The Moon is Almost New Again! Day 29

Day what? I've lost track…

I am happy to report that Gwyddion is doing much better now. He's able to eat and keep his food down and in, he has more energy, and he's starting to get that wild look back in his eye. I'm very happy with this! It took us over two weeks, but I think we found the right medicine for my wonderful little four-legged boy.

As you can see from my posting history, I've missed many of the last days that I had intended to write this blog. This was largely because of the serious illness Gwyddie was experiencing. However just because I didn't write, doesn't mean I didn't dance. I did manage to get some practice-time in as well as Pilates and yoga. I also taught classes, and attended a sacred dance concert.

I've increased my intake of vegetables and fruits quite a lot over the last few days. Here's to getting my colors! I've been missing my long walks in the woods that Gwyddion and I were taking for many weeks; we haven't been able to do this as he has not been well enough. I'll be getting a membership at Planet Fitness so that I can still keep up on my cardio fitness.

I said above that this is day 29. The new Moon is this weekend; its been my plan to write from new Moon to new Moon and see where that takes me. I am very glad that I've done this blog! It is helped me examine my habits.

It is my plan to go ahead with this blog for another Moon cycle. I have some more new positive habits I'd like to form. I do write other blogs however, and I find that on days that I write elsewhere is too exhausting to write here as well. So it is my intention to write three times a week or so only.

I hope that you will continue to take this journey with me!

Aepril

Day 20 and 21. Wait...what!? and the Black Madonna

Has it been 21 days ALREADY? That can't be right? But it IS! Wow!


I am so grateful for the readership that you have indulged me with. Thank you to everyone who reads!


So it takes 21 days to create a habit, "they" say. Hmm....I am not satisfied with what I have done. I need to go deeper, be even more disciplined. 


I decided to do this blog diary for 28 days. And so it shall be. and I think that we might go beyond that as well. Are you with me?


Day 20:
2 hr choreo
1 hr class. 
No pilates :(


Gwyddie's sickness has really thrown me off. It is taking a lot of time and attention, and worry energy. He's still not better yet. Please send him healing energy if you can. 


Day 21:

Today I go to the Voyage of The Black Madonna with Alessandra Belloni: A musical journey to the ancient sacred sites of the Great Mother Goddess concert at Dancing Gypsy in Spencer, MA. Dance, music, chant, singing, etc. I am very excited to go to this, as the Black Madonna is very important to me. She is the one who takes the dispossessed into Her arms. She is the aspect of the Dark Goddess that gives comfort. And She is from the Catholic faith, the faith of of family, Yup, I'm a Catho-witch! :) My friend Dina LeDuke hosts at her studio.

Tomorrow: private lesson


(I'm not sure what happened to the text background color! But there it is. Glowing. :)

Days 16, 17, 18, 19

Day 16:
Sunday in Easthampton
I took the 2.5 hour ride out to Easthampton, MA, to work with the amazing people at Blue Guitar Studio. Chaya Leia of Venus Rising Bellydance was a most gracious and considerate hostess, and I enjoyed myself immensely!

I taught my Shamanic Bellydance Intensive, which is always a deeply profound experience for me. Each time I teach shamanic work the experiences are different, each person having a unique and personal experience with the journeys, power animals, guardians, and archetypes. Its an exhausting and exhilarating 5 hours for me.

Chaya was so amazingly kind to treat me to a wonderful Indian dinner, at which time I stuffed myself. Mmmmm...I do love Paneer Aloo, and get it almost every time I go out for Indian. I love spinach! That and coconut soup. Though Chaya also most graciously invited me to stay the night, I chose to drive back home. I was worried about my little Gwyddion, and his fragile health. (See my earlier blogs or my Facebook page for more about his health issues.)

Day 17:
I was wiped out on Monday, but there is no rest for the wicked, as they say. And I guess I must be fairly wicked, because my life is non-stop right now. Gwyddie has been sick, so i spent the day helping him.

Day 18:
Big day running around to the vet and back. Oy!

Day 19:
Today was spent primarily on the Dark Goddess Masque. 
Many walks with Gwyddie. He seems better.
Working on choreo for class. 60mins.

:)

Day 15: Healing

Today is a day of healing.

I picked Gwyddion up at the animal hospital this early afternoon. He is better, but has some healing to do. So I took him home, walked him a few times to make sure he was comfortable, and we both had a healing nap.

My SI joint is acting up, probably due to stress about Gwyddie, among other things. My butt is on ice again.

I am getting the last of my preparations together for my workshop tomorrow in Western MA. (I was sad not to be able to attend the show on Fri, but family must come first.) This Shamanic Bellydance Intensive is also not only for dance, but it is a medicine workshop, a time to learn healing and spiritual journeying through art. It's something that I enjoy teaching immensely, as I get to see the transformations that we can go through with dance as a shamanic form. I am also transformed each time I teach it, and I am glad for this opportunity tomorrow.

I will miss Gwyddie tomorrow, but Mike will be home with him all day. Then I'm back home on Sunday night.

Article by Aepril (me!), originally published in Belly Dance New England: "Shamanic Bellydance".

I ate fairly well, making up for yesterday's stress induced Denny's excursion. :)

Breakfast:
-Granola cereal with soy milk
-coffee

Lunch:
Hummus, calamata olives, cucumbers, organic spring mix with apple cider vinegar and olive oil, whole rye bread. Sparkling water with a bit of cranberry juice.

Day 13-14 Up! Up! Up! Posture!

Day 13: Two hours of choreo and rehearsal.
Two hours of teaching classes.

20 Pilates/yoga

Day 14:
Drive out to Easthampton to perform at Dancing into the Light.
Workshop Sunday: Shamanic Bellydance Intensive

Beltaine celebration on Sat!

Posture:
Posture is a full time job. It requires discipline and consciousness. I realize that bad posture is an escpse from being fully present,. It's also a way to shut down my chakra system, to avoid feeling.

Life goes by fast. Proper spine alignment will keep me in the now.

I hereby dedicate today's intention to both following breath and aligned posture.


Addition after original post: My dog Gwyddie had a serious medical crisis today, so I was forced to stay in Salem and not go out to perform. However, if all goes well, I will be in Easthampton, MA teaching on Sunday. Posture and breathing has been a serious challenge today due to stress, and I went to Denny's and gorged myself on iced coffee, a veggie burger, veggies, and mozzeralla sticks. Some of Mike's pancakes for dessert.

Day 11 &12 Live by the sword...

Day 11

Coffee, yogurt

Big salad: mixed greens, cauliflower, carrots, Balsamic dressing

Iced coffee

Goat cheese and smoked salmon on water crackers

Smoked organic turkey and avocado and greens on a roll.

Fell apart after dinner:
Blue corn chips--but hey, they're oraganic.
Glass of red wine.

Did not keep track of water, but I know I did not drink enough.

Day 12

I am thinking a lot about not only my physical health in regards to dance, but of my emotional health. I have been dealing with a situation that I have regarded as less than respectful towards me, and one that is unfortunately all too common in the dance world. As I've been responding to said situation, I realize (again) that too much of my energy goes into this kind of thing.

I have realized through experience that it is better to clearly and authentically state my concerns to other dancers rather than allow things to fester. If I have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that something is not right, I now say so. I state boundaries. I know that sometimes this can create drama, as many would rather play political games, but I do not have time for this. Passive aggression is too toxic.

Something that ALisa Starkweather said recently has been echoing in my mind. Something that I have heard before, and will probably need to hear again. That (and I paraphrase) we can choose how offended to become. 

Yes.

People are often awkward, thoughtless, and self-centered, or sometimes even deliberately disrespectful. We all are at times.

My thoughts are that, when confronted with this, I can say what I mean. I can say what boundary has been crossed.

Then I can let it go.

The question isn't whether or not to continue to struggle, or react, etc. The right questions are: what do I want to focus on? What aspects of my art do I feel called by the divine to focus on, to put energy into? what does my soul desire?

We all have ego. and this is as it should be. Ego is what gets us up in the morning, it is what drives us to strive, to get better, to put ourselves out there, continue to grow and achieve. It's the Warrior self, and she deserves respect and voice. She is in service to the Soul.

I said my piece. And I'm glad I did. Now onto the bigger and the better.

I chose a tarot card from my Goddess deck:
6 of Pentacles

Generosity
This card shows 3 women. One is richly dressed, the 2 others are both beggars. The middle woman has a lot, and giving adds to her prosperity.

Indeed!

-----------------------------------

This morning:
Oraganic honey granola cereal with almond milk.
coffee.

Pilates: 30 mins
Dance parctice and choreo: 60 mins