AZ Embrace -Dances of Universal Peace

Dear Ones,

Yesterday, I - along with fellow Dance leaders Terry and Jivani Joyce - led
a Dance as part of the "2nd Annual Arizona Embrace" in the plaza before the
entrance to our State Capitol building.

This event asks folks to come together on Arizona's "birthday" with
interfaith prayers to bless our State and all the beings who live here in a
symbolic embrace around the Capitol, folks standing in a large circle,
holding hands.

The Dances of Universal Peace had been invited to participate.

In my near-sleepless early morning hours the night before, I conceived to
have folks form two circles and walk in opposite directions, singing the "We
Are The Rising Sun...."

Offering the Dance instructions, I encouraged everyone to feel free to move
as they wish, and especially to connect with the eyes of those in the other
circle, acknowledging that "We are the change..."

In the presence of some challenges (jets flying overhead and loud music
nearby) about 100 people or more began moving in this way, as Jivani, Terry,
and I led the song...

Not far into the Dance, we observed that folks began to reach across from
one circle to the other, taking the hand of each person they passed, warmly
greeting and blessing one another.

In this way, a "Dance" that really had no prescribed steps, in the hands of
people who for the most part had never experienced the DUP, became a most
beautiful expression of love among Arizonans who had gathered for the event.

Feeling quite moved by this, I hope to share this "new Dance" in this way
again in the future.


[Other wondrous synchronicities included the following:
- Our State flag has sun rays on it ("We are the rising sun...")
- An event organizer had spoken in planning meetings about the Gandhian
ideal: being the change we want to see in the world ("We are the change...")
- Our dance followed a Havasupai (Arizona Native) blessing ("We are the ones
we've been waiting for..." is a quote from our Arizona Hopi elders)
- That same morning witnessed an astronomical event marking the "dawn of the
Age of Aquarius" (And we are dawning."]


With love and gratitude for your many blessings, and blessing to you,
Shivadam

_____________

Visit the Phoenix Area Dances of Universal Peace: http://phoenixdances.org


"We Are The Rising Sun" lead by Bernie Heideman on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkTHn7ahOKw