Ecsta-She

Just keep moving

Gitama Buddha

Ecstasis- Greek "to move beyond Oneself"

After many attempts to sit and mediate, a young woman cracked a darky, and yelled to the Gods, "I can't do this shit!"- Disappointed, frustrated and angry with herself she cried, "There has to be another way." - The house grew still, and in her vision space she saw a wild woman swing through her doorway. This woman of Blue put her 8 arms on her hip leant forward and said, "So why don't you dance?" "Kali MA" she whispered. From that moment forth her blood whispered and she danced. She studied dance, explored the philosophies of authenticity and dance, sacred dance, she explored the meaning of sovereignty, compassion, power, integrity- in a form she instinctively knew - the dance.

It was this experience that lead me to the work of Gabrielle Roth and I found validation for my spirit, Sharron Rose, " The Path of the Priestess", and Amy Sophia Marashinky's, The Goddess Oracle, were sources for inspiration. I trained with Christina Demmler (Roth trained dancer), studied authentic dance and ecstatic dance. I took other women onto the dance floor and observed the transformation when I invoked sacred space as a shared inclusive community. We offer ourselves up to our primal languages- breath, movement, sound, colour and gesture. As the rhythm takes over us, a wave sweeps up from the floor connecting us to our inner authority, from this place we surrender our feet, ankles, calves, thighs, hips all the way up. Our spines loose and supple, our heads free of chatter, the dance of life is felt and expressed. I observed the shared union on the dance floor supporting expressions of fear, anger, grief, joy and compassion. I was told stories of how participants felt breath and life force seep back through their bones. The blood pumped and the tears flowed, anger stomped and chaos cracked open, how joy is freedom and compassion forgives. Images of stories known and unknown searched for release to find more essence of being.

Ecstatic dance is an ancient movement practice that has been revered as a way to meditate, evoke visionary experience and connect with spirit. It helps to restore the vital of energy of the body and recover lost parts of the soul in the process. By moving our bodies we are able to connect to the physical body-mind-heart and move the soul.....our dance is a reminder of the medicine we hold in our hearts, minds and bodies.......we connect to this power and the medicine moves and is moved by us.

Since this I have completed my counselling diplomas and Graduate Certificate in Artistic therapies through Sophia College (Steiner's 4 fold model of a human being mixed with Buddhist Psychotherapy framework). This creates a dynamic interweaving which creates a set of tools for authentic liberation.

"As above so below, as within as without"

Feelings are neither positive nor negative- they are simply forces in our own stories with their own vibration and function. This is where you practice to let it all go and surrender to your inner knowing, your rhythm and self, warts and all.

It is "rhythm who teaches us to find our own rhythm, as well as teaching respect for the rhythms of all others." In searching for Truth- we find that every life form has its own sacred space and rhythm." (Jamie Sands The 13 Original Clan Mothers.)

To enter sacred space is to say you are willing to dance to your own rhythm and claim all that you are.

"With rhythmic movements she organized as yet unformed elements making orderly patterns" Elrual.com

For inspiration Google: Gabrielle Roth, 5 rhythms dance, Sharron Rose, Ecstatic Dance, Sophia College, Saida Desilets, Rumi Poetry, Divine dance, Goddesses', Shematrix, Dakhini, Skydancer, Kundalini Dance

I have worked within the disability and disadvantaged fields for over 20 years, and in that time frame there has been much discussion about inclusion.

The arts-dance, music, drama, singing, and cross art forms are the tools that can show us how to value the unique expression of all beings. Its is not that artists are special people but that all people are special artists, who have their own expression of a point of veiw, of a story to tell, an insight or vision to be shared.
It is in this space that a person can find the ability to communicate without linear verbal language. It is in the arts space that safety is created for differences to be explored and valued. This offers the community and the world diversity of experienceas platform to share our humanity.

It is also in this art space that people who at times receive their world through rigid control mechanisms can find their voice. Sexuality, and a the right to experience sexuality's freedom is offered as a right to be discussed, expressed, danced, sung and made into theatre. 

 It is often shocking to concerned parents and guardians that this topic is so passionately celebrated in the arts. To dance is to feel alive and "sexy", to feel good about yourself, without the loud voices of judgement condeming you to be quiet and lack confidence, to make theatre is to explore human relationships and this involves sexuality. Sexuality is a part of who we are as a human being where we are experiencing a disability or not.

Lust for life- not just the words of an infamous Iggy Pop song but a quality for life that comes from a vital sexual energy. Sexual energy is a powerful healing and spiritual force giving pizazz to the cells, a lift to the organs and a buzz to the brain. The use of sexual energy to keep passion empowered means challenging any limiting beliefs you may hold on sexuality.
Sexuality is not just sex ( the act of) but an expression of your flowing juicy self in communication with all that can bring you pleasure. A beautiful sky, a magnificant tree, a magic moment when you observe a beings grace unnoticed, a jaunty walk, a rose- whatever pops your cork. This aliveness can be breathed in and held in the body as joy which can add to your daily dose of bliss.
When your awareness notices an alive moment full of beauty, breath in and direct the feeling enegy of your experience into your spine. Circulate this up and down your spine, squeezing in your pelvic floor muscles these acting like billows fueling the energy. Feel your feet firmly onthe ground and allow any excess to flow off into the earth. Feel the heart open, and your alive sexuality be affirmed.

When was the last time you experienced something, someone just for the pleasure of it ? Actually did stop to consciously smell the roses, stopped to drink in the beauty surrounding you, really tasted the food in front of you, or breathed deeply filling your body with the spirit of joy?

When was the last time you set a room up, lit incense, put on music, got out the oil and masturbated for your own sexual pleasure. (oh dear, I'd never do that???)

In our world, this one we have created, we are very familiar with violence, domination, authority and control.
If the above question has sent you ducking for cover because all this "stuff" is triggered then the first question I would ask you is

 "What is your relationship to pleasure?".

Do you indulge yourself with your senses and approve of hedonism "now and then"?

Or " How often do you deny your reckless call to spontaneity for the fear of being TOO wild, of being "naughty", of being caught, of not fitting in or just plain societal contructions barring your way?

If you want to resolve and feel in peace with you sexuality then research your relationship to pleasure.