|
Polishing the Heart, May 2024
|
|
In this Issue:
- Homecoming for Latin America
- Dances at the Sanctuary Summit
- Spring Dances, Fall Travels
|
|
Dances in the Maloka, Atlantida Ecovillage, Colombia SA |
Dear friends,
April has been another exciting month, including a thrilling two weeks in Colombia, South America, where I had the opportunity to attend the Semana Santa or Week of Easter Dance Leader Training Camp and homecoming for Dancers from all across Latin America.
This was almost immediately followed by the Sustainability Summit, a Friday-Sunday Festival here at The Farm Community, with Dances of Universal Peace on Saturday afternoon in front of the main stage. We had between 80 and 100 people in two circles, with many more surrounding us to watch. The energy was high and the dances were well received.
Coming out of the Summit I will lead dance circles in Nashville on May 18, and June 1, and another one later this summer at a community in Kentucky.
In the meantime, Deborah and I look forward to a very special Spring Ozark Camp, with an astounding collection of teachers and Dance "facilitators," including a majority of the Board from Dances of Universal Peace International in attendance. I look forward to seeing many of you there and sharing stories about our travels!
Namaste Y'all,
Douglas
|
|
|
The annual Dance Leader Training Camp at Ecovillage or Ecoaldea Atlantida located in the southern part of Colombia, South America, is a window into the future. The energy of the dancers, the commitment of the new "dance facilitators in training," blended with the raw energy of the mountains and the jungle, makes this an event that truly resonates deep.
Davesha performs a marriage ceremony for Matilda and Vakil.
Vakil is the new executive director for DUP International.
I am so grateful to experience the joy and celebration of the next generation carrying these dances across Latin America, from Mexico to Chile, building on the foundation of senior leaders who have been traveling there since the 70s.
center: DUP IN Board Member and Senior Mentor Munira speaks with another musician in the circle.
right: it was fun being Omkar and Malika (not shown) who I know from Ozark Camp! photo by Malika Lyon
Atlantida is high enough in the mountains that during my visit for Easter week in March/April 2024 temperatures alternated between warm and cool following the pattern of rain and thunderstorms that cycled off and on both day and night. The land was lush and green, with its homes and other buildings located beneath a replanted forest of eucalyptus and citrus trees mixed with native flora and fauna.
The property was originally purchased in the 1970s by the father and mother of Arjun Jorge Calero, to establish a retreat center. Several buildings, including a set of apartments and the main kitchen dining area, date back to those early days.
The original apartmentsAtlantida continues to function as a retreat center with additional new buildings, providing accommodations for up to 90 people. A large number of the over 200 peole who come for the Dance week camp in tents scattered throughout the property.
Some of the newer accommodations are built with local and recycled materials, and include a living roof.Note: Arjun is the Founder of the Beyond Intiative project, with Caravans and Training Camps in Turkey and Vietnam, and he is one of the invited teachers for the upcoming Spring Ozark Camp.
One of the homes also serves as an afternoon and evening cafe during the camp.
 |
One of my interests in attending the Camp in Colombia was to meet and spend time with Saadi.
It is not much of a stretch to describe him as an academic, but I found him to be refreshingly warm, friendly, and open.
The lectures were a little slow for me, especially with the translation, but I have enjoyed listening to his many talks available on YouTube.
|
There is a live seminar with him coming up soon.
May 7, 5:30-6:30 pm PST (West Coast North America), 6:30-7:30 Mountain, 7:30-8:30 Central, 8:30-9:30 East. Rebroadcast on May 11.
A recording will be available for all who can’t attend live and who register in advance.
|
Dances at Sanctuary Summit 2024
Left with her back to us, Jennifer Friedman, executive Director, DUP North America.
In red on drum, Diana Morningstar.
Back row on guitar, me Douglas, in the long dress and leading this dance, Deborah Flowers.
|
Our dance space during the event.
The Sanctuary Summit event was epic on so many levels. We had a good number of people willing to jump into the circle and see what this was all about, experiencing DUP for the first time. I was blessed to have my daughter and both my granddaughters (13 and 19) in the circle with us. And it was Deborah's first time to lead at such a big event! She did great, and a number of people said it was their favorite of the afternoon, a high energy Dance by Bernie Heideman.
Here is a note from one of the Dancers in my Farm Sangha:
It was a wonderful weekend filled with magic and beauty.
I'm thinking of the song we sing in Dances of Peace called When We Entrain. '
Entrain means to come on board and sweep along in the flow, to bring into synchronicity.
The music says:
When we entrain we amplify. (Enhance and Focus)
When we entrain we magnify (Bring into clarity our dreams and intentions)
When we entrain we multiply (Create abundance)
When we entrain we sanctify (Make holy)
We manifest peace, love, joy and bliss when we entrain together in unity and make something awesome happen.
It was such a joy to see kids, adults and grands all working together to create this synchronistic experience. This is the pinnacle of the community experience. Every time this happens it is reassurance we are on the right path. And it brings so much energy into our lives.
For me it was heart opening and healing.
Christine
 On Saturday, May 18, at 4 PM, Deborah and I will lead a Dance Circle at Morningstar House in Nashville, TN. Morningstar House is the creative arts center of my longtime friend Diana Morningstar. Contact me for more information and tell any friends you have in the area.
- Back in Tennessee! Join us for Dances of Universal Peace, Sundays at 3 PM
- May 18, 4 PM - Dances in MorningStar House, Nashville, TN
- May 23-27 Ozark Sufi Camp, Osage Beach, MO
- June 1 Cumberland Greens Gathering, Montgomery Bell State Park, Nashville, Tennessee
- Contact me for more information
Thank you for your time and attention!
A big thanks to everyone who has become a patron of my newsletters Farm Fresh and Polishing the Heart! When you become a subscriber, your contribution helps spread the word about community-based alternatives and the spiritual path. Take this one small step to be part of the solution!
My books:
Out to Change the World and The Farm Then and Now
|
