The Deep Listening Path

Maidan-e-Ishq (The Field of Love): A Gathering

Maidan-e-Ishq was the title of my first performance more than a decade ago—presented at the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology and during International Week at the University of Alberta in 2012–13. At that time, I was just beginning to find my voice as an artist and researcher. Since then, the path has unfolded in ways I could not have imagined.

My memoir, Writing in the Wound, traces seventeen years of this journey—sharing research and performances, releasing my debut album Mannat, earning my Ph.D., teaching as music faculty, and learning through the profound mentorship of Dr. Regula B. Qureshi. The memoir was recently featured among Alberta’s 2025 Favorite Reads, and author Barb Howard writes: “A fascinating memoir… Shumaila Hemani’s work is multifaceted, beautifully lyrical, and crystal clear. She’s a gem in the Canadian arts community.”

In Regula’s office there was always a small semazen—a quiet relic that stayed with me. It reminds me of our connection and of the circles of learning that shaped my path, including the guidance of two ustads in Pakistan who opened the doors of this tradition to me. These relationships carried not only knowledge, but adab, humility, and a way of listening to the world.

At a time when the world feels marked by devastation and false dichotomies, I feel called to return to that field again—the Maidan-e-Ishq, the field of love and listening.

I invite you to join me for a monthly Maidan-e-Ishq gathering—a space for reflection, deep listening, music, and conversation. A place to pause, to reconnect with sound, and to remember that knowledge and care grow in community.

More details here: https://www.deeplisteningpath.org/gatherings

I would be honored to share this circle with you.