contra dancing

i don't have any pictures from the most recent contra dance i attended in tucson, but here are some from the one i attended with my friend raty in petaluma, back when i was at green string farm.



thanks raty!






contra dancing is a wonderful form of exercise that fosters strong community. in my experience it has also been a beneficial spiritual exercise. to the degree that one is able to open up, make eye contact, and go with the flow, a wonderful grace and joy pervades the dances. we are then communing with god (to me this is awareness of love) as we connect ecstatically with those around us on multiple levels at once. this manifests outwardly in different ways with different people. some smile like crazy and get silly, some seem to just glow calmly.
there is struggle in many people too, some of it just around getting to know the dance form, depending on the level of self confidence a person has. but as those more experienced members of the community help the ones who need it, the graceful feeling is cultivated in time. the energy or those most 'in tune' with the jubilant spirit gets passed on from person to person as the dance progresses. partners dancing together, with their neighbors, and progressing up and down the lines get many chances to exchange kindness and share their joy, if they choose that. some may remain shy or stiff for a very long time, but i think there is still some progress towards opening up the vault of the spirit in every person who engages in this magical dance.

i met several older women at this dance in petaluma who gave me their blessings for my journey. this is extremely valuable to me.
that younger guy with the pony tail said to me during a dance (it could have been as that picture was taken!), 'you have farmer hands!' in a very reverent way that invited me to feel proud of my work on the farm. so nice to be acknowledged in this way.