On one of the first Spring like days here in the Pacific Northwest, I teamed up with Candle Summers to offer an exquisite and heart warming event at Portland Insight Meditation Center (PIMC) where Candle has been teaching for many years.
Candle had mentioned she would like to collaborate with me and suggested we make an offering around the equinoxes. On March 18th, This is how our day unfolded. There were 25 chairs set up in a circle at PIMC and we went around to say our name and either how we’re feeling, or an intention. There were two Mother/Daughter sets, Kim from Olympia drove down, Noelle form Portland, both familiar with Tara, and a couple others with a little familiarity with Tara Dance, but for most people there, this was all new! Candle then led us into a 40 minute meditation, bringing in and honoring the upcoming Solstice and the beauty of the unfolding blossoms in the NW, the advent of Spring.
I then continued with explaining who Tara is, and a brief intro about how the dance came to be. I demonstrated one line of the dance, and then we all did it together, and then danced the whole song. We then went straight through without talking and danced: Motivation, Refuge & Bodhicitta, and The 21 Praises of Tara short practice.
The magic of everyone getting in sync, in spite of nervousness and not knowing the dance, worked once again! There was a palpable feeling of accomplishment on many smiling faces before we headed to our lunch, grateful to eat outside in the Sun! When we returned from lunch we again danced the playlist above to anchor it in our bodies. I loved the wonder on one person’s face as she remarked about how good it felt to dance our practice!
Our next big treat was being able to lie down on the carpeted floor with mats, pillows and blankets to be able to receive the amazing crystal bowl sound healing that Candle orchestrated. She is a skilled massage therapist that often uses the vibrational frequencies of the bowls while people receive a massage. Now we all felt that we were being ‘massaged’ at a subtle level, letting ourselves resonate with the vibrational healing of the crystal bowl. Afterwards some people shared their experience, and quite a few felt that ‘they had become the sound’.
For closing we danced the 4 Immeasurables dance, ‘May all Beings be happy….’ and again sat down to go around the circle to check in. So many open hearts, sharing of gratitude, and beaming faces filled the room. I found it to be a complementary and inclusive day of practice, utilizing all our senses to feel the embodiment of this precious life. Opening to the heart of compassion while sharing in community. Tara is dancing through us once again!
