Without (the Wild Woman), women's inner
eyes are closed by some shadowy hand,
and large parts of their days are spent
in a semi-paralyzing
ennui or else wishful thinking.
--Clarissa Pinkola Estes,
Women Who Run with the Wolves
eyes are closed by some shadowy hand,
and large parts of their days are spent
in a semi-paralyzing
ennui or else wishful thinking.
--Clarissa Pinkola Estes,
Women Who Run with the Wolves
Some of what has been stunted in me
by other people's stories is:
wildness, power, confidence, and mystery.
--Emma in the comments to this post
by other people's stories is:
wildness, power, confidence, and mystery.
--Emma in the comments to this post
Amidst the sadness of two recent deaths, we had a friend's wedding to attend.
I don't think I've ever been to such a fun, laid back wedding.
And for the first time in too many years, I was dancing! In the above photo, I am dancing with a woman we met that night for (not) the first time. (Erie is small; it turns out we'd met before). Marcy is taking the photo. The music is Dancing Queen. Yep, Dancing Queen.
To say I have not danced in years is a startling thing. I've always been a "dancer." From the time I was young, I danced and sang almost every, single day.
So what happened?
How and when did I become so tamed that I don't even dance any more?
Right before the wedding, Emma brought up this idea of subdued, repressed wildness in a comment about the stories that other people tell us about ourselves.
Emma asked me what part of my wild self was being denied and I didn't have an immediate answer -- until the wedding.
When we got home that night, Marcy told me it was so good to see me so happy and that she'd not seen me having fun like that in too long. We sat down and had a talk about what all of this added up to.
Then today, Jamie over at Starshyne, for Wishcasting Wednesday, asked "What do you wish to play with?"
About two weeks ago, I had decided I would start participating in this Wednesday wishing game, and then this is the question I get!
I wish to play with music and movement on a more regular basis.
I wish to experiment with letting my Wild Woman out of her cage!
How many of you want to join me?
What would your Wild Woman do if you set her free!?
(Photo Credit: Marcy Hall, Dancing Queen, 2009)
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24 comments:
Dancing Queen! what a great release this post is! Splendid whirling photo, I enjoyed it much. I have already released my Wild Woman and she is making a fool of herself shamelessly on my webpage: come see at: earlywomenmasters.net
Sarah Whitworth (aka kigen)
This is the first time I have used my real name in a long time —
Funny that you should have posted this just as I was thinking that perhaps my outfit was too colorful, my earrings too "danglely", my skirt too full. But this is a perfect dancing outfit!
Sarah! Kigen! What a WILD thing for you to do -- using your real name! Good for you. And weird, but I have been to your site -- not knowing it was you, of course. :)
Grace -- you WEAR that outfit. it sounds beautiful. how often i remove my ankle bells because i think, oh, they are too crazy. no more!
As Christine wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Beautiful! I wish you music and dance! And Jamie's wishcasting wednesdays are a great opportunity to wake yourself up each week.
As Christine wishes I wish for her also!!!
I'm with ya - I have wondered that alot of late too - where did my dancing wild woman go?? Here is to lots more letting fly!! Sarah
As BlissChick wishes for herself, so I wish for her also!
You know, that's the whole reason I started the Shyne Like a Star Virtual Dance party. Every time I would go to a wedding, I would see all of these people that were aching to dance. We are meant to dance! Now I'm looking for a regular space where I can invite people to dance each month - just music, space, bare feet and a chance to dance! Thank you for reminding me how important that is.
I'm so glad you had a chance to dance and remember that you, beautiful you, are a dancer.
I looooooove that photo of you Christine! Fabulous!!!
Heck yeah Dancing Queen--move, swirl, and rumba!!! I too have been dancing since I was a kiddo. When I was in college though I was part of a modern dance troupe. To me modern dance is the merging of dance, yoga, and art. Many times, instead of doing my "traditional" yoga practice, I will put on some music and dance--sort of modern dance style-just completely expressive. IT IS A HUGE RELEASE & in my humble opinion, just another form of yoga.
Try it!! You'll love it!
Peace & Love.
PS They have something at my yoga school called Rasa Dance that I attend. It is part of the yogic tradition---influenced by the consorts that danced around Krishna.
I love ABBA!!!! As Christine wishes for herself, I wish for her also.
Oh YES!! Dancing Queen NO ONE can resist that!! If I let my wild woman loose I would definitely dance randomly to any music or just to whats boppin' in my head more often, I would take mini adventures almost every single free day I have...camping, hiking, running around barefoot... I would go dancing at clubs at least once a week to just release energy!! I would let go of my body "issues" and wear whatever I want!! woo-hoo!! lets go :-)
As Christine wishes for herself so I, Carmen wish for her also.
I am in, too, let's dance !!!
As This Dancing Queen wishes for herself, so I lovingly and with intention wish for her also! Rory loves to dance with me..Fiona? Not so much. But, one outta two Scotties, isn't bad!
What fun!
(That quote at the beginning is amazing, BTW. Sooooo true. Ugh.)
My wild woman self would travel to far away exotic places to learn, eat, relax, meet strangers, soak up the culture, take pictures, explore...
Or perhaps be a concert groupie...which band...I dunno...there are sooo many good ones!
Dancing is wonderful! We'll have to kick up our heels when I come visit next month, eh?
Thanks for this post!
LOVE your pink dress :-)
Oh! WOW! Revelation time. I talk about dancing - but I haven't danced in ages ... I love to dance.
As Christine wishes for herself, so I also wish for her. (Why did I want to call you CC ?)
Ty-Anna, I love this idea of just letting go of all the body issues. Just do it!!
Holly, Yep. Only certain cats in this house really want to be my partner! :)
Lisa, wow. Interesting stuff you brought up...you are most definitely tamed right now, aren't you? (we are more and more alike...)
Judi, Crazy! You want to call me CC because that is what my 9 year old niece dubbed me when she was a baby! We were trying to make her call me Chrissy and she just couldn't. So I went through a legal name change a few years back (long story) and besides changing my last name, ALSO changed my middle name just so I really AM a CC!! :)
You are such an inspiration!
I wish to just remember to turn on the music everyday, to dance and sing (terribly) while doing the dishes and brushing my teeth. It always makes me feel better and sends away any anxiety I am holding on too.
Great goddess almighty! You spin girl.
I went thru a similar thing a while back - I realized that since we moved away from a community where we actually danced together, I don't dance nearly enough - and I too danced and sang everyday since I was little.
So kind of like connie's comment, I have been dancing at the end of my yoga practice - I do my savassana, a little chant, then turn on the boombox for at least one song. It's integral to the practice now, after a few months. Currently, the song is, and must be "good morning starshine." But dancing queen would be good too... :)
nice photo. ah yes, dancing queen. as christine wishes for herself, so i wish also.
Dance is something very close to my heart that I have recently rediscovered also.
Such a beautiful soul liberating thing to dance like nobodies watching.
When I really dance and come out the other side the challenges of life fel more like beautiful adventures that I can explore and enjoy.
All you wish for, I wish for you
xxxx
Oh how I love this photo. It's...well...it's pure bliss!
Yayyyyy!!
Wonderful photo, wonderful post!
And wow did you tap into a big thing for me: DANCING. That is an example of wild for me, too, and it's something I am very, very, very uncomfortable with. But I so very much wish to be able to dance without feeling ashamed!
I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but there is a DVD called Afican Healing Dance with Wyoma. I borrowed this once and (in total private) started it. I really loved it and I highly recommend it. Very beautiful.
I am joining you. I NEED to join you. Too much angst and not enough play. So, I begin tomorrow with a Goddess weekend in the Adirondacks. Me and 4 girlfriends celebrating the solstice. Let the dancing begin! ;)
As Christine wishes for herself, so I wish for her also.
Dancing Queen keep on dancing!
I want to join you!
I need the release, the music filling me up, and just abandoning myself to the music.
Thanks for pointing the way.
i want to join you! what a wonderful opportunity you remind us of. we can dance just about any time we want to, but we seldom do. that which you wish for, i wish for you also.
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