Pulling Together
In my work as a networker, social networker, email marketer, Facebook teacher, activist, and kibbutznik, I tend to think big picture much of the time. At one of my recent Facebook classes, one of the participants, Robert, pulled me aside and asked “why aren’t we Portlanders pulling together more of the time?” He had lived in San Diego and watched as the new age movement prospered there as many of the participants would support each other by buying one anothers’ books, attending each others’ seminars, and basically boosting for one another – the helping all boats to rise theory in action. And, it worked.
I agree with Robert and have often thought that our community could use a directory of services, a bank/fund for helping members through tough times as well as something that might be available for scholarships for dance workshops or similar purposes. Since I think that ecstatic dancing is the cat’s meow, one of the best methods for staying healthy and smart, and is also a great community creation tool, I’ve also been interested in seeing it spread far and wide. To that end, I wrote this piece last year and also turned it into a cute cartoon.
Since then a few folks from Portland have gone and started ecstatic dance in their new communities – Erik Blender in Orcas Island and Cheri Anderson in Surprise Valley near Phoenix are the two that I’m most familiar with, and if there are more – please let me know about them. If you know people who live near these areas, please send them Cheri/Erik’s way – as their success will both add to their financial well-being, and will also move more people in the direction of the goodness we have found. Spreading good ideas = healing the planet.
In this vein, Eleanor O’Brien’s show, Dominatrix for Dummies, is a big shout-out for ecstatic dance. Eleanor’s show is playing in Seattle 4 more times – we all know people who live in Seattle – help her show sell out and help your friends find their way to the dance floor (The Seattle ecstatic dance scene is building with new dances starting up at OmCulture and beyond. They even have a clothing-optional dance… Portlandia???) Eleanor and her show are also about to take the show further afield to Santa Cruz, CA, Orlando, Edmonton (Canada), St. Lawrence, NY, and elsewhere. If you want to help spread the goodness of ecstatic dance and support one of our own, figure out how to track what Eleanor’s doing (her email list is a good start, get on it!) and send your friends and relatives to see her when she comes to their town. She’s probably also up for performing her show in towns that are on her road-trip route if you want to go the extra mile 🙂
Pulling Together for reals
What would our community look like if we were all pulling for each other a little bit more? I’ve got a list of local healthcare providers who are mostly dancers that I share with the world. What would happen if we routed our buying decisions through a dance filter? It’s certainly something to ponder. I welcome your comments and involvement.
Thanks for dancing
Thanks for continuing to show up
Thanks for continuing to DJ
Thanks for continuing to make alters
Thanks, Thanks, Thanks!
Albert, Caffe D’arte, April 18, 2012
Updated 10.25.22 – all links are fresh!
Thank you, Albert. As a networker and dancer myself, I am feeling the same way. People talk a lot about wanting connection and community, but what would it take for us to actually put down that beer and connect in life affirming ways (don’t get me wrong- I like beer). I know that with The Healing Arts Collective and Quaking Grass center on Alberta in PDX, we aim to understand how we can support each other mutually more, move more, connect more. But what will it take? How badly do we want to connect, help or be helped? And what are we willign to put into it to get something out? Thanks again. http://www.quakinggrass.org.
Dearest Albert,
I have been for so long, longing for the depth of community of which you speak, I tried to get something going, with Saturday Morning Communion, but that wasn’t wanted. Now I have an idea of a Seven Level Plan (corresponding loosely with the chakra system). It involves making committments to community, on ever-increasing levels, each with more responsibilities and more payoffs. You can get in at any level, move up or down, and get out, any time you want. I’d love to talk to you about it when I get back. Let’s have a visioning meeting, and invite anyone who wants to create a new vision for the community.
Blessings,
Gabriella