Swaying to the music

 

Dear Friends,

Since my last blog was focused on healing, I feel I would be remiss in not bringing this website to your attention.

Some of you may already be familiar with eurythmy, Robert Powell, and the Sophia School of Movement. A friend gave me the link some months ago, in which you can access podcasts by Robert Powell (go to www.sophiaschoolofmovement.org).

In podcast series #4, he provides a video of an exercise in eurythmy called, the Staff of Mercury. I will not go into it here, but it is a wonderful exercise in movement – a gentle dipping and swaying from one side, to the other, and up. Even if you are challenged in your lower limbs, it would still be possible to do this exercise sitting in a chair, using your arms. He goes into quite a bit of explanation regarding this exercise and then proceeds, using first of all, words (from the Bible, some in Aramaic), then music. It is very gentle and graceful, potentially a source of healing and strength in these difficult times.

The gentle dipping and swaying from side to side reminds me also of Hawaiian dancing, which I studied for awhile as a teenager. It too, is graceful, with the movement of the body telling a story, usually accompanied by words, or chanting. The greatest dancer I ever saw, was an older woman, a teacher of hula, who had recently recovered from major surgery. This beautiful woman, with hair almost down to her knees, had to be very careful in how she moved her body. Nevertheless, the movement of her arms and hands told a beautiful story. We were all spellbound. In both hula and eurythmy, the goal is communication, of bringing something unseen into the sense world. Devotees consider each of these to be, in a way, a calling, or a way of life.

There is nothing more beautiful to me than watching tall trees gently swaying back and forth in a strong wind, their branches moving like arms (oh right, they are called limbs!) of a dancer. First side to side, then still and upright. Perhaps Robert Powell had this picture in mind when imagining this exercise.

In these times when we may find our movements curtailed outside the home, it is important to remember that we can still find ways to connect with that which is unseen and sacred. I find this exercise to be not only good for the body, but for the mind, as well.

Happy moving!

Sparky