Episode 05 - Developing a Spiritual Dance Practice

Episode Summary:

Episode five of the Spiritual Dance Podcast offers a thorough framework for starting and developing your own spiritual dance practice. Carla shares practical advice and easy-to-follow examples to support your process whether you’re just starting out or looking for some new ideas. She shares her tips for cultivating a sacred space that is both safe and functional and then walks you through two different practices that will motivate you to start moving and deepening your connection to spirit on the dance floor. 

Episode Transcript

INTRO: Welcome to the Spiritual Dance Podcast, a virtual space for creative souls discovering how to move in sync with the rhythm of spirit. I’m your host Carla White Crowe, also known as The Dancing Oracle. In this podcast, I share openly about my journey of weaving together my two primary passions - spirituality and dance. My intention is to encourage and inspire spiritual seekers in pursuit of a more embodied form of spirituality as well as provide insight and tools for those seeking toexpand their creative edges in service to the world of spirit.

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the Spiritual Dance Podcast. Today I will be sharing some practical examples of how to implement some of the concepts, practices, and modalities we discussed in episode four. If you missed that one, I would highly recommend going back and listening to that first so you have a good framework for everything I’ll be discussing today.

I’m going to start by offering some guidance for setting up a designated sacred space that is both safe and functional. Then I will share my suggestions for starting and expanding your spiritual dance practice. Most of these ideas are taken from my own practices and rituals that I’ve been working with for several decades and I’m excited to share them with you.

So let's just jump right into what I think should be the first step for anyone who is starting out or jumping back into spiritual dance - which is cultivating sacred space. There’s something really special about having an area that is dedicated to your spiritual practice.  If you take the time to think through and set up the area that you’ll be utilizing, it’s going to help you feel more at ease and also support a deeper, more fluid connection with spirit.  

Anytime you are going to be dancing and moving around a space, it's super important to ensure that there are no safety hazards. I also think it’s helpful to choose an area that is free from distractions and has space to store some essential supplies. 

Here’s a list of some helpful tips to consider when selecting and setting up your space…

First, you want to choose a location where you’re least likely to be interrupted. There’s nothing more frustrating than being deep in conversation with spirit and having someone knock on the door or come down the stairs. Obviously, you can’t eliminate every potential distraction, but if you have options - it’s something to think through. I have a door hanger sign on my stairs to my studio asking people not to enter. It doesn’t always work but it’s worth a try! Sometimes I’ll hang a sign on my entry door as well asking people to use the other entrance. 

Another thing to consider is any restrictions regarding noise levels, whether that’s music volume or even your own sounds you might end up making. You definitely don’t want to upset any roommates, or family members, or close-by neighbors. My husband and kids are home most of the time so I try to plan my dance sessions around their schedules, taking advantage of times when nobody is home.

Next, you want to thoroughly inspect the floor you’ll be dancing on. Make sure that it’s a solid surface free of damage and debris, that there are no trip hazards like cords, and that it’s not too slick. If you do find yourself on a slick surface, then you definitely either want to dance barefoot or have a leather dance shoe.

Look around the room to see if any furniture needs to be relocated or if there are any breakables that you could twirl into.

Lastly, don’t forget to check the ceiling. I know that might sound strange but I cannot tell you how many times I've flung my arm up and hit a ceiling fan or a hanging pendant lamp. 

So now that you have a space that is safe and free of distractions, you want to think about what kind of tools and supplies you might want to keep there. I like to keep my dance space stocked with everything I could possibly need so that I don’t have to interrupt my flow to go grab something. This is really helpful for those moments where you feel a spontaneous urge to go and dance with spirit.

Some things I keep in my sacred space are:

A journal and pen. I really love color and so I keep a selection of colored pens nearby.

You might want a Tarot or Oracle deck. There are so many ways that you can incorporate these cards into your practice and I will go into that in my episode on Dance Divination. For now, I would recommend having at least one deck that you really connect with. I personally love the Cosmic Dancer Oracle because it uses the language of dance and movement. I also like to have my Celestial Tarot deck and an astrology or lunar-themed oracle deck. So much of the work I do relates back to the foundational principles of astrology and so I find it really helpful to have decks that utilize that language as well.

You’ll want a device for playing music. I highly recommend using a good Bluetooth speaker because having a crisp, full sound is really motivating. Music is so important to me and bad sound quality can ruin the mood like nothing else. 

I often use my phone to record myself which means I can’t use it to stream music. For this reason, I recommend having an iPad or laptop, or some secondary device you can stream music from.  And pro tip, download your playlists to whatever device you’re streaming from just in case you encounter any wifi issues. This will also allow you to put that device in airplane mode so you can minimize any digital distractions!

Speaking of recording, I also like to have a tripod or ring light on hand for video recording with my phone. I do a lot of videos for clients, YouTube, and other social media platforms which makes my tripod an essential piece of equipment. This isn’t as important if the recording is only for your benefit. However, I have mentioned before that recording yourself can provide useful feedback, especially if you’re doing a channeled movement practice. It allows you to rewatch your movement for even more insight. It’s one thing to feel the movement as it comes through but when you can watch it back with your eyes, you gain a whole other level of understanding. 

You may also want to keep a yoga mat and/or cushion, a blanket, and some bottles of water stocked in your space. These items will help to protect and nourish your body and keep you comfortable.

I like to keep socks handy because they are helpful for reducing friction if I’m turning or doing any floor work

I would also recommend a scarf to add another layer to your movement. It doesn’t have to be fancy - my first dance scarf was something I just pulled out of my closet. Over time I’ve built up quite a selection of silk scarves from Nahari Silks on Etsy (I’ll leave the link in show notes). I also have some ribbons and swing flags I like to play with from time to time. Items like these are often used in a growing art form called flow arts (which I discussed in my previous episode as well). Working with props can help you achieve a meditative state. Also, you’d be surprised how quickly a prop can change the atmosphere and assist you in shifting your focus outside of yourself.

This might seem extra, but I keep items in my dance space that represent each of the elements - because you never know when you might want to dance with a candle, a feather, a cup, or maybe even a labradorite sphere. 

Additionally, I have a frame drum and panda drum nearby in case I decide that I want to create my own sounds.

My space is decorated with carefully selected plants and crystals - anything that helps me feel closer to spirit.

I also keep some incense and herbs on hand for cleansing. There are many other methods you could utilize for clearing negative energy. Please do your research and select a method that works best for you. If you have chemical sensitivities you may want to use a chime or some sacred water instead. 

And on that note, I would caution against filling up the air in your space with too many scents or smoke. Doing so can hinder your lung capacity and you’ll need that when you start dancing. I stock up on unscented candles at IKEA for this exact reason. As for incense, I actually prefer burning frankincense resin from Young Living. Frankincense is supportive of respiratory health and it smells amazing in my opinion. It is also thought to stimulate your third eye and enhance your connection to the world of spirit.

Another thing I keep on hand is a few poetry and prayer books. If I feel like I’m lacking motivation, sometimes reading an inspiring passage can be just the spark I need to get my body moving. I am a huge fan of Pixie Lighthorse’s books. I’ll leave a link in the show notes for a few of my favorites of hers.

And of course, if there are any other spiritual tools or cultural items that are important to you, feel free to add those to your space as well. 

That my friends is an exhaustive list of ways to set up and enhance your sacred space. Please don’t feel like you need to run out and buy all these things in order to have a meaningful spiritual practice. It has taken me many years to fill out my space to my liking. But honestly, I still remember back when all I had was my phone and my journal - that season was so special and wonderful. And the rest is just gravy. Also, I would encourage you to treat the process of setting up your space as a sacred ritual. Dream, plan, and create a space that you can’t wait to return to. Spend time listening and connecting to your space and be intentional with every item you bring in. 

So now that you've gathered some equipment and props, the next thing I would do is spend some time creating a playlist or two. Start with music that inspires you - but also, find tracks that take you deeper and into a more contemplative space. I would suggest building an instrumental playlist that you can use for when you need ambient background music. This is especially important when practicing channeled movement. I LOVE music with words but sometimes the lyrics can unintentionally cue us to move in certain ways which could interrupt the flow of what spirit is trying to communicate. However, in an interpretive dance practice - song lyrics are incredibly helpful. 

I have a beautiful instrumental playlist I created back when I used to do my weekly Tarot Thursday videos. That is available to my email subscribers and I’ll leave a link in the show notes. I also love to create playlists for different types of energy. I have a playlist for water, earth, fire, and air  - all with varying tempos and sounds.

So once you have your sacred space all set up and stocked with everything you need, it’s time to begin your movement journey. The first thing I would encourage you to do is simply to hold space for yourself. Close your eyes if that feels safe and spend a few minutes connecting to your breath, focusing on the inflow and outflow. Then tune in to the ground beneath you and offer gratitude for the earth that supports you. And then begin to move in whatever way your body wants to move - without any judgment, and without any expectations. Allow him/her/them to lead you - your body knows what needs to be expressed.

However, if this is a brand new experience for you, I want to reassure you that it’s totally normal to feel like you have no idea where to begin when it comes to moving your body. It is quite common to feel frozen or stuck. There could very well be something blocking you from connecting to your body. And that is OKAY! In this instance, I would offer you some of my movement primers that are kind of like kinetic journal prompts for your body. These simple movements give you ideas of how to start moving your body. The nine basic moves I start people with are ROCKING, TWISTING, PENDULUM SWINGS, WAVE MOTION, CARVING, SLICING, PUSHING, PULLING, and FLICKING. Usually, once people start to engage with those movements, they are generally able to expand on them themselves.

I think when you first start out, putting too much structure in place can be counterproductive. Sometimes we need to just start to build trust with our bodies and give them the space and the freedom to tell us who they are and what they need. But once you feel like you’re ready for some structure - well here’s an example of what I would do next…

• Clear my space. And again, use whatever method you feel called to. I like to use my little brass seahorse bell, ringing it a few times in the middle of the room. 
• Light a candle. To me, lighting a candle is my way of signaling to the world of spirit that my channel is open. It’s the equivalent of turning on an OPEN sign in the front window of a retail store. You could also burn some incense. And like I said earlier, I don’t often use incense because I am chemically sensitive - but I do have a burner for frankincense resin that I will sometimes use if it feels right.
• Then I would turn on some slow, soft instrumental music to help wake my body up to the idea that we are going to start moving.
• Once my space feels ready, then I usually begin moving by slowly walking a clockwise circle throughout my space. This is especially helpful if I need a little more time to get clear on my intention. 
• Once I’m clear, I move to the center of the room and stand with my feet hip-width apart. With one hand on my heart, and one over my mid-belly (my solar plexus). Then I begin to connect to my breath, focusing on each inhale and exhale.

From here one of two things usually happens…

If my intention is to channel my own inner wisdom, then I will typically make my way to the floor. Inner work feels more natural to me when done near or on the floor so that I can work with movement that contracts and descends and stays close to my body. I often start by rolling around on the floor and then moving into some slow stretches. Eventually, I will make my way onto my knees so that I can wake up my spine. And once energy is flowing through my spine that’s when I begin to really drop in to my inner world.

If my intention is to channel source or other energetic beings outside of myself, then I will most likely remain standing so that I can work with movement that ascends and expands beyond my own energy body. If you need some help getting moving on your feet, remember that you can connect back with those nine basic moves I mentioned earlier. Just pick one or two moves that appeal to you and repeat them over and over, allowing your body to gradually expand upon them, leading you into new shapes and phrases. 

If I’m honest, I do both of those things - and sometimes simultaneously! Because I’ve been doing this for more than half my life and it just naturally works that way for me.

Whichever path I choose, I then make a conscious choice to open my channel asking for wisdom and insight to come through in the form of movement. And I cannot stress enough how important the ASKING part is! Yes, you could absolutely just start moving and see what happens, but I personally don’t think that that is helpful for someone who is new to this practice. It’s so important to invest a significant amount of time into developing and fine-tuning your spiritual discernment. You can fast-track that process by documenting your questions and responses so that you can begin to recognize patterns and clues that are unique to your personal connection with spirit.

Here’s some sample inquiries you can use when you’re just starting out…

• To deepen your connection to your physical body ask “What is it you are longing to express right now” 
• To deepen your connection to your higher self ask “Where am I holding myself back” 
• To deepen your connection to source (or any other divine being) ask “What do you want me to know in this moment”

Once my movement session feels complete, I usually move into a time of written contemplation. Sometimes I will pull a few cards, but mostly I like to just free write, taking note of anything and everything that came into my awareness while moving. Please don’t skip this step, there is so much you can uncover just through a regular recording of the information that came through your body. Again, be intentional about asking spirit for more insight when you sit down to write.

So the process I just shared with you is an incredible starting point, one you could work with for months or even years. However, once you feel comfortable with that process, I would recommend moving into a deeper and more thorough movement practice. 

Next, I’m going to share a brief overview of the practice I call the 3 R’s - which stands for “Receive, Reflect, Respond.” This is the process I use most often in my personal practice, and it’s also what I walk my clients through. The goal of this practice is to create a two-way dialogue with the world of spirit.  

Step one is all about the act of RECEIVING. This is done through a practice called Channeled Movement - which is when we intentionally step into a receptive state and allow spiritual messages to come through our bodies in a kinetic manner. Those messages can come from your body, your higher self, source, or any other divine beings that you have a personal connection to. I usually do this practice standing but it can absolutely be done while sitting in a chair. Whether you’re sitting or standing, you want to make sure your posture is “open”. That can look like palms facing up and/or out or maybe arms slightly raised as if you’re just about to offer a hug to someone. This type of gesture of stance shows the world of spirit that you are open to receiving spiritual messages. At the same time, I am focusing on my connection to spirit and being intentional about asking for wisdom, insight, and/or information about my inquiry of the spirit realm. Again, I can’t stress enough how important it is to ASK. It's such a simple concept, but it's often overlooked. If you have an intention that you can hold in your mind and in your body while you’re moving, then the messages that come through are going to be clearer.

If nothing happens, remember you can always go back to the movements I discussed earlier and use those as a jumping-off point. When I work with clients, I often create a customized movement meditation to help them get in a good flow. So often, people just need something that gets them out of their head and gets their body moving. Once you are in a good rhythm, the body usually takes over! I like to spend a good amount of time here. I usually pick a slow, ambient music track that’s around 5 to 7 minutes long.

Once the movement starts flowing, you’ll want to tune in mentally to what’s happening - take note of any thoughts, feelings, images, ideas, etc. that come into your awareness. You also want to watch the moves that are happening - this is where recording yourself can be super helpful. If that’s not an option just watch yourself through your mind’s eye, and notice if there are any repetitive shapes or phrases happening. 

At some point, you’ll want to move into step two, which is the act of REFLECTION. If you start to feel the energy wane or notice your movement slowing down, then you’re probably ready to transition. Trust your intuition to guide you on the timing here.  

The reflection piece is when you get to digest everything you received. It’s kind of like liminal space - where you can process and integrate everything that came through. I often teach this section as REPEAT, encouraging people to repeat any movements that stood out to them during their receiving time. If there was a specific phrase or sequence that had an impact on you - whether you understood it or not - repeating it gives you extra time to “mine for the gold”. You can look at the movement from all angles and ask your body more questions like “How does this movement make me feel?”

And then we move into step three which is where we get a chance to RESPOND. For me, the response piece is often an offering of gratitude. But it can also be a time of sharing our feelings with spirit. We can also express how the messages made us feel - or offer a moving commentary of our interpretation of the messages we received. 

So to recap - we entered into in a receptive state, allowing spirit to move through us while holding an intention in our minds. Then we reflected on the movements that came through, repeating any important shapes or phrases and thinking about how that made us feel. Energy came in and we allowed it to move in and around us. Then we sent our own energy back in response. From here, you can return to step one and repeat this process as many times as you’d like, until you feel complete. This creates a beautiful cyclical practice that you can utilize over and over again, each time learning and discovering new ways of moving. 

The practice I just described offers you a simple, solid framework that can help you to grow your spiritual dance practice. There are so many layers you can add to this practice as well, which is something I go into great detail about in my upcoming book on the topic of Dance Divination. It’s also a great tool for those who want to strengthen their intuition and develop their psychic senses.

So I hope I've inspired you leap onto the dance floor and start moving with spirit. If you use any of the above processes for initiating or incorporating dance into your spiritual practice, I would love to hear how that went! 

If you are someone who needs support in this process, I do offer 1-1 embodied coaching. I have a service called Cosmic Choreography, where we bring in the wisdom from your natal chart, which is your soul's blueprint. I create movement mantras and meditation designed specifically to help you get in alignment with your soul’s highest mission so that you can embody the fullness of who you came here to be. 

I also offer channeled movement messages and tarot or astrology readings. So feel free to reach out to me if that is something that you feel pulled towards. 

And that is everything I have for you today. I will chat with you all next month. 

EPISODE 5 RESOURCE LINKS:

• Purchase my book on Amazon
• Tarot Thursday Playlist 
• Cosmic Dancer Oracle 
• Celestial Tarot Deck
• Nahari Silk Dance Scarves
• Pixie Lighthorse Book: Prayers of Honoring Voice and Prayers of Honoring Grief
• Young Living Frankincense Resin and Resin Burner 
• IKEA Unscented Candles

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