Stillness
I thought I would share a bit about my experience of moving in stillness in the 5Rhythms® movement meditation practice.
Being the last rhythm in the 5Rhythms®, stillness seems a contradiction in terms when considering this somatic movement practice. But not much of anything is still. Really. If movement is life, then when things stop moving we expect death.
For me, the energetic of stillness is fueled by my breath and kept alive and curious by the burning ember of life at the heart of the creative process. When I slow down and get quiet, I am inspired by the glow and warmness of this mysterious and magical ember. With each in-breath, I fan it to life, giving me the impulse to move. As I rest in exhale my body arrives at a still-point, or what seems like stillness, only to take-up and catch the energy of my breath’s continuum.
When I arrive into lyrical and transition into stillness I take what I have discovered and attempt to be with the mystery of its teaching. I don’t judge it, I remain curious. And like lyrical I don’t dance stillness, as I am teachable and willing, I seek the truth, long and thirst for wholeness or oneness with Spirit. I cease to be, and for a time, blend into Spirit connecting fully taking-in its wisdom as a sponge drinks in water. For a moment I seem to understand what’s behind everything and trust enough to dive beneath the surface of life to touch upon the source or great mystery of all things. In humility, I recognize I don’t really know these things, nor can I touch them. They are like a whisper that I don’t quite understand but recognize as they vanish in thin air. With my feet solid on the ground, I realize that I have already inside us that which I seek without, that my journey of longing and seeking lays within.
In my physical practice of stillness, I might discover that when I stop, I feel my movement. I might discover that when I move, I am aware of my stillness. I allow the breath to be my guild on this sacred journey in stillness. At the bottom of the breath I am present with the emptiness waiting for the inspiration to inhale. At the top of the breath I hold lightly to what is, as I welcome the shear pleasure of exhale.
It must be plain to all the simplicity, beauty and miraculous nature of the breath. In this place of stillness I find peace in the subtle nature of my breath-movements and I may discover that parts of myself have their own orbit around the sun. With this connection to Spirit, I let go of all my attempts at impressing the world and discover that I am not extraordinary, but that in my plainness, I am more dazzling and amazing than ever.
You will be able to explore stillness next Tuesday July 15th, 7:30pm at Presence Studio in Bellingham. I teach a bi-weekly 5Rhythms® practice class at part of completing my training to be a Certified 5Rhythms® Teacher. Join us and bring a friend.