Philosophical wonder woman

I took a zill workshop with Jasmin once and really enjoyed her knowledge and enjoyment of the dance. Last night I was doing more Isis research for my fiction story and came across an article she wrote on Isis. It really is historical and has nothing to do with bellydance but very interesting nonetheless. I link to one article from her on my dance website but she has a wealth of information she's written on MANY topics that I plan on sharing with my students :) http://www.bestbellydancechicago.com/Newsletter/article_archives.html

Last night I could NOT sleep - so after watching all my Netflix movies, I went back to my JR Ward novel. I wholeheartedly blame her for the trippy dream that ensued once I drifted off about 4 or 5. It was so vivid I literally felt it and when I woke up sweating I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. But what I was left with was a somewhat original idea for a story. I started writing what I remembered and was surprised how quickly and easily it flowed and how many ideas I had to build a larger story. Right now I just have a first chapter but am flooded with ideas and possibilities. I don't want to give away the plot for fear someone else rips it off, but it will be rooted in mythology, fiction, lore, superstition and more. As Buffy would say, I got in serious Scooby research mode and found a couple books at the store that will help build the ideas. It's been a good long while since I've been this inspired to write and it's so much fun!

I just love him... From the article "Tom Robbins Incognito - Tracking the Pacific Northwest's Elusive Literary Outlaw" By Christian Martin "What matters is that we enlarge our souls, light up our brains, and liberate our spirits. What matters is that we hop on a strange torpedo and ride it to wherever it's going, ride it with affection and humor and grace, because beyond affection, humor and grace, all that remains is noise and sociology! What matters is that we never forget that the little paper match of one individual's spirit can outshine all the treasures of commerce, out-glint all the armaments of government, and out-sparkle the entire disco ball of history." "A book reviewer once opined that 'Robbins needs to make up his mind whether he wants to be funny or serious.' Robbins replied, 'I'll make up my mind when God makes up his. If I have learned anything in my life, it is that there is no wisdom without playfulness'. ...

Practice for the New Millennium by the Dalai Lama The Practice: 1. Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day remembering we all want the same things (to be happy and be loved) and we are all connected to one another. 2. Spend 5 minutes breathing in, cherishing yourself; and, breathing out cherishing others. If you think about people you have difficulty cherishing, extend your cherishing to them anyway. 3. During the day extend that attitude to everyone you meet. Practice cherishing the "simplest" person (clerks, attendants, etc) or people you dislike. 4. Continue this practice no matter what happens or what anyone does to you. These thoughts are very simple, inspiring and helpful. The practice of cherishing can be taken very deeply if done wordlessly, allowing yourself to feel the love and appreciation that already exists in your heart.

I've decided I want to monetize my blog but I want to choose who I advertise on my site. So I'm going to start right now advertising my favorite new bellydance magazine based out of Sedona, AZ: Shimmy in the Spirit of Bellydance . Holly Luky has created a wonderful, positive forum for sharing the love of the dance and fostering a spirit of COMMUNITY not competition. The articles range from fitness, to positive body image, to dance styles and techniques and so much more. I'm in the process of writing an article for submission that I will end up sharing here as well related to do's and don'ts of performance and defining your dance style. I'd also like to advertise costume and dancewear vendors since let's face it, we need something to dance in! I really enjoy Dance Distributors for general dancewear and have a large number of bellydance vendor links on my website shimmygoddess.com So if you are a dance teacher, performer or vendor, please contact me if y...

i thank You god for most this amazing day: for the leaping greenly spirits of trees and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes (i who have died am alive again today, and this is the sun's birthday; this is the birth day of life and love and wings: and of the gay great happening illimitably earth) how should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing any-lifted from the no of all nothing-human merely being doubt unimaginable You? (now the ears of my ears awake and now the eyes of my eyes are opened) ~e.e. cummings~