Philosophical wonder woman

this can more commonly be referred to as the "Tuck and Push" - a tip I gleaned from Jeela (aka Annette Mason) , a lovely dancer from Arizona. Just like a tennis player has a "ready" stance, so they can easily reach the ball in any position, also a bellydancer has a neutral ready position to easily enable their body to get back to a stance for the next move. Here's how to do get the tuck and push working for you (from Jeela's website): What is this Tuck & Push?? It is the balancing of the front and back of the torso creating a foundation for good posture and power in your dance. It also makes you look great in pictures! How To: 1. Stand with feet hip distance apart, knees soft, weight centered over the arches of your feet. 2. Roll shoulders up, back and down. 3. Use your lower abdominal muscles to pull your belly button in towards your spine: this is your Tuck 4. Use your upper back muscles to draw shoulder blades together and Push rib cage straight for...

some days i just can't express in concrete thought the abstract flow of my mind, so i let a poet like e.e. cummings do it for me: since feeling is first who pays any attention to the syntax of things will never wholly kiss you; wholly to be a fool while Spring is in the world my blood approves, and kisses are a better fate than wisdom lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry --the best gesture of my brain is less than your eyelids' flutter which says we are for each other: then laugh, leaning back in my arms for life's not a paragraph And death i think is no parenthesis ~ e.e. cummings

In short, because it makes us feel beautiful! I asked a lot of fellow shimmy sisters to chime in on why they love bellydance and here are some answers I got... "it makes me feel fantastically beautiful and great about myself! :-)" "I am not a dowdy female." "it helped me discover a part of myself that was dormant!" "it empowers women to be more self accepting and celebrates joy of femininity, as we meditate with movement." The truth is, we all need to accept ourselves and feel comfortable in our skin and bellydance helps us do just that. It's a fact that someone is more attractive when they are confident and also when they let their inner inspiration and beauty shine through (see Owning Your Sexiness ). Bellydance teaches you to isolate and control every muscle in your body and with that comes an enormous sense of empowerment and freedom. Once the muscle memory takes over and the movements begin to click for you, I promise it will be in you...

By Lama Surya Das (reposted from the Dzogchen Center Newsletter) May we realize true sincerity and integrity, Inner purity of mind, Dispassionate equanimity towards all we see, Right understanding of this dreamlike world and the next, Loving compassion towards others and the genuine intention to be helpful In alleviating suffering and confusion. May we directly perceive the truths of impermanence, mortality and Interconnectedness, Relinquish wandering thoughts and rampant desires, Accomplish freedom of mind and clarity of spirit, Remember with gratitude those who have gone before And shown the way, And vow to reach together full and complete enlightenment. This prayer was written by the wandering hermit Surya Das at Pao Lin Monastery atop the Buddha Mountain on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, after reading an ancient collection of Chinese prayers to Amitabha Buddha. September 1975

This was a concept started by a great Colorado lady I follow on Twitter: http://hipmountainmamablog.com/one-small-change/ The idea is to make one small change each month leading up to earth day in the hope that with each of us doing one more thing to help the earth we will make a positive impact, follow through and encourage others to do the same. I already recycle and considerably cut down on how many paper towels I use. My next change is to buy more LED / CFL bulbs, turn the thermostat down a little more and purchase a few more canvas bags to keep in the car to ensure I always have some on hand when I run into the store unplanned. But I'd like to take this small change movement a little bit further. Not only do we need to change our habits in how we treat our earth but I think we also should strive to make an effort in how we treat each other. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who's noticed that common courtesy really isn't as common as it used to be. I real...

It's the time of year when people start making resolutions, looking back at the year and noting accomplishments and also things they wish they had done or maybe done differently. Perhaps you also look forward and make plans about things you want to accomplish in the coming year... I'm a big believer in setting goals, however, anyone that knows me also knows I don't always finish what I start. Therefore I'm also a big believer in forgiving yourself what you don't accomplish and when you forgive yourself, start over and begin again in each new day. I never really make resolutions per say because I think we set ourselves up for failure that way (read my friend Tali's blog: Is Resolution a Dirty Word? ). Here is the best advice I can give to myself and anyone else: "Be gentle, kind and patient with yourself and relax ~ The best peacemakers are those who are at peace with themselves." It's important to set intentions for our lives, to set goals and to...

This is a site that I love - especially her artistic cat note cards that I purchase all the time to stay in touch with people back home. So it's worth a shot! Here are her rules for the contest and link back to the Creative Goddess site: 1. Post this as a separate entry on your blog by Thursday, Dec 3rd at 3p (EST). (You may borrow the graphic above.) 2. Once you do, post a comment here with your link. 3. Contest ends Thursday evening, Dec 3rd at 6p(EST). 4. Winning name announced Thursday evening, 5. You can’t be related to me -even thru marriage. Besides, you get all kinds of cool stuff from me anyway, right? 6. You must be reachable so that we can contact you. If I cannot verify your ID or reach you via email, learn that you’ve come from a ‘Sweeps’ forum, I will disqualify your posts. 7. Not redeemable for cash

Apparently you write dating profiles really well. I've been told by a couple fellas that they wished they could write about themselves as well as I write about myself --- of course that doesn't necessarily mean they want to date me. I offer up suggestions to them that it's all about just being honest and expressing what really inspires them and throwing in a little of their personality. I think someday I might write a book on this stuff, however I don't think anyone would read it unless I'm actually in a successful relationship. It's important to me to converse for a while first before meeting so it's not so awkward upon first meeting and I feel like if it's too much effort for them to do that, then why waste the time? Some men see it the opposite way, they want to meet in person right away and see each other and they think that is the best, instant way to know if "it's there." I disagree - but if we see that differently, then that probab...

Six questions to ask yourself about your dancing before a Bellydance performance. By Nielle McCammon (to appear in the Jan/Feb issue of Shimmy in the Spirit of Bellydance magazine) Over the summer I participated in a bellydance show in which the performers ranged from first-time beginner to seasoned professional. And what struck me was that the technically best performer was not necessarily the favorite performer for all the audience. It also occurred to me that one or two of the performances were too experimental and strange for a show to an audience comprised of people who had never seen bellydancing before. I was prompted to ask the guests I invited who their favorite performers were and why --- and I was extremely surprised at the answers. Their favorites were not the seasoned professionals who showed off their technique mastery but the performers who were all about connecting with the audience and sharing the love of the dance from their heart. They liked the dancers who were...

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~

"Your own words are the bricks and mortar of the dreams you want to realize. Your words are the greatest power you have. The words you choose and their use establish the life you experience." ~ Sonia Croquette ~ "Our deepest wishes are whispers of our authentic selves. We must learn to respect them. We must learn to listen" ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~ and in order to accomplish these things, we need to love ourselves and believe in our capabilities. from this inspirational website , here are some Recipes for Self Love: Take full responsibility for your life. Stop blaming others. See yourself as the cause of what happens to you. Do things you like to do. Don't stay in a job you don't like. Participate in life at the highest level you can. Stop terrorising yourself with your thoughts. Be gentle and kind and patient with yourself. Give yourself the simple pleasures of life abundantly. Wear clothes you feel good in, get a massage etc. Watch what you say. Avoid self...

from Taro Gold: Apparent distinctions exist only in our minds. For example, in the sky there is no distinction of east and west. People create such distinctions and then believe them to be true. We do the same in everyday life—making distinctions, such as "us" and "them," where none exist and then believe them to be real.

Which I'm blogging so I don't forget and can keep coming back to my new mantra from the amazing @cupcakemafia : Firstly there's this pearl: "Never ever be with a man who says "I don't want to hurt you" It means that a. they have a track record of hurting women & b. they probably already have forseen how they will hurt you" NEVER thought of this before but it's sooooooo true! and I have the history to prove it. then some more observations she had on my patterns in relationships: "I think we may have discovered why you get so wrecked during break ups. It's not just losing a loved one; you have a history of these broken wing birds that you want to nurture. So the end of the relationship is not just a romantic dissolution but almost feels like you failed at saving them. I know because I have been there. I used to stick it out in relationship until it got super ugly or I was just a mess because I hate failing." Just give yourself a ...

... I found out Patrick Swayze died. crazy swayze (How I Met Your Mother episode season 3). this man was a rarity. a loyal husband, talented dancer and actor. and STRAIGHT. seriously rare, wonderful man. made dancing manly and sexy for men, what every woman dreams of! right now his real-life love story is occupying my brain and my heart goes out to Lisa, his dance and life partner. Sending her love and thanking you crazy swayze, you rocked our socks off.