Tao of Movement

......Relaxation / Meditation: Stillness / Earth

2009-11-26T19:00:00.000-08:00

"Taking distance from Mind,
just watch Life's Story w/out
getting caught up in Drama."
( Osho )

The Turkey is being taken out
of the oven, potatoes are being
mashed, too many Cooks are in
the kitchen, it smells wonderful.
Relatives are arriving, kids are
playing outside, football is on TV,
new parents are showing off baby.

Taking a deep breath, I enter the
Thanksgiving Chaos, enjoy the
climactic Feast, relax into Lyrical
after-waves of Coffee & Dessert,
and find a quiet place outside to
Contemplate the years blessings.

Returning Home, I slip on my PJs,
offer left overs to Bear Dog and
try to Still my Mind from todays
days activity. Realizing Trying is
not Being, I check e-mail, turn on
TV, trim & simmer Carcass for our
annual Turkey Soup for tomorrow.
Chopping celery & veggies to add
to broth, becomes my Meditation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"With the Mind calm, Ego quelled,
inner-turmoil can be transcended.
Relationships benefit from inner-
Stillness. Meditation renews Body
and Mind with true Relaxation."
(I-Ching #52)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Autumn Air is chilled, as I walk
outdoors into the Stillness of Night.
Sensing the presence of my Father,
who crossed over in 2006, I greet
him and then release him to Love.
Mother Earth is resting now, after
another year of Abundant Harvest.
It is time for me too, to find rest.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"The Movement of Stillness is
Internal, a feeling of Fullness,
of Concentration, of Vibrant
Presence. You Move in Slow
Motion, Move /Stop, Breathe.
Move /Stop, find the Stillness
in your Movement, Movement
in your Stillness."(G. Roth)

m/s.sage
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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...............Beyond Boundaries: Lyrical ........... ............. Wind ~ Air / Crystal ~ Metal

2009-11-20T21:35:00.000-08:00

"Flowing teaches us to be part of a
Tribe, Staccato to be in Community.
Chaos teaches us to direct Energy into
Service, Lyrical reveals our place in
the Universe as a Whole." (G.Roth)

Sharing Sacred Space can be an initiation,
w/out healthy, respected, clearly defined,
rules, boundaries and limitations. Since
we all have our own perspectives about
what is Sacred, this can be a challenge.

Entering Family Dojo today, I sensed a
disturbance in the Healing Force Field.
Things were in disarray, like a Fox had
dis-respectfully raided the Hen House.
This spun my Energy into Chaos.

I had a choice to React from a place
of Fear Based Anger / Aggression,
create conflict, express blame,
inflict harm; or I could Respond
from a neutral place of Love Based
Compassion, seek understanding
Resolution /Healing /Peace.

Utilizing Dog Whisperer's wisdom,
I tried to remain Calm yet Assertive
while approaching the Responsible
Party and expressed my Truth.

Releasing attachment, I then immersed
myself in some Mickey Hart Drumming
Music. Dancing my inner -Chaos, the
intense Energy shifted; released in
joyful, playful, relaxing, freeing,
Lyrical Waves of Acceptance as
I smudged & cleansed the Space.

"All over the Globe specific forms of
Music, Dance and Rhythm accompany
the important events of the Human
Experience...Rhythm assures us that
some fundamentally reliable Power
operates throughout Nature." (Roth)

After working out, I returned Home
to take Bear Dog for a Nature Walk.
It was cool, slightly overcast, even the
Birds were quieted by the Stillness.
A light breeze dispersed the Clouds
into a wispy, mystical veil gracing
Maya's azure blue, Female Face.
My Face began to soften & smile,
as I walked down the familiar dirt
roads that I ran down as a Child.

"Disease = a Rhythmic Disturbance
& it requires assistance of those who
possess the knowledge of Rhythmic
Healing." ( Bonheim/Diallo )

Exploring the full spectrum of the
basic 5 Rhythms of Life, including
the emotions that color them, we
give Voice to our Soul's Quest for
meaning /purpose and direction.

For many of us, Lyrical is our least
familiar Rhythm because we fight
letting go of control, to allow a
Higher Power, to steer awhile.
This requires Faith and Trust in
ourselves, loved ones, and Life.

Moving into acceptance of change
allows us the opportunity to remain
Open Hearted to receive unexpected
gifts within joyous Lyrical aftermath;
spontaneous Dinner w/ loved ones,
invitation to a spiritual gathering,
a new career opportunity, etc. We
then offer blessings of gratitude.

"Seeking truth about the Mysterious
Unknown Parts of ourselves, (Shadows)
we must eliminate all Resistance to the
Creative Process of Self- Discovery and
develop Discipline to be a Free Spirit."
( G. Roth )

m/s.sage

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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..Releasing Inhibition: Dance of Chaos / Fire

2009-11-14T20:48:00.000-08:00

"Before Beginning of Great Brilliance,
there must be Chaos." (I-Ching)

"One must have Chaos in oneself
to be a Dancing Star." Nietzsche

"Chaos is rooted in Flowing & Staccato
Rhythms, but revs them up beyond control.
Carried away with Tribal Drumming, every
movement takes us over "The Edge". Spinning,
jerking, flowing, we surrender to Surges of Music,
yet remain Grounded in our Feet. Letting go of
the Brain/ Mind, allowing Body to be loose, we
allow ourselves to be moved by Animal Intuition.
We Shift into the "Zone" of the Imagination
where we re-make Self in each moment."
( Gabrielle Roth ~ Maps to Ecstasy )

Every Mother knows the moment during
Child Birth, where the Body just takes
over. Waves of Pain become unbearable,
until Uniting with Breath, it's transformed
into ecstatic Waves of Bliss. Child is born.

During Creative Process, we Surrender to
Chaos of the Unknown / to rebirth Self.
We "Sweat Our Prayers". (G.Roth)

We loose our Conditioned Orientation to
our Environment, Self & Others, to find a
new State of Being, the same but changed.
Our Awareness has expanded, we've grown.

"The I-Ching Indicates how Heaven & Earth,
bring forth / (re-birth) / Individual Beings."
"Arousing Thunder and Abysmal Rain fill Air,
Chaos passes beyond Danger as Thunderstorm
brings Release from Tension. Things Breathe
Freely once again." (I-Ching #3 - R.L.Wing)

My Grandsons love spinning in our Tire Swing,
until they are completely dazed. When they try
to walk, the World seems like a Lucid Dream.
Shrieking in laughter, they fall to the Ground
lay there still in the Center of spinning Choas.

Hanuman the Hindu Monkey God, unexpectedly
creates Chaos with humorous antics that make
us laugh. This Prankster, teaches us to embody
Courage to take spontaneous 'Leaps of Faith'.
He also reminds us to Quiet the Chatter of the
Monkey Mind, to remain Calm in the Center
of our Chaos, to remain Devoted to our Work.

"In Zen, you are Coming from Nowhere & Going
Nowhere. You are just Now Here. Everything
passes by you; your Consciousness Reflects it
but it does not get Identified. All States of
Being are simply Reflections of an evolving
Eternal Pool of Consciousness." (Osho)

m/s.sage

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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.....2. Inertia vs Ecstasy: Staccato / Wood

2009-11-07T15:13:00.000-08:00

"Inertia is seductive. It 's the Home of the "Victim"
who wants Life, Friends, Situations to stay the same."
(G. Roth)

Have you noticed how quickly Life is transforming
around us, as our Planet spins into 2012 alignment
w/ the Sun in the Center of our expanding Galaxy?

Personal/Planetary Karma used to take years to
recycle. Currently, what goes around, comes round daily
/hourly, giving us the opportunity to do our best Aikido
from one breath to the next, from moment to moment.

Urban Shaman Gabrielle Roth explains that when
we choose to Live in a State of Inertia, (Asleep)
reality is comprised of a matrix of our unquestioned
beliefs & frozen attitudes. This resistance to change
compromises the quality of our personal reality.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Stagnation produces ambiance of Decay /
Decadence." ( #12 ~ I-Ching / R.L. Wing)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Focusing on Breath within our Inertia, and then
exploring it with movement psychology/ expressive
arts, opens up space to discover healthy Pathways
of least resistance, that transform rigid beliefs that
hold us back from growing & expanding awareness.

"The False Ecstacy of Laziness, Indulgence and
Passivity we think we are enjoying, is an Illusion.
Eventually it takes its toll on us, w/ Self-Destructive
effects of imploding energy. We can choose to live in
Inertia or Move into Flow w/our Life's Rhythm."
(G.Roth)

Moving from Inertia to Flow, Energy Waves build
until we become inspired by Staccato's Percussive,
surges and bursts of directed movement toward a goal.
Bow/Arrow/Archer Become One in Dynamic Release.
New Shoots burst forth and Buds flower in Spring.

"Woodpecker = Earths Drummer. Drumming =
Heartbeat of Mother Earth and Shamanism.
Adepts of Woodpecker Medicine, Shift Dimensions
at Will, explore hidden layers & understand rhythms,
cycles and patterns. Associated with warnings and
prophecy, their Staccato tapping Peck Away at
Deception until the Truth is finally revealed. "
(S. Pouncey)

Changing the Mind, Changes the Body, and
Changing the Body, Changes the Mind, so as
soon as an intention is set in motion....all inner-
and -outer resistance, challenges desire for change.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As I set in Motion trip to Marin, my Mom thinks
of ten reasons why I should not go to celebration.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Challenge of resistance, gifts us the opportunity
to determine just how serious we are committed.
Following through, overcoming obstacles, we see
and experience unimaginable levels of gratitude.

Remaining Present w/ resistance while keeping
eyes on the Goal, allows us to keep moving, one
step at a time through what is blocking our Flow.

Flowing into Staccato, we feel the excitement,
of a wild Horse cantering, Majorette / Drum Line,
warming up, as they march in place for half-time.

"We are made to Move, become, grow, change,
create and the true paradise of Ecstasy lies not
in In-Action but in Action that is so totally
absorbing that it seems like no work at all."
(( Gabrielle Roth (Maps to Ecstasy))

m/s.sage ~ 11/8/09
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandy Shaw-Kovacs

..............1. Surrender to Flow : Water

2009-11-04T12:19:00.000-08:00

"My Intent Today is to do Less / accomplish More,

by practicing Law of Least Effort." Deepak Chopra

Observing meandering River on a beautiful Day,
I see how Sunlight graces effortless Movement.
River Goddess constantly changes with Currents,
yet she remains true to Self, in essence, the same.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" The Yielding and Responsive quality of Nature is
the focus of this time." (#2 ~ I-Ching / R.L.Wing )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Water caresses contours of Mother Earth. Free from
from judgment & criticism, it' accepts what's offered.

River's Constant Flow, relaxes & soothes Soul
as it remains fully Awake, while it is Dreaming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In an early morning Dreamtime Sojourn:

"A Mosaic Rainbow Serpent rises Cobra-like
from a Toilet, in a Hotel room, I am occupying.
As I run for help, the heavy Door starts to close,
and almost locks Me out, but I slip back inside."
A Snake = Kundalini = Life force Energy.
Cobra=Sacred Wisdom rises from Toilet=
Vessel flush remnants /assimilated experience.
Hotel = a paid for transitional resting place.
Door= A Protective Boundary/passsage between
inner & outer /endings & beginnings/Self & Not Self.

Inspired & Alert in Cobra Stance, inner-Shiva/Shakti energy
reveals itself in my Dreamtime World. Reacting in FEAR,
I run out of the room and as the Door closes, I almost
loose the opportunity to commune with Myself. The
Message: "It is time to become Visible / to be Seen."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Snake Medicine=akin to Fire because of its ability
to strike like lightening, yet observing Snake,
we also learn flow, Water's graceful art of :
"Moving as Oneness, in the Dance of Life."

Snake undulates, embodying parts, no pieces.
Head, Body, Tail move together, as one gesture.
The curious Serpent appears in Dreamtime as
a mosaic of all the colors of the Rainbow.
It shows unification of all aspects of my Life;
the Past which was digested, integrated and
flushed, the Present, alert and curious in Cobra
Stance, and it postures as unknown Future Potential.
As Snake, slithering into subconscious Waters, I can
swim effortlessly to the other side, linger in deeper
pools of subconscious / Shadows or swim against
Life's Current, and main stream thinking.

Various colors of Snakeness, allow for choice.
I can retreat, and lay in waiting, arise when I'm
unexpected, even maneuver Man Made Structures.
My colorful, fractal Awareness, inspires attention,
and reminds me of the need for consistent cleansing.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
" Flow contains Power. Notice when Consciousness
isn't Present. When Stance/Posture isn't appropriate,
Energy Flow isn't Flowing."( S. Heller)

" Movement is the Energy of Relationship.
We are all Moving Energy. How we Tense makes
a Difference. Assume a Position. Open to Flow.
Wait & Listen." Stuart Heller

How we Relax & Enjoy Life, also makes a difference.
All Work and Stress, and no Play and Fun = Burnout.
Laughter / Love, Passion / Compassion = elixirs
to every cell within the Body/Mind/Soul/Spirit.

Water reminds us to replenish & nurture Life.
Meditating on Flow, as Breath, we can explore
the innate rhythms within our Soul's Dance.

You are the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Tao as Watercourse Way, Flows naturally
Home, into vastness of the Sea. Relaxing Ego's
stubborn Resistant hold on us, we can learn to
Surrender to Flow of Creative Process.

Blocked energy Flow = Stagnation. Examine
what is blocking your progress. What do you need
to let go of, to move forward in your Life, easily?
gracefully? Become the Flow. Move like Water.
Embody River / Stream / Waterfall / Ocean.
Flow into Depths of a Creative Process.

m/s.sage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandy Shaw-Kovacs

..............Soul Quest / Creative Passion

2009-11-02T19:26:00.000-08:00

"Dance has been my Medium & Metaphor,

my Message & Meditation." G. Roth

Breath, as Stillness inhales, transforming inertia,
inspiring movement, as Flow of rhythmic pulse.

Flow of pulse, exhales into Staccato, inspiring
dance of Chaos, releasing into Lyrical ecstasy.
Ecstatic ripples, surrender to Stillness of breath.

This initiating cycle, births the Shamanic Journey,
as described by Urban Shaman, Gabrielle Roth.
In fractal spiral it refines the Tao of Movement.

"Move & the Way will open." ~ Zen Proverb

When Facing outer-Challenge / inner-Shadow,
how do you respond to your Fear? Do you Faint,
Flee, Freeze, Fight Back, Stand Your Ground?

The quality of our ability to Respond to Life,
reflects the state of our conscious awareness,
as it expands / contracts, breathes itself alive.

"Direct your Strength wisely. Choose
Useful Endeavors that Inspire Humanity."
What you Create NOW is the inspiration
for what you experience NEXT." I-Ching

"You can always trace back to Beginning,
but there will never be an End, to what you
now set into Motion." I-Ching

"Don't go where the Path may lead, go where
there is No Path, and leave a trail. " Emerson

"Blaze Forth Your Trail, I will Follow
Your Tail, Like a Bird, Like a Song
in the Wind." m/s.sage
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
FB: Sandy Shaw-Kovacs

....................Tao of Movement .............Introduction to Movement Psychology

2009-10-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

Have you ever Noticed how different individuals:
Stand, Sit, Respond / React/ Communicate /
Move in their World? Conditioned Beliefs color
our World View and determine How We perceive
Behaviors of others. The Way we Initiate Movement /
Withdraw Energy, determines our quality of experience,
our mood swings, personal and professional relationships.

How we Manage Stress and Balance Emotions, has
a profound influence on our: Mental / Psychological,
Physical and Spiritual State of Health and Well Being.
Repetitive Chronic "Habit Stances" / Postures,
& old, dysfunctional patterns of behavior, can block
us from attaining our goals and living an Abundant Life.

Observing the Way We Move/Where & How we hold
Tension / Stress, allows the quality of our Body Language
to change from Frozen to Fluid. Awareness, empowers
us to refine our Intention, to focus Attention on healthy
relations, situations and individuals that are Life enhancing.
Breathing with Awareness into stubborn physical knots,
resulting from our denial, avoidance of facing emotional
baggage, allows us an opportunity to identify/transform
root causes of pain that trigger Desire /Attachment
to Addiction. Changing How we Move~Changes Our
Perception of Ourselves / Life, as we Walk a Balanced
Spiritual Path. Life then becomes a Creative Process of
Touching, Noticing, Enjoying, Accepting, and Releasing our
Personal Experiences. With practice, we can transform
Fear-based Judgment, and Respond vs React to Life,
"Live On Purpose" w/Presence. m/s.sage

www.innerpeacehealing.com
Twitter: InnerPeaceSage
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