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Before Circle let every woman help prepare altar. Represent each element on altar, plus a large Goddess candle. Have tape player and necessary music, chalice, and bandanas on altar. Each woman will bring to Circle pictures of female ancestors, living and/or passed over. These may also be other significant women such as teachers or other mentors who have influenced their lives in some way. Each will be greeted at the edge of the Circle with these words:
"Welcome, Sister. May your light shine upon us. You are a Goddess by birth rite. Come, enter our sacred space and we will share all that we are together."
Each will enter and walk around to place in Circle. As everyone is entering, play music that all can dance too. A good rhythmic piece is important. Have four women invoke the elements as others are dancing.
"We have come together in this sacred space to honor our Mother Line. Each of you has brought a picture or some representation of your mother, your grandmother, her mother and/or any other female members of your line you wish to honor. We will move around the Circle, each in turn and place them on the altar as we name them. Call to them, feel your sacred connection to your Mother Line. Thank each of them for the gifts they have reproduced in you. When you have finished speaking, pick up a votive candle, light it with the Goddess candle in the center of the altar and place it on the altar next to your pictures and return to your place in the Circle."
A good chant for this time ...All I Ask of You
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you
All I ask of you is forever to remember me as loving you.
(Repeat & repeat & repeat)
Dance is a dynamic tool for awakening and stirring up the subtle forces and energies of life. It is an outer expression of an inner spirit. Dance and movement are natural to the universe. Plants will move gracefully to face the sun and wave in the breeze. Birds and animals display magnificent arrays of plumage and posture for everything from courtship to aggression. Dance is natural and vital to us as well.
We are all musical. We all have rhythm. Anyone can dance. We live in a time when we are too self-conscious and caught up with how we might look when we dance.
Ecstatic dance is a moving meditation. It is not a dance to do with someone else unless that is what you want. It is not a dance specifically for the purpose of "looking" good. It is free flowing. It is aware. It is between your spirit and the music.
How do you do it? Anyway you want. Anyway you feel the music. The idea is to let the music in, feel it, and release it through yourself in movement. Whatever movement "feels" natural to you.
(Pass out bandanas)
When you first experience ecstatic dance it is best to "close out" the outer world. This allows you to enter your own ‘inner world". Please put on you blindfold. For safety, I ask that your movements be more in your body, rather than your feet. Move your feet only when you know it is safe to do so.
Begin your movements slowly, warming up to the music. Breathe naturally and easily, focusing on the music. Allow your body to seek a place in tune with what you feel. Be loose.
Warm up by focusing on a body part. Say, first, your neck. Move it in time with the music. Get loose. Move your shoulders, your spine, your hips, and your knees. Continue focusing on different areas of your body until you have loosened up all over.
As you dance, allow your thoughts to float free. Be your "woman self" be however you feel.
Dance your dance of power, now. Here with the women you have called into this Circle, your mothers, your grandmothers, those who came before you, DANCE, SISTERS, DANCE. Feel them dance with you. They may not have been able to dance their power. They may not have had the freedom to dance their power, so dance it for them, NOW. Dance your power, NOW.
Continue dancing for at least fifteen minutes. When the dance is complete and all have come to rest, share in the chalice.
Let us now share the chalice with the Goddess. As you receive the chalice, please share with us how you feel right now, at this moment. You can talk about your feelings of being a woman, how it felt in the past, how it feels now. How it felt in the dance. How you would like to see yourself. Please share of yourself, then share in the chalice.
Talk a little about the importance of knowing your sisters and supporting them. Woman power is not about hating men, for they are victims of the same stereotyping we are, so forgive them and move on with good and right actions. When you become strong they respect you. For all of us to be strong we must support each other.
Close Circle
By the Earth that is Her body,
By the Air that is Her breath,
By the Fires of Her bright spirit
By the Waters of Her living womb ...
Blessed Be!
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