One Word Week

Tags

acceptance, allowing, becoming, Believing, change, compassion, Conscious Living, empathy, equality, graciousness, harmony, justice, love, peace, respect, seeing others, sharing, supporting

In the wake of all of this goodness, I have been so amazed by the noise that surrounds it all. Saying this isn’t commenting on the perceived positive or negative noise that always surrounds the shifting of times, but rather the amount of outpouring and claiming through celebration. Again, this is not a comment on the pride or needed exhale, but rather watching in wonderment of it all.

And yet, I am realizing for myself that I am absorbing our changing world in a very different way. For me it has been one of great internal reflection. I have observed the amazing things that have been occurring and have been digesting them into my being simply because I often can’t believe that they have actually occurred. If I can swallow them into my body and consume the joy within perhaps I can better believe that they are happening as they have become a physical part of me somehow.

In light of all of this, I have decided to use only one word this week to describe the feelings or thoughts that have been occurring as I process all that has transpired. I am calling it “One Word Week” simply distilling what I need to by choosing only one word rather than a rant or exchange. In doing so I hope to quiet those around me to enter into the simplicity of joined thought while contemplating more quietly through a focused and directed emotion. I realize I always connect better with those around me and those I love when I share what is in the moment without anything extra; stripping away unnecessary noise so that the connection is better tasted due to its simplicity of flavor.

So as I move forward this week I will express in a very succinct way and look forward to the ways in which those around me respond to the dialing back and humbling of the emotions. In addition, I am also very aware that the way we respond to change will help us better to change the other necessary and long over due shifts that need to happen immediately in our country. If we celebrate to loudly or wildly, the noise drowns out  and detracts us from addressing the pressing needs of our brothers and sisters who are also fighting battles of equality and justice. We are all not free until we are all free. We are all not legal until we all are legal. We are all not equal until we all are equal. It is a quieting respect that we offer even in times of great celebration. Our graciousness in the way we celebrate will help to let others know that we will fight along side them as well.

My One Word Week began yesterday with the word love. Simple and profound. Yet universal and necessary and needed for all. Join me in this directed expression and see what happens to your feed or to your exchanges. See what happens when we create a bridge through simple words and thoughts so as to bring people together even if they do not think or feel the same. If we create a platform to welcome others to the table for discussion while seeing them through a simple idea, perhaps we can begin to bring in more love as the walls will have come down. I wonder if we can disarm the fear and anger by simplifying the exchange?

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The Freedom to Be

Tags

Conscious Living, courage, Courageous Vulnerability, faith, journey, joy, love, patience, peace, spirit, universal heart, well being

Whisper the words of love by the actions of your heart

Water the garden of the soul by tears that fall from your sorrowful eyes

Absorb your fragile humanity by swallowing your pride

 

It is only through action that we can truly know

It is only through pain that we find our strength

It is only through vulnerability that we enjoy freedom

Nothing is Useless

Tags

Balance, brother and sister, compassion, cultivating love, equality, harmony, love, necessary, open eyes, open heart, peace, seeing oneself, seeing others, sustaining, Understanding, useful

There is value in everything. However small something is, it has a significant reason and purpose even if one does not see it at the moment. If we find ourselves too busy to honor something or someones value, we know we have disconnected from reflection and ceased being present.

Yet, despite usefulness of all things, we must remember the balance in our lives as we do not need all the things that fill our lives. Many of us have too much and therefor are being suffocated by the things that overcrowd our internal and external space. If we find ourselves weighed down by this clutter, we know we have lost our faith in simplicity and efficiency.

It is important to recognize the value in all things and in one another. In acknowledging the importance and usefulness that allows us to see one another and the world around us in a much more sacred and interconnected way. This type of seeing allows compassion and understanding and reminds us of the balance and equality necessary for the very system of sustaining life and cultivating love. We see ourselves as equal; brother and sister.

In order to see these things, we must free up the space around us so that we might free up space in our hearts. It is this space that allows us to recognize the light of the universe inside one another and appreciate the value and sacredness of each individual, each being and every living thing. The more open the heart, the more light we see. The more light we see, the more gracious our lives.

A Meander in Peace

Tags

alone, anonymous, becoming, Believing, discovery, inspiration, introvert, journey, Paris, peace, quiet, silence, spirit, walk

When I wander the streets of a foreign country I always feel at peace. This is mostly due to the anonymity of being in a place where you don’t speak their language and they don’t, for the most part, speak yours. I love to meander the streets and listen. I know not what they are saying, or pick up fragments, but non of it really matters. I am there to experience and to absorb. I watch for all intense and purposes and simply become a fly on a wall of international happenings. 

I love this because I am able to wander and become lost in a culture that just assumes I am one of them and then I am allowed to just be. Even if people approach me and start speaking to me, I am always quickly left alone when I share that I do not know their language. Or, if I do understand, I swiftly acknowledge them and answer their question. This happened at the train station here in Paris and some Americans asked me if they were on the correct train in French and I answered them without acknowledging I knew what they were saying after they stood in line behind me. 

Such a pleasure in given space to walk in a land where you observe and become part of the culture simply by existing in it. The joy of getting lost in a foreign land and permitted to simply just be and do. How glorious a luxury is that for an introvert. Walking through your day without the bother of a question or pull of conversation. The joy of anonymity and space. The joy of travel.

There is Room

Tags

brotherhood, compassion, getting along, love, open hearts, open minds, peace, Understanding

You know, in my heart of hearts, I believe there is room for us all. There really is. There is room for us to express ourselves sharing in discourse and perspectives allowing for understanding, compassion and empathy. There is room.

 

There is also room for us to share the same space and great one another with love and an open heart. When seeing one another we see the light of the universe that is the same light within ourselves. We recognize that although we may come from different places, we are one. There is room.

 

There is so much room that we are forgetting to go to the very place that we can find it. Ironically, we are searching outside of ourselves looking for others to open spaces for us so that we can easily walk through. We are searching for a place that is so far away from us out there that exhaustion and fear take over disabling the heart and mind and enabling hate. There is room.

 

The place where there is the most room is deep within. Spaces so vast we cannot even comprehend its gateway to a spacious infinity. Inside exists a lighted pathway leading to what it is every human being is looking for: Love. The love of oneself with the acceptance of all that one is, is one of the most freeing and liberating places of all. And if we are free, truly free from the tyranny of anger, fear and hate, we can love ourselves fully this allowing ourselves to fully love one another.  Within, there is room.

 

Happy Birthday, Baxter!

Tags

connection, dogs, dogs birthday, Grateful, peace, pets, soul of a dog, Soul to Soul, spirit, zen dog

Today is the fifth birthday of my sweet Zen dog Baxter. I am amazed at how quickly time has passed and how rich my life is since he adopted me just five years ago. It is truly amazing the energy and spirit he brings to my life and what he continues to teach me and remind me about what it means to be fully human as well as what it means to be a citizen of this planet.

 

Five years ago I found myself dog less as both of my previous beautiful dogs passed. I had Basil for 15 years who passed from old age and Anise who passed due to a liver disease. Both of them were a tremendous joy and brought such light and love to my life as I crossed the country dancing and making work. They were two of the best well traveled dogs one could ever meet.

 

Once they both passed, I promised myself I would let time heal my loss and be sure not to replace them or the memory of them with just any dog. Since I knew I would know when the time was right, I simply waited for the right dog to find me, and find me he did.

 

I spent about a year and a half open to seeing dogs, going to rescue places and just waiting until I knew. One August day I happened to walk by a rescue site that sets up outside of Pet smart. I began walking slowly looking in the crates. I make sure to make eye contact to see the light in the eyes of the dogs and to feel is there is a connection. When my attention was drawn to a crate a little up the way, I looked in and two giant green eyes surrounded by chocolate bliss were staring back at me. It was then I knew he was meant to be with me.

 

When the volunteer took him out and put him in my arms I could feel it in my bones. His coat was ratty due to having just been getting through carcoptic mange, but his energy and spirit would have made you believe he never had a rough day in his life. So full of light and spirit was he that all that mattered was to simply be held in the arms of me.

 

We spent some time together walking and just being. I knew that quiet time was an indication of many things. His personality, his energy and maybe even a relation to the spirit of Basil was very much the same way. There was something about Baxter that had much of Basil in him. It made me wonder if perhaps Basil had come back to spend some more time with me. If he did, he certainly made his way back well through the cosmic soup.

 

Whatever it was, we found one another that day and for this I celebrate and honor him on this glorious day of him. Happy Birthday, Baxter! May I give to you even half of what you share with me.

Ever-Expanding Stillness

Tags

Ballet, change, contemporary dance, Dance, giggle, graciousness, gratitude, joy, laughter, light, Modern, modern dance, peace, shift, stillness, thankful

Over the past six months, I have had the luxury of space in my life. I was graciously supported in a research leave that opened up time allowing me to reflect, shift and create. During this time, I traveled the globe, dove deeply into my research in EBAS and created many dances. In addition, I embarked on several projects to expand my learning and sharing growing immensely in every action.

 

Reflecting on this space I feel a deep sense of gratitude for all that there is in my life. I am so thankful for the ability to be in a place where I am supported in taking the time to better understand my work, my teaching and my place in the larger community. I am grateful for what this time, space has offered me, and how it has significantly shifted my thoughts, creative ideas, potential projects and a myriad of possibilities. However, the thing I am most grateful that has happened is the shift it has created in my heart.

 

I have been processing my gratitude as of late and can only best describe my current condition as an ever-expanding stillness. I realize that my life is expanding filling and fulfilling its potential while exploring so many facets, I never fully comprehended possible. Yet, there is a quiet and a stillness that continues to expand and grow deep within feeding the gratitude, feeding the glow.

 

When we think of the expanding universe we think of it chaotically churning outwards and pressing the boundaries of itself into matter not yet known creating new existences. And although I am moving into places yet to be, there is no chaos, only peace in a stillness so sweet I can’t but help feel the joy giggling inside my veins.

Where I Hoped We Would Be

Tags

calm, change, dedication, diligence, dogs, happiness, patience, peace, training

I have mentioned before the training of my boys and their crazy behavior when they are out with the neighbors unfixed dog. Well, today I am happy to report that as I write they are all out together enjoying their independent spaces and lying in the sun. They are aware of both being out and yet, there is a calm in them all. I am so happy to have patiently gotten to this point. Arriving at a wish I thought almost impossible several months ago.

 

Today though, they are all exactly where they need to be and I am exactly where I want to be. This is a great reminder that through patience, dedication and positive reinforcement, almost anything is achievable. Now it might take more time and effort than you are willing to give at certain points, but the payoff is truly enjoyable. The payoff is peace. The payoff is a happy state of being for all beings. If my dogs and I can do it, we all can do it. Whatever the goal and task.

Mantra for the day

Tags

light, love, Mantra, peace, quiet heart, quiet mind

Quiet mind

Quiet heart

Space inside the body

Space inside the Soul

Time to accept

Time to allow

Light within the moment

Light within the life

Love now

Love always

The Depth of Space

Tags

Ballet, bliss, breath, class, contemporary dance, courage, Dance, depth of space, Jazz, joy, Modern, moving mountains, path, peace, practice, Soul to Soul, spirit, spirituality, Understanding, yoga

In the space between the spaces is an ocean of understanding. In the breath that fills the lungs, there is compassion. In our practice we must remember to allow for space despite not knowing how much more there is to achieve. When we diligently practice with a beginners mind and a committed heart, space opens up. Time becomes our ally as we ever expand our reach both externally and internally. In this expanse, we find freedom.

 

This range of motion of both the physical self and emotional self allows for release and rejuvenation. We rehydrate our bodies while replenishing our spirit. Our ever-reaching hearts are allowed to beat the breath of our souls finally becoming congruent as the body enjoys the joy of itself in motion. We are built to move and our hearts built to run.

 

Yet, this is just for today. Tomorrow we must again climb that mountain of practice and once again ascend with humility and awe. We have never been here before because it is this day, this moment. Never have we seen this time and never will we see it again. It is not enough to have felt the joy once; the challenge is to strive to feel it again and again. Memorize your sensation. Know where it comes from and how to access the depth of it. Know the body as you know your soul, intimately and with a sense of respect and reverence.

 

In this daily practice, inside the humility and exaltation, find the replenished heart and then share it with the world. When you realize how much strength and power lies within the space within, when you understand that you are able to move mountains by gesturing the center-line as long as you possibly can, you will know you are free. You will know you are truly alive by your mere ability to reshape your being and your spiritual bliss. Once you know this, share it unconditionally. Give all you can without expectation and love because you can.