Post by Del on Oct 31, 2009 12:13:32 GMT -5
And so I've pitched my idea to my ballet teacher, since I would want to use her dance studio/academy for my sessions, and she really likes the idea.
The thing I LOVE about Koreans is when they are open-minded, are aware of the limitations that culture has on the psyche and their individual desire to beomce MORE than just the 'Korean way'.
Anyway,
I told my ballet teacher that I wanted to start a Temple. I explained that it's an integration of the Ox-herding path of enlightenment and dance/movement...like there are Zen Masters and yogis, there is a way to be a Dancer as a way of being [which is my thesis topic actually...haven't gotten started on the paper work yet...ick].
I explained what I wanted to do and why it's called 'Temple' [for the time being] and she likes the idea and would not mind me using her studio.
Of course we both agreed that it would have to wait until next year...the start of next year cause we both agreed that I'm too busy right now [Nov and Dec.].
And then Venus shows up again and this time I have a better understanding as to why. When I was younger [HS] I decided to try and create an altar for Oshun. the IFA goddess of the Yoruba people I am 'born under' within that tradition. I'd purchase two serving trays, both were shiny, a mixture of silver and gold tone, with handles and were just the perfect items for a shrine. So I bought candels and placed them on the trays, some honey, a small glass of wine and dried rosebuds covered the trays. One night, as I slept, I felt a presence in the room. I opened my eyes briefly, and there, floating in the air in front of the shrine, but looking in my direction, was a small figurine of Venus. She slowly dissolved as my eyes adjusted to the contrast in light and darkness in my room. I was amazed because it was Venus, and yet the shrine was supposed to have been for Oshun [it was by my mothers suggestion I create a shrine for Oshun at that time].
Well as I continue to develop my devotional practice now, and assimilate various aspects of it to my developing dance practice for others, I have been searching for a specific diety to have as a guide/template, while honoring Sophia's suggestion to remain all-inclusive [not sticking to one deity or worshipping one central point] and to include wisdom from EVERYWHERE. In a sense I wanted this anchor to be Sophia, but she's the substance, the point of origin. So I've been searching for an anchor.
This past weekend I was in Seoul on a sponsored field trip for about 100 english teachers...and I had to share a room with a teacher that smokes, drinks, and likes to party late - and I'm the exact opposite. The thing with hotel keys here in Korea is that they power the room as well - meaning once you get in, you cannot simply turn on the light; you have to insert the key [usually a card or a keychain] into a slot and then you have power in your room. We only had one key, and it was a card, not a key and a keychain.
So she went out, and I went to bed early. When my roommate decided to knock on the door at o'clock in the morning, I was of course disturbed from my sleep - but as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Venus. And this time, she wasn't a small statue. She was a HUGE statue/sculpture. She was on the hotel vanity, reaching all the way to the ceiling. My heart began to race cause I was startled, and a bit confused as to why there was a knock on the door and seeing a huge statue/figure in the hotel room. Then I remembered my roommate, and then I was in awe cause of Venus. And as I laid there, trying to figure out what to do [answer the door or stare at Venus], Venus began to slowly dissolve. It seemed so surreal, the more my ego tries to say it wasn't real, the more I hold onto what my heart and body experienced. I finally stood up to get the door, but at this point, I could hardly tell if Venus was a 3-D image in the wall or was still a solid form on the vanity.
After I answered the door and jumped back in the bed, I looked over to the vanity and saw a plain white wall [of course she wouldn't be there]...but was just amazed at seeing her just a moment ago.
And so now, I have my anchor. Meaning, in developing my Temple for the women [actually introducting my devotional practice to the world; how very personal], Venus [not just as goddess but the planet and the archetype she represents] will be the foundation for the movement practice. This concept will be part of the Mystic Armada. The Armada consists of various offerings, and the Temple practice is just another working concept within it...
BTW, once I get my domain name I'll post it so you guys can have a look-see at the under construction page of my website....
The thing I LOVE about Koreans is when they are open-minded, are aware of the limitations that culture has on the psyche and their individual desire to beomce MORE than just the 'Korean way'.
Anyway,
I told my ballet teacher that I wanted to start a Temple. I explained that it's an integration of the Ox-herding path of enlightenment and dance/movement...like there are Zen Masters and yogis, there is a way to be a Dancer as a way of being [which is my thesis topic actually...haven't gotten started on the paper work yet...ick].
I explained what I wanted to do and why it's called 'Temple' [for the time being] and she likes the idea and would not mind me using her studio.
Of course we both agreed that it would have to wait until next year...the start of next year cause we both agreed that I'm too busy right now [Nov and Dec.].
And then Venus shows up again and this time I have a better understanding as to why. When I was younger [HS] I decided to try and create an altar for Oshun. the IFA goddess of the Yoruba people I am 'born under' within that tradition. I'd purchase two serving trays, both were shiny, a mixture of silver and gold tone, with handles and were just the perfect items for a shrine. So I bought candels and placed them on the trays, some honey, a small glass of wine and dried rosebuds covered the trays. One night, as I slept, I felt a presence in the room. I opened my eyes briefly, and there, floating in the air in front of the shrine, but looking in my direction, was a small figurine of Venus. She slowly dissolved as my eyes adjusted to the contrast in light and darkness in my room. I was amazed because it was Venus, and yet the shrine was supposed to have been for Oshun [it was by my mothers suggestion I create a shrine for Oshun at that time].
Well as I continue to develop my devotional practice now, and assimilate various aspects of it to my developing dance practice for others, I have been searching for a specific diety to have as a guide/template, while honoring Sophia's suggestion to remain all-inclusive [not sticking to one deity or worshipping one central point] and to include wisdom from EVERYWHERE. In a sense I wanted this anchor to be Sophia, but she's the substance, the point of origin. So I've been searching for an anchor.
This past weekend I was in Seoul on a sponsored field trip for about 100 english teachers...and I had to share a room with a teacher that smokes, drinks, and likes to party late - and I'm the exact opposite. The thing with hotel keys here in Korea is that they power the room as well - meaning once you get in, you cannot simply turn on the light; you have to insert the key [usually a card or a keychain] into a slot and then you have power in your room. We only had one key, and it was a card, not a key and a keychain.
So she went out, and I went to bed early. When my roommate decided to knock on the door at o'clock in the morning, I was of course disturbed from my sleep - but as soon as I opened my eyes, I saw Venus. And this time, she wasn't a small statue. She was a HUGE statue/sculpture. She was on the hotel vanity, reaching all the way to the ceiling. My heart began to race cause I was startled, and a bit confused as to why there was a knock on the door and seeing a huge statue/figure in the hotel room. Then I remembered my roommate, and then I was in awe cause of Venus. And as I laid there, trying to figure out what to do [answer the door or stare at Venus], Venus began to slowly dissolve. It seemed so surreal, the more my ego tries to say it wasn't real, the more I hold onto what my heart and body experienced. I finally stood up to get the door, but at this point, I could hardly tell if Venus was a 3-D image in the wall or was still a solid form on the vanity.
After I answered the door and jumped back in the bed, I looked over to the vanity and saw a plain white wall [of course she wouldn't be there]...but was just amazed at seeing her just a moment ago.
And so now, I have my anchor. Meaning, in developing my Temple for the women [actually introducting my devotional practice to the world; how very personal], Venus [not just as goddess but the planet and the archetype she represents] will be the foundation for the movement practice. This concept will be part of the Mystic Armada. The Armada consists of various offerings, and the Temple practice is just another working concept within it...
BTW, once I get my domain name I'll post it so you guys can have a look-see at the under construction page of my website....