Mevlevi Order
In 1976, he was made a sheikh in the Mevlevi order by Suleiman Dede. This was a revolutionary move, as a Dede of the Mevlevi Order had never bestowed the title of a Sheikh before – Only a Chelebi Efendi, the head of the Mevlevi Order, could bestow such a title. In light of this, Feild's presence as a Mevlevi Sheikh would not have been acknowledged by the central governing of the Mevlevi Order, and could be best viewed as a transformatory off-shoot of the Order.