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| Etruscan Tomb |
In ancient times
dance was neither a form of artistic expression performed by a bunch of experts
nor a performance of athletic and technical prowess. It was used as a tool to
achieve a state of ecstasy where the dancer, letting go of its false perception
as a separated unit, would uncover his true nature and surrender to the
guidance of Spirit.
The whole point of
this way of dancing, as well as chanting or producing sounds, consists of
releasing the identification with the ego, the separated self, and thoroughly
experiencing a multidimensional enlargement of consciousness.
The techniques and
the conditions to achieve the above are irrelevant. What counts is to reach a
stage where we do not regard ourselves anymore as pieces of flesh within a
separated reality. Here we move beyond the fiction of our boundaries and bridge
into the essential vibration of ecstatic reality. Yet, as we engage with
blissful energies, the ordinary world still continues to proceed around us. We
remain aware of our environment and simply look at it as a witness, firmly
grounded in the connection with our multidimensional nature.
This dance is
available to anybody who sincerely wishes to transit from the hallucination of
separation to the perception of unity. Anyone who is capable of moving at least
one bone of his body is in the right condition to dance. It is an inner
operation, devoid of any purpose of public performance, aimed at revealing
experiences and visions beyond time and space.
“Make it a point
to simply dance to God. So there is no need to be technical - because He is not
an examiner. You will simply dance as a small child... as a prayer. Then dance
will have a totally different quality to it. You will feel for the first time
that you are taking steps that you have never taken before; that you are moving
in dimensions which have never been known to you. Unfamiliar and unknown ground
will be traversed”.[i]
Astroshamanic
Dance is a powerful cathartic practice that can be effectively used as a method
for shamanic journeys. This means that I can do all the traditional astroshamanic
routine practices (i.e. meeting the Guide, exploring the Sectors, connecting
with Totem Spirits, receiving Spirit Medicines, etc.) by using dance and movements,
instead of sitting or lying down.
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| Tomb of the Leopards, Tarquinia |
In the Eleusinian Mysteries
dancers representing the planets and stars danced around the candidate for
initiation. In the Mysteries of Mithras twelve initiates wearing zodiac masks
danced around the initiate. Similarly, in TheActs of John (97-102), the twelve disciples, representing the zodiac signs,
hold hands and dance around Jesus. Before he goes to die, Jesus gets together
his apostles in a circle, and, while holding one another’s hands as they circle
in a dance around him, he chants a hymn to the Father.
The patterns on the floor of
many ancient Christian churches were designed as astroshamanic circular
keyboard aimed at enhancing the practice of trance dancers. The Acts of John, together with many other
Christian and Gnostic texts, were banned as heretical. The same veto applied to
trance dance, which was since then considered insane, demonic, perverted and
malefic. As a result trance dancers were heavily persecuted and many of them
suffered horrible deaths. Yet trance dance is so grounded in the chemical and
energetic structure of mankind that, despite its suppression, it has continued
to survive and grow.
My initial relationships with
trance dance date back to the late 70s. At that time I was trying to come to
terms with the impact of two overwhelming experiences I had in 1976, one close
to Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh and the other on the western bank of Loch Ness.
On those two occasions, while I was observing the landscape I felt my body
expanding through the whole environment, with my awareness entering into all
the surrounding forms as if I were actually the land itself.
It was a shape-shifting dance
experience, yet I did not have any clue about what it meant. I was not under
the effect of any drug and everything happened spontaneously. It was a most
astonishing situation, yet what surprised me more was that, despite the
paranormal nature of the experience, I was not surprised at all. I could not
understand what was happening, yet it appeared very familiar, pleasant and
safe.
I also perceived an enormous
amount of power, which was in dramatic contrast with the way I used to live
then. This event later reawakened the awareness of a previous, even more
powerful, experience I had as a child.. As a result of these events I began to
do researches in the attempt of finding out more. In particular, since I continued
to have recurrent visions related to the astrological archetypes, I decided to
study astrology. While I was immersed in my astrological analytical work, I
would often experience non-ordinary states of consciousness with dramatic
effects on my body and emotions. I could not manage to limit astrology to an
intellectual or analytical level.
The planetary energies seemed
to seize me, affecting my perception and urging my body to act accordingly.
Since the movements I felt impelled to release were not compatible with my
social environment, I had to find ways to express them in situations were
nobody could see me. Hence, I decided to operate mainly at night or in dark
environments. This was not at all an easy time. Most of what I learned here
came as a result of extreme moments of despair, pain, alienation and fear.
In the early 80s, after a
vision quest and following my association with AFS Bogus, I received guidance
on how to face the above issues. This led to the gradual elaboration of a
system integrating astrology, shamanism and dance, which I later defined as
astroshamanism. From 1988 I expanded this approach through the connection with
the Indian master Osho.
Running the Osho Meditation
Centre in Bologna (Italy) and the Osho Press Service (Osho’s Italian press
office), allowed me to regularly experience the effects of trance dance. Major
inspirations came from my training at the Osho Multiversity in Poona (India),
the contributions of Urai, the Sufi tradition, and above all through visionary
researches with the Mediterranean mystery traditions and their dances, such as
the tarantella.
This led to the definite
emergence of astroshamanic trance dance. When I came to Findhorn in 1999 I
incorporated astroshamanic trance dance in my early workshops. Since then
astroshamanic trance dances have been a regular feature at the Findhorn Foundation with events being held almost every week with the support of a
trained core group of trance dance assistants. I am most grateful for all that
has been achieved in this community, which after 13 years I still regard as the
place on Earth closest to home.
Training and courses are also
featured in the programmes of Terra di Luce, our astroshamanic healing centre
in Corvaro (Rieti, Italy) and have been held so far in Denmark, England, Finland,
Germany, Greece, Holland, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa and Spain.
The next workshops and training on astroshamanic trance dance is:
14-16 March 2014
16-22 March 2014
ENGLAND, Greater Manchester, Bury
Astroshamanic Trance Dance Intensive: A Healing Journey into the Inner Universe
Astroshamanic workshop with Franco Santoro.
Click here for details.
14-16 March 2014
16-22 March 2014
ENGLAND, Greater Manchester, Bury
Astroshamanic Trance Dance Intensive: A Healing Journey into the Inner Universe
Astroshamanic workshop with Franco Santoro.
Click here for details.
For further information on Astroshamanic Trance Dance, please click here.
Click here for our calendar of holistic and astroshamanic events.
For a selection of books on trance dance please click here.
For a large selection of music for trance dance, please click here.
If
this is feasible for you, please support our blog with a donation.
Every donation of any amount is most welcomed. Also very small
contributions are most appreciated
[i] Osho, The
Orange Book:
the Meditation Techniques of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, Rajneesh Foundation, 1983, p. 8. This book,
which contains a wide range of meditation techniques and precious insights, is
out of print and is currently replaced by Osho, Meditation:
The First and Last Freedom, St.
Martin’s Press, New York, 1996.
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