Valency on Movement...

Whether it is walking, dancing, sports or sex, movement is the manifestation of our most natural physical state of expression. From the beginning of time people all over the world include some form of movement as a main part of their society and culture. Movement allows the story of the self to unfold in the physical world. Being the story tellers we are, we get caught up thinking we ARE the characters in our “Stories”/”Life” and by dancing our stories we realize the limits and illusions we impose on our character and then have the freedom to let it all go, have fun and return to the truth of who we are.

Music makes us FEEL… it moves through our body as e-motion (energy in motion) The body is our instrument. Like the strings of the guitar it resonates to the energy within and around us. Movement is constant. It can be as subtle as thoughts moving through your mind. We are always in motion even when we are still. We are pulsating energy, light and sound. Tuning into the natural rhythm of one's self is one of the quickest ways to reach the authentic self, to get in touch with the aspects of self that seem to elude us.

The body does not lie… It is gives away the secrets of the mind. There can be a lot of fear wrapped up in movement. Movement IS change...changing from one state to another, physical position, place in life, set ideas about the way things "should" be. Movement is the most immediate indicator of where your consciousness is at in any given moment.

You can enter into the quest for true self through any door. Whether it is through the body or mind, these two doorways lead to the same place...a deeper understanding of the self. True Self doesn't care about what others think, it wants to experience life to the fullest, why hold back? We are here as an expression of GOD, perfect whole and complete. “On with the dance, let joy be unconfined!” - Mark Twain

Fear is what keeps us from ANY and ALL free, true expression of our natural state. We predominantly live from fear and judgement and it is rare when we actually step out of that limited state into our true self. Fear can be released or put on hold during experiences of ecstasy, like sex, drugs, meditation, dance, and near death experiences... notice how those events all have the loss of control (to various extents) in common. So while loss of control is scary when we "think" about it (because fears arise of "oh no, what will happen if....???") but when loss of control happens spontaneously it is wonderful, beautiful, amazing, inspiring, fun, pure joy... bliss! These attributes embody Trance Dance. While some sit still in silence, others choose a moving meditation... each path leads to the same place...a deeper connection to pure consciousness. It is a tool to help us wake up from this dream. Ask yourself, what comes up for you around the idea of dancing, movement? What fears does it illicit? Looking stupid? Not knowing? Loss of control? Hopefully it brings or will eventually bring a sense of joy and fun to your life.

My Story...

I have experienced many forms of movement (Yoga, Modern Dance, Jazz Dance, Soul Motion, Trans Dance, 5 Rhythms, Journey Dance, Nia, Erotic dance, African Dance, Zumba)...I have tried it all because I love to move, I love to dance. When we are on the brink of creating there are a lot of ups and downs, it is definitely a rollercoaster ride of emotions, from self doubt, joy, frustration, anger, ah-has, etc. When I started this quest, I was researching, taking every class possible, taking with friends, teachers, gurus in the movement field, you name it. I had this need to make sure that what I was going to give the world was REAL, not some bogus new fad that promised a lot but delivered very little. I remember taking a ballet, tap and Jazz class as a young child. I only lasted about two weeks because it felt so limiting and I just wanted to dance! The Structure was too constricting for me. I just wanted to bust out and dance...why did I need all those rules? Don't get me wrong, structure has its' place, just depends how much. Everything in moderation... including moderation.

From the time I was born my parents took me along on their quest for truth. They were of the metaphysical mind set and so as you can imagine I experienced every new age philosophy out there. They even started the Inner Peace Movement in Loveland Colorado. Dad was versed in Astrology, Numerology amongst other tools of self exploration and my mother was a Yoga Teacher. I could write a whole book just on my dad and his adventures! As an adult I continued this "search" for truth. I started out as an Elementary Teacher, then a Massage/Energy Therapist, and Yoga Instructor.  I finally started to realize that I kept looking outward even though all the books, workshops and guru's said to look within. Then BAM! It finally sunk in. Literally... IN. I then went through a period where I gave up all searching, reading, attending workshops. What was the point?! If it was within then I need look no further. I actually always had this silent inner knowing that I was in some way creating my world, but it was hard to find the words, structure or balls to express it. I spent a lot of time in meditation, silent retreats, etc. While this was beneficial I still longed for an outlet that really allowed me to feel, express and still continue my journey inward toward freedom. I then just sat down and asked myself what do I love? What inspires me? Excites me? Motivates me? When did I feel these things most? DANCE. Well actually it is a combination of music and dance.  I get goose bumps when I hear certain songs or even if it is a song I don't know but it has a special quality to it that triggers an emotional response.

This renewed love of music and dance came when I joined the RED DOOR Ministerial Team, as the Movement Minister. The Red Door describes itself as the possibility of church without religion. The only theology they teach is the 'theology of humility' - knowing that if there 6 billion people on the planet, then there are at least 6 billion possible ways to communicate with our Creator. The gatherings are designed to support modern tribe and family to spiritually grow together. They believe in the effectiveness of somatic integration, using movement, and the universal language of music as tools of transformation. Rather than cater to the masses, they strive to provide spiritual education and experiences that will challenge the community to stay on the cutting edge of awareness and remain open-minded. As the Movement Minister I take the message that is being communicated to the community and create movements that help to integrate the message for a deeper understanding and experience. I choose music that relates to the original message and that triggers emotions that allow the participants go deeper into their experience. As time goes by I begin to realize more and more the power in dancing the "Story" that we each have that comes up for us around the message that was given. On the outside/personality level everyone's story is different because we all have different ways that we perceive and experience our worlds, and our stories that we create about our world perpetuate the experiences, patterns we continue to have. We can bring awareness to our stories and patterns and decide to keep, challenge or release them. I also found that as different as our stories seem on the outside, when I really broke it down, we are all experiencing the same thing, Love or Fear. Fear manifested in physical form is contraction and Love manifested in physical form is expansive. Try this. Next time you are feeling fearful check in with your body. Are your shoulders slumped, belly tight, chest tight, holding your sphincter muscles, furrowed brow, tight jaw? How about when you are feeling open, happy and grateful? What is the body doing then?

Essentially nothing NEED be done, it is just another way to play our game or interact within the stories. A lot of the time those stories hold a very limited view of out true nature. And I thought what a wonderful tool to help unravel the stories, to be the witness/observer of our stories and through the releasing of emotions(energy in motion) that come up when we dance seeing it for what it is (limited, false, made up, illusions) and a way to take back our power through dance. So whether you choose to dance with the form and philosophy of Soul Motion, Trance Dance, NIA, it doesn't matter, your story is the underlying foundation from which you are dancing FROM. You are the brush that the creator uses to paint the canvas, and you are free to move in and out of them freely as the energy moves you. What is the story that wants to be told? Or you can just dance! No thought, no form just free form, authentic expression that frees your soul. You make the choice as you go; you change it according to how you feel. Feeling is the key..let it move you towards your freedom. 

Initially, it was not my intention to start a new form of dance, but a new way to enjoy, perceive and utilize the way we move to awaken to our true state of being. I kept thinking I had to come up with a new form of dance, something that would be the next big movement, but that was imitating all the spiritual fads that were out there already. So I asked myself why are you doing this at all, there are already a thousand different forms of dance and movement! What kept coming to me was there is no right or wrong way, there is no perfect form or method because we are always changing shifting etc. just like massage works sometimes and at other times I need acupuncture or energy work or nothing! It is funny though because as much as I didn't want to fall into the form thing, I realized well, people (including myself) want a little form or structure at least at the beginning...a platform from which to jump, or a reminder. I kept looking for a form of movement to subscribe to, to get certified in and say this is it! This is what I do! But one form never encompassed all of what I was feeling and needing. I would go from one class to another to another to feed my need to move, break something open, explore...whatever it was that I seemed to need at the time. So I thought what if a group of people just got together and danced to just dance? Like when you go out with your friends and boogie down. Then I started thinking well maybe not everyone has taken a lot of movement classes and doesn't know what is available to them? So the structure thing came back again. I noticed that at the Red Door, that there was such a wide skill and comfort level and while some people love to free dance others kept looking to me to guide them. I knew there had to be a happy medium. So then I thought well what a about a class where a basic structure gently guides the participants in and out of free movement, and every now and then the facilitator threw in some fun methods from the various forms of dance that are out there? What about a basic process, a sort of foundation from which to work off... a process that lends itself to reclaiming power through movement/dance? This process would be something easy to remember because it just made sense. Then came the 5R's. It was inspired by personal experience as well as Robert Scheindfeld's book Busting Loose from the Money Game. First, we RECOGNIZE the story or pattern that we are feeling into, really feel it, RELEASE the left over unwanted energy, RECLAIM you power, thoughts, ideas and limitations, REJOICE in the reclaimed power. Then the last piece is to REMEMBER who you truly are (infinite being). The "R" words make it easy to remember the process. This way it could still be a personal process, but with a little structure that creates a safe space and tools to explore that space. It is like sculpting your space. It will always be different, ever contracting and expanding just like us. This would be a space to dance THROUGH your stories, not around. The music is our co-spiritor. As the music shifts in tone, beat, tempo, feel, you are prompted into each step of the 5R process. At times you may notice that you went through all 5R's in one song, where as other times you may find yourself in a state of continual release. It all depends where you are.

Prerequisite:

1. Interest and desire to move, groove and break free from fear and limitations!

1. There is no right or wrong way
2. Use the process as a guide or do you own thing.
3. Don't judge yourself. It is not about competition or comparison - don't cheat yourself out of your authentic experience that is yours alone.
4. Be compassionate with yourself and others.
5. Let yourself FEEL. Be authentic in your expression
6. Let the feeling/music guide you to use what comes up for you as an opportunity to reclaim power - wherever you feel the most discomfort is your point of power. Don't be afraid to go into it. That is where most of your power lies.

1. Recognize: Seeing the patterns, stories, habits, functions of our existence
2. Release: Releasing what does not serve you about the stories you have made up.
3. Reclaim: Reclaim your power back from the limiting stories you have been living from
4. Rejoice: Rejoice in taking back your power and living from the true self that is completely abundant, whole. Perfect and free!
5. Remember: Stepping back to remember our true nature as an expanded, infinite being/God Self/Creator