Hello Beautiful Ones,
I hope you are well. As we are now approaching the busy-ness of the holiday season, we are also entering the deep richness of winter - a perfect time for contemplation, reflection and fire-building for the soul. With this turning of the wheel comes Winter Solstice on December 21, marking the time when the sun is reborn, heralding hope and renewal of a new year around the bend. I hope that you will find balance and nourishment in this interesting time of connections, reflections and dreaming of new possibilities.
As I look back over the year, I have so much to be grateful for; a wonderful partner, child & family, friends and community. Thank you to all who have crossed my dancing path, both in and out of the studio. Special thanks to the 8 Muses and the women who participated in making 'Sundays with the Muse' a great success, and to each woman who graced a DOWH session, workshop or series. Look out for a NEW Sundays with the Muse Series in April and May, 2010!
In the DOWH Nourishment Series this fall we have been exploring different aspects of 'nourishment'. One potent session entitled 'Sacred Sensuality', reminded us of our capacity for enjoying pleasure when we open and engage ALL of our senses, both physically and energetically, before, during and after our dance. I offered an old blessing (below), as part of this journey and I would like to share this inspiration with you.
I wish you a happy holiday season and a blissful New Year. I look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming events. In peace, Erica and the DOWH community.
Old Blessing:
May you realize that your body is a faithful
and beautiful friend of your soul.
May you recognize that your senses are sacred thresholds.
May you realize that Holiness is mindful gazing,
mindful feeling, mindful listening, and mindful touching.
May your senses always enable you to celebrate the universe
and the mystery and possibilities in your presence here.
May Aphrodite bless you. (originally was Eros)
May your senses gather you and bring you home.
Saturday, December 19, '09 2-4pm
Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd., 3rd floor, Toronto $13 (kids under 12 free)With less direction than a DOWH workshop or series; there will be an opening circle followed by a long, visceral musical set (soul, global funk, sacred chants, ambient, electronica, women's voices and more) designed to liberate your inner dancer. We'll end in a simple closing circle.
No experience needed, only a willingness to move, and be moved.
Come with friends. Drop-in whenever. No registration needed.*Message to parents and caregivers- This is a 'no-talking' dance (for the purpose of being IN the dance). You are responsible for ensuring the safety (dancing not 'running around') and quietude (modeling whispers, etc) of your kids at all times. Thank YOU!
I will be taking a 2 month sabbatical from my life in Toronto in a solo journey to South India (Kerala and Goa), January 2 - March 2, 2010. It has long been my dream to return to India, a place which touched my life profoundly when I was just 19 years old. And now, 36 years later, after raising a vibrant 18 year old daughter and a delicious dance practice, I am ready for a new adventure to nourish and rediscover myself. I will also be offering a workshop in Goa, allowing me to seed my dream to begin facilitating dance events internationally!
While I am away, my dear friends and allies Nan Keyser (the co-creatrix of DOWH) and Caro Cloutier will be keepers of the Dance Our Way Home fire! Nan will be facilitating at Sheena's Place, and Caro will be offering “Dreaming In the Dark”, a beautiful 6-week DOWH series, plus a FREE intro, at the Dovercourt House. I am grateful for their friendship, devotion and support for this practice and it's beautiful communities.
I look forward to coming back from India with fresh ideas and possibilities (including the outline of my new book), to be MORE of who I am and what I have to offer and share.
Amongst other things, look out for a new and improved newsletter on my return!
(In the meantime- come join me for the final 2 Wednesday evening 'Nourishment' drop-ins.)
Saturday, January 16, 2-4pm
Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd., 3rd floor, Toronto FREE, Drop-In
Have you ever been interested in exploring dreaming?
Taste the magic of the Dreaming in the Dark, before committing to the Series.
In this FREE intro session, Caro will show you how 'dreaming' can directly impact the shaping of your becoming, and your life. Continue the journey by joining us in the full Series.Whether you are a beginner, or have previous experience, you are welcome! Bring a mat and water bottle.
Saturday, January 23- February 27, 2-4pm
Dovercourt House, 805 Dovercourt Rd., 3rd floor, Toronto $135/$25 per drop-in
Come and dive into the world of dreaming through the DOWH practice of relaxation, movement and guided imagery, plus expressive and visual art-making. In this way you will witness and experience the unfolding of your own magic through the journey of relaxation, the gathering of intuitive and symbolic gifts, the embodying of wisdom through fluid movement and dance, the harvesting of your treasures through art and journaling.
With music and dance, pen and paper, drawings and journeys, you will explore the many facets of dreaming while safely and sacredly nourishing yourself to joy, laughter and clarity. The 6 week series will explore 1 stage each week. Enjoy the full 6 week process or dip your toe in drop-in style. The stages we will explore in the Dreamtime: Creating, Destiny, Fulfillment, Healing Time, Mystery- and Accepting the Place of Not Knowing, and Magic.
No previous dance or art-making experience needed.
Attend the full series (preferred choice) and get the benefits of a weekly practice at a discounted price. Pre-paid registration is required. No refunds or exchanges.
Or, DROP-IN as often as you can (ideal for women who can't commit to the full series). No pre-registration is required for drop-ins, however, contacting Caro is advisable.
After each session we will continue the DOWH practice by moving to a nearby coffee shop to process and share our experiences for a short while. Come when you can.
Read more about Caro. Click here to register NOW.
September 15 - December 15, 2010
14 weekly evening sessions on Wednesdays- 6:30-8:30pm
7 day-long sessions on Sundays- 11am-5pmLocations TBA. (70 hours in total) 15 spots only!
Are you ready to embrace a joyous path of deeper and embodied knowing and trust, and become a compassionate, inspirational leader and guide for other women?
We invite you to join our growing community of Dance Our Way Home facilitators.Inspired by the women who have expressed their wish to facilitate DOWH, as well as to deepen their inward practice, I am happy to say that my apprentices and I have been busy creating the inaugural DOWH Teacher Training Programme for next fall.This unique programme will be rich in both practice and theory, guided by and drawing on a breadth of female experience in the expressive, spiritual, visual and healing arts. Engaging both right and left brain, body, heart and soul, you will develop the necessary skills and experience to facilitate this healing and sacred practice as well as deepen your own embodied exploration, regardless if you choose to facilitate DOWH or not.In a holistic feminine way you will learn and develop your capacities to:
- Hold safe and sacred space for self and others.
- Tune in, listen to and trust your own intuition and the energy of individuals and groups.
- Organize, plan and market your work in a sustainable way.
- Create and lead guided journeys for relaxation and peace.
- Weave the magic of Divine Feminine energies, earth-based principles and practices.
- Use inspirational materials and music to support the DOWH journey of transformation.
- Cultivate courage, passion and grounding to co-create joy, connection and community.
Stay tuned for the details and upcoming info sessions. In the meantime, if you are interested in participating please contact me at erica@danceourwayhome.com, and dance as much as you can, even if it's in your livingroom!
'Unwind' CD by Erica Ross & Laura Nashman
Guided journeys for inner peace, power & renewal. $15
For all the women who have longed to take my voice and visualizations home with you, this one's for you!
Unwind will take you on 3 soothing journeys of surrender, renewal and empowered visioning, created and led by myself, and accompanied by flutist Laura Nashman and the soundscapes of Michael Moon. Offering both spiritual nourishment, inspiration, this powerful stress-relieving CD would make a wonderful stocking stuffer or holiday gift.
Tracks, as well as the CD, will be available for purchase online at Dance Our Way Home website in a day or two. Please check out the sample tracks, download to iphones and ipods, or order the CD.
“Coming Home to Myself” succinctly describes the journey I have found myself on and what has taken me to the wilds of the Amazon, to an ashram in the mountains and, most recently, to my discovery of Dance Our Way Home. The opportunity to begin working with Erica as an apprentice was one that I enthusiastically accepted as it perfectly complimented my spiritual practices and helped me on my spiral inwards.
When I saw the words “Coming Home to Myself” staring back at me from a book cover I instinctively reached for my wallet. I quickly learned that it was with that very intuition that I needed to approach Marion Woodman and Jill Mellick’s book, which is becoming a more frequently-referenced travel guide on my personal journey. Just as my own path winds and spirals, comes back upon itself and changes course unexpectedly, a practical guidebook companion needs to understand this. “Coming Home to Myself” does just this and includes not only a deep well of guidance but clear counsel on how to truly listen to it, with a section clearly entitled ‘Ways to deepen your work with this book.’
To read the rest of this review, click HERE.
Listen to Debbie Papadakis interviewing Erica on Aware Talk Radio
Listen to Marilyn Daniels interviewing Erica for A Field-guide to Evolutionary Leadership
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