Circle Dance, Sacred Dance

MANDY DEWINTER SAMHAIN WEEKEND WAS OCT 30/31

Over 30 dancers enjoyed a weekend with Mandy DeWinter; leaning some of her original dances to original music. The theme was Samhain, one of eight major festival days. Here are some background notes to the 8 Celtic Festivals.

In central and northern Europe, the natural year is measured by eight major festival days - the equinoxes and solstices of the sunıs year and the four cross-quarter days that come between them. They are observed by all followers of nature religions.

Of the eight festivals, four - the equinoxes and solstices - are movable - defined by the apparent movement of the sun. The equinoxes are at the centre of the movement and the solstices the endpoints of the sunıs motion. They represent the interaction between light and darkness and traditionally the qualities of these times have been associated with the male aspects of existence.

The remaining four festivals are recognised as more feminine in their quality. They are the earth-defined festivals, related to the cycle of plant growth and the changes of the seasons. These cross-quarter days are known as the fire festivals and were the most important festivals of the Druids, held on fixed dates in February, May, August and November.

The eight festivals are:

1) Winter Solstice - December 21st - Marks the beginning of a cycle. Here the light returns as the sun shifts and starts to move northwards again. It is at this time that we look within ourselves to find the new source of light regeneration.

2) Candlemas - February 2nd - The first of the Celtic fire festivals. The light of rebirth grows stronger. It is a time for retreat and rekindling of the inner fire, of purification from the dark forces of Winter.

3) Spring Equinox - March 20th - At this time the day and night forces are equal - plants spring forth from the earth as nature wakes and bursts forth.

4) Beltane - May 1st - The second fire festival. A celebration of fertility and the earthıs ripe abundance.

5) Summer Solstice - June 21st - The longest day of the year where the sun appears to stand still for four days. It is time to unleash the dark forces within us and to prepare for the waning of the sunıs power.

6) Lammas - August 1st - The third Celtic fire festival and one of the harvest festivals and the time of corn dances.

7) Autumn Equinox - September 21st - The time of equal day and equal nights. A time to gather the harvest and reap what has been sown in the Spring. The abundance of harvest is present as is our sense of preparation for the dark, cold winter and death of nature.

8) Samhain - October 31st - The fourth Celtic fire festival. The end of the year and the beginning of the new cycle. The time when the veil between the living and the dead is very thin.

STEFAN AND BETHAN WEEKEND COMING: FEB 12/13, 2005

Stefan and Bethan Freedman will once again join us for a Valentineıs Day weekend of Circle Dance on February 12/13, 2005. This will be their 7th visit in 8 years. If you enjoy dances such as Lubjiana, Lioube, Heart Like a Fire and By The Quiet Stream, them come join us in February and see what new "favorites" evolve. See the enclosed flyer for signup information. This event is always full, so sign up early.

DANCE CENTER MAKERS WANTED

Augusta and Marina have graciously been making dance centers for many years. Marina will be undergoing major surgery and will not be able to make her beautiful centers for the next 3-6 months. Would you like to create a center for us? It can be as simple or complex as you want. Candles; flowers; icons, etc. Howard will be keeping a master calendar of "volunteer center nights" so contact him.

POST ELECTION LETTER FROM MARINA

Marina Bear to Laura Shannon on Nov. 3, 2004 (Reprinted with permission)

(Laura had been doing campaign work in Florida for a few weeks.)

"I think many of us had not realized how far we as a country had fallen. We thought that we could rally around and lay our hand on the tiller again. It seems clear (from the congressional results) that we were far too innocent.

The saddest part is the level of fear that seems to have motivated people. The guys in charge have their own agendas and plans for self-preservation, but so many folks are persuaded that they should be afraid and that the current regime is the only safe alternative. "Joining the bullies" is just an aspect of that. Itıs that unfortunate assumption that the appropriate response to intimidation and threats is to be intimidated and threatened. Then you go find a club to swing.

Of course the truth is that decisions made out of fear are rarely the right ones in the long view. And they rarely accomplish the stated objective of answering the supposed threat. This morning I am feeling mainly great compassion for the many, many people who have grabbed onto an icicle to keep them from being swept away by the flood.

Is there an upside to this, the chronic optimist asks? Hereıs my offering: more than ever, this is a time when people need a strong inner practice of whatever kind. Whatever we can to do support each other in developing and maintaining one, is essential. This is not an escape route. Itıs a way to strengthen the only dependable resources we can count on when things go wrong.

Sacred dance seems to me one of the purest forms of support we can offer. The trust we create in the circle enables people to open to their own depths. The beauty of the music and the joy of moving together nourishes. The connections we weave sustain us on so many levels. More than ever, we need to join hands."

WAGE PEACE

Wage peace with your breath.
Breathe in firemen and rubble, breathe out whole buildings and
flocks of red wing blackbirds.
Breathe in terrorists and breathe out sleeping children and
freshly mown fields.
Breathe in confusion and breathe out maple trees.
Breathe in the fallen and breathe out lifelong friendships
intact.
Wage peace with your listening: hearing sirens, pray loud.
Remember your tools: flower seeds, clothes pins, clean rivers.
Make soup.
Play music, learn the word for thank you in three languages.
Learn to knit, and make a hat.
Think of chaos as dancing raspberries,
Imagine grief as the outbreath of beauty or the gesture of
fish.
Swim for the other side.
Wage peace.
Never has the world seemed so fresh and precious.
Have a cup of tea and rejoice.
Act as if armistice has already arrived.
Don't wait another minute.

LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION

May I be safe
May I be happy
May I be healthy
May I live with ease

May I be safe and protected from inner and outer harm
May I be happy and live with joy in the world
May i be healthy, strong, and vital to the extent possible
May I live with ease of well-being

May I be filled with loving kindness -every cell of my body.
May I be safe, protected from inner and outer danger
May I be well - in body, well in heart and mind
May I be peaceful and truly happy

May I be at peace
May my hart be open
May I know the light of my true nature
May I be healed and a source of healing to others

CIRCLE DANCING ON THE WEB

Thanks to Pam Schraedley Desmond, our Bay Area Circle Dance community has it's own website. Visit us at www.circledancing.com. On it you will find the current schedule; current newsletter and other important info. In fact, if you want to save a tree or two, we can email you each newsletter and forego the environmental and economic cost of mailing them out. Let Howard know if you wish to receive email newsletters only.

Also, there is a discussion forum, that anyone interested in circle dance info can join. Go to CircleDancing-subscribe@yahoogroups.com and signup. You can be part of a wider connection with other circle dance communities. Check it out.

WHAT IS CIRCLE DANCE?

Donıt we all get that question from time to time? Here is a beautiful and concise description "borrowed" from a web posting.

Circle Dance is:

simple dances - ancient to modern honoring many different cultures gentle, rhythmic, sometimes meditative, and always fun, and joyful Great World Music Great energy All dances are patiently taught and require no previous experience or ability.

What is your answer to the question? Please share it with us via this newsletter.

FAR HORIZONS 2005

Our next trip to Far Horizons is now scheduled for July 26-31, 2005. Note that this is about a month later than our traditional, end of June stay there. We have chosen to postpone by one month to allow Marina extra healing time ahead of this extra healing location. Plan on joining us next July. Details will be announced in the spring.

WINTER 2004-2005 CIRCLE DANCE SCHEDULE

December 3, Berkeley, 8-10 (Maureen)
December 10, Berkeley, 8-10, Special evening for Marina, her favorite dances (Marina & John)

On Dec. 14 and 21, Marina will have two complex spinal fusion operations. She will resume dancing and teaching as soon as she can, later in 2005. Regular updates on her condition at http://circledance.tripod.com/info or a recorded message at (510) 594-4089.

December 17, Berkeley, 8-10 (Howard)
December 24 (Xmas eve), El Cerrito, 8-10 (Howard & John)
December 31 (New Yearıs Eve party), El Cerrito, 8 to midnight (Maureen & John)

January-February-March 2004
1st Friday: Berkeley, 8-10, Howard
2nd Friday: Berkeley, 8-10, Maureen
3rd Friday: Berkeley, 8-10, John
4th Friday: El Cerrito, Potluck 7-8, Dance 8-10, Linnea

Special events in 2005:

• Stefan and Bethan, from England, in El Cerrito, Feb. 12 and 13
  
• Far Horizons Summer Circle Dance Camp, July 27-31
  
• Martine Winnington, from Switzerland, in El Cerrito Oct. 22-23 (the remaining 19 Bach Flower Remedy dances, and more)

• Berkeley: Finnish Brotherhood Hall, 1970 Chestnut St. at University. Chestnut is two long blocks east of San Pablo Avenue.
  
• El Cerrito: Hillside Church, 1422 Navellier St. betw. Potrero and Donal. Navellier is a north-south street, about 1/2 mile uphill from San Pablo Ave. From Interstate 80, take the El Cerrito Central exit. East on Central to the 3rd traffic light (San Pablo Ave.). North on San Pablo to the 2nd traffic light (Moeser Lane). East (uphill) on Moeser 1/2 mile. At tennis courts, turn left on Navellier, 7 blocks to 1422.
  
• Pacifica: 3rd Saturday evenings, Howard, (650) 359-0207
  
• Sebastopol: 2nd and 4th Thursday evenings, Feather (707) 544-8203
  
• Palo Alto: 1st Sunday evenings, Holly, (650) 559-5728
  
• Mendocino: Last Sunday afternoons, Devora, (707) 937-1077
  
• Santa Cruz: 1st Wednesday evenings, Joan, (831) 426-1517
  
• Modesto: 3rd Friday evenings, Patricia, (209) 238-9851
  
• Pollock Pines (Sierras), Steffani, (530) 644-0905