My Creative Process alway begins with energetic envisioning in a meditative state. I apply this process to my entire life - lesson planning, events, whatever might be coming. I tap into a sense of spaciousness and feel into what would best be of big picture service. In this way, energy flows more easily and freely, creating room for everyone and everything to unfold in everyone's highest and best good. I also draw on my analytical mind, but underneath everything there is a field of larger creative consciousness that holds space for surprise and spontaneity.
I especially love to plan dance class with this open mindset, seeing what is asking to lead. In dance class last night we were guided by aspects of the number 8 in many dimensions.
Figure eights are already a big part of the belly dance repertoire, and the numerology of class day - 4-22-2025 - added up to 8 - so that was already my jumping off point for considering how to incorporate eight into class in a fresh way. 8 is also the number of the strength card in the Major Arcana of Tarot, which we can see is a courageous, golden-light-filled and compassionate energy to dwell in.
It all started in a meditation that morning, with the image of Isis on her throne.
This led to a vision of my skeletal system as throne for our regal but relaxed posture of authority, our beloved bodies a home in which to lengthen spine and breath deeply and easily. Starting by feeling into our skeleton in this way is a beautiful way to begin a movement practice of any kind. And so we did: we brought awareness to our posture and felt into our internal bone thrones. We brought our energies in from the outside world to the sacred studio and the dance at hand, breathing in the energy of 8, imagining it weaving through our system. Structure and Shakti cocreating within our bodies a greater sense of peace and aliveness.
Back to the morning of class..
At the breakfast table, I suddenly remember the used book about bones I had just bought for a dollar at my body worker's office. A healer in her practice is moving back to New Zealand and leaving behind his very eclectic library of books. I got up right away to find the book.
Leafing through Bones, your 100 questions answered while eating my chia seed infused oatmeal, some facts jumped out immediately:
There are roughly 206 bones in the human skeleton
--that vibed with my numerological theme for the night of class, as 2+6=8 --
There are 26 bones in the spine....
8 again!
And 8 that make up the cranium.
By this time, I was receiving validation for the theme of our compassion and the snakey, healing energy of 8 right left and center.
Then I looked at the clock. 8:11. STOPPIT! Too much fun. 8 is 8, 11 is a portal...
And let's not forget about the Rune I pulled out before a meeting later - Dagaz! Its as close to looking like an 8 on its side in Rune land as you can get.
"The Dagaz rune, meaning "day" or "dawn," signifies new beginnings, enlightenment, and a shift in perspective. It represents the culmination of a cycle, often a breakthrough or transformation in personal growth. Dagaz can also symbolize hope, awareness, and the awakening of one's true self."
A beautiful energy to weave into class as well.
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Here are some of the songs that all this skeleton talk brought up. One is a song one a student mentioned in class that her adorable son likes to sing, and the other is one my dad really likes. I hope they both bring you a smile.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=og4dCZneWMo
https://open.spotify.com/track/4XoVZDCiZAdCKJdtTc0rqn?si=6Y4QVOe5TCWN966bCg48Jw)
While we're at it, here is the Spotify playlist I named "All the 8s to Feel Great" that contains the music I played in class last night:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0XxvcgFMP4ADf9kcwQp7Cg?si=vKcmMKCHRlSDxLD2p1OebQ
We explored many dance combinations that involved tracing the energy of 8 both slowly in place, and more rhythmically, including claps and traveling steps. We put lemnikates into various body parts to see how they might move us. The infinity symbol, also called the lemniscate, is an 8 on its side, and represents everlasting, ever-renewing energy. It promotes harmony between our analytical and intuitive minds, especially when danced with the imagination.
Finally, I guided class through the Magician mantra dance I created a few years ago, when I was overtaken with a desire to create various dances and movement mantras for many of the energies of Tarot. Here is the poem:
Thanks for joining in on my intuitively led dance class planning and musings filled with Tarot wisdom and infused with Reiki. It is my way of creating and holding space for beauty, magic and wonder. The cultivation of our precious energy and the empowerment of our spirits is crucial as we dance through these unusual times.
More on my practices around energy work here:
✨Melinda Melina Pavlata ✨
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CoFounder | Director
Moody Street Circus | Speakeasy Reiki | Melina’s Caravan
Seminars | Ceremony | Entertainment | Energy Work
www.moodystreetcircus.com
✨ feel the love & shimmy ✨
