March 26, 2009 - We explored the topics of coming home and soul motion as a ministry. The question I offered up was: How do you lose the fullness of your self expression over time?

My experience working with people is that there are two ways. The first is that you contract. All of the experiences you have where you are unable to express yourself lodge in your muscles. Over time, those unexpressed emotions make it harder and harder to be present in the moment with what you are experiencing. Does that make sense?

The other way I am very intrigued with is more of a shamanic interpretation. I find that if I am in situations where I am being told how I have to be, and it denies my reality, a part of me just leaves. I just give up my voice and allow myself to be influenced by someone else.

The way I come back usually has something to do with giving myself permission. To be me. When I feel that, I can literally feel a part of myself re-enter my body. It usually is accompanied by a full breath.

The notion of ministry has to do with how we minister to ourselves. How do you take care of yourself, nurture yourself, give yourself what you need in the moment? Like right now.

And hopefully, over time, we are feeling solid enough to be aware of others in the space, and what they might need. Our dance, and the room, changes significantly when one or more people move into this sense of community.

March 19, 2009 - Fun Class. We spent time exploring the notion of being present, coming home to our bodies and allowing ourselves to creatively express through movement. We worked the place of solo dancing, then moved into dancing with another. The key here is the invitation to notice how our sense of self changes when we are in relationship to another - not engaging directly, but just being near another can have an effect on us.

We played with quick duets, moving into just allowing solos or duets or trios to arise spontaneously. There was a lot of playfullness in the room.

The group was composed of people who have been dancing on Sundays for some time, so the work was easy for them to follow. My job was to just track them and gently encourage the unfolding.