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Post by Del on Jan 2, 2009 1:54:58 GMT -5
Happy New Year!!!
So I've profiled the 'Dancer's Potential'. It's a working project for my thesis, and the essence of this project is 'discovering the power in movement'.
Movement is the primary act of creation, therefore people should be able to create through dance.
I have been able to do so, and as I work toward exploring this, I am also working to wards putting it all down to make sense to dancers and non-dancers.
A big Con of this (Pros and Cons) is: What's the point?
What is the point of fulfilling the dancer's potential?
I have an answer, but what are your thoughts?
It's akin to fulfilling the human potential...what is the point?
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Post by KG on Jan 2, 2009 14:53:21 GMT -5
It is hard to remember sometimes in light of modern comfort, safety and ease, but we are in most ways behind enemy lines while we are incarnate. That doesn't mean we can't enjoy our lives, but it does mean we have to complete our mission before returning to base. You are young and it seems like you have plenty of time, but take it from an older sister, that time passes much quicker than you think. If this is your mission, and I think it probably is, then you must either do it, or end up regretting it, in the alotted length of time. You need to complete your mission, and believe me your dancing looks better now when you are young than if you wait fourty years to do it. As far as writing, this is just the beginning of all the writing you have to do in this life. I know that much.
It is all about the mission,at least for me. If I have fun along the way, well I try to make it fun, but that is just motivation. It is about at least earning enough money to survive and support your mission, but mostly it is about the mission itesslf. We don't always know the whole plain of our mission either, but we do get guidance day by day, to show what direction to take next.
AS for the point... well other than completeing our assigned tasks, and helping people along the way, possibly enjoying ourselves, and trying to leave those we met in better shape than they were when they met us, I have no clue of anything else important.
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Post by Del on Jan 3, 2009 16:24:27 GMT -5
Well I know what the point is for me in doing so, but for others looking at it from their perspective...they've done things the way they've been taught to do, and fulfilling this potential would restructure how they've been taught to do things.
The question is in a sense hypothetical - they'd ask themselves, what's the point in using dance for this purpose?
What are your thoughts on that?
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Post by KG on Jan 7, 2009 20:07:53 GMT -5
Well I have thought about it, and I am still not sure what to say... for one thing, from what you say about your fellow dancers, I am not sure I can get my head up my butt far enough to see their POV. LOL
Honestly, I think most of your critique comes from jealous women, who WANT to find fault with you. It is so typical because they are doing a traditional dance, in the standard way they were taught. Creativity there is limited, and they like it that way. Maybe most of them are too shallow to have much creativity, and so to merely mimic what has been done for thousands of years, in one of the few ways that has been carried down... probably the simplest of the old movements seems right up their alley. They don't like you doing something different. It is that simple.
Chances are, that your movements are the 'lost knowledge' of dance. You were incarnate when the dance was being developed. Probably what they are doing now is the dumbed down standard kind of dance, where as the secret, or sacred movements were probably reserved for the really powerful dancers, and eventually lost... but no way you could explain that I don't suppose, at least not to them.
At any rate your dance is a sacred practice. You can dance like they dance, and you might want to do that sometimes... I mean you can do what they do, without a problem, but you feel a need to do another kind of dance, and I think that need is coming from deep inside. I see nothing wrong with developing your style, and way of dancing, and like I have told you before. YOU don't have to please THEM. Please your audience if you have one, but your dance isn't dependent on these people who also dance.
I guess if you have to answer them, just say. "I know how to do what you are talking about. I just choose to do something different right now."
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Post by Del on Jan 7, 2009 22:45:25 GMT -5
Well I have thought about it, and I am still not sure what to say... for one thing, from what you say about your fellow dancers, I am not sure I can get my head up my butt far enough to see their POV. LOL Oh, don't even attempt to do that. You might get stuck or lost trying to come back. So I am working on my thesis [actually I have been working on it since just before I started school] and it has to do with this very thing - but taking it right to the source. The dancer's potential is to create through their movements [and anyone can actually create through movement; it's just that dancer's have a much greater task at hand because of how they immerse themselves in a sacred art]. I was paid a visit by the divine feminine AND the divine masculine and I was told that in order for them [dancer's] to create, they have to understand mythology and origin. No ifs, and's or but's about it. ;D That's coming right from the source. The Creator told me so - revealing itself in both female and male forms.....though I suppose I still cannot tell them the movements are reserved for the really powerful dancers right out. I am still basically saying the same thing though - in order to create, they have to understand the source of creation [mythology, origin, and humanity as well]. You are right. And you know, when I come across dancers that are so close to attaining that potential, there's an inner resonance. But guess what...they don't wanna go that far or deep. It's only recent that I have gotten out of that habit of pleasing others. I am glad it has been squashed. I actually do that...and I have made some unfriendly acquaintances because of that. Not complaining about it, i just think it's silly.
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Post by KG on Jan 8, 2009 10:27:07 GMT -5
Well understanding origin, and the deeper levels of mythology is a tall order. I feel a powerful drive to understand that... and more importantly to understand God, and all things related to that. Total Comprehension is beyond the human mind in my opinion, but it registers somewhere, deep down. If you can feel it and express it in your dance... maybe being able to express it in words isnt as important as the feeling.
I've read so much, and experienced so much, I am overwhelmed, and everytime I come to a conclusion, by that time I have hundreds of other questions of equal importance that have come up while figuring ut the one conclusion. At some point my intelect fails me and I am just in awe... maybe that awe is the thing you could express in your dance.
Going far and deep into a spiritual practice, can be crazy making. One guy I used to talk to on line, who had persued enlightenment since his teens, and he's now in his sixties, once told me that everyone he had ever met who was enlightened or close, was either wonderful or insane, and that he had met a lot more insane than truely wonderfully enlightened ones. He was, I think trying to tell me that insanity was the direction I was headed, if I didn't lighten up. He also warned that once I found what I thought was that place of illumination, I might seek God and not find him in it. I might find nothing at all. Eastern religion teaches that emptiness is the goal, many western raised people who study eastern teachings, find emptiness and can't deal with it. He said that often the closest a western mind can come to ego death, is nervous breakdown. Most of the time Western ego death is a combination at best of Nervous breakdown and the process of enlightenment. The breakdown... well it makes us feel weak and crazy till it comes to full fermentation, because there is a gap there, that goes much smoother for the eastern mind, within eastern culture.
The desire to get, have, succeed, excell, and do... being a doing, instead of a being, is key to everything the western mind holds dear. Westerners are all about what they do. Eastern thought is all about what we ARE. God said "I am" and he was trying to tell us something. Being, and being aware of being on that level, is attaining the state of the God head.
I remember talking to another guy who got to what he thought was Nervana, and enlightenment... and pulled out, because he couldn't seem to be able to stand it. He tried, but couldn't hold on because the feeling was unbearable. He really felt that he was damaged by the experience. He couldn't deal with that feeling, and it haunted him.
TO take a practice deeper... as far as you can take it, takes a lot of personal depth to start with. It takes tremendous desire, like a drive that consumes all your other drives to the point you can't even think about anything else when it is upon you.
Here is a passage that expresses my own quest in practice.
"Oh that I might know him, and the power of his resurection. Being conformed to his death, in order that I might attain unto the resurection of the dead."
The feeling of the first six words is alone incredible. "OH that I might know him... I just want to know him as deeply as is possible. IT is like wanting to embrace a long lost lover. It is the yearning similar to unrequieted love. It is a powerful urgent drive, but that alone isn't what is crazy making. As a matter of fact there is some satisfaction in that because Christ is knowable, though we may not understand everything about him, we can feel and we do not really need to understand. Yet there is a constant drive to get closer, to be around him more and more. It is like that boyfriend you really like, and no matter how much you are together, you want more closeness, constantly, and always. Jesus though is like that friend that sticks closer than a brother though, so you do get to see him and be with him.
Knowing the father though, is another matter. He is incomprehensible. We can understand an aspect of him in Jesus, and that is why Jesus is so important, but the Father himself, is harder to expereince. There in is the quest, and the emptiness, and the divine search.
Being conformed to his death, basically match with Ego death. Every Christian Religion, and perhaps every individual has an idea about what the crusifixion means, but to me part of that was symbolic of a litteral death of the egoic nature, and a transformation into something much more powerful. Jesus did it litterally, to show us. I know that the crusifixion means other things to. It was a strategic feint for one thing. Like an army falling back right before launching a huge counter attack. He used it to attack the enemy (Demurge) and take his power. IT was also a sacrifice for our sins, so that he bore the burden of our weakness in human form.
The power of his resurection, and ataining to the resurection of the dead, to me goes far beyond attaining heaven, though that is a part of it. It goes into resurecting the physical, in the way of an assended master. It goes into having power on earth, and it also infers survival after ego death first, and even physical death.
I have attained ego death, gone deeper, and gone through all kinds of things internally, and I am in the same state, or nearing it, as those guys that my old friend described as crazy. Which in some circles qualifies me as enlightened, but I am not happy at this juncture, and seek to go fruther. I want to come out on the other side of crazy. I do not feel that being in this state is good, but it is a step towards something, that I feel quickening me lately. I think you do have to hit rock bottom sometimes, but it isn't good to stay there, and i have stayed there far too long.
At this point I need a resurection. I am in many ways dead. I am maybe starting to stir, but it is still inperceptable. I know that my process was flawed, and that accidents happened along the way, which if I had been in an eastern school, might have been averted, but my journey was my journey, and just as everything that went wrong during the forming of my ego, made me who I was before ego death, so everything that went wrong in the process of this time is going to make me what I emerge as when it is over. I will say this, it has been painful, and perhaps damaging, but it was the course of a spiritual journey.
I said all that to say this. Understanding creation, comprehending God, and all those things are not for the faint of heart. They aren't for egotistical young girls, who only think about the fact, they are pretty while they shimmy in their elaborate costumes. As long as they are thinking only about the costume, the make-up and the shimmy and how sexy they look, I don't see how they are going to attain any sort of enlightenment.
Two people can do the exact same thing, whether a dancing, commiting a crime, or signing their name on a sheet of paper, and it can mean something completely different for each of them. It is all a matter of motivation, not the action itself. Any slender young woman, can hitch her body around, and mimic the movements of age old dances. I am sure that some are better than others at it, but still, most anyone could go through the motions. But there is a difference between going though the motions and actually living, dancing, signing, or commiting a criminal act with full intent. It is a matter of will, and desire. You get what you seek, and if all they seek is looking pretty while they do the standard movements, then I am sure they can manage that.
As you well know a spiritual practice is completely different. I suppose they could find that connection which is the root of practice accidentally while going through the motions. It is like putting on a fake smile to greet someone, when you are having a crappy day, and then suddenly realizing three minutes into the conversation that your smile has become genuine, and that you are really happy to see them. Sometimes we start with one motivation (how we appear), and end up with another (how we really are.) In general though, appearance isn't the same as being.
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Post by Del on Jan 8, 2009 11:28:23 GMT -5
I said all that to say this. Understanding creation, comprehending God, and all those things are not for the faint of heart. They aren't for egotistical young girls, who only think about the fact, they are pretty while they shimmy in their elaborate costumes. As long as they are thinking only about the costume, the make-up and the shimmy and how sexy they look, I don't see how they are going to attain any sort of enlightenment. Two people can do the exact same thing, whether a dancing, commiting a crime, or signing their name on a sheet of paper, and it can mean something completely different for each of them. It is all a matter of motivation, not the action itself. Any slender young woman, can hitch her body around, and mimic the movements of age old dances. I am sure that some are better than others at it, but still, most anyone could go through the motions. But there is a difference between going though the motions and actually living, dancing, signing, or commiting a criminal act with full intent. It is a matter of will, and desire. You get what you seek, and if all they seek is looking pretty while they do the standard movements, then I am sure they can manage that. As you well know a spiritual practice is completely different. I suppose they could find that connection which is the root of practice accidentally while going through the motions. It is like putting on a fake smile to greet someone, when you are having a crappy day, and then suddenly realizing three minutes into the conversation that your smile has become genuine, and that you are really happy to see them. Sometimes we start with one motivation (how we appear), and end up with another (how we really are.) In general though, appearance isn't the same as being. This here is part of my pet-peeve when it comes to dancers - they put forth their knowledge in their dance videos of the sacredness and divine origin of the dance, but it's only a substandard of what it truly is. How is it you claim to know so much and teach this in your class, yet you only go so far? Are you aware that there is more to it? If so, are you letting others know that what you are saying is not the end all, that there is truly more depth to it? THose that claim to truly know the dance for what it is are only giving half of the presentation. And I don't want to hear about creative self-expression from their mouths either. What do they know about the creative process and how to create from that? I guarantee that there is judgement and hinderance in their practice and presentation. If they are tailoring their dance for the market, it's the market that is shaping their practice, and not their 'Self'. And you are 100% right, it's not a path for the faint of heart, and I say this when I speak of the depths of this dance. Sure it's okay to enjoy the dance as a 'second rate' form of what it truly is, I don't have any issues with that. My issue, and maybe I'm going a little overboard, is when a dancer speaks half-heartedly about the power of the dance and strings others along that have no true understanding of the depth of what they're speaking about. It is wonderful to see a group of women come together and speak about their dance and life goals for the year but it is so sad that if what they're speaking about is the end of all their work and nothing more. It's wonderful is they are aware it's a first step, but it' silly if they think the second-rate form of this dance is the highest peak.
When I stated my goals during the circle this past monday, everyone was literally quiet. THey were like 'Oh, wow, that's a huge goal.' Yet when everyone else stated their goals [first steps like learning to take time for themselves, slowing down a bit, being more disciplined, dancing around the house more] here was a huge applause and zagareeting [a middle eastern tradition of giving praise by a mix of vocals and tongue action to make a sharp shrilling noise from the mouth.
The point is, if you're going to use a powerful tool for spiritual purposes, you cannot do it half ass. Understand what the depths are, pay your respects, and be prepared to be literally pulled down the freaking rabbit hole. Resistance will happen, and as a result, you'll have a whole set of neurosis to work with for the rest of your earthly life unless you give in to the Divine request. It's the same for all form of art and religion.
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Post by stonerwolf on Jan 8, 2009 13:22:45 GMT -5
Happy New Year!!! So I've profiled the 'Dancer's Potential'. It's a working project for my thesis, and the essence of this project is 'discovering the power in movement'. Movement is the primary act of creation, therefore people should be able to create through dance. I have been able to do so, and as I work toward exploring this, I am also working to wards putting it all down to make sense to dancers and non-dancers. A big Con of this (Pros and Cons) is: What's the point? What is the point of fulfilling the dancer's potential? I have an answer, but what are your thoughts? It's akin to fulfilling the human potential...what is the point? movement is art, art is creation. Dancers, fighters, carpenters, musicians, game designers. none of us can create without movement, some are more emotionally open and instinctive, others are more mathematically rational, but they are all a form of art. of creation. Now, as far as there being a point, let me ask you, what is the point of creation? is it not fact of the matter? to create? what is the point in fulfilling the potential of the grand design? what other point would there be to prevent the fulfillment of creation? okay let's try another approach, symbollically thinking. what is the point of creating video games? what is the point in playing video games? another one, what is the point in creating stories? what is the point of listening to and telling stories? all these things are the point of life, of creation, of humanity. The Creator told me so - revealing itself in both female and male forms you know, this whole "one true god" and "single creator of all" thing is really getting out of hand. "the great creator" and "great mystery" while completely mysterious are not a person. when "the great creator" comes to you, it is not "the great creator" itself, nor is "the great creator" an individual, or even a singular being at all. nor is the great mystery. sure, as a whole, our bodies are ourselves, we are one person. but as a universe, our bodies are composed of infinite tiny life forms. we are not the creators of our body, our PARENTS are. that's PLURAL for parent. reality does not have A PARENT, it has TWO PARENTS. it takes two. it always takes two. 1+1 = 2 without a second, there cannot be a third. if there is only one, then there can be only one. and since i am talking to you, that makes two, there cannot be A creator. there has to be a mother of creation and a father of creation. the great mystery is the collective whole of all that is and is not. the infinite all of all of infinity. that cannot NOT be a mystery, nor can it be a being or a person. the collective whole is all of us together. WE ARE the great mystery. We all, as a whole, are the great creators. In the end there is only one, the infinite all-energy that bends, twists, grows, shrinks, and all manner of metamorphosis in order to form the world and universe and heavens around us. because of this, i am you, and you are me. if i were born unto your life, your experiences would then be mine, and i would therefore be exactly who you are now, where you are now, the way you are now. anyone else is anyone else, we are who we are based on our life's experiences. changing the soul doesnt change anything about the individual's reactions to the experiences of life, for their reactions are a result of previous experiences. The whole of all that is infinite and not is connected by a process of osmosis. we are the synapses of reality. P.S. Nice rant, i hear you on that one!
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Post by Del on Jan 8, 2009 23:29:25 GMT -5
Happy New Year!!! So I've profiled the 'Dancer's Potential'. It's a working project for my thesis, and the essence of this project is 'discovering the power in movement'. Movement is the primary act of creation, therefore people should be able to create through dance. I have been able to do so, and as I work toward exploring this, I am also working to wards putting it all down to make sense to dancers and non-dancers. A big Con of this (Pros and Cons) is: What's the point? What is the point of fulfilling the dancer's potential? I have an answer, but what are your thoughts? It's akin to fulfilling the human potential...what is the point? movement is art, art is creation. Dancers, fighters, carpenters, musicians, game designers. none of us can create without movement, some are more emotionally open and instinctive, others are more mathematically rational, but they are all a form of art. of creation. Now, as far as there being a point, let me ask you, what is the point of creation? is it not fact of the matter? to create? what is the point in fulfilling the potential of the grand design? what other point would there be to prevent the fulfillment of creation? okay let's try another approach, symbollically thinking. what is the point of creating video games? what is the point in playing video games? another one, what is the point in creating stories? what is the point of listening to and telling stories? all these things are the point of life, of creation, of humanity. The Creator told me so - revealing itself in both female and male forms you know, this whole "one true god" and "single creator of all" thing is really getting out of hand. "the great creator" and "great mystery" while completely mysterious are not a person. when "the great creator" comes to you, it is not "the great creator" itself, nor is "the great creator" an individual, or even a singular being at all. nor is the great mystery. sure, as a whole, our bodies are ourselves, we are one person. but as a universe, our bodies are composed of infinite tiny life forms. we are not the creators of our body, our PARENTS are. that's PLURAL for parent. reality does not have A PARENT, it has TWO PARENTS. it takes two. it always takes two. 1+1 = 2 without a second, there cannot be a third. if there is only one, then there can be only one. and since i am talking to you, that makes two, there cannot be A creator. there has to be a mother of creation and a father of creation. the great mystery is the collective whole of all that is and is not. the infinite all of all of infinity. that cannot NOT be a mystery, nor can it be a being or a person. the collective whole is all of us together. WE ARE the great mystery. We all, as a whole, are the great creators. In the end there is only one, the infinite all-energy that bends, twists, grows, shrinks, and all manner of metamorphosis in order to form the world and universe and heavens around us. because of this, i am you, and you are me. if i were born unto your life, your experiences would then be mine, and i would therefore be exactly who you are now, where you are now, the way you are now. anyone else is anyone else, we are who we are based on our life's experiences. changing the soul doesnt change anything about the individual's reactions to the experiences of life, for their reactions are a result of previous experiences. The whole of all that is infinite and not is connected by a process of osmosis. we are the synapses of reality. P.S. Nice rant, i hear you on that one! Thanks for giving your thoughts form Stoner, I appreciate it. It's not like I don't know this already; simply put I was posting this as if in the mind set of those that I dance around, because as you so eloquently put it, they would fail to see the point. And one thing I will point out to you for you to get clear, I am well aware of this 'whole creator thing getting out of hand'. It part of my life's work. But what simpler way for me to explain it without getting complex. And what simpler way for 'them' [the other dancers] to grasp then to say it this way. It's sort of weening them off of the way of seeing they're accustomed to. Nonetheless, thank you for your post.
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Post by stonerwolf on Jan 9, 2009 0:34:05 GMT -5
i am sorry, i dont mean to say that you are perpetrating it or anything, but none the less, i do hope that you at least try to guide them to the bigger picture and guide them out of the personification and literal personification mindsets.
i do see more and more people are getting it, too, so i really have no reason to be complaining -_- am i just a natural born complainer or what? lol
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Post by KG on Jan 9, 2009 19:06:50 GMT -5
So you know how I feel about Christianity. I learned the "Deeper things of the Spirit," when I was in my teens and early twenties. It was good stuff, and I had good teachers. I was adept at comprehending it, and there is nothing in that I disagree with at all, but from there I went a lot deeper, and the rest of them just transformed and went utterly surface... either that or they got something totally different from sitting under at least some of the same teachers. I think that is entirely possible.
You know how some people don't have a head for math. They can sit in class, they can study, and they still don't get it... well some people are like that about the deeper side of spirituality. Other people get it in one way or the other, but they don't get the big picture, These people are kind of like me with math. They only find it interesting if it has dollar signs, or clearly says it's talking about apples, or board feet, or pounds of sugar or whatever. I know that mathmatically it doesn't matter, but unless it says what we are talking about like in a word problem, I don't care.Some like me get so deep into it, that we get utterly confused from time to time. LIke the scientiest who creates an equation, which lacks too many variables to ever solve. I mean it is mind blowing once you really get into it, and understanding it is something you never really fully do. In addition other people explain things differently, and have different theories. Are they wrong? No usually when you break it down they are thinking similar things, they just see it in a different metaphore, and it is all metaphors. One person might think it is 32 oranges, and 17 tomatoes, while I mght think it is 32 banannas and 17 apples, but it doesn't really matter. The answer is still 49 fruits. Spirituality is always like that.
There can be only one person who knows anything? Now that doesn't sound fair, and there is no one that you can't learn from. Some of the most profound things I know came from the mouth of the mentally handicapped. It always pays to listen with a careful ear, even if you don't respect the speaker as an expert, or agree with what they say. Some people I watch closely just so I can find out what not to do. LOL Most of my business expertiese comes from watching other business people loose money. It is a lot cheeper than learning that lesson for yourself. At any rate the wise man never fails to hear the words of the fool. Think of the Tarot, The high prestess observes the fool waking off the cliff. She looks to see if he survived or not.
Matt. 7, 15 - 16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Soft soaping and glossing over the truth like in a 15 minute, milk toast sunday sermon, is just as dangerous to the soul, as the spitting cult leader, who stirs people into a fury. Thinking that one knows all their is to know while ommiting certain things is still being a false prophet, if they misslead people to think they are an expert when they are only half way there. A good teacher makes her students dig for themselves too... and they don't pretend to have all the answers.No one has ALL the answers.
I hate to say it but sometimes one person's highest peak is another person's lowest valley. Maybe it is the best some of them can do? It reminds me of Christian legalism though. "OH no, you can't move that way... it is WRONG!!! It has to be done exactly like this every single time!"
At the same time though, if they prefer to do it the regular way, that is their right. You can't control other people, you can only control yourself in such a way that it persuades others. Also in teaching the unteachable you have to be careful not to become unteachable yourself. THere is always room for learning, no matter how much you know already.
Why do you think that is? PIck one or more of this nearly exhaustive list of choices.
1. They just don't like you?
2. They think you are a know it all, and you annoy them cause you disregard them as human beings, and don't respect their opinions, so why should they resepct yours?
3. They think you are delusional?
4. Your seriousness makes them uncomfortable.
5. They thought your comment deserved a respectful silence, where as the less serious ones could be answered with cheer.
6. Or are they just jealous?
IN any case you aren't getting though to them. That may not be entirely their fault. Possibly you need to drop back a few steps in your explaination and go baby steps with them, and by that I do not mean talking down to them.
IF I were going to address my old church in order to steal them away from the demurge, I would not start by telling them that I am the Madonna of Mercy, and I live in heaven, while they in their lowly earthly lives are blind to such realms because they have been decieved. IT may be true in some cases, but I would not start there. I would start with something they arleady know. I would take them back mentally to when it all first started. I would remind them of the wonder of their first experience, and how it felt, the first time they felt the spirit moving on them. I would remind them of the love and compassion they used to pour out on each other. I would very, very carefully contrast that to the present time. I would get down to where they are and gradually lead them from the first moment, starting them again, in the emotion, and feeling and then rather than lead them to where they are now, I would lead them to where I wanted them, step by step. I would not tell them they were novices. I would not speak of the physical actions on this plain. I would speak of the heart and soul, and of emotion, and motivation. Most of all I would not tell them that they were doing it wrong and I am the only one doing it right, even if I felt that way. I would mearly take them back to the beginning... to the wonder and magisty, and lead them so that they passed the error without even seeing it. Like leading a blindfolded horse thorugh a fire. The horse will smell the fire, but forcing him to look at it, just makes him spook, and balk at your pulling on him.
Be careful who you take on a guided tour through a rabbit hole. Not all of them can keep up. Some might run ahead, and any of them can get lost or hurt, before you know it. Not everyone is meant to go down the Rabbit hole at the same pace.
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Post by Del on Jan 9, 2009 21:28:53 GMT -5
I know i don't know everything, and I know that I can learn from anything and anyone. I do learn from them whenever I am around them. I learn something new about myself.
And yes, it does pay to listen with a careful ear, even if you don't respect the speaker as an expert, or agree with what they say. Listening and hearing are not entirely the same, and they often hear me when I speak. They hardly listen. Why do you think I haven't had any classes or workshops? I have watched the dancers closely so that I can find out what not to do. If everyone does the same thing, then everyone will be friends. If you do something different, they will smile in your face, not be your friend, and not consider you a part of the dance community. Why? it's because you're doing something different.
A good teacher will encourage her [or his] students to look elsewhere to learn more from other people. Not everyone is an expert on the power of this dance. I don't consider myself an expert, but I do consider myself having a lot more knowledge than they do.
When they state something about the powers of this dance, and I have something to add to the topic, it is always more than just the typical or basic knowledge, it's the next step or level. It amazes some and those that don't know what to do about what was just said, looks to the one that has the basic knowledge and awaits for further instruction, 'Do we listen to her, learn more from her, or do we disregard what she's saying?'
And I agree. I always state that I don't know all of what there is to know and I do state that it's a journey that they should personally work on, and for them to have someone there to be a guide.
See, Kim, in this field, it's all about 'me' [the dancer]. It's what puts their name out there. Their fame, their ego, it's all about them, they will take credit, and nothing more. They say one thing, but deeply feel another, and believe it or not, that deep feeling will manifest in their work and have an affect on the other people around them.
For example, here is one dancer that has developed her style here on the east coast, a community of dancers, where they can strengthen themselves as women, in their bodies and love each other as sisters. That's a very good thing.
The problem is, they are confined to that. They do not move from that. They do not grow from that. They stay on that level, this teacher is the only one that knows how the dance should really be done therefore I will stay with just her.
And that's fine too. What I am talking about is the POTENTIAL...the Dancer's POTENTIAL. Many miss the mark on it. It's not a requirement per se, but it is expected, simply because you [the dancer] open yourself up to a reality larger than your own and are expected to fully live it. Not doing so creates a long list of neurotic problems.
I KNOW Kim. They have the POTENTIAL to reach high peaks, but they choose not to. So what. But claiming to know all, when you clearly do not because someone else adds another level to your knowledge, well then you can either continue upward, or stay where you are.
I've had it thrown in my face by the universe that each discovery I make is just another step when I assumed it was the end all. I left myself open to learn more because I am not afraid of letting things go to continue to grow.
People don't know how to let go....heck, most dancer's don't know how to let go. And you know what, that's their choice. My point is, they have the POTENTIAL to do more, they play with fire as if they're pros, therefore they are setting themselves up for neurotic episodes in the long run.
Hell, who says they have to attain the POTENTIAL in this lifetime? It may not happen. I am well aware of that...
Ok, first what we did was state our personal life and dance goals. I am aware that mine are a bit out there for them to probably wrap their minds around, but I felt honored to at least have the opportunity to share it. If they're uncomfortable, that's their problem. I was opn and honest just as they were.
What? Am I supposed to stay on the same level and have the same problems like them?
And I have told them, that this growth, this form of embodiment is a step-by-step process and it starts with what they have voiced. They have to work on themselves first in order to get to a more embodied state of being. I have stated this to them before. I've also said that my schoolwork has helped out a lot.
I don't know what the problem is. I don't run and open my mouth, I am hardly on the dance scene, but when I do go, I keep quiet, say hi, and keep to myself. When I am asked about my work, I talk in baby steps...just the basics. When they ask for more, I give them more. If that makes them uncomfortable, then I don't know what to say.
I tell them that it's a long process that takes total commitment and dedication; that's it's literally a pulling away from the mundane to truly discovering oneself before coming back into the dance. I then say that they should just focus on what they feel they should work on and when the time comes, they'll know what to do. I tell them that yes, dance is just as enjoyable and it's not a requirement to where they shouldn't be doing the dance at all.
I do say that there's much more to the dance than the glitter and sparkles and they agree. And I hold my breath from there because I don't want to say too much and scare them away. But when they ask me how I developed my style, how is it I move so slow that it seems unreal, how when I dance they feel transported somewhere else, well then I let them have it, cause they asked for it. Only because they asked for it.
I don't seek to take the scaredy cats down the rabbit hole. If the kitten asks me then I'll take them, slowly. But I won't volunteer them.
Then I would be the cause of their neurosis. I don't want that responsibility...
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Post by KG on Jan 10, 2009 1:40:56 GMT -5
That's good. It is a major sign of wisdom to learn from others, and their mistakes.
UM... well maybe these women aren't the students you are supposed to have. When Jesus was on the earth, he did not go to the religious leaders of his day. He picked out a few fishermen and a tax collector, and they followed him. The Pharasees hated him, cause he was doing things differently than they were. They were the experts, at least in their own eyes, and they felt it was their place to question him, critizise him, and test him, and in the end the schemed to have him crusified.
As an artist, I have taught classes but never with other artists. When I work, I'd rather work for non-artists any day than under another artist. It's too tough and they are too critical. Nothing ever suits them cause they wish they could do every pen stroke that goes out of the studio themselves. They can't of course but they want to control everything. Non artists think everything I do is just great, but artists always search for something wrong. Sometimes they like my stuff, but you can never count on it.
You said your movements are slow? You also seem to be saying that it is more about spirituality than flexibility. Have you considered appealing to the mature community. Older women are always looking for ways to improve their flexibility, enhance their vigor and spark. Often they suffer from empty nest, and additionally loose their husbands to divorce or death, about that time. Others long to rekindle their marriages. They are lonely, bored and want attention, and to feel empowered, and also a little bit attractive, but they would be way too level headed to become vain. Maybe you could work with some older more mature women who don't have a lot of dance experience, but a lot of life expereince. You could teach them and I think they would love it. It wouldn't have to be your life's work, but it might get you started. I think that older women would not feel competitive with you, and would think you are a sweet little girl, really trying to help them, instead of trying to stab you in the back. Maybe since you can move slow, you could teach them something profound which they could actually do. They might grasp the actual point better than the young girls also. When I was young it was common for older women to take belly dancing classes. It helped them emensely. They lost weight and gained confidence. Maybe you could propose teaching to a senior center, the local AARP, Red hats. The RED HATS would definitely love you. Also a lot of times old ladies can be very helpful, because they have time. They are influential, and many do volunteer work, and belong to a lot of clubs, and groups. I think if you could get into the circle of just the right bunch of older ladies, they could put you on the map.
Is your style so different that maybe it belongs to another school of dance alltogether? You had discussed calling it something else. Maybe it is time to stop identifying with people who don't identify with you. When you get enough attention they might come to you, but until then... ignore them. Or you could dance like them sometimes, to show them you can do what they are doing as well or better than they can, and then show just a little of 'what you are working on.'
I think you are a good teacher, but your leading is spiritual in nature and it will attract those who are supposed to follow this course. Everyone's calling is different, and this is yours... but if you are called to lead, then there are others out there who are called to follow. I think you will find those eventually, but apparently not where you have been looking. Look elsewhere. Look everywhere, and don't be afraid to show off what you do to people who aren't already dance people.
You see that is a sign that they are not secure or developed individuals yet. They can't make up their minds and look to others for permission to listen. It is a sign of immaturity. They should be able to listen and judge for themselves, and maybe someday they will be. Right now they are like a group of teenagers following the popular crowd.
Quote:Matt. 7, 15 - 16 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
They apparently believe that those who have the basic knowledge have all the answers and apprently those people aren't discouraging the misconception at all.
See, Kim, in this field, it's all about 'me' [the dancer]. It's what puts their name out there. Their fame, their ego, it's all about them, they will take credit, and nothing more. They say one thing, but deeply feel another, and believe it or not, that deep feeling will manifest in their work and have an affect on the other people around them.
People who are all about themselves, and can't see past that, really don't need to develop spiritual power until they can get over it, in my opinion at least. All we need is a lot of egoic, competitive, cut throat people with no regard for the human or the divine, developing spiritual power without compassion or reverence.
It is good to be sisters, but if they can't spread out the circle to include one more sister, then they aren't spiritually developed, and are no more than a little clique of overgrown high school cheerleaders. Affection for your sisters is wonderful, but people need to reach out to strangers too.
People do take classes to learn from their teachers. That is a given. The student who knows more than the teacher, should possibly move on.
That is true of all spiritual practice. There have been times when my family and close friends advised me to abandon my spiritual practice, because they thought it was taking too much of my time and energy. They did not realize that without my spiritual practice I can't function at all. Nor could I stop if I tried.
What makes you think they have any more potential than anyone else? Everyone has potential... but the other half of the coin is motivation. If they don't choose to do any thing then their potential or lack of it is irreliveant.
You are a spiritual practitioner, of course you have learned by now that you can't ever know everything on that level. No one can. OF course you had to learn how to let go, and I hope you remember how hard that was to do, the first few times. But you realized that as long as you controled everything, then nothing else could flow through you, except you. You channel energies now, but the first few times you let power other than your own energy flow through you, and take you, it is just frightening and people resist that on all levels, including the subconscious level. It just isn't a natural reaction to let go... it is human nature to hang on to what control we have. The more egoic, and materialistic people are the more they want to be in control.
They are trying to decide if they want to try to develop in the way you have, or of they stick with the tradional. Tradition is a powerful thing, and so is the status quo. Not everyone is inclined to rock the boat.
Well that part is good, but you might have to get to know them better, and explain it more, demonstrate it mre, and let them see what it is doing for you, as time goes on.
No but you should be able to relate to what they are going through, and empath it enough to understand it, and convey that you understand.
Many people are afraid of real spiritual practice, and others don't even believe it is real or possible. You were raised by a mother who had a practice. You knew people growing up who practiced. Not everyone has been exposed to these things, and there are many people who have a narrow idea of spirituality, and can't get past it easily.
It is good to tell people when they ask. Make yourself available. It might be that a lot of people would have questions if they could speak in private.
That sounds good.
Whoever has said that, is starting to want what you have. You have planted a seed there, and now you have to wait and see if that seed grows. It takes time for something that profound to sink in. If they continue to watch you, and continue to be transported, then the time will come when they will want you to teach them. It might take a while though for them to get over their fears of ticking off the others, and their fears of the unknown.
Be patient, be loving, and in the mean time, don't be afraid to reach outside the dance community for students. You were not a dancer till you decided to go to a class, and there are plenty of people out there who would be great dancers, if they could just try it.
I
That is good too. You have to be careful of people who aren't ready yet. Sometimes they can suddenly get ready, but they won't all be ready at once, and it takes time to get used to new ideas too. Especially for some people.
Kim
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Post by Del on Jan 11, 2009 16:10:13 GMT -5
UM... well maybe these women aren't the students you are supposed to have. When Jesus was on the earth, he did not go to the religious leaders of his day. He picked out a few fishermen and a tax collector, and they followed him. The Pharasees hated him, cause he was doing things differently than they were. They were the experts, at least in their own eyes, and they felt it was their place to question him, critizise him, and test him, and in the end the schemed to have him crusified. As an artist, I have taught classes but never with other artists. When I work, I'd rather work for non-artists any day than under another artist. It's too tough and they are too critical. Nothing ever suits them cause they wish they could do every pen stroke that goes out of the studio themselves. They can't of course but they want to control everything. Non artists think everything I do is just great, but artists always search for something wrong. Sometimes they like my stuff, but you can never count on it. When I read this I realized something..that you are absolutely right. I have been trying to teach to those already in the know, or semi-know [semi-awareness] because they have some experience and are somewhat aware, so I assumed this to be the best place. [/quote] Unfortunately, no matter how many times I've been kicked aside, I still tried. Yet, I have made progress to the middle aged crowd and older. I guess, because the younger women have so much more time in years to develop a stronger individual, I have been wanting to help them, whereas I have made much progress to those going through the stage much later in life. I just want to be able to share this amongst those in my age group [20s - early 30s]. But there is an evident gap as far as interest in self on varying levels. What I have seen is, those in their early 20s to early 30s, are trying hardest to accep their image from the outside in, whereas those in their late 30s/early 40s and up are focusing on their image from the inside out, which my dance style focuses on. Then there are the teens that want to love themselves more, are struggling with the inside feelings and the outside influences, not sure as to which route to take. So they're at the fork inthe road. And I believe, those that work on themselves from the outside in, that are in this dance are those that I am trying to get through to. So perhaps, I should focus more on the older women, and those young girls coming into themselves [teen - late teens]. I know I will not reach everyone, but it is a start. My slow movements have a lot of substance and fluidity. It takes the spiritual experiences to fully understand and produce the movements. Hmmm, I don't know how else to describe it..it's like watching the tentacles of a sea anemone move in the water...very fluid and slow. They are alive and active yet relaxed and move with water current. It's like that. This makes sense. Dance is a set of organized rhythmic movements to music...Movement is the embodiment of the inner impulse to move. I am more along the line of a movement artist than a dance artist [which is what I call myself now]. I take movements and turn them into dance, but not a named style or genre of dance...make sense? 'Bellydance' comes out of 'Middle Eastern Dance', and the latter is a cultural art form, with specific music, rhytms, and styles to follow. That art form, I respect it as it is. I don't like the music that much, and the stylization to follow it [like Ballet], therefore I am not a Middle Eastern Dancer. Those in that cultural art form I enjoy watching and appreciate their dedication to the cultural art. The former is, in my opinion, an epressive art form of Middle Eastern Dance. It's the dancer's interpretation and presentation of the cultural art form: creative expression. This here, I repect as an individual way of expressing the dancer's interpretation of the Middle Eastern form of dance. Now here's where the hairs are split and lines become blurry. Middle Eastern Dance encompasses a variety of dance forms. The feminine movements found within it and 'bellydance' predate the culture. It is these movements that give power to the female dancer. Because of the origin of the movements, many women feel empowered to take up this dance. It is here where I get a little frizzy and screech like an angry cat. The Cultural Art I say are off limits to me because it's a cultural thing. Cultures have boxes and I don't like boxes. I leave those alone. The movements, on the other hand, taken out of the cultural context, mean something else. THe movements taken out of Middle Eastern Dance are found in Haitian cultural dances, as well as African Cultural Dances. The movements are given names in a specific culture when a dance is formed [accompanied by the music of that culture]. But taken out of the cutlural context, it's just movement. And it's the movement that has been passed down from times of old. So verall, they are women's movements...or movements expressed by women, mainly for birthing purposes, in which giving birth was a highly viewed sacred event. Overall, it is the music and the order of movements that gives the movement a name, but taking all labels away, it is still just movement. These are movements ingrained within the body, the DNA, the spirit/soul, that resurfaces when activated...instinctual. The woman's body knows what to do when it's time to give birth. Look at the tribal women of today...they undulate when it's time to give birth. We undulate in dance and other 'circumstances', and not as trained dancers but because it's natural/instinctual. Now my cat screeching comes from the dancer's lack of embodiment of the origin of the movement when they [dancer] executes the movement. In entertainment, that obviously will be ignored, it's a dance to entertain people. But when educating students on the sacredness of the dance, well I feel it's important for the teacher to realize what they are saying and teaching. It's like me reading out passages from the Egyptian Book of the Dead. If I am not aware of the origin and power that truly exists in the words, then they are just words. But if I am aware of the power and origin of the time of when it was written or when what is being said came into being, then I will be not only giving life to the words as I speak I will also transport the immediate area into the illud tempus [that time], that time of when the scripture was created or the events in which the time was created. That's something powerful, and yet is the same with these movements. I amjust realizing the depth of what I am doing and how large it may be for many to grasp. I'm not going to give up on it...it's just it's very deep. But it's soo much fun..... That's a safety net...a need to not look deep inside of themselves because they are told not to. What's on the inside doesn't count and isn't important....that's so untrue. I am around those that aren't ready to develop in that way...they can if they wanted to, but choose not to, so I have to go somewhere else. I am seeing that now. Any recommended books that I couldl ook into for messages for what I am doing? But maybe those that aren't discouraging the misconception only know of what they know to be the end all because they haven't thought about how deep they can go. There is the world of Dance, and the World of Movement. Since Dance has its guidelines and boundaries, then there is a limitation to what one can do. BUt int he World of Movement, everything is all inclusive. I believe that if a trained dancer first learned the movements and technique in the genre, then stepped into the world of movement to learn to embody their movements and their higher selves, then returned to the World of Dance, they'd be a lot stronger in life and dance. In the World of Dance, music adds levels to the movement, yet in the world of Movement, Music is not needed. There is embodiment of self, which is where the power comes from. Add this to the world of dance then you have soemhting a lot more powerful. Do you see this concept? This is what I am working on, I suppose, well it's part of it. Beccoming a movement artist will develop one to be embodied, whcih in moving over to any dance genre will bring in the power that has been atained through embodiment..... Bush? It wasn't like this way back when..... Maybe they stay around because they do not know how to move on....or where to move on... That is what happens during the calling.... Because I see it there, and perhaps motivation is the other half that is missing. I see that light inside of them; maybe it is as you say. [qutoe]You are a spiritual practitioner, of course you have learned by now that you can't ever know everything on that level. No one can. OF course you had to learn how to let go, and I hope you remember how hard that was to do, the first few times. But you realized that as long as you controled everything, then nothing else could flow through you, except you. You channel energies now, but the first few times you let power other than your own energy flow through you, and take you, it is just frightening and people resist that on all levels, including the subconscious level. It just isn't a natural reaction to let go... it is human nature to hang on to what control we have. The more egoic, and materialistic people are the more they want to be in control. [/quote]Oh I remember how hard it was, and to this day it is a constant reminder. I shall never forget it. I am also aware that not everyone will want to walk the path of a sacred life; or even view much of anything as sacred or taking time to go deeper in order to develop appreciation for it... Yes, I understand. Oh but I do. I have been there. Albeit at a much younger age, but I totally see what they are saying and understand what they are experiencing. [qutoe]Many people are afraid of real spiritual practice, and others don't even believe it is real or possible. You were raised by a mother who had a practice. You knew people growing up who practiced. Not everyone has been exposed to these things, and there are many people who have a narrow idea of spirituality, and can't get past it easily. [/quote]You are right. Sounds like a dancer whose goal for this year is to 'milk'
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Post by KG on Jan 12, 2009 7:46:59 GMT -5
Yes, it would seem to be easier to teach people who already know how to dance, but what you are teaching requires two different skill sets at least. Spiritual awareness, and dance. Dance can be learned as a physical dicipline... like teaching sports, or like learing to do physical labor. It takes some aptitude, but I would think most people could learn. The other can also be taught, but not to everyone. Not everyone is ready and willing to learn about spiritual things, and open up in that way. It might be easier to find spiritual people, and teach them to dance, than it would be to find dancers and teach them to be spiritual... of course you could find people who do both, but then you have to convince them that your practice is better than what they already know, which is a value judgment that most people don't come about easily.
I
When we are young, or self image is fragile, it puffs up with every compliment, and it is crushed with every insult. We cover this with a lot of false bravado. We are competitive for attention, and if you go down to it this is instinctual, and has to do with finding a mate, and getting this and other needs met on a primal level. Young people are like exotic birds strutting around showing their plumage, and dancers certainly appear to embody that. These YOUNG women aren't feeling birth as you suggested later. They don't feel that or relate to that yet. They are acting out the mating dance, and the movements to initiate sex, and START life. They don't know anything about giving birth yet, especially as a spiritual metaphor, for creating and pulling energy from deep inside. They are throwing off sexual energy at first. The energy of one not fullfilled (filled and ready to deliver) but of longing to start the process, and ready to compete to get there. (I am speaking of being young in general, not of specific dancers)
There are exceptions, but this is normal. It is all part of the same lifelong ritual. There is our own birth, growth, and the begining of drives, followed by an intense drive for attention. Attention seeking leads to a forcefulness, manipulativeness, competitive urges which over ride all else, this only erodes with time and finding security in one's self. Until one finds security, one is always strutting around doing the mating dance... if one is a dancer it can be taken litterally, but in most people it is easily observed in clothing, and ordinary movements.
Some people never stop strutting, they never feel secure on a deeper level, and keep trying to convince everyone they are the most desirable bird. Even in the most laid back of us, this strutting can be triggered by circumstances that make us feel insecure. Just watch what happens when the status quo is upset at work because of cutbacks, or a marrage starts to fail, or an old friend comes to town who is hugely successful. All of a sudden even old stable people start strutting, and fluffing their feathers.
I don't know a lot about dance, but in general strutting birds don't give birth, until much later, when they have attained their approval, gotten their metaphorical equivilant of sex, (approval, success) and then been weighted down by it for a while. Then and only then do they deliver. This applies to every creative process, or production process. You apply for the job. You get the job. You work the job. You get exhausted, worn out and burdened by the job, and then you feel successful and fulfilled once you have completed a project. It's like that with most everything.
IF you are going to teach the birth giving, then you are going to have to either find people with the experience to deliver already, or you are going to have to lead these strutting birds through the process from the strutting phase to the birth giving phase.
The whole process is an exhausting exercise in erroding and rebuilding, each time building something stronger and tougher than what was built before. It continues into the rise of the spiritual and philosophical being, at least hopefully.
It is harder to teach your peers, because you have to establish who is the teacher. As long as everyone thinks they are an equal expert, then how can anyone teach. People your age, who are also dancers, are your peers. They won't easily see what you have to teach them, that they don't already know.
Teens, and elderly, as well as all non dancers, and novice dancers WILL see you as a teacher.
That sounds cool.
This makes a lot of sense. It is like re-inacting history for some, and any variation would be offensive to their style. They want it to be historically acturate.
Others do feel free to variate as an interpretation, and that is where you are... interpreting.
That is a concept no one finds easy. You mention also that this kind of movement crosses cultural boundries into many different countries and cultures. THIS IS JUST LIKE RELIGION, and their Religious arguments. LOL External religions vary a lot, but most all spiritual practice is the same. Outward trappings vary, but inner practice is universal. Historically in religion, people who don't understand this principle kill those who do. They are so fearful of change, or difference, while those who know that the inward is more important than the outward see us all as the same. In general though people cry blasphemy if you teach eastern religion in church... but if you change the vocabulary and the outward aparatus, there is no difference in practice of the two.
As I said above, strutting birds are not ready to give birth. They have to get... er... f**ked first. They have to get pregnant, and they have to bear that for a while. Your birds are still virgin. (maybe not litteraly) They are still strutting.
That is absolutely right.
I will have to think about it. Have you read the pistis sophia? I think that would be cool to act out like a dance play... like a ballet only with your type of dance. It would be interesting. You might find it interesting anyway. You can find it on line, in the Gnostic Society library. I'll look for other references... as I said I don't know much about dance.
That is one very good example. It is obvious in most every fairy tale. The wicked witch all about her own gain, and her own ego, terrorizing the good hearted princess. Snow white is an excelent example. No good can come of egoic practitioners, seeking their own gain.
Way back when you were learning and you weren't trying to put forth an opinion? OR it could just be the difference in spiritual climate in general.
All thsi reminds me so much of Church. One thing you might be experiencing is echoed in my memory. I remember once we got a new denomination in town, called "Word of Faith." We already had a pretty good number of Pentecostal churches in the area, and while the churches sort of competed for the same members, they were used to each other, and respected each other. Most of the people in those churches had visited back in forth, and some had moved their membership from one church to the other, and no one really thought much about it. There wasn't ever a mass exodous from on to the other, just people shifting around a little. The pastors never critizised each other, and many of them were friends. Then came word of faith. They focused on mainly one teaching which all the other churches taught. "You shall have what you say." They taught the "name it claim it doctrine," almost exclusively, and the other preachers cried fowl, even though they taught the same thing. They said the teaching was out of balance, and I suppose if we hadn't been sitting under the other preachers for years it would have been. They simply said pray, and believe that God will give what you ask. That is correct, and
I visited with them quite a bit, but My regular pastor became Irate. He called them sheep stealers, a phrase he later used to describe yet another movement which sprung up later. Basically what he meant was that another pastor had designs on his flock in large quantities, and was winning them over in numbers he was uncomfortable with. It was going to hurt his attendance, and his collection plate, and like any other person who's income is dependent on clients of some type. He was worried about his income, and success. He started quite a bit of bird strutting, even if he was an old man in his sixties. He became insecure, and he kind of made a fool of himself IMO. People were just curious, but he thought they were abandoning him. Anyone is his shoes would have felt the same way though. It was a threat, not in that the other group was wrong, but in that it was taking a LOT of his crowd away. Rather than step up his game, he just fussed, and that made it worse for a while.
Maybe some of these teachers you are talking to see you as a potential sheep stealer? Maybe they fear that you are trying to take their students?
True, but maybe they make the teacher uncomfortable, when they say they know more than her.
I think, maybe they aren't ready, and maybe they feel threatened, or fearful. They already have traditions, and maybe you are challenging their limits.
Also some people are fearful of stepping out of the "Church sanctioned practice." I had a friend once on another site who couldn't understand why he couldn't teach eastern meditation, and religion to his fellow sunday school students, in a Menonite church. They were very gracious concidering, but he still felt hurt till I explained their POV. From their POV he was teaching false religion, and they were horrified, but they tried not to show it, cause they liked the boy, but you can't teach Menonites about buddhism, in their own church. It is threatening to their hirarchy. The preacher could get fired if he allowed such things.
The artistic director of Bellyqueen? Ahhh so you are doing the equivilant of trying to convert the Methodist preacher to Buddhism? LOL Good luck on that.
She has her traditions. She has her beliefs, and though she is smart enough and spiritual enough to understand and appreciate what you are doing, she also has to go with the overall program she is employed by. To complete the metaphor, You no doubt have her, reading her little beliefs of the church papers... trying to find out if what you are doing fits into her doctrines.
I feel the same way. It has been wonderful watching you mature from little sister, to someone I can consider as a mentor. The first few times it happened, that YOU advised ME, it kind of threw me off balance, and maybe that change of roles is what some of your DANCE teachers are struggling with.
You are growing so fast spiritually, and intelectually, and in every way, that it does take some of us by suprise. I am amazed at your fast progress, and maybe they just can't imagine yet that you are actually that far along. It is hard to grasp the differences in you now, than when we first met. You have really grown up and come into your own on this. You are so much more confident, capable and so much deeper. You have so much more knowledge and wisdom than you did when you were in Florida, that it is just amazing. So maybe they can't keep up either. LOL
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