Flow

On the second day of the retreat Water was the element we focused on using the Sufi rubric for the elements which moves from densest to most refined. As such the trajectory begins with Earth moves into Water then Fire then Air and finally Ether. Folks dropped in so deeply to the space and it was very humbling to witness the alchemy that arose. We took up the Water element through the pairing of The High Priestess and The Moon.

High Priestess ~ Spiral Tarot ~ Witches Tarot ~ Illuminati Tarot

We began by working with the breath associated with Water, first getting familiar with it and then walking/moving it. Water naturally flows downwards, pools, eddies and finds the path of least resistance. It's a very natural movement if the body is allowed the space to flow and folks found the movement easily within their own bodies. My husband and I shared our own impressions of the High Priestess as she appears in the Tarot which generated some great discussion. Next having given her a context I invited folks to feel into that oracular space within that both knows and resists interpretation and to focus on an area that was meaningful to them--the political situation, the environment, education, something close to the heart--and listen to what she might have to say.

We sat in silence for about five minutes or so as this sacred prophetic container allowing images, sounds, messages to surface in our bodies as the High Priestess. There is something quite palpable and powerful about a group of people sitting wordlessly together under the refined container of the Oracle. Afterwards some folks felt moved to share their experience while others were content to remain quiet. Either way an inner and outer dialogue had begun. Then I invited the class to move freely from that space, women and men walking the body of the HP. It was very moving to see how she manifested through each of us in an embodied way, to see her come off the card for a brief moment. Later feelings flowed as people shared how meaningful and important it was to be able to allow her body a voice in a culture that devalues that kind of wisdom.

The Moon ~ Illuminati Tarot ~ Kat Black's Golden Tarot ~ Spiral Tarot

It seemed a natural progression to take up The Moon next and the format was similar with some talk from both myself and my dh about The Moon, some discussion and then bringing an aspect of the Moon card that wanted a voice into the body. As with all the movement work we formed a large circle to create a temenos for the unfolding somatic experiences and folks stepped in when, if, and as they felt moved to do so. We had musical accompaniment with a Tar drum, guitar and sometimes a reed instrument. The music supported us on our journey throughout the week, carried us along with ease and friendship.

The Moon card found me crawling like the crab, emerging out of the waters of consciousness, head titled upwards in wonder at the glowing moon. Others took up their instinctive side as howls were heard throughout the room, and still others embodied the reflective light of the Moon in a refined breath. It was all pretty spectacular. The cards, when embodied this way, weren't asking so much for our understanding as they were for our presence and that gives one a whole different body of material to draw from.

So much meaning and deepening arose last week, much of it beyond words and as such I feel less inclined to blog about it than I originally did. I may post one more entry to do with the retreat but I'm also ready to dive back in to my daily draws with new breath and inspiration.