BODY POETIC

 

Another kind of walking meditation

by Daria Halprin

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A Five Part Dance while in retreat on Bolinas Lagoon:

# 1

Find a hill or a mountain and climb it,  then roll your way down

Find a meadow, look for three favorite spots, then in each one stand for 5 minutes, sit for 5 minutes, lie down on your back for 5 minutes

Find a red tail hawk  circling overhead to track

Find trees to lean on and embrace

Find a view of the ocean

Find a body of water to bathe in

Throw rocks into the water

Crawl naked in slow motion along the road next to the lagoon

Witness the woman walking in slow motion tossing things along the road,  without turning your head to look at her

Find the path that leads into town

Get dressed

Find the village grocery store
Buy an ice cream bar that reminds you of your childhood.

# 2

walk along a flat road for one mile
look for things to collect along the way,
pebbles, bottle caps, cigarette butts, feathers, chewing gum,
discarded wedding bands,

collect and put in your pockets
waistband
socks
shirtsleeves
bras
underwear
hair.

As you do this, keep your attention fully centered
On each inhale and exhale
Watch your thoughts appear
Without going too deeply into memories.

Inhale
Exhale
Inhale
Exhale
Sense the bottoms of your feet
Taking each step

Watch your thoughts appear
Feel the weight of things you have collected
Without going too deeply into memories

# 3

walk back in slow motion along the same flat road for one mile
discard each thing that you found and collected along the way.

If you run out before you reach the end of the road where you began
Then imagine things, and repeat the movements as if you are discarding them, pebbles, bottle caps, cigarette butts, feathers, chewing gum, wedding bands.

As you continue
Keep your attention on each inhale and exhale.

Watch your thoughts
Without going too deeply into memories.

# 4

as you continue walking in slow motion,
discarding the things that you have collected,
witness the woman crawling naked in slow motion along the roadside
without turning your head to look at her.

Keep your attention on the inhale and exhale
Sensing the bottoms of your feet
Without going too deeply into memories

# 5

Paint a new map to get from where you are now back home
Place it on a wall, or wrap it around a tree trunk
Develop a dance inspired by the painting

Pack your bags in slow motion, following each inhale and exhale, sensing the bottoms of your feet on the floor.

Departure:
Look at or touch any object or surface that calls to you as you leave.
Check to make sure that you haven’t left a mess behind, or any forgotten garbage in the can under the sink.

As you go, don’t look back, even if you want to.
Open the door at midtempo, close it at midtempo gently and firmly.
Lock the door behind, with an awareness that the next guest will arrive after you.

Return the key to the gatekeeper.

Every breath, every dance, a new chance.