|
Polishing the Heart - April 2023
Dear Friends,
Some of you have gotten to know me as we have danced together over these last years, but in sending out this newsletter I thought you might be wondering, "Who is this guy and why is he writing this newsletter?" My journey to the Dances is a bit different than most and goes back only about five years, but my connection to music started as a youngster. You'll find my story below.
It is less than a week until our April Dance with Allaudin! People often ask if we are full? With 1750 acres and a large community center for Dancing, there is always room for more! There are a couple more openings in the Women's dorm and unlimited camping. If you need a private space, I have some options.
And if not for our April Weekend, I hope to see you in a Dance circle somewhere soon!
Peace, Douglas
_________________________________________________
 We have over 40 registrations so far! Feel free to contact me with any questions or assistance in finding accommodations.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Way Out Is In - A podcast from Thich Nhat Hahn's Plum Village
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other platforms. https://plumvillage.org/podcasts/the-way-out-is-in/
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Life of Music
My introduction to music started very early, and has been central to my life. I am thankful to have made the choice not to pursue music professionally, but use it to bring people together and uplift our spirits.
I was five years old when my dad taught me to sing WW II Navy songs at family holiday gatherings. As I got a little older, he started buying me a magazine called Song Hits that had the lyrics for that month's Top 40, adding guitar when I was 12 inspired by The Beatles, followed by bands throughout junior high and high school. That’s when Deborah and I got together.  Our wedding day, 51 Years ago! We were married when she was just 17, a month before her 18th birthday and I was only six months older. Ready to follow the hippie dream, we headed west in a VW van, landing for two months at a yoga ashram in Phoenix, Arizona. It was 1972, and Ram Dass stopped by for about a week, doing Darshan each day. It was our first exposure to communal living and East Indian chanting.In the summer of ‘73, Deborah and I joined The Farm, and at the age of 19 we were the youngest couple in the community. We frequently lived in communal houses with 30 people or more and for our evening entertainment, I would often lead sing-alongs. Guatemala - While the band plays, I am on the right in the red pants, dancing with children of the village. From 1978 to 1980, Deborah and I served as volunteers in Guatemala, doing relief work after a devastating earthquake. There were about 50 of us from The Farm, and naturally, we brought our music. I became a lead singer in our band that played not just for us, but in various towns. All we needed was a case of Coca-Cola and gas money, giving us a way to explore the country. There was a big flatbed truck for hauling our gear and most of the people in our camp would come along piling in the back, giving the Guatemalans a little taste of the freedom and beauty of the hippie lifestyle.Returning to Tennessee, I spent the next 30+ years making music in the community, from New Year's Eve parties to producing small festivals.
In 2015, I started searching for something new.
A New Vision
Deborah and I were on a mystical adventure in Costa Rica and one night I had a vision of us singing together. She wasn’t a musician or part of my performing life, and it wasn’t something we shared. From my heart, I wished that could change. A couple of months later we were in Bali, Indonesia, at an ecstatic dance. As I closed my eyes swaying to the trance beats, I remembered that my son had suggested I check out Krishna Das, a well-known Kirtan (East Indian chanting) performer. I went on YouTube and found his videos and thought maybe some of my friends might like getting together to sing. I purchased a harmonium, a type of hand-pumped organ, learned a few songs, and invited some folks over.
 Leading Kirtan in Nashville Kirtan Sangha - All Hearts Beating as One
Everyone really enjoyed it, especially those who had always been told they could not sing. With all of our voices together, it all sounded beautiful, and the aural communion rekindled a sense of spiritual connection among us. Before long we were doing Kirtan twice a week, sometimes with 30 people or more. Even more important to me, Deborah was really loving it and for the first time in both our lives, we were able to truly share music and singing together. It was magical!
This was about the same time I became my mother's primary care provider. I had a large Doublewide that I had used for my business. We did some remodeling to make it a home for her with a large open living area. This is where we held Kirtans and she became part of our new sangha.
A friend in our Kirtan sangha told me about these dances she used to do with Pir Vilayat Khan, at a community called the Abode of the Message. She thought a friend named Nurallah might be willing to come visit and teach us. I became intrigued, and remembered that I had once done these dances with Pir Vilayat back in the 70s. You mean we could all sing together and dance together? That sounds fun!
 Nurallah and Tomas on The Farm Finding the Dances
I immediately went on YouTube and found the Dances of Universal Peace. The melodies were easy to learn, and I looked for videos where we could copy the movements. It took the energy of our Sangha to another level!
I started wondering where to find the people doing the dances in the videos. I searched for the DUP website, and there was a category called “find the dances.” Perfect! The nearest ones were six hours away in Asheville, North Carolina. Fortunately, that’s where my son lives, so a friend and I made the drive to join this group for a Sunday evening dance.
We joined the circle and enjoyed the dances very much. In between dances I would go outside and sing the words we had just learned into my phone and describe the movements that went along with each one. I returned home with several new dances for our group, fulfilling our mission. I also picked up a flier for an upcoming dance weekend in Asheville.
Back home, several women in our Kirtan and Dance group had been helping me as care providers for my mom. She passed as one held her hand and we were all chanting Om Mane Padme Hum. As it turned out, the Dance retreat in Asheville was the following weekend.
A Turning Point
I had no idea how much my life was about to change. I had spent the last four years caring for my mom, including the final year when she could no longer speak, and eventually became bedridden. A huge weight have been lifted off my shoulders, and I was in a state of complete freedom to go in any direction.
The weekend guest Leaders were Abraham and Halima Sussman. The Farm Community’s origin during the early days of San Francisco was in alignment with that of Sam Lewis and the dances, giving us a connection. I had brought my guitar and while the group was on break, I played a song that had come to me in a dream during my mom‘s last days called “I’m ready, when are you taking me home?” Abraham invited me to sing it for everyone. And at the end of the weekend, I discovered that Nurallah had been in the circle the whole time!
The weekend of Dances touched something inside of me. I left thinking, “This is something I should explore more deeply.” It took music, the passion of my heart, and intertwined it with my spiritual path like nothing I had ever experienced before. I had to have more.
When I got back home, I quickly got online to see where I could go next. I learned about a Dance camp in Missouri, something close enough that I could drive.
I walked into the Ozark Sufi camp, a family that has been dancing together for 40 years. I felt truly at home. I think many people were surprised to see a new face and everyone was very friendly. By the weekend, they were close to 200 people in the Saturday night Zikr. It was incredibly powerful.
After the Dances were over each evening, a group would gather for more singing. I was able to contribute in a more intimate way. I went home hoarse from so much singing. And at the end of camp, Allaudin Ottinger agreed to come lead dances on The Farm the following May,
The whole experience left me wanting more Dances, plus I now understood that I needed a Mentor to access the Dance write-ups.
Next, I found dances in Mexico with Bernie Heideman and Sky Roshay. What a great way to get away from winter! The circle was about 60 people and the dances were high energy. I played with Bernie during the after-hours singing, and backed up Sky on guitar during the Dances. I was on top of the world.
At the end of the week I asked Sky to be my mentor and she agreed. I was moving forward. I was doing this!
 at the 2018 Shesshin with Shabda Two weeks later, I flew to California for a Shesshin with Shabda, and met Gayan, met Wali Ali, reconnected with Abraham, Halima, and Tarana that I had danced with in Asheville. It was a time of looking inward. The location was beautiful, the high California hills, a space lending itself to meditation and the easy flow of music. I became Gayan’s sound tech assistant, and was invited to play in the band with Shabda and Gayan.
There are more chapters to the journey, but that is how it all began. I am so grateful. A Living Practice
And so what I have found, and what I have come away with, is that giving my attention to polishing the heart, opening the doors to love, mercy, and compassion, recognizing the one beauty within us all, is the best thing I can do with my life right now.
For me the Dances are an energetic flow that we can create and feel as a path to the resonance of joy, a tool that helps me to be mindful in this moment, with a deeper connection to heart space. And sharing this experience with others is one, very real way we can live our prayers and be an example of peace for the world.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dance Camp Calendar
Open the Love Window! Spring Ozark Sufi Camp in Missouri, Friday, May 26 through Wednesday, May 31 The Ozark Camp is one of the largest Dance Camps happening, with a strong-knit family that has been dancing together for 42 years. It is where I knew I had found a new family and community.
Bernie Heideman will be there as the guest Dance leader and Forrest Pierce, a brilliant fellow in the Kansas Sufi community, will be serving as a teacher. I have been invited to do some leading and I love late-night singing on the porch!
“Close the language door and
Open the love window.
The moon won’t use the door,
Only the window.” ~ Rumi
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salmon Wild River Dance Camp in Idaho, June 21-26
 Salmon Wild River Camp - Salmon Idaho 609 West 4th Street, Salmon, ID Hosted by Zareen Connie Delaney and Wayne Talmage. As I mentioned last month, after Ozark Deborah and I will be on a journey west, heading to the Salmon Wild River Dance Camp in Idaho.
After that we are hoping to visit Mark Krielkamp's circle in Spokane, Washington, and I see there are circles throughout Oregon.
Contact me directly if you would like connect. Parliament of World Religions August 14-18 in Chicago, at McCormick Place Lakeside Center. A reminder DUPNA is offering NextGen dancers and Dance Leaders (age 18-40's) scholarships with pre-paid registration ($250), plus lodging, and travel, up to $560. Contact hayatdupna@gmail.com to learn more. Click here to apply.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Dancing at The Farm Cemetery. It takes the meaning of connected to the land to new level. |
||||
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My Dance mentor Sky Roshay's upcoming Dance Camps
with Bernie Heideman, Sky Roshay, and Jen Friedman
January 22-24, 2024 All My Relations, Toda mi Relationes
A bi-lingual camp with Dance Leader training January 31-February 1, 2024. Deepening into Being with Sky Roshay, Shivadam Burke, and Jen Friedman
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For more information, contact me: douglas@villagemedia.com
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your time and attention!
