What the events of that tumultuous Thursday reminded me of was that the play I engage in, every Friday and Tuesday night as well as every Sunday morning, is not just for trivial pursuit. It is work, as well as play. It is honing instinct and refining basic survival skills. It is remembering to breathe - in this moment, now - so that I am as fully attuned as to what may happen in the next instant as I possibly can be.
It is about practicing feeling, and sensing - going with my own potent flow yet, ever ready just in case someone pulls in front of me and proceeds to endanger his or her own life. It is about intuiting the moment so that I do not find myself caught up in harm's way, unable to make the quick decisions I need to make in order to, quite possibly, save my own life. Yes, it is about survival.
Granted, I am simply referring to Darwinian thought. As his theory tells it, we are all here to ensure that our species survives. Therefore, we come with an innate ability to both protect ourselves as well as find a means to continue existing. Yes, and we live in a culture and a society where, I would argue, these basic, biological skills are being bred out of us. For decades now, our parents, their parents, and even us, have been buying into the idea that it is through the consumption of things outside of ourselves - cars, weapons, education, pharmaceuticals, "God," et al - that we will be "saved."
We have been led to believe that the voices of others - doctors, teachers, politicians, pastors, etc - are far more knowledgeable about us than we ourselves are. And this, my friends, is how capitalism flourishes. For, if we truly honored the fact that we each harbor the deep, embodied intelligence of how to nourish and thrive now then we wouldn't need to keep consuming more. More pain relievers, "safer" vehicles (is there such a thing?), more yoga classes, a bigger home, more borders, fences, and gates, more space and distance, more between you and me and more between us and this Earth.
More separation between.
This is what our civilization sells us, on a moment-by-moment basis. The false notion that we are each separate and distinct and that the only way to maintain this divide is by purchasing the same clothing (Ed Hardy, anyone?), the same media (Where's your iPhone?) and the exact same identity - a 21st century global consumer - as your friends, neighbors and fellow citizens. We are buying ourselves into a disembodied grave.
So, I decided to teach, "Listening and Responding," in class this past Tuesday night. After all, in some moments, it will not matter how deep your extension is, how graceful your turn, how gorgeous your body or how smooth you execute your routine. All that will matter is that you were listening, and that you responded quickly. The intelligence of your response will dictate what comes next - be that, imminent death; drawn out torture; a painful existence; a nasty bump; a deep bruise; soulful living; or ecstatic celebration. The choice is up to you.
Listen, my friends ~
What does the heart of your bodymindspirit say?
Come, practice this sacred art ~ of listening and responding.
Refine your skills and hone your instincts.
Remember what it is that makes you human, and rejoice!
For, time is now of the essence.
(As I assume that you, too, have been feeling the Earth shaking under your feet?
The shift is here.
Be prepared.)
