site.btaHarmony in Motion: The Spiritual Dance of the White Brotherhood

As the sun rises above a glacial lake in Mt Rila (Southwestern Bulgaria) on August 19, a drone eye's view reveals a sight out of this world. Several hundred people, paired up and dressed in white, move gracefully in three perfect concentric circles for about 80 minutes. Accompanied by violins, guitars, flutes and mandolins, their dancing and singing harmonize beautifully with the green grass on which they step barefoot.

While most of the dancers belong to a religious and philosophical movement called the White Brotherhood, everybody is welcome to join in the life-enhancing ritual.

The exercise-meditation, called PanEuRhythmy, is designed to attune participants' souls with the universe and each other. It is part of celebrations of the Cosmic New Year, which, according to White Brotherhood adherents, falls on August 19, 20 and 21. To mark the occasion, they hold annual gatherings ("congresses"), camping in the area of the Seven Lakes in the northwestern part of Mt Rila, 2,300 m above sea level. The first congress took place there in 1929. At the end of their annual gatherings, the members of the White Brotherhood leave their camping place, taking along the litter they have picked up in the mountain and put into nylon bags for proper disposal.

PanEuRhythmy (the word means "universal cosmic rhythm") is the best known rite performed at the congresses. In 1932, the charismatic founder of the movement, Peter Deunov (1864-1944), composed the instrumental and vocal music for this series of 28 choreographed movements. While it may resemble aerobics, PanEuRhythmy is more than a combination of physical exercises executed with natural movements and in a natural rhythm. It represents a profound collective spiritual experience that transcends cultural boundaries.

The performance is well organized, as participants follow circles marked on the grass by white stones. Inexperienced dancers are positioned on the periphery, while more seasoned worshippers are closer to the centre, where the musicians stand.

Charismatic Leader with Worldwide Following

Peter Deunov (also known as the Teacher and by his Sanskrit spiritual name, Beinsa Duno) was the son of an Eastern Orthodox priest and was educated by Methodists in both Bulgaria and the US. He developed a unique theosophical doctrine called "esoteric Christianity", which earned him excommunication from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church in 1922 when his teachings were declared heretical. Significantly, his first disciples were Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant Christians.

Combining elements of Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Western mysticism without rejecting rational scientific knowledge, his teachings emphasize brotherly love, a healthy lifestyle (including vegetarianism), and the bond between human beings and the forces of nature. The name of the White Brotherhood does not refer to ethnicity or race but to the light and purity of the soul, embodying the belief that people can live in harmony, followers explain.

To corroborate his tenets, Deunov used astrology, numerology, phrenology, palmistry and graphology. His legacy spans lectures translated into all European languages and published in 345 volumes, along with 150 songs and orchestral pieces. He was a composer and virtuoso violinist, often compared by his followers to Paganini.

Deunov's following grew exponentially. The community he established in 1918 attracted intellectuals, writers, artists, musicians, military and politicians seeking a more profound understanding of existence. Upon the founder's death in 1944, the White Brotherhood adherents numbered 40,000.

Beinsa Duno spread his ideas by giving some 7,000 public talks across the country over 50 years. His reputation as a seer and healer gained him an almost saint-like status. Before WW II, the Brotherhood was influential in Bulgaria, listing among its members King Boris's sister Eudoxia and the monarch's powerful adviser Lyubomir Lulchev. Deunov is even credited with helping to save Bulgarian Jews from the Holocaust in 1943.

Like many religious groups, Deunovists were outlawed in 1946 and persecuted by the communist regime. The White Brotherhood Society was reactivated in 1991, when it was officially registered as a religious denomination.

Deunov's ideas have impressed some of the 20th century’s greatest minds, including Albert Einstein, Leo Tolstoy, Cardinal Roncalli (the future Pope John XXIII), Indian guru J. Krishnamurti, French fashion designer Paco Rabanne, and the founder of anthroposophy Rudolf Steiner.

The principles of divine love, wisdom, truth, justice and goodness that Deunov advocated appeal to individuals seeking spiritual fulfilment in an era marked by uncertainty. His movement continues to attract new devotees, now numbering approximately 10,000 in Bulgaria alone, with followers estimated at 400,000-plus in over 40 countries.

The White Brotherhood promotes a vision of society rooted in cooperation and mutual respect, with an emphasis on spirituality, community, and natural harmony offering a refreshing alternative to the rapid commercialization and material focus of contemporary culture. Deunov's teachings remain a beacon of hope and unity.