circle of hearts // The Assembly of Lovers — A Sufi Song Circle
towards the One. the Perfection of Love , Harmony and Beauty
join us for a circle of chanting and attuning in rhythmic prayer !
hosted by emelyn magritte gratefully in collaboration with Bab Al Ilm welcoming Osama Janakat & Antwan Penn and the pillars of Light they are !
circle of hearts is a devotion oriented community prayer chant rhythm song circle inspired by Sufi wisdom — a gathering to be in connection with heart oriented remembrance + returning + tuning through prayer music co-creation , drum rhythm , community belonging and orientation to our Beloved. we come together to sing , listen and connect in our heartfelt way as a circle of hearts. rooted in community tending and praising the Beauty that uplifts the heart through all aspects from the seen to the unseen.
this circle is open to everyone , you as you are is welcome. you dont need to be sufi ! this is an interfaith space that welcomes all faith streams and names of addressing Divinity — and all experience levels are welcome !
come as your heart ! we honor this willingness and value the strength of togetherness
bring your voice and instrument and harmonize with friends , fellow beloveds on the path !
if you have a drum , bring it ! medicine drums , frame drums and ceremony drums are all welcome
we are all singers , artists and muscians ! your voice as is ~ is perfect , truly your voice and presence is a blessing to the space !
attunement here is to and through ancient sacred languages and the codes of remembrance that live within the field of vocal and rhythmic expression
this is not a performance , it’s something we create together , a living pulse , in conversation with our times , this is offered as a prayer in Peace
Framework for Circle
• Opening : intention affirming , prayer to align hearts toward the Real , land & lineage acknowledgment + traditional sufi invocation
• Elemental breath practice ~ somatic arrival
• Guided zikr (chanting) with drum
• Silent resting in what we created together through the chanting
• Rose tea shared in silence , herbal ally for integration and tuning
• Closing prayers for Peace and Unity + communal prayer
• Open space to exchange contact details + mingle & carrying on
(( what is Zikr? ))
Zikr ( sometimes spelled Dhikr ) translates to remembrance , recollection , invocation . . .
in its widest sense this refers to any act through which one remembers God through direct presence of God.
Here we use the word Zikr to name a traditional Sufi practice, a form of meditation + music that involves repeating sacred phrases and names of the Divine , often with rhythm in melody and in body movement. this is about deepening and feeling into the sound of the heart singing with an awareness oriented to the Beloved noticing and being in what this creates. this is remembrance on the tongue as the soul and heart are attentive and indwelling.
We share this as a communal practice and personal practice where the group field and inner heart collaborate in the medicine of chant praying together.
Who This Circle Is For
hearts in human form caring to be in shared prayer music space together ,
for those who seek communal devotional practice , for lovers of music , for lovers of the drum , for those who value direct experience of Divine Presence in community space , for those who care to weave a prayer of Peace together for the collective , for those who are curious and long for the sacredness of music , for those curious for sufism , for those who care for interfaith space that honors the difference and unity of how we touch in with the Divine , for those who care to dwell lin the embodied experience of the Real , of Love , of Peace of Unity . . .
in Collaboration with Bab Al Ilm :: The Assembly of Lovers
Through Bab Al Ilm comes The Assembly of Lovers: a community interspiritual devotional gathering centered on sacred chant and rhythm within a Sufi remembrance circle. The Assembly of Lovers is a participatory rhythm and remembrance circle leaving behind performance as participants are welcome to join with their voice , drums , breath or silent attention. No musical experience is needed. Through shared voice in repetition + attentive listening , the circle opens a space of collective prayer , presence and inward reflection. Bab Al Ilm is a space for modern mystics to study , reflect and gather. The Assembly of Lovers is held regularly in North Jersey and is now being shared in collaboration.
Gathering Details
Sunday • May 17 • 2–4 PM
heart centered dontation : $11 ~ $22 ~ $33
no one turned away , come , come . . .
the vision is for this to be a recurrent expereince and give tending to our community
we will meet bi-weekly or monthly
This intimate two-hour workshop is designed to help couples connect through movement, presence, touch, and shared experience. Whether you’ve never danced before or have years of partner dance experience together. Inspired by the flowing connection and musicality of Brazilian Zouk, this lab focuses less on “performing steps” and more on learning how to listen, respond, and move together naturally.
Through gentle connection games, somatic awareness exercises, and accessible partner dance instruction, you’ll explore how to feel more grounded in yourselves and more attuned to each other. We’ll guide you through simple movements and partner exercises that cultivate trust, playfulness, communication, and embodied connection in a relaxed, nonjudgmental environment.
Friday, May 22, 7-9pm
Cocoon Philly
$60 per couple, limited to 6 couples
Pamela Lee blends over a decade of teaching embodied awareness practices with extensive experience in Argentine tango and contemporary partner dances including Brazilian Zouk, Fusion, and West Coast Swing. Known for her warm, engaging style, she helps dancers connect more deeply to themselves, their partners, and the music. She brings sensitivity, playfulness, and ease onto the dance floor.
Javier Chavarria’s partner dance journey began with Salsa nearly 20 years ago, and he now dances and teaches a range of styles including Brazilian Zouk, Salsa and Fusion. His teaching style is gentle, attuned, and confidence-building. He emphasizes musicality, connection, and creating a fun, welcoming environment for dancers of all levels.
The Deep End is a monthly experiential workshop for people who are ready to go beyond the surface. Drawing on practices from authentic relating, somatic awareness, Gestalt, and conscious touch, this experience weaves together verbal, movement-based, and body-to-body practices to help you meet yourself and others with vulnerability, depth and presence.
This is not a lecture or a training. It's a living laboratory where real things happen between real people.
What to Expect
Each workshop is unique, but you can expect a curated arc of practices that may include:
Verbal connection practices: relational games and exercises that invite honesty, presence, and curiosity. You'll practice speaking from what's actually alive in you, and receiving others with full attention.
Movement-based practices: guided somatic and improvisational movement that helps you arrive in your body, shake off the social armor, and relate from a more grounded, embodied place.
Conscious touch practices: simple, clearly boundaried touch-based exercises (such as hand-to-hand contact, back-to-back sitting, or gentle partner work) designed to build relational attunement and nervous system co-regulation. All touch is consensual, discussed in advance, and fully optional.
The session moves at a pace that honors both depth and safety. You'll be gently stretched, not pushed. There will be moments of laughter, stillness, discomfort, and warmth. That's the work.
Who This Is For
This workshop is designed for people who have a genuine hunger for depth and a willingness to be vulnerable.
Most of us were never taught how to truly connect. We learned to be polite, agreeable, or interesting, but not necessarily present, honest, or met.
Authentic Relating is one well-known branch of this field, a set of principles and practices that help people drop defensiveness, speak truthfully, and receive others without judgment. What we do in The Deep End goes further, drawing on body-based modalities and Gestalt principles to engage not just the mind and words, but sensation, movement, and touch as pathways into real contact.
If any part of you has longed to be truly seen, to stop performing, or to feel genuinely close to another human being, you're in the right place.
Come celebrate your authentic self and the vibrant spirit of our Philly LGBTQ+ community in a special Pride-themed Biodanza vivencia—a “dance of life” designed to foster joy, connection, and liberation. In an inclusive, welcoming, queer-affirming space, we will move to resplendent rhythms, honor our bodies, break down walls, and rejoice in our beautiful diversity. No dance experience necessary. Just bring your passion, your color, and your open heart to this expansive feast of love!
What is Biodanza?
The word “Biodanza” literally translates, from Spanish, to mean “The Dance of Life.” Founded in the 1960s by Chilean anthropologist and psychologist Rolando Toro, it is an elegant system of somatic and relational self-development that combines dance, music, archetypal gesture, and intentional connection to stimulate five lines of human potential: vitality, sexuality, creativity, affectivity, and transcendence. It fosters reconnection with our vital instincts, our emotions, our bodies, and our in-the-flesh relationship with each other as dynamic, feeling human beings. Sometimes referred to as “The Poetry of Human Encounter,” it is truly a Masterclass in embodied Love!
About the facilitator:
Ashley King brings nearly two decades of experience as a somatic psychotherapist and facilitator, drawing from traditions that honor the intelligence of the body, the power of emotional truth, and the poetics of embodied relationship. Her work weaves together mindfulness, relational depth, and an artful sensitivity to what is unapologetically alive. She is the founder of psychoalchemy.com and Biodanza Philly, where she has been passionately growing a community of enthusiasts for the Dance of Life since finishing her facilitator training in 2025.