Shamsi

It began with a challenge…actually, it began when, after asking the powers above to help me get some aspects of my life in order, I was most graciously told that in order for them to help me I must make some sacrifices (at least for a while) which means waking up at 4:30AM for the foreseeable future.

Yesterday, Dunya sent the following:
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Dear Beloved Fellow Dervishes & Dervishes-in-Training,
K. forwarded a message to me about the Feast-for-the-Soul’s (http://www.winterfeastforthesoul.com) proposing a 40-day practice period beginning Jan 15.

It is inspired by this from Rumi:What nine months does for the embryo
Forty early mornings will do for your growing awareness.

I invite you to join this flow of force; if your practice is not currently in motion, now might be a splendid time to activate it.
Love & Blessings!Dunya

PS (It is interesting the ‘early morning’ bit. Something to try.)
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My personal practice started this morning at 5:15 AM. I know it is not the 15th…but since I was already heading in that direction, I made my mind up that there was no time like the present.

It was not the greatest practice ever…but it was practice. I arrived in my front room to realize that the rolling bag with all of the musical equipment from last weekend had not been unpacked and there were cables and drums all over the floor. I spent the first 5 minutes or so just clearing out a space in which I could move. Then, after plugging in my iPod, I realized that I’d taken all of my Dancemeditation music off in order to make room for “Driving” music (again, last weekend’s trip.) I did however have “Kirya” by Ofra Haza, so I just let the album roll. After finally settling in, if one could call it that, I began the opening sequence.

It was so difficult to even want to move between the hour of the morning and the cold in the house. The temperature had been in the high 20’s all night and then the heater clicking on every 10 minutes or so was not a lasting help. I moved. I just did the rote, without thought, without conscious thought, my brain was definitely running, but not on where I was. I had to constantly replace my attention on what I was doing just focusing on the movements at hand. There was no form. As I went from the floor to standing, I felt a release in my 3rd Chakra. My hands had moved close to my body, almost in a scanning way and the release just happened bringing a few tears, but not nearly enough.

I kept going back to my 3rd Chakra, my Solar Plexus, feeling the constant pull of my navel toward my spine. There were multiple movements, all deriving from the pull of my navel toward my spine. I felt the movements changing around the pull of the navel, although I was unaware of anything but some vague circular flow in and around me. Despite my lack of intent or a consciously-driven practice, it happened and there I found myself at the center of me. Amazing how that works, which is why I love this practice.

I was only in it for half an hour, but my world looks differently for it today.

39 days to go….