Noosed

Hyderabad, May 14, 2025

Just 4 days after the week-of-war between India and Pakistan, I must report another invasion.

I am currently being invaded by Sufi memes. Sufism is an Islamic tradition that attempts to connect with God through a rediscovery of the pure state of the self. The specific branch of Sufism I’ve encountered is Qawwali, and it consists of 12-18 minute devotional songs.

There is an intense longing for the Other—

...almost a sort of rage—

...in the romanticism of the Sufis. It swiftly cuts through any defenses of the mind to strike cleanly at the ether of the soul. It is very deeply melancholic, and I get sadder and sadder, every loop. It is even more deathly that the memes were delivered in a Vessel that is itself breathtaking and majestic. Beautiful as this music is, it has acted as a lever on grief and existential angst. I’m experiencing a terrible case of burnout and period of unclarity, and the music has made these last few days even more intense.

Things aren't all bleak, however. This may turn out to be one instance where an invasion is full and complete, and yet the invaded party experiences victory.