Announcing the Release of Companions of the Sun

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Companions of the Sun CoverDear Friends,

I am thrilled to announce the release of my new book, Companions of the Sun, now shipping from Hohm Press Publishing. Also available on Amazon, and Barnes & Noble, IndieBound or Bookshop.org. If you would like to purchase an autographed copy of the book contact me.

I deeply appreciate any help in promoting this important work and look forward to hearing your thoughts. Join me in sharing this cultural legacy with the world. Please read below for more information and details.

Thank you for your support and belief in my work.

Farima Berenji, PhD

Companions of the Sun

History and Mystery of Iranian Sacred Dance, Music, and Ritual
By Farima Berenji, PhD
ISBN: 978-1-963433-08-1
Sacred Dance/ Iranian/Persian | Paperback
Paper: 420 pages, 6 X 9, $29.95 UPDATED
Release date: October 15, 2025
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Rooted in one of the world’s oldest civilizations, the traditions of Iranian/Persian sacred dance and music embody the profound wisdom of our ancestors. Observing nature, the stars, and the rhythms of life, they crafted movements expressing love, strength, and spiritual transcendence. These rituals continue to inspire cultures worldwide, preserving a legacy of mysticism and artistic expression.

Companions of the Sun is a meticulously researched exploration of Iranian/Persian rituals, mysticism, and sacred dance. It examines how these ancient practices shaped global music, dance, and spirituality—evolving into movements infused with mystical poetry, art, and storytelling. More than history, this book is a spiritual guide, revealing how sacred dance and whirling serve as meditative practices, aligning body and soul with the Divine.

With a rich blend of history, culture, and spirituality, this book offers a rare and authentic look at Iranian sacred traditions. It fills a crucial gap in literature, providing accurate insights into rituals often misunderstood or misrepresented. Drawing on years of research and personal experience, the author has dedicated her life to preserving these traditions with authenticity and depth.

Companions of the Sun is the first comprehensive work on the history and practice of Iranian sacred dance, music, and rituals. It serves as an invaluable resource for students, mystics, dancers, musicians, historians, and anyone passionate about the spiritual dimensions of art and culture. Featuring stunning artistic mandalas by Valerie Runningwolf, geometric diagrams of ancient concepts, and rare photographs from my archaeological explorations, this book is both visually and intellectually enriching.

Endorsements

Companions of the Sun by Dr. Farima Berenji is an important work because it restores dance to its original sacred meaning. In the modern world, dance is usually reduced to entertainment, technique, or performance. This book reminds us that movement once belonged to prayer, ritual, healing, remembrance, and the direct experience of the sacred.

Dr. Berenji presents Iranian sacred dance as part of a complete spiritual worldview in which the body, soul, nature, music, poetry, and the Divine are inseparable. Persian mysticism, Sufi whirling, zikr, sacred geometry, the symbolism of the number seven, classical Iranian music, the elements, animals, birds, flowers, and gardens are not treated as isolated subjects. They are shown as expressions of one living spiritual tradition.

The greatest value of this book lies in its seriousness. These practices are not presented as exotic material for modern consumption, but as disciplines that demand intention, inner purification, cultural understanding, humility, and devotion. Sacred dance is not merely movement of the body. It is the ordering of the whole human being around a higher center.

The book also reveals something modern humanity has largely forgotten: nature is not an object outside us, but a manifestation of the same living order to which we belong. Water, earth, birds, flowers, music, and the turning of the cosmos become teachers of rhythm, balance, beauty, and unity.

This is a substantial and spiritually mature book. It preserves an important part of Persian cultural heritage, but its message is universal. It shows that authentic dance can become a path of remembrance, transformation, and reunion with the Divine.

A rare work of knowledge, experience, and spiritual depth.Ivan Antic, Author. Goodreads

Embodied Wisdom from an Ancient Lineage (5 out of 5 stars)
Companions of the Sun is a beautiful and meaningful book that blends history, spirituality, and embodied wisdom. You can feel the author’s deep love and respect for ancient Persian traditions throughout the pages. What I appreciated most is how this book goes beyond academic research and brings the sacred arts of dance, music, and ritual to life. It feels soulful, grounded, and alive. Reading it feels like being gently guided into an ancient lineage of wisdom that is still relevant today. This book is perfect for anyone interested in culture, spirituality, movement, or ancestral traditions. It’s thoughtful, inspiring, and clearly written from the heart. Highly recommended.Dr. Arayeh, Amazon review.
This is a fascinating and highly readable account of the integral role of dance in Iranian culture and civilization. As a participant observer, Berenji adds a remarkable dimension by merging academic accounts with personal reflections. This pathbreaking study is highly recommended.Farhad Kazemi, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, NYU.
Over five years, Ms. Berenji immersed herself in the sacred rituals and sites across Iran, particularly in the Kermanshah province. Through her firsthand experience with Yarsan religious elders, musicians, and her study of sacred texts and participation in gatherings, she enriched our narrative creating an authentic portrayal of Yarasan culture. This book caters to scholars and general readers alike, presenting the diversity of Yarasan spirituality with passion and dedication. Essential for anyone intrigued by mystical practices, it offers a compelling journey into the heart of spiritual culture.Seyed Salman Hosseini, Yarsan elder and renowned tanbur musician and producer.
Companions of the Sun is an excellent book on the Iranian traditions, exploring the history of Sufism and sacred dance in Iran. The amount of research that has gone into it is reflected in every page. Dr Berenii’s personal devotion of her life to Sufism and her life long research in dances of the region gives a unique perspective to teach us Sufism, sacred practices, and their effect in today’s traditions and rituals all over the world. This book is truly a rich source of knowledge, preserving and sharing the roots and deeper meaning of Sufism and dance for all to understand and appreciate. I highly recommend!Paria Bakhtar, PhD
Companions of the Sun is an excellent read for anyone interested in the miraculous world of dance. Within the pages there is history, art, culture, philosophy, movement and mysticism. The chapters are well organized and between them we find illustrations of beautiful mandalas. There are photographs of ancient sites and artifacts, and quotes from sacred texts. For anyone who is intrigued by the holy and mysterious, this book has it all! Thank you Farima! Brian Simonitsch
In the rush of red carpets, cameras, and constant motion, I found a moment of stillness in this book. Companions of the Sun is a radiant guide to remembering your soul—one sacred breath, one simple ritual at a time. Dr. Farima Berenji’s Sufi wisdom doesn’t just speak to the heart, it softens it. This isn’t just a book—it’s a balm. It’s your companion to a life filled with magic and beauty.Jeffrey Paul Ames, Celebrity Makeup Artist & Aromatic Gourmet
Farima’s dedication and depth shine through this comprehensive and profoundly informative book.Varol Ozkaner, Photographer, Digital Designer, and researcher of Mesopotamian ethnic culture.
Companions of the Sun is a treasure full of mysticism, experience, and wisdom. It is well researched and well written. It delivers knowledge in a way that gives deeper insights each time I read it. I highly recommend it to anyone who is on the spiritual or mystical path or a path of self-discovery. It is full of tradition, inspiration, and intelligence.Bani Khalsa
Dr. Farima Berenji’s forthcoming book, Companions of the Sun promises to be a luminous offering from one of the most profound dance healers and scholars of Iranian mysticism of our time. Rooted in sacred tradition yet infused with her unique artistry and lively spiritual practice, this work is poised to serve as both a guide and a companion for seekers, dancers, and mystics alike. Farima has long been a bridge between ancient wisdom and contemporary embodiment, and this book will no doubt reflect the depth of her devotion, the beauty of her lineage, and the transformative power of the path she walks. I await its release with heartfelt anticipation, knowing it will illuminate hearts and inspire souls around the world.Tasha Stramecki
The pathway to spirit starts deep within our bodies, within nature, and our past. This insightful and
comprehensive work reveals how the transformative power of sacred dance may be discovered and practiced based on the legacy of Persian spirituality and heritage.Kevin Greek, PhD, President, Folk Dance Federation of California (2015-2017), ethnic dance researcher and advocate

Press

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About farimadance

Farima is an award winning, internationally acclaimed performing artist, instructor, dance ethnologist, and archaeologist.  Recognized as one of few world experts and scholars of Persian dance history, Farima infuses spirituality into her dance and teachings to impassion, empower, and inspire.