Dancing Tree Lessons

On my recent road trip through Utah, I connected with Tree, an old teacher, one I am remembering and reconnecting with. Click here to read mytho-poem I wrote as I apprenticed to Tree. 

I took this lesson from Tree into ceremony space 
and community Ecstatic Dance. Here is how the medicine flowed through...

I started out exploring my various purpi 

(is that plural for purpose?) 

I embodied the purpose of my roots 

and my animal purpose to live. 

I expanded into the bark of my being 

embodying my purpose 
of being support and shelter for others. 

I extended my arms up and out into the world 

baring fruit and blossoming outward. 

I explored and embodied the theme of absorbing; 

absorbing the vitality of my community, 

my dance partners, my breath, the vitality of others. 

I explored and embodied the theme of releasing;

and in this practice, 

came to see I defined releasing as something bad. 

I noticed that I had shame around having things that need released. 

I mean...shouldn’t I be more evolved by now?

My understanding of releasing transformed through this dance.  

I was able to better understand the ebb and flow

of giving and receiving

of absorbing and releasing. 

They are both necessary parts of the cycle

if I did not have anything to release, 

I would be dead. 

the exhale is just as necessary as the inhale! 

As I danced with others, 

I received their vitality, and my inhale. 
I also released anything that prevented me 

from being in the fullness of that moment and connection, 
and honored the exhale as part of this process. 

oh how I love releasing now! 

I bow in gratitude to the trees of our planet, 

the elders that provide shelter, food, 

wisdom, oxygen, inspiration, company

and entrance into deeper embodied experiences.