Tales from the Dance Jam #10
Silly me, I almost left at midnight, and was thinking that I wouldn't have much more than an e-mail to sned out - not a full, bona fide "Tales" report. And it's not that a whole lot happened in the next 45 minutes, but yet everything did. It softened. The universe expressed itself gracefully through moving bodies, through motionlessness, through silence, and through voice. The fifth chakra lit up and connected with the essence of others. While my ability to communicate fully was impaired by a long day of work, a headache, and lack of sleep, something became apparent to me - words aren't necessary inside the temple.
There was a lady there writing an article for the Chronicle about barefoot dancing in the Bay Area. I'm sure her report will be good! It amazes me how the universe unfolds when open-hearted souls come together in sunbursts of creative expression. Hopefully this expression will be shared far and wide. Hopefully someone (you, perhaps?) will start a barefoot freestyle dancing event in your town!
The temple is a fruitful space for self-reflection, self-work, emotional release, and healing on all levels. The energy of the space is transformative in and of itself, though it's not a guaranteed "quick- fix" nor one-stop shopping for all that ails ye. You get out what you put in, and the temple magic works best when you surrender to it, drop expectations, remain open to possibilities, and be willing to let go - of everything. Every moment is new, every moment that stuff wants to come back and cling to you. Every moment is an opportunity to surrender to the flow, every movement an opportunity to whirl into ecstacy.
I made an announcement in the large circle tonight about my Breema practice, and that I am looking for ideas on a space in which to hold workshops and classes. I announced the Breema Center open house which is coming up Wednesday, June 7, and laid out invitations to that. I invited people to see me for free Breema treatments. I was surprised that two people approached me and wanted to know more. Letting go of expectations is good, because what I really wanted was for everyone in attendance to come experience Breema! And no one helped me generate ideas on space. So I'll keep going on Fridays and making the announcement I suppose. If one person has an idea to share, that makes it worth the effort.
One of those who inquired was Lisa, with whom I had a fun conversation later about all sorts of things, from astrology to Kundalini Yoga to the miracles of having direct experiences (versus the babble of the mind or being subjected to someone else's judgment). She's also a brilliant dancer and really in her body.
Zahara, my partner-in-movement, also graduated recently (yay!) and is looking not only to form a communal household (I was just given a month's notice to vacate my current house..) but also to get together with other folks on the "job" quest to generate ideas and share visions. Goddess knows I need some of that about now!
There is this boy who comes almost weekly, I may have written of him before, who moves so fluidly and connected with his body, the earth, the sky, all of it really. He is a true delight to watch (without being too invasive, though who knows, he may like being watched!) and inspirational. Oh, and he's absolutely hot, if that makes any difference :) Tan, long well-kept blond hair, a bit of a goatee, trim and toned, beautiful and radiant smile, yum. It elicits the issue I've raised all too often of the ambiguity of men that I meet not just at the Jam but in Berkeley as a city, and especially in San Francisco. He comes with a woman most of the time, with whom he sometimes seems to connect on a very close and intimate level. Yet the way he dances and connects with men is so affectionate and open. Not too sure why I still find this confusing, the more heart-centered men I meet the more I come to understand how this affection and connection is genderless. Old issues around sexuality and gender boundaries I suppose. Let's turn back to the principle of surrender and the pursuit of ecstacy! All I could do when presented with this tonight was laugh, and laugh, and whirl around, and let my hair fly, and roll on the ground, and just be in my body without any worries of things outside the present moment - for outside the now, nothing really exists.
The energy waxed and waned all night, and was not as energetic a night as most. The Warm Room didn't have the strong, spiritual vibe I usually feel there, even though it was well-attended. Mika kicked up some drumming before the group circle, and I just about damaged my hand going rapid-fire nuts on one of his frame drums. I played bongos and djembe in the Warm Room for awhile. So nice to come to the drum again.
And I thought I would have nothing to say about this unremarkable, low- energy evening of dancing. Huh? Sometimes it takes me to the last couple of minutes to surrender and experience the divine in anything. The more I do it, the more I uncover the simplicity of life.
composed by Shaggy
(posted on 6/3/00)