Hi everybody! Welcome to Day 2 :)
I wanted to start us off with some definite bounce, make it clear to our systems that we’re serious about our joy and (also) about having fun here. We’ll get into other nuances later, but I wanted to give us a few days to set our intentions and uplift our voices.
A little delight can go a long way ;)
How was your time reading or writing? I hope you’re feeling closer to your creativity.
You know, I’m really going through this experience together with you. Every time I put (metaphorical) pen to (metaphorical) paper, I learn something, and these days are no exception.
Some days are rockier (me, today), some days are brilliant, and some days you may find yourself struck by the lightning of a god/dess itself. As we’re moving, as we’re groovin’, think about being gentle with whatever you find.
Now let’s keep the momentum going! Enjoy the dance today, however wild, sporadic, or enlightened it may find you <3
(This was the song playing in my head as I was writing with my own dance energy. And this is a cheeky ecstatic dance set by an Israeli creator I love a lot :D)
Dance
Baby, my spell’s all over you now Because you’re running around Because you’ve been putting me down You say you can’t stand it? Well I can’t stand it too, But now my spell’s all over you And I know just what we’ll do. If this dance floor doesn’t spark you, Then you might not change a thing, But at least let me ask you, Just show me your best swing. It’s the smoothest of the smooth jives, But it doesn’t mean all that much, At least that’s what I’ll tell you While I’m savoring your touch. We’re the coolest cats around here, We’re really the hottest stuff, They love to say so excitedly, “They never can dance enough!” So don’t tell me you have no time now, Don’t tell me you’re running around, Whenever you try, I’ll reply that you do Your best with your feet on the ground. . . Hold on, darling, I hear what you’re saying, But can’t you see I’m dancing?
If you’re enjoying the experience so far, share the retreat with friends who may also want to play with their poetry and read beautiful works from our community.
Or, if you’re new, subscribe to Joy Journeys to get these prompts daily to your inbox:
**Sub-par pole dancer**
I move in towards the pain,
The metal pushing hard against the bruise,
I put my hand around the pole again.
My feet so close to lifting off the grain
My wet palms slip the grip I always lose,
I move in towards the pain.
Knees bang the floor cause I’ve got shaky aim,
And I can’t manage cues;
I put my hand around the pole again
The music comes again to the refrain,
I get another bruise.
I move in towards the pain.
And yet another skill that I can’t gain,
And yet another disappointed move,
I put my hand around the pole again.
At least I’d like to say I’m glad I came
And make an effort even if I lose.
I put my hand around the pole again,
I move in towards the pain.
Nature is an ongoing dance,
an invitation as pure freedom,
to move as She does.
Non performative
connected
spontaneous
in the moment swaying with life.
Her cycling rhythms,
circling
spiraling
as gyrating hips around and around.
Her beating heart,
pulsating
reverberating
rising and falling
as feet tapping rhythms upon her ground.
Her modulating music of many sounds,
harmonizing
ebbing
flowing
as graceful arms receiving and giving.
Her gift is embodied movement.
Immanence as full presence.
Kinesthetic
tactile
intimate.
Joy in just being…
…the dance as the body.