A river so deep
Since I’ve been back from Molokai, I’ve been out of sorts.
Molokai is a powerful place. The land there speaks to the soul in a language my mind neither hears nor understands. My soul did, and does, and it’s insisting on changing the status quo.
I discovered an affinity for the land. Yes, I totally had it before…a longing for the land of Hawaii. Now, I know there is a deep river that runs between my soul and that land. A river so deep that the conversation continues even when my body is back home, so many miles away.
So all I can do is dance to the new rhythm pouring forth. I know how to let go into the dance, to trust the dance. For this, I am grateful.
When I first started dancing ten years ago, I had to force myself to stay. I would go, wanting to be there, but when I got there, another voice inside would want to leave right away. I was embarrassed to move, embarrassed to trust my own body’s way of expression.
It took months for me to soften to my own expression enough so that this internal battle began to die down. It took years to begin to feel such deep joy that now feel. It took time and trust. Trust in the dance. Trust in my body. Trust in the soul’s call to the dance floor.
Now, I know how to let go into the dance. For this, I will always be grateful.
I now see there is no difference between the dance floor and the earth’s floor. To live as I dance is now what I hunger for.
Who cares what others think? Do we really care? Deep down inside, do we really care what others think? That fear swims on the surface, but way deep inside where the soul clamors to be free, do we really care? Will that fear of judgment keep us from experiencing the pure joy of movement, of expression, of gratitude for the gift of being alive?
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And, you?
The soul guides us to rise up and embody our own beauty and nobility.
It pushes and prods. It calls and yearns, and somehow, somewhere, and in some way we begin to listen.
How is your soul guiding you to move? To listen? To touch? To love? To express?
Somewhere within, you feel the call. So dance. Just dance. With music. Without music. It makes no difference.
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Dance when you’re broken open.
Dance when you’ve torn the bandage off.
Dance in the middle of fighting.
Dance in your blood.
Dance when you’re perfectly free.
Struck, the dancer hears a tambourine inside her,
like a wave that crests into foam at the very top,
Begins.
Maybe you don’t hear that tambourine,
or the tree leaves clapping time.
Close the ears on your head,
that listen mostly to lies and cynical jokes.
There are other things to see, and hear.
Music. Dance.
A brilliant city inside your soul!
–Rumi
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Thank you to Charlie Korda for sharing this video and poem.
“there is no difference between the dance floor and the earth’s floor” – I’ve never seen it this way before… there’s been dance and then there’s been the rest of my life. What if they can actually merge together?
Tat – yes! what if they can merge together? what if they are one? dance and life. it’s got me spinning…
xo julie
Beautiful. I, too, love to dance! I’ve taken very few dance classes, but I love putting music on and letting my body guide me. When I get especially into the movement, my body, mind, and soul feel so connected and at peace…
How beautiful! I started dancing twelve years ago, and while I don’t dance as frequently now, every single time I get on the dance floor and move I tap into a joy I feel no other way, doing no other thing!
This is gorgeous: I now see there is no difference between the dance floor and the earth’s floor. To live as I dance is now what I hunger for!
Love it, thanks!
Love and light,
Sue
So nice to find you, Julie, and read about your love of dance! What you write about how it took months for you to soften into your body’s own expression resonates with me. And seeing the video you shared, seeing people soften into their own way of moving and dancing and hearing them speak to why they dance – it’s very powerful. I’ve danced for years and practiced yoga, and like some of the people in the video I have to move and dance to be happy. So much so that I’m super aware of and humbled by the movement in everything I do each and every day. Movement is life. Thank you for sharing!
What a beautiful, inspiring video. It is making me feel compelled to go back to Salsa lessons. I live in an arts area where there are about 20 dance studios in a 1 mile radius. I have been considering going back to lessons for some time now. Thank you!
Additionally, I am now in love with the idea of visiting Molokai. Wow! I went to Kauai three years ago and loved the wild areas. Molokai take that to the next level. Exactly the type of escape/connection I look for when I travel.
Thank you for being you.
Blessings.
“It took years to begin to feel such deep joy that now feel. It took time and trust. Trust in the dance. Trust in my body. Trust in the soul’s call to the dance floor.”
I’ve been squirming under the new vision for expression that Molokai awakened, and it’s dissonance with the reality of my present, fleeting condition. Thank you for this reminder, for the opportunity to see where the steps before have lead to an easy connection with joyful dancing in my soul, right now 🙂 It makes the delight of the current seeds that much more exhilarating.
My friend, a beautiful dancer, showed me this song recently. We had a wonderful time dancing to it, so I thought you might enjoy.
Sartorial Sounds – Take Off Your Cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oa4xVAtJbww
Julie,
Your story of stepping into and away from and into the dance reminds me of all the circuitous ways I trust, doubt, and trust myself again. I stand in a new field of confident vision, since our Molokai retreat time.
The intentionality we each brought to the week led us into immediate depth. The new me is simpler. I’m acting on what matters, not thinking about it so much.
Dancing directly – today my gestures sprang from inner source rather than in response to an invitation or permission from outside me. Much more delicious!
Karen,
Dancing directly. What a fabulous pairing of words. They feel powerful in my body.
Yes, I can feel your new field of confident vision. It’s powerful.
With love,
Julie
Sometimes—very rarely, but sometimes—I come across a post that precisely sums up what my Big Dream is and reminds me WHY I want it. My Big Dream is to help people access the freedom, joy, and healing that I know the dance holds, to let go, to move past the fear and into the dance. You summed it up exactly, with wisdom and insight. And reading it every molecule of me vibrate and dance with resonance.
Thank you.
Dear Meg,
What a beautiful Big Dream, and how important this big dream is to all of us. And, I love the words have you vibrating and dancing with resonance! I can just see you now…
Love to you,
Julie
I absolutely love this video as it pulls your ideas together so well. Dance is calling me again. I must act on this. Thanks for this amazing post!!!