New Year Transformations

I’ve been reading some great end-of-year and new-start reflections. I am inspired and also want to move forward in a powerful way. I am sharing a few of my own because I am done with struggling and striving in silence, and I would love to be seen and supported. I’d also love to invite partnerships and collaborations where we might be in alignment. As I imagine it probably has for most people in these times, darkness and deep pain have visited me regularly, and frankly, I’m not sure that they’re done with me. I made a conscious effort in 2018 to acquire new practices and habits for seeing myself and elevating myself; and I have re-committed to some that have served me well in the past and continue to do so – when I remember to choose them over addiction and self-soothing.

Among my most cherished experiences and achievements in 2018:

• I joined and led communities where we are welcome and encouraged to be seen and held as we are; in our shared sacredness, imperfections and vulnerability. These are circles where we strive to practice and cultivate values of personal growth, deep respect, regard for our beautiful planet, and peaceful coexistence. I feel deep gratitude for all of my sisters and brothers genuinely engaged with these principles.

• I started a nonprofit organization whose mission is to connect, collaborate and elevate in situations where human rights and fair opportunities for growth and contribution have been disallowed by war and social constructs. I feel deep respect for all of the hearts and souls I have had the honor to touch and partner with in this effort.

• I re-launched the Red Tent movement in Eindhoven, Netherlands, and look forward to expanding this movement around the world.

• I swam in the magical waters of Hawaii, traveled through lava caves, and witnessed a volcanic eruption. I breathed the crystal clean air and experienced the healing vortices of Sedona. I also gazed in awe upon, and - reluctantly - swam, in the magnificent blue Aegean sea, where thousands of people continue to cross in treacherous conditions, and in which waters many have lost their lives in desperate attempts to preserve their lives and reach freedom.

• I visited and danced at glorious sacred sites in Odisha, India, where I witnessed breathtaking beauty, craftsmanship, devotion, and artistry, among a backdrop of startling poverty and environmental crisis. I was gifted with another gorgeous piece of Odissi choreography – which I am nearly ready to share, and for which I am seeking performance opportunities! : )

• I expanded my communities of women, artists, activists, healers, rebels, and men and women around the world striving for a more peaceful coexistence.

• I became clear about the nature of making choices.

• I have recognized the power of identifying and behaving as a victim.

• I have recognized the power of identifying and behaving as a sovereign being unto myself.

• I recognized, with great pain and regret, the destructive, suffocating and deadening influence the emotion and belief system of shame has had on my life.

In order to move forward in a productive way, I am leaving these things behind:

• Letting anxiety or fear of failure stop me from pursuing my heart’s desires

• Puffy eyes

• Squishy belly

• Feeling dead

• Excessive caffeine (again)

• Letting people drain me

• Stagnant relationships

• Worrying about what people think of me

• Self-doubt and self-battering

• Being passive when what I really want is to be heard and seen

• Screen addiction

• Shame

I feel enormous gratitude for (not an exhaustive list):

• Freedom to travel the world; many worldly experiences, and international community.

• A healthy body, healthy and loving family, a warm and beautiful home, nutritious food, beautiful warm clothes, endless opportunities to study, explore and express my true nature, and a passport.

• Connections with people who care deeply about me, and our shared values of deep respect, honest communication (even when it’s painful), health, creative living, and spreading peace, prosperity and vitality to all corners of the Earth.

• Many invaluable “aha” moments

What I would love to manifest in 2019:

• A fearless relationship with my creativity, sensuality and instinct.

• The skill to anchor myself in calm confidence in any situation.

• A wild and fierce sensation of being intimately engaged with all aspects of life.

• Conception and first steps toward creating a unique body of work that will change the way humans relate to each other, for the better.

• Elegant and captivating Odissi dance performances

• A powerful and vibrant community of women that is up to the task of leading the world into a new era of peace and prosperity.

• Honest, passionate, and creative relationships.

• Activities, friendships and business endeavors that are in service to humanity, creative expression, and peace.

In 2019 my wish is that we will open our eyes, ears and hearts, heal our bodies, interact curiously, behave compassionately, and touch ourselves and one another with gentleness and deep respect.

Aho

Guiding words for 2018:
Wildly Alive
People, Planet and Peace 
❤️🙏🌍✌️☮️

You Are Invited to an Intimate Conversation About: Sexual Sovereignty for Women: what is it, and why do we need to talk about it?

Red Tent Eindhoven, Friday, January 4, 2019

I was recently led to deeply explore the concept of Sexual Sovereignty for women.  As I continue to grow and reflect on my experiences as a child, young woman, mother, healer, activist, and creatrix of my own life, it has become perfectly clear that there are some dark and complex root causes – belief systems, behavior patterns, and misunderstandings - that are feeding the hungry ghosts of modern popular, social and political culture.   

These phenomena get into our heads and perpetually feed soundbites of dissonance, shame, and endless arguments into our individual and collective psyches.  These soundbites, both discretely and overtly, co-opt thoughtful conversations and even overrun our innate wisdom, and impose ideas about what we should do, how we should act, what’s beautiful, what’s important, what success means, and even what’s sexy and what’s not.  These thoughts and beliefs – that don’t belong to us – can take root in our psyches and insidiously erode our physical and emotional health, self esteem, relationships, and ability to effectively create our hearts’ desires. 

I’d like to ask:  What if we took back the conversation, and the right to make decisions about our own lives, especially in the realm of our deepest, most tender selves – the realm of sexuality; our innate, universal capacity to create and express ourselves in the world?  

I wonder, how would the world be different for women (and men) if….

Our education around sex, relationships and menstruation included deep, thoughtful discussions among our peers, that were guided by women more mature and experienced than us?  What if these deep, rich, tender conversations encouraged us to explore and practice, at a young age, the concepts of freedom, individuality, pleasure, deep respect, sacredness, and responsibility?   

What if, as young women, we had been gifted with a place, a practice, and a paradigm for developing ourselves as wildly creative feminine beings? 

What if, at a very early age, we received guidance that lead to an understanding of our pleasure anatomy?   What if it was part of growing up from girl to woman to know how our bodies worked; how to cultivate profound health, vitality, creativity and emotional maturity?  What if we knew, from a young age, that pleasure was as essential to our wellbeing as breath, water, nutritious food, exercise, and sound sleep?

Imagine if we learned, through rites of passage and the example of wise women and mentors, how to develop a deeply personal and devotional practice that cultivated wisdom, integrity, and responsibility around our emotional and sexual behavior?  

If, from the beginning, we knew that we were cherished, and that our contributions to our families and communities, and as stewardesses of the Earth, would make or break the future of humanity, would we perceive ourselves differently?  Would we behave differently? 

What if we learned that our resonance – our felt state of being – leaves a greater imprint than our words, or even our actions? 

What if we were raised and enculturated to know that sexual energy is an innate and inseparable aspect of our humanity….. that sexual energy is not different from “life” energy,
“digestive” energy, or energy that we expend when we exercise…. that it exists and has the potential to thrive exclusive of a partner, and that it represents a wellspring of creative and vital resource?

How would our choices be different if we understood that suffocated, repressed, or left untapped, our sexuality could wither, and with it so too would our impulse to shine radiantly, naturally, and unabashedly?  What if it was obvious to us that suppression of our sexuality would leave us in a lower, more tired, and possibly even stagnant state of physical, emotional and mental function?

How would we feel different if our activities in the world were grounded in a deep knowing of ourselves; an understanding of our cellular and physiologic functioning?  What if it was common knowledge that our physical and emotional currents are natural, normal, and powerful beyond measure?   

What if there was no fear and no shame around sexuality?  If, we, as women, felt deeply happy, confident, peaceful, and in alignment with our deepest desires? 

Would this be a game changer?

Can we imagine for a moment, how the world would change if the emotional currents that make us sick (fear, shame, anger, anxiety….) could be transformed into sensitivity, compassion, generosity, wisdom, and purposeful, courageous action? 

What if it were a universally recognized human right that all human beings have full authority to make decisions about what happens to and in their bodies?   

What if it were obvious to all humans that the practical definition of courage is taking action with sensitivity, vulnerability, and a deep, thoughtful sense of purpose? 

How would our relationships and communities be different if the fierce respect, clarity and conviction that we consciously cultivated in ourselves translated seamlessly to profound respect and conviction for the freedom and sovereignty of others? 

What if a shift in ourselves - in our self perception, and our physiology -  could change the game, for everyone, in a big way? 

If you are a man and you read this far – THANK YOU for your curiosity, and THANK YOU for caring about us.  I have a question for you too:  How would it feel for you to witness the women in your life feeling wildly alive, creative, beautiful, deeply relaxed and fully empowered?   

Sexual Sovereignty for women is a concept developed, researched, and taught for over 25 years by Saida Désilets, creator of the Désilets Method, “a psychosexual system that creates more pleasure, sexual aliveness, and deep self-love.”  

Recommended (but not required) reading for our next Red Tent circle:  Emergence of the Sensual Woman, Awakening Our Erotic Innocence:  The Sacred Teachings of the Jade Goddess, By Saida Désilets, Ph.D.

Contact the event host to confirm your attendance

Read more about the Red Tent

The Art of Going With The Flow: Timeless Cyclical Wisdom for Women

Last night in the Red Tent we gathered for deep sharing and meditations that celebrate seasons and cycles; seasons of our life, the natural world, daily cycles, individual cycles. What can shift when we align with ourselves, one another, and the world around us is nothing short of astonishing!

Through alignment with natural principles, we develop the skill to transform and release old, stagnant and sick energy – much like composting in our garden. We develop the ability to transform life experiences and lessons to wisdom, and our capacity to thrive in relationships and creative endeavors of all kinds expands exponentially – just like the beautiful blossoming of flowers in spring. This timeless and powerful cycle of conceiving, creating, expressing, extracting lessons, and composting is available to us throughout our lifetime – if we make the effort to observe and engage. Every day, every month, every season, every lifetime is a new opportunity to grow more vibrant - more wildly alive - and to expand and refine the value of our impact in the world. Forever. How amazing is that?

In case you missed this month’s gathering, I created a handout that summarizes The Art of Going with the Flow; Timeless Cyclical Wisdom for Women. I will be happy to share this with you if you contact me directly with your email address.

I look forward to seeing you in the Red Tent in January when we will explore a topic that couldn’t be more important to address at this moment in time: Women’s Sexual Sovereignty: what does this mean and why is it important? Recommended (though not required) reading to prepare for this conversation: Emergence of the Sensual Woman, by Saida Désilets.

Upcoming dates and details:

More information about the Red Tent

Facebook Event Link

Do you want to host a Red Tent in your neighborhood? I absolutely love creating sacred space for women to gather and grow. It would be my honor to collaborate with you. 

Introducing Love Elevates Refugee Relief Network

My dear friend, Arch Alaa El Wahidi, a refugee himself from Palestine, and a student at Webster University Athens, has designed the beautiful and deeply meaningful logo for Love Elevates Refugee Relief Network. The design eloquently represents rising from darkness and despair through education and community engagement. I have known Alaa since he arrived at Ritsona Refugee Camp, where we were both volunteers with Café Rits, an independently run program that organizes supplemental food distribution and social events at Ritsona. Alaa received his degree in architecture and design from the University of Palestine. He introduced me to the program at Webster University and helped me identify opportunities for other refugees there.

I just sent my Fall project update for my work in Greece. If you would like to be on my mailing list to receive updates and find out how you or your community group can help, please email me at loveelevatesrefugeerelief@gmail.com and request to be added to the list. It would be my pleasure to share some uplifting and exciting news with you!

Some of the most exciting aspects of this update are the launch of a new non-profit organization (501c 3 status pending) whose mission is education, empowerment and identifying and sponsoring pathways to long-term sustainability for refugees, as well as revealing the magnificently designed logo for the project!

The mission of LERRN is to provide both critical relief and avenues of empowerment toward self-sustainability to refugees through various kinds of sponsorships.  The concept for this organization was born with the knowledge that there are many people, families and organizations world-wide that would happily welcome refugees into their communities, and generously assist with orientation and integration, as well as with financial support for start-up costs for refugees in their new communities.  As current immigration laws are leaving thousands of people in a dangerous, frustrating, and inhumane state of limbo, we can still help by traveling to where refugees are residing to collaborate with the local community to create opportunities that transcend poverty and destitution.  This will benefit individuals, families, the local community, and the Greek economy by seeking to alleviate the burden of homelessness, hunger, illness, unemployment, and endless human suffering; if only one person or one family at a time.

As a starting point, through a collaboration with Webster University (an American university) in Athens, LERRN is offering sponsorships for qualified candidates to enroll in bachelor and masters degree programs.  Webster University is offering half-price tuition for an entire course of study for qualified refugee candidates, while LERRN will seek to provide the other half of tuition, as well as assistance with other expenses as needed to reach a reasonable standard of living, social support, and active development of business and integration skills for beneficiaries of the program. 

A photo from my meeting in September with the amazing faculty of Webster University Athens.

Please join me in thinking big as we take our next steps!  As this program grows, individuals and families are lifted from poverty and despair. 

Summary of needs and action items: 

·      Immediate donations and long-term sponsorships are needed.   

·      Tuition for term 2, beginning in November, to keep our 6 students in school is needed.

·      For the semester beginning in January, I have set a goal to continue sponsorship for our six students, and to provide sponsorships for at least four more. 

·      Can you or your community group commit to a quarterly donation to sponsor an undergraduate or graduate student? 

o   1 class for an undergraduate student:  €360

o   1 class for a graduate student:  €615

·      Do you know of an organization or community group that could host a fundraiser or sponsor one or more students?

·      Would you like to join my team to help raise funds, raise awareness, or provide moral support for our students?

·      Do you have a talent or skill that you would be willing and able to share via one-on-one virtual meetings with a refugee in Greece?  This could be language or business skills, life coaching, tutoring, or almost anything else. 

·      Can you introduce me to friends or organizations who would like to help?  I am available for public speaking engagements, if your organization or community group would like to learn more or host a fundraising event. 

Donations:

Within the EU:

Bank Transfer:  DE79 1001 1001 2623 9102 78, BIC NTSBDEB1XXX

Paypal, (in Euro):  loveelevatesrefugeerelief@gmail.com

United States:

Paypal, (in USD):  jenndance40@gmail.com

(Please state how you would like your donation applied in comments)

As the crisis endures, overcrowded boats continue to arrive regularly to the Greek islands.  Winter is coming.  Some residents of the islands have been moved to the mainland, however, the conditions in refugee camps on the islands remain inhumane and continue to decline.  While you may not be hearing about these issues in the news, you can for sure read about them on pages such as Aegean Boat Report, Are You Syrious, Their Story is Our Story, and other social media pages of volunteers and grassroots organizations that are present in Greece. 

“Love beautifies the giver and elevates the receiver.”  

- Sivananda

Red Tent Winter Series

The Red Tent, Eindhoven is back online - reinvigorated and lit with inspiration! I’ve created a thoughtful lineup of deep dives for our series of upcoming gatherings. Please join our international community of women committed to personal growth, emotional maturity and holding sacred space for ourselves and each other. The Red Tent is a warm, confidential, come-as-you-are space for women to gather and grow.

*You are welcome to attend any single event, however, attending all in the series will be ideal as material presented will add layers and depth.*

December:
Harnessing wisdom and vitality by aligning with our cyclical nature – We’ll explore how the cycles of nature, the moon, menstruation, and our lifetime offer unique opportunities for personal cultivation, enhancing our sensuality and sharpening our innate intelligence.

January:
Women’s Sexual Sovereignty – What does this mean to you? Why is this important? Could this be a key concept for healing sexual trauma, ending gender conflicts, and reviving our human relationships? Recommended reading: Emergence of the Sensual Woman, by Saida Désilets.

February: 
A discussion about trauma, self-care, and personal boundaries. Daring to know ourselves deeply is essential for our ability to interact in relationship with ourselves and others with integrity, compassion, and in alignment with our deepest values and desires. This conversation will encourage us to explore how tenderness and awareness around our vulnerabilities will guide us toward confidence and deeply satisfying relationships.

March:
Unearthing Shame - This space is safe. We're going to allow this demon to breathe out in the open. We'll get to know her, understand her, and learn to recognize when she is calling the shots. Recommended Reading: I Thought It Was Just Me (but it isn’t), and Daring Greatly, by Brené Brown. 

*Each gathering will feature an introduction by the facilitator, followed by a discussion about the topic indicated, as well as meditative, self-care, and/or movement practices.

Dates:

Monday, December 10, 2018

Friday, January 4, 2019

February Gathering TBA

March Gathering TBA

Time: 19:30 - 22:00

Place: Eindhoven City Center, Netherlands. Contact event host directly for location details

Cost: No Charge/Donations only

COME AS YOU ARE. Dress comfortably. Most importantly, be yourself, come as you are or as you are inspired; dress like a goddess if that makes you feel happy; it’s also perfectly awesome to arrive in sweatpants if that suits your mood and your schedule.

Tea, water, and light refreshments will be provided.

Items you may wish to bring:

• Cushion, yoga mat, bench, and/or blanket for your comfort (limited seating available; we usually sit on the floor)

• Altar item (a small item that inspires you and reflects your passion or personality)

• An open heart.

Contact/RSVP:  Jennifer Moiles

Additional Information about the Red Tent here: 
http://www.heartwombandsoul.com/events/

View, RSVP, and share the current event invitation here: https://www.facebook.com/events/1882615748486681/

Athena Centre for Women - Volunteer Reflections

I spent a month in July 2018 volunteering at the Athena Centre for Women (a project by Action for Women) on the Greek Island of Chios.  The centre serves women living in Vial Refugee Camp, a severely overcrowded and underserved camp where more than 2000 refugees reside in broken metal containers, tents, and in many cases, with no shelter at all, completely open to the elements. 

Athena Centre for Women provides a vital service to the women living in Vial who are able to travel to the centre.  Here women find a clean, quiet, safe and welcoming space to rest and relax for a few precious hours a day – something that hasn’t been available to them since leaving their war-torn countries, on the precarious road they’ve traveled to get here, or at home in Vial Camp.  In the centre women also have access to legal and medical appointments, bras and undergarments, sanitary supplies, a wholesome meal, and, depending on the skills and talents of volunteers who come, may have access to language, wellness, and art classes. 

I taught yoga and wellness classes at the centre, and generally supported administrative and coordination functions of the centre as needed.  I also engaged in many hours of socializing, snuggling babies, listening, giving and receiving shoulder massages, and sharing meals.  Together we experienced many funny and tender moments.  We anointed ourselves with essential oils, engaged in a photography project, and talked about dreams for the future.  When words failed us – because in a room full of five women there could be five different languages spoken – we communicated through art, body language, smiles, expressions of anguish and frustration, watery eyes, firm nods, and with hugs.  As volunteers, we would often cringe and ache internally when a request for a basic human need was made and we said “no” due to lack of resources or better solutions. 

Women from around the world come here to serve our sisters who have been in harm’s way for too long.  It’s hard not to be overwhelmed by the degree of suffering we witness, but also the courage and resilience; and the beauty of women in whose eyes we can also see ourselves.    In this place we bear witness to the tenderness and strength of each woman’s heart, as well as the grave consequences of war, forced migration, and poverty. 

For me the Athena Centre for Women represents a space where women gather to lift each other up, promote self-care, share wisdom and stories of joy and tragedy, and to develop self-confidence and friendship.  Here we learn about what it means to be brave, and how to engage in heartfelt, respectful conversations with women of diverse backgrounds, interests, and cultures.    

Women who come here from Vial camp are tirelessly struggling to survive; the women who volunteer here strive tirelessly to elevate and inspire; we all endeavor to keep hope alive.  Volunteers arrive as advocates and activists.  We leave with a more accurate perspective on serious world issues and crises; with images etched in our hearts that will never be forgotten, and with new friendships that poke holes in the walls between our cultures and nations. 

Volunteers and donations are needed. 

Apply to volunteer at https://actionforwomen.ch/volunteer/

To donate:  https://actionforwomen.ch/donate/ 

Watch a video about the Athena Women’s Center: 
https://www.facebook.com/actionforwomenCH/videos/1385208041623681/

New Moon Practice

This New Moon urged me to play and create…. And reminded me how to be in the dark without succumbing.  I didn’t have time to organize a gathering this month, but felt the nudge to reach out and share.  How is this new moon moving through you?  This is the meditation that came through me:  

With the energy of this dark moon I allow myself to slow down, to be at ease, and to glide into the darkness with courage, curiosity, and compassion.   I enter my meditation prepared to see, willing to let go, and armed with unconditional loving acceptance.  I will allow that which is old and decrepit to slough, and I will quietly listen for the wisdom of my inner voice, prepared to navigate precarious mind scapes, or simply reside in the blessed stillness of the dark with my tenderness and my faith.  

For me, with the dark moon there can also be a surge of dark thoughts, dark feelings, and muddy, confusing or troublesome imaginings.  As I allow space for these phenomena to flow, however uncomfortable, I recognize that they all have merit.  Each is worthy and essential, and offers some nugget of truth, perspective or insight – even if by forcing me to discern reality from unreality.  My skill in this blessed moment is in the ability to turn the soil, rather than feel stuck in it.  The process of composting aspects that are no longer relevant or vital fertilizes my living soil and catalyzes my creativity and confidence, invigorating my stretch toward light, integration and clarity.  

Love Heals Refugee Relief

Today I write to ask for your support for a project that has become incredibly important to me and, I believe, serves the interest of forging peace both locally and internationally. 

I moved to Eindhoven, Netherlands, two years ago with my husband, Bryan, who had already been living and working in the Netherlands for about a year and a half.  I had just graduated with a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and had accomplished the task of launching my kids into their careers in higher education.  I soon became involved with Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB), an American organization whose work I had been following for several years, and saw that they were coming to Europe to offer trauma-relieving care to refugees in Greece.  I wanted to help and, long story short, they took me in and trained me on the job.  That began my career as a relief worker in Greece.

I have now traveled to Greece more than 10 times (I’ve actually lost count) since my first trip with AWB in September 2016.  I have served in various capacities and as an independent volunteer, supporting families and organizations that are serving refugees in whatever ways that I can; through donations, volunteering my time, serving food, offering transportation to doctors’ visits, buying groceries or family planning supplies… - literally filling in gaps of essential support and care wherever I can.  I’ve also spent countless hours sitting in tents, isoboxes, and plasterboard living cubicles having tea, eating falafel made on camp stoves, and getting to know refugees from Syria, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, and other areas of the world that are in crisis. 

My family has supported me every step of the way, with both moral and financial support (my travel, room, and board expenses are and will continue to be completely self-funded).  Though I at times miss my family; miss the feeling of “home” and familiar community, and often have a difficult time with the emotional intensity of the situation in Greece, I have been driven to return again and again by an instinct I can’t quite explain.  Perhaps growing up as the daughter of a woman raised in a “misplaced persons” camp and understanding how the imprint of trauma endures for lifetimes and generations has something to do with it.  Perhaps it’s feelings of anger and fear regarding the wars and human conflicts that rage in the world – as a mother I’d like to feel more optimistic about the state of the world I’m leaving behind for my children.  As a healer, I have been trained to understand the impact of violent and enduring trauma on the human psyche, which, left unrecognized and untreated, can play out in myriad dysfunctional ways in families, communities, and nations. 

From a personal standpoint, I am gaining perspectives that would not be possible if I stayed in my comfort zone.  I am learning so much about the world, and about other cultures; many things that I really like and admire.  I often wonder why our knee-jerk reactions in media and politics are to point out the worst (whether real or misunderstood) in other people and cultures, as opposed to seeing first and appreciating the beautiful aspects of people and culture?   In this place I have witnessed some of the most inspiring acts of love and humanity that I have ever seen in my life. 

Whatever the reason – I feel compelled to continue and believe wholeheartedly that the world is my family.

According to many reports, the situation in Greece persists and in many ways is getting worse.  Arrivals to the islands continue; funds are drying up, some organizations are pulling out, volunteers are exhausted and fed up with not being able to do enough to provide even the most basic level of human dignity to men, women and children who are displaced, severely traumatized, and often alone or separated from family members.  And of course public opinion, international policy, and media discourse about the crisis are complicated and controversial phenomena. 

To get to the point - I would be deeply grateful if you would help me to bring critical aid to this area with a donation of any amount.  Funds that I raise will be used directly to support organizations on the front lines, and/or to purchase critical supplies and services such as food, shelter, essentials for sanitation, warm clothing, toiletries – essentials of daily living. 

I am returning to Greece February 20 to visit camps and families I have served in the past, and to then join the Chios Eastern Shore Response team.  This will be my first trip to the islands to participate in the relief effort at the point of entry for the vast majority of asylum seekers in Greece.  It is my understanding that the humanitarian conditions on the islands are especially critical at this point.   In addition to volunteering my time, I would like to bring as much practical, monetary and material support as I can. 

Here is a link to my fundraising page, which will include ongoing updates about the projects I will be engaging with when I return to Greece:  https://www.youcaring.com/refugeesingreece-1077438

With sincere gratitude and warm regards,

Jennifer

Reflections: Shakti Bhakti Odissi Dance Voyage to Orissa, India, January 2018

Photo by Debiprasad Sahoo Photography at Brameshwar Temple, Bhubaneswar, India

It is not lost on me, what a privilege it is to dance; to travel, to study and explore cities, festivals, temples, arts and cultures that have shaped and inspired the world. It is a blessing that I appreciate profoundly.

It’s hard to express with words and photos how special it is to immerse in the culture of the birthplace of our sacred dance. For all of the challenges; confusing and harsh circumstances, sensory overstimulation, bellyaches, communication mishaps and (and, and) other relative discomforts we encounter to visit this special place, at the heart of the experience for me is momentary glimpses of pure love and connection; a recognition of ourselves in the Sacred.

A temple dancer carved in stone at Ratnagiri, Orissa, India

Odissi dance is life-giving and life-affirming; and it is simply and innocently joyful. The spiraling vibration we awaken when we stomp our feet upon the Earth sends revitalizing impulses throughout our bodies, ultimately expressed through our hands and our eyes. We generate and recognize and connect with the healing vibration that lives at the core of our being, the upward- and outward-reaching resonance of creation.

On the stage we expose ourselves as unapologetically sensual, tender, vulnerable and emotional.  Pure essence – that which is Sacred in me - is awakened. It whirls through me to reach out and meet and recognize and affirm what is most Sacred in you, my audience. For me this is hopeful and comforting and deeply inspiring – an expression of beauty that emerges from the infinitely vital seed of creation. It is a compelling reason to dance.

These words by my beloved teacher and friend Revital Carroll, founder and director of Shakti Bhakti school of dance and performance group, come as close as I can get to capturing, in practical terms, the essence of this dance:

"Odissi is sensual but not sexy, beautiful but not glamorous, intense but not violent, unique but not shocking. It is timeless but not fashionable.In a world that favors sex, war, glam, shock, and fashion - It is for those who are willing to get a bit bruised in order to blossom, for those who are passionate about touching their depth in order to emit their most delicate scent, for those who are seeking peace in the midst of celebration - for those who are willing to sweat in their silk"

Dance practice at Rajarani Temple, Bhubaneswar

Handloom saari's

A street view in Cuttack, Orissa

A view of Jagannath Temple, Puri

Shakti Bhakti Ensemble

The Godipuas held the tradition when it was determined inappropriate for women to dance Odissi. These young dancers are absolutely incredible, and much more acrobatic than the Odissi style we practice. Modern day Odissi has only been revived recently, circa 1940. 

A street view of Puri, Orissa

View more images here

Conflict, Curiosity and Compassion: Healing a Divided World

This article was originally published in Acupuncture Today in December 2017.  

In March 2017 Acupuncturists Without Borders (AWB) brought 18 practitioners, it’s mobile clinic, and its therapeutic “Peace Circle” on a World Healing Exchange tour to Israel and the West Bank.  With hearts and minds full of curiosity and compassion, a bus-load of practitioners traversed Tel Aviv, the Negev Desert, the Dead Sea, the Christian, Jewish and Muslim sacred sites of Jerusalem, traditional herbal farms, a kibbutz, a TCM Conference, a local hospital’s TCM department, and several Palestinian and Bedouin villages with the intention of connecting, learning, and considering the role of healers in the pursuit of a more peaceful world, at home and abroad.  

We experienced in real time the pulsation of a land whose very culture is conflict; palpably present on both sides of infamous and controversial border walls. We traveled through armed checkpoints where we were at times searched and interrogated. The young soldiers, about the age of my college-sophomore son, were strapped with large weapons and trifled through our bags and asked pointed questions.  Though the landscapes and cityscapes we tread through were breathtakingly beautiful, they were commonly demarcated by threads of barbed wire.  The honey-gold vitality of the desert and rolling hills we traveled between on crude, bumpy single-lane roads to get to a Palestinian village one clear morning was betrayed by an ominous tension, and the sound of a military helicopter circling above our caravan.  

At each of our destinations there were a few awkward moments of looking one another up and down; can we trust these people?  Do they trust us?  Are we safe?  What makes us so different?  Are they judging us?  Are we judging them?  Our ability to manage our own mind chatter and Qi disturbances was challenged daily, for sure.  

Our own angst and discomfort as a group was unearthed and aired clumsily, in our practice of “Council” between destinations.  Council is a process of interpersonal conflict resolution and effective communication that has its origins in Native American, Quaker and Buddhist traditions. Council employs active listening without interruption and speaking succinctly from the heart.  The benefits of practicing Council are personal and professional.

As healers who travel into areas of crisis and high tension, we are regularly and unavoidably impacted by the suffering we endeavor to alleviate.  AWB maintains that individual and interpersonal healing practices such as acupuncture treatments, Qi Gong, and Council are essential for maintaining proper boundaries and staying well in the field.  An essential part of AWB’s mission is to support healers in developing awareness and capacity to manage one’s own triggers and Qi disturbances.

Our team was led by an Israeli-Palestinian tour guide impressively well-versed in world history and religions.  Under his care, we were safely and skillfully guided through armed checkpoints, villages, markets, temples, holy lands, history books and propaganda. I was impressed by his ability to impart stories through a prism that could reflect as many perspectives as there are people on the planet, as well as his active refusal to give up the dream of a peaceful existence.  

We encountered many Israelis and Palestinians who are valiantly working together to transform conflict into cooperation.  We were told everywhere we went that PTS (post traumatic stress) is epidemic and part of the fabric of everyday life, having tenaciously infiltrated generations, families, communities and nations.  

Among the diverse cast of characters we met was a woman that was a main character in The Lemon Tree, the true story of a 35-year friendship between an Arab and an Israeli whose families shared the same home; an Israeli colleague who gives acupuncture treatments in a bomb a shelter along the Gaza strip, and told us of the bomb protocol – down to the number of seconds she has to prepare when the alarms are sounded; a Bedouin woman who gathers herbs in the desert, makes medicines and lotions by hand, employs and inspires the women in her village – and around the world; artisans of all stripes who imagine, create and bring to market the soulful fascinations of their hearts.  

We participated in a mobile clinic with Physicians for Human Rights in a Palestinian village with doctors and acupuncturists that regularly venture to “the other side” of the wall to provide care and friendship.  We visited the Temple Mount, the Wailing Wall, the site of Christ’s birth, and Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum).  We visited herbal farms employing Israelis and Palestinians, entrenched in property battles, and targeted by the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement. 

We had tea and cake on a rooftop in Jerusalem with two men who live in diabolically opposed worlds, divided by walls and generations of conflict.  They shared the stories of their personal tragedies perpetrated by “the other side,” each having lost a child in violent incidents.  They shared their story of friendship and reconciliation, and introduced us to Parent’s Circle, the peace organization which they now both represent.  

Without exception, our hosts and hostesses welcomed us with hospitality, traditional homemade dishes and tea, curiosity and lively conversation – if complicated at times by language barriers.  Time and again we experienced face-to-face meetings – human proximity – where body language, smiles, gestures, warm eyes, hand shakes, hugs, and simple offerings of hospitality are capable of dissolving fears and ideological barriers.

Since being on this journey, I’ve been contemplating walls and checkpoints; how we consciously and unconsciously - figuratively and literally - build walls.  Is it human nature, somehow, that we so skillfully and nonchalantly alienate ourselves from one another?  I suppose it’s not unlike the walls which we construct within ourselves to dissociate from our uncomfortable emotions; little bits of tension, crooked postural habits, aches and pains, full-on disease patterns.  Coping strategies.  When we dissociate from ourselves, we cause self harm, often unconsciously, by eating food until we’re numb, working until we collapse, drinking until we feel no pain, or using recreational drugs, sex, relationships - or whatever – to experience momentary relief; numbness.   There is alienation between body and mind; spirit and matter.  The community of cells, organs, tissues, fluids and vibrations within us becomes hampered in its capacity to regulate itself and inner pathology develops.  

In our outer world we place physical and ideological barriers between “us” and “them.”  Religion, ideologies, border walls, cultures, economic circumstances, sex, physical and lifestyle differences are some of the many things we use to judge and dissociate ourselves from other humans. We build walls around our hearts and around our properties.  We work in cubicles and use literal and proverbial walls to delineate who we are and what’s mine and what’s yours.  Perfectly human nuances and potentially empowering institutions can be swiftly, if insidiously, deployed as weapons that decimate our capacity for genuine human connection and, ironically, compassion.  

I noticed many times during our journey that when we left a room it was always with our hearts fuller than when we entered; smiles from the inside; eyes full of hope; yearning for more time together - deeper connection, more productive conversations.  I wondered if our hosts and hostesses felt the same way?

Could it be that in the heart of the world’s suffering lies the impetus for the greatest healing?  That this entire conflicted land could serve as a dynamic acupuncture point for the entire planet, sending a ripple of human healing potential into the cosmos? It feels as if we’ve visited the orchestra pit from which a band of worldly healer/musicians are sending their unique and sophisticated sounds and sensations of love, understanding and compassion into the world through education, cultivation, hospitality, artistry, healing modalities and other diverse means.  The invitation is for the world to be inspired and to join the orchestra, in whatever healing capacity each one of us instinctually and passionately embodies.

The potent beauty of what we bring as acupuncture practitioners – Qi doctors – I think, is the capacity to transcend words and stories; to gently touch and re-organize dis-ease into fluidity beneath the surface, at the level of cellular consciousness. We know well that when isolated cells start communicating and collaborating, miraculous transformations are possible.  We can see in and among our patients that when one cell lights up, the one next to it already feels brighter, more alive.  With a few intelligently placed needles, and the exhilarating experience of heartfelt connection between humans, we embark on a mission to ease and inspire internal worlds, outer auras and, through a ripple effect, entire communities.