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Listening to the Heart Blog

Living, exploring, expressing, spiraling the journey of womanhood one breath at a time, one day at a time, one achievement at a time, one blessing at a time.

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Giving a Voice to Chaos: Ecstatic Dancing to Peace

9/19/2016

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Altar at Ecstatic Dance 9/18/2016
Every Sunday since November 8 we have been gathering to dance with the intention of raising the vibration of the planet. We gather, call in the directions, and create a sacred container within which we are encouraged to explore what is alive for us in the moment.

We call this time together Ecstatic Dancing.

The term conjures images of complete abandon and delight, and I would venture to say it does... but, perhaps not always in the ways most imagine.

Nietzsche said, "You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star."

No matter how calm and together we humans may appear on the surface, at this point in our collective evolution there exist myriad chaos storms traversing our interior landscapes each day. Driving on trafficked highways, the daily threats to our water supply, hatred, racial and social inequality, raising children, striving to pay bills, acute aches, chronic diseases, and psychological challenges, to name a handful, stress our bodies and minds, and leave our souls swirling in a state ranging from a general anxiety to full on panic. 

Much of these thoughts, feelings, and experiences are cloaked in smiling faces, or confident demeanors... we have been taught to "never let them see you sweat." But in our Ecstatic Dance time together participants are encouraged to allow whatever is present and alive within them in each moment out.

Allow your body to stretch, shake, spin, do handstands, or jump. Allow your voice to moan, howl, yip, scream, laugh, or cry. Allow your soul to grieve, celebrate, or live in the question. Allow what is alive in the moment for you to express itself. 

In The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron there is an exercise called "The Morning Pages." The idea is that each morning you wake up and write three pages of stream of consciousness writing, that functions to train your mind to quiet the "editor mind" or the critical mind. It also functions as a  way of cleansing the channel to allow clearer thought to move.

Similar to "The Morning Pages," Ecstatic Dance provides a sacred space to explore different movements within our human being-ness. It allows all the chaos building up within us over time to purge, to express. It is a space where one can surrender to the chaos and allow it to move through one's being...no judgment... no inhibitions... a safe place to shake it all out and find what is left at the center... the dancing star.

I have danced every Sunday (with a few exceptions) for almost a year now, and I can attest to this powerful medicine of dance. There are life challenges. There are frustrations. There is traffic, and children, and bills to pay. There are fears, and stressors, and joyful moments too, and every Sunday I have a place to process, explore, and move through these landscapes. I have moved through weeping, yelling, spinning, and laughing all in one session.

I have heard people say, "I'm not a good dancer," but I must stress that it is not about dancing, it is about loving yourself enough to allow your truth to be made visible. Yes, it is called "dancing," but that term is used loosely. It is not a performance. It is not a competition. It is about creating space where each voice/thought/feeling/movement living within you is seen as valuable and has a space to express itself with dignity. 

Channels open and energy is moved. It is divine connection. It is sacred. I believe more of this type of medicine is needed in the world right now because peace begins within, and there is no peace without first giving space for the chaos to have its voice. 

Life can be scary, dangerous, and overwhelming: this is the chaos we dance with each day. And though it is challenging, it can be used as a blessing and pathway for transformation and honing our skills of delving deeper into creator's arms. Ecstatic Dancing is a beautiful vehicle for accessing the sacred, for moving through the realms of chaos into the sweetness of peace and connection with other humans exploring their humanity.

Come dance with us, delve deeper into your being, and welcome your human-ness to a place at the table of life. We will gather and hold space for you to explore and discover the dancing star you are at the center of your being. 

With love and compassion,
Suzette Winona Summers


* After re-reading this, I see that it is a very general picture. I will write another post soon, that is much more specific about the environment and rhythm of the experience, including the opening, closing, and music selections primarily created by my co-rhythm-keeper Catherine. 



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Blessing The Waters

1/21/2014

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PictureWater Blessing at the Ohio River (Photo by Paige Waggoner)
Mother-Father God, Infinite Great Spirit that moves through all things, I pray that you bless the sacred waters that cover this Earth. I pray that you re-awaken our hearts and minds to the powerful healing that flows through them. Guide us, and lead us, in the ways we can bring change into the minds of those who do not see, or have forgotten the sacredness of water. Water is life. We give thanks for the loving water that flows through this world for the healing and survival of all living things. Bless the waters. Bless our hearts. Bless our minds. Show us the way. May your will be done. So be it. So it is.







Yesterday, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I was honored to share a blessing for the Ohio River, and all of the sacred waters of this planet. The way in which this came about was truly divinely orchestrated, and I am still in awe of the way the sacred moves within us, around us, and through us. 

Last week we were made aware that there was a chemical spill in the Ohio River, and that the chemical plume was headed toward Louisville. Of course, my heart was sad hearing of this, but I also know that we are not unique, and that the poisoning of the Earth's waters are happening every day. Water is sacred. So many have forgotten. 

The posts of local people on Facebook were sad, angry, and fearful about the chemical spill, and the way the water company was handling the situation. Although my heart was sad too, and that familiar fear and helpless feeling was creeping up inside of me, I felt that we needed to respond with a higher vibration. And with that inspiration, I wrote the above prayer, and shared it on Facebook.

A day, or so later, I became aware that a local woman, Melissa Rue, was working on organizing a Community Blessing For the Ohio River, so I contacted her asking for more information because I would like to attend. I told her that I was feeling a similar inspiration and had  written a prayer on my Facebook wall the other day. The universe  is a funny thing... She responded immediately, and saw our connecting as fate, and asked if I would be willing to lead the blessing. I was honored and in awe of the orchestration of the universe... of how when we allow spirit to guide us, wonders continue to unfold... and they continued...

My passion is to bring the ritual and participation of circle to people, and I was able to do just that. Women, men, and children stood close together in circle. A woman stood in each of the four directions and called in the spirit of that direction, with the support of the entire circle. I then said a prayer for the water, for our hearts, minds, and spirits, and asked that the Great Spirit that moves through all things would transmute the emotions of fear, anger, and helplessness into confidence, inspiration, strength and steadfastness. I prayed that we would be directed by Spirit rather than our egos as to the best ways we can work to protect and heal our waters. As I was praying a dear friend, Tara, held a bowl of water, and after the prayer, each person in the circle was invited to share their blessing with the water. 

One by one, people came to the bowl of water cradled with reverence by Tara to offer blessings. Women. Men. Children. Oh, the children. My heart bloomed with hope as I saw young girls with somber faces placing their hands upon the bowl, and speaking their blessings into the water. There–is hope. There–is power. I was in awe. What a blessing. 

What a powerful, amazing gift the creator gave me to be an initiator and a witness to such power housed in such gentle authenticity. And this is what I live for–to bring ritual, ceremony, and participation to the world. To teach our children the power of community, authenticity, prayer, and blessings.  I live for the moments when I can be a catalyst and a witness to women (and men) claiming their power, and using that power for the healing of this planet. 

In gratitude and abundant love,
Suzette

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    Suzette Winona Summers M.A. is a mother, writer, artist, and circler of women following the call of her heart to empower herself, her sisters, and the world. Suzette embraces her purpose of birthing a new world through one breath at a time, one step at a time, walking through fear, disappointments, and difficulties into the light of a new day. 

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