Start Time: 6pm
Venue: Masjid Ramadan (Shacklewell Lane Mosque), 9–15 Shacklewell Lane, London E8 2DA
Admission: early bird price £98.22 – includes booking fee. More after 31 August.
Tickets: Available via Eventbrite
