“In the midst of our technical troubles, we must always remember that the most important technique in dance is the love of dance. If you are “in love” with moving, your technique improves and you are capable of expressing beautiful things”- Eric Franklin
A card and rune pull reflection of Monday / Moonday December 16, 2024
https://vimeo.com/1039788783/c86136dd21
Rhea’s story. Part 1.
Excerpted from a 2002 interview in Jareeda magazine, in which my mom free wrote responses in her beautiful cursive script to questions submitted to her in writing by Morgana/Meg Smith. I typed up Mom’s responses then, and share them again now because her story is unconventional, unique & inspirational.
Mom felt a primal connection with Greece when she first visited in 1976. The ancient city in particular felt electric, magnetic. True to her instincts - with the exploratory fire of Sagittarius (her sun) and the persistent and practical will of Capricorn (rising)- she lives still in chosen beloved city of Athens, a stone’s throw from the Acropolis.
“I wasn’t going to stay in Greece forever. I was going to stay there for five years until I turned 40, the age when everyone was ‘supposed’ to quit belly dancing. As far as I knew, the clubs in San Francisco didn’t hire dancers over that age. But the tourist tavernas in Plaka (Old City Athens) were different, and I didn’t look my age, so I just kept dancing, waiting for that inevitable time when the club owner would say “I’m sorry but you have to go.” That time didn’t ever come. I got used to the language a little bit, and so I decided to stay a bit longer. But I never made the decision to stay there for 25 (now 47) years. It wasn’t like I was getting married to Greece. It just happened. I tried to leave a few times. I went to Montreal, to be with Piper, and although it had a good club scene, I can’t stand the cold. I wanted to go someplace where people could dance for a living. I wanted to have someplace like Greece where it’s an open border. In Greece then it was sort of a free for all — there were no frontiers; no laws, really. If you just learned the rules - the unspoken, the unwritten rules - you could get along.”
#independent #woman #bellydancer #trailblazer #truetoherself, her way, her being and to #bellydance #rheaofgreece #adventure in #Greece #daughtersofthea #plaka
Energy Healer Donna Eden writes that “becoming civilized is, to a large extent, learning not to do what your body wants you to do.”
I prefer to be UNICIVILIZED!
Belly dance opens us to the desire & wisdom of our natural body. Follow its energy: it is a great guide to a beautiful life.
When you are feeling sluggish or want a fun creative challenge, grab the magic purple velvet drawstring bag, shuffle the deck, draw some choreo cards from Melina’s deck and get inspired to move!
Melina created this card deck in 2020 during lockdown to make space for movement & imaginative play. Sometimes it takes a game or a little challenge to draw you out into the dance floor - even if it’s just in your kitchen.
Just the idea of taking out the deck and pulling a card gets you off the couch and moving! Combining the cards inspires you to create pathways outside of your usual repertoire. You can even use them at parties to challenge folks who have never belly danced before to just make stuff up and have fun in a positive group setting.
Melina leads belly dance workshops and retreats with the cards and will be teaching from them this month in studio. More online offerings will be coming this summer.
There are so many ways to play with Melina’s choreo card deck.
The deck, which comes in a purple velvet drawstring bag on gorgeous glossy card stock - is available for purchase online through her studio website: Moody Street Circus
Melina commissioned the gorgeous original artwork for the back of the cards from artist Mariana Cabral. Find her on Instagram @marianacabralart and on YouTube at: Mariana Cabral Art
The breathing goddess - one of my favorite cards from the The Energetic Alchemist Oracle Card Deck by Yolanda Williams - relaxes & enjoys life. She appreciates the simple gifts that surround her. She represents our connection to - our embodiment of - Delicious, Wild Nature and the Cosmos. She has a wonderful and loving relationship with herself, adore-ning her hips and head in roses, Aphrodite’s shell, golden jewelry at the heart and wrists, and a cosmic wreath of 12 zodiac stars.
She invites us to savor the simple treasures that surround us, in harmony with our own nature.
She understands breath as a pathway to presence and peace.
As a belly dancer she shows the beauty of hara - her navel - sacred center of her being - the wombiverse from which we all spring.
She knows she is worthy of abundance and opens her hands to receive!
Tune into her energy to tap into your creativity
to cultivate strength
to be a magnet for unexpected gifts and pleasures.
Follow her lead: step out of your analytical mind and drop into a relaxed body at peace with the energies that flow through.
Take time for yourself to connect to your body and spirit through beautiful ritual. Journaling, journeying, dancing, oracle cards and more! Calm your nervous system and open your creativity channels through movement, play & sacred exploration. Allow Melina's mystical caravan experience to lighten your energetic load.
- ...make space for self-love, reflection & laughter..
- ...harmonize body-mind-spirit through enjoyment of belly dancing, percussion (drums, finger cymbals & tambourines), guided journeys, breath work, tarot & astrology, sacred writing, juggling scarves, dancing with veils...and more, depending on the month!
- ...tune into your inner knowing/intuition & soothe your inner overthinker/overdoer
- ...emerge with greater clarity on how to proceed in the month ahead
- ...unplug & gather in private, supportive community (no phones, no cameras)
- ...consider how the moon phases, the elements, beautiful oracle cards, numbers & astrological placements of the moment can be wise guides
- ... befriend & learn from the energies you are currently dancing in
