Women Who Thrive, Change The World!

Posts tagged ‘Martha Graham’

Keep The Channel Open

 

Miki Orihara in Martha Graham’s Embattled Garden

Miki Orihara in Martha Graham’s Embattled Garden

 

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and it will be lost. The world will not have it. It is not your business to determine how good it is nor how valuable nor how it compares with other expressions. It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open. You do not even have to believe in yourself or your work. You have to keep yourself open and aware to the urges that motivate you. Keep the channel open.”
Martha Graham

My hand lifts to receive the pressure and direction of another’s hand. Waiting, perhaps only micro seconds, until the sensation in my body informs me of what movement is next, what action will unfold me towards the next stage of this journey.

There is no thinking here, simply deep listening and following the rhythm of the music, my partners energy, and sensations direction – unfolding effortlessly in tune with the operation of life now.

Is there language here? Yes. The conversations of my body. Absolutely trusting this language of biology to lead me into the next action, the next subtle or active movement.

A sensation triggers a thought which translates into motion all in a fraction of time so fast that it seems like nothing and eternity all rolled into one. Timeless.

Freedom through surrender to the flow of life. Our lives. Our expression.

This experience is one I have often on the ecstatic dance/contact improv dance floor. More often it is an experience I am having in everyday life – in relationships, livelihood/calling, collaborations, finances…..all the domains of life.

Certainly there are many places where blockage/resistance appears, yet the declaration to stay embodied, and operate from that space, supports return to a fluid passage through even the rough spots.

Having just finished a very powerful journey through the landscapes of nature in Tree Sister’s sponsored 6-week teleclass with Mary Reynolds Thompson, author of Reclaiming Your Wild Soul, I have been reminded of how precious and unique each woman’s uncensored expression is to the world…and to herself.

Unique as there is no other like it.

Precious because the world requires the gifts we have been uniquely structured to bring this lifetime.

And if we withhold, this wild untamed expression that can only be channeled through each one of us….will indeed be lost forever.

I for one have often held back and hid behind cultures background conversations that women were not supposed to show up in their “naked” expression. To even be “ashamed” of it….or worse lose their life for it.

Perhaps there were ancient lifetimes that laid down cellular memory with the innate danger of speaking out, moving to the rhythm of creative expression, or even standing tall or taking action on what is most important to us.

But now, now we are called to be midwives to the shift and transformation that is shaking this Earth we call home. Midwives to saying yes to opening the doors, windows – bodies and voices of our heart and soul.

11828629_10207381262549008_131282233859083123_nA time to crack open the cages we have placed ourselves in. To remove the bars to our self-imposed prisons. To collaborate, connect with and support other women in doing the same.

What we do with this most precious of expressions is up to us. How we shall bring it, or not, is a choice that each of us must sit with before taking action.

In that moment of reckoning when the soft dark cave of invisibility draws you ever deeper – listen to the sensations that are embodied in that moment and follow the energy that is calling you forth.

Leading with fear of dismemberment…..or choosing nourishment

for the soul’s calling?

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Gaye Abbott, RYT

11080963_10206233173206189_1308455759010973589_n

NATURAL PASSAGES CONSULTING

SERVICES OFFERED:

Coaching and Editing for Transformative and Visionary Writers

I help you reveal new possibilities in your creative work

Language is fundamental to who we are as biological beings and is the primary vehicle for taking action that produces effective results.   It inherently carries within it our identity in the world and the potential for connection and collaboration.

As an advanced practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu I am able to see and work with the connection between the body’s energy system and that of language. Conversations actually live in our bodies. Words hold energy that stimulate our biology in various ways.

Transformative writing opens spaces, triggers possibility and stimulates your reader to take effective action.

This is Language as Energy Medicine.

Read More Here

**********

Jin Shin Jyutsu

Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient Art rather than a technique.  An Art is a skilled, limitless creation whereas a technique is a mechanical application.

A session of Jin Shin can potentially harmonize, redirect, unblock and recharge the energy flows along the pathways of the body. Read More Here

**********

Yoga Therapy

Yoga therapy intimately works from the inside out to assist you in discovering areas in body, mind, emotions, spirit that may be contracting the essence  of your full potential in life.

A simple peeling away of layers to bring to light and life the beautiful structure of your unique being. Read More Here

__________________________________

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:
www.BreathingSpaces.net

Breath-Book-coverW2(1)Give Us This Day Our Daily Breath Preview, Reviews and purchase links can be found here:

http://gayeabbott.com/books/

Advertisement

Soul Musings/Day 22: The Hidden Language

martha-graham

Dance is the hidden language of the Soul.” Martha Graham

As I ease into day 22 of Soul Musings the New Moon energy washes over me with new beginnings as it nears 10pm in the dark of night.

I have chosen the quote above from Martha Graham for I have often felt that moving the body in dance most certainly has to be an expression of the Soul.

A language that only you can create moment to moment by deeply listening. Words of motion without resistance.

Simply breathing into each moment and witnessing what the body creates – alone or with others.

You may not embody the energy of “dancer” however I am curious as to what would happen if we meant one day in the park and I started moving to my own inner rhythm.

Would you join me, walk away, or interpret your language into movement?

Allow me to learn your language as your being freely unfolds ….

_______________________________________________________________________

NATURAL PASSAGES CONSULTINGphoto58

Inspiring New Possibilities, Living From the Soul of Life While Co-creating Well Being of Body, Being, Heart and Planet….One Breath At A Time

Soul Musings is a 31-day practice for the month of December immersed in deep listening to what is emerging and unfolding day by day.  Eight sentences with occasional resources to explore more deeply.

Each post, invited by Soul, allows the words to emerge unscathed from prior planning, editing, or censorship.  Dwelling in uncertainty and dipping a toe into mystery this union of words is an attempt to resonate within an innate way of Being…. returning “home”.

To receive daily posts simply sign up for this blog and you will be notified through e-mail.  In addition there will be daily posts on the blogs below.  Thank you for being part of this practice with me!

Gaye Abbotthttp://www.GayeAbbott.com

OTHER BLOGS:

BreathingSpaces

NaturalWealthJournal

Breath-Book-coverW2(3)Give Us This Day Our Daily Breath Preview, Reviews and purchase links can be found here:

http://gayeabbott.com/books/

The “Crazy” Ones

Martha Graham

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”Steve Jobs

On the verge of becoming one of the “crazy ones” is a very ripe place to be.  “Crazy” is being defined here as one who steps way out of any self or culturally imposed boxes and makes the decision to take action on behalf of the heart informed inner voice.  That voice of courage, passion and strength that has never know conformity.

Amelia Earhart

What makes us decide that we can no longer hide out in complacency or fear of being all that we are?  Confidence and determination are certainly a part of it.  Yet I believe that it is deeper than that.  There is a place inside of each of us that has known since the day we were born the purpose we came here to serve.

This may be a quiet purpose out of the public eye, or it could be a completely visible one where there is no hiding at all.  Whatever it is, knowing your purpose with clarity is the starting block on this journey of coming out.

As women this knowing can be delayed a bit.  Sometimes we wait in quiet expectation until

Indira Gandhi

our 50”s, 60’s or even 70’s before we take the time to listen to the heart and intuition driven inner voice that Steve Jobs speaks of above.  It is never too late to become what is your hearts desire!

Take me for example.  I turned 63 this year and I laughingly said to a friend of mine recently “I keep calling myself midlife.  Am I really deluded?  If I am at midlife now then I will be living vibrantly until age 126!!  Now that is possible I suspect, but a more likely explanation is that I find life so irresistible right now that every day is like an art piece to be explored.

Jean Houston

My friend wants to redefine midlife to include the years when we are vibrantly choosing to make a difference and passionately following that inner guidance with heart directed action.  I agree with her.  Midlife is whatever we define it no matter what age we are.

Are you playing it safe?  Or have you decided to be one of the ‘Crazy Ones”?

Those crazy ones – make a difference.  Narrated by Steve Jobs

…and then there is Alice Walker

So in the end you can’t even really regret your misfortunes,” explains the beloved author Alice Walker, “because they led you somewhere.”

OTHER BLOGS BY GAYE ABBOTT:
www.BreathingSpaces.net
www.NaturalWealthJournal.com
WEBSITE:
www.IgniteWealthNow.com

Tag Cloud