HOMAGE TO THE SUMMER INTENSIVE 23
Wow it has been a big assessment whether I would find the space to write this homage. Yet it was burning inside of me for a while. Because so much pressure was built up in my system for such a long time for this event.
It feels absurd to have a name like Summer Intensive for this specific creation I made. I see this name popping up every year in many places but it was nothing alike what I consider my creation to be.
I have been cooking for three years in this collaboration of ONE MOVEMENT with Seraina Duveen. Three years I have allowed myself to indulge in this paradigm shift to truly work on something that is in alignment with who I am. Three years where I questioned deeply my personality, my social position, my humanness in the midst of this very chaotic time, practically.
This time, in my opinion, we matured our work enough for me to share what this Summer Intensive was. A sense of pride, justice and service motivates this endeavor. I believe the world needs to see and hear what we do.
OUR JOURNEY
Seraina and me, we practice and we pray as if it was one thing. We practice every day our deepest intentions. We do not just imagine but we stand in our vision as best as we can in relationship to our environment. We practice and we pray the life we dream of. And with this, comes inevitably the flaws and brokenness of our illusions and delusions.
We dream to unite. Simply that. Yet its overwhelming richness is not always easy to hold. We dream help. Yet how does help come without recognition from both sides.
A lot of our philosophy in OM (One Movement), is based on embodiment. Which means that when we envision a better relationship, a cleaner earth, a shinier spirit, we bring it in physical action. Not just a shying action but we invite it to become a performative dance, a ritual, a ceremony that is anchored in meaning.
Another anchor value of our vision is within the name One Movement. We are practicing the remembrance that we are all One. Movement.
How would it feel if I’d say:
We are ONE.
And
We are MOVEMENT.
ONE MOVEMENT
This is why we feel so connected with Dance as a simple means to allow our unity as an expression. It is physical, fluid and allows connection through all levels.
THIS IS HOW WE STARTED OUR SUMMER INTENSIVE
We allowed ourselves not only to remember that we are the universe dancing in body and flesh but that we have a choice to dance with it, as it, to it as we wish it…
We are the Soil of our lives.
This is what I wish to share with you. The extend of transformation we ignited in this journey.
Not only did I bring in total 13 facilitators, be they amazing therapists, magicians in their domain or highly embodied humans, but many more courageous souls dared to step into the field of One Movement. Stepping into the process of recognizing we are one being. What a game changer when we do this process with conscious elaboration(and celebration).
// Transformation happened through art.
I had the privilege to welcome people living in China, England, holland and of course Basel for the opportunity I presented. People that had an interest to explore and stretch their boundaries, their status quo, their humanness.
And it had been tough the journey.
We brought serious inquiries to be sought through body, mind and soul.
The intensity of the process brought people in many states: Tears, frustration, uncomfortableness, catharsis, sickness, shame, breakdowns but also breakthroughs, ecstatic joy, epiphanies, expanded perceptions, grounded connections, laughter, enlightenment, self discoveries and self empowerment.
This was definitely not easy but that was also not the point from the beginning on.
Every single workshop brought such significant changes that what seemed impossible became possible. That what was unknown became known. That what seemed scary and unfeasible became appreciative, empowering and joyful.
A recurrent attribute that kept on happening throughout the week was to OPEN UP. Not because we were asking for it, but because the exploration in our field of OM is about integrating polarities. It is such a muscle we fail to practice enough in our western societies.
We truly lack spaces for people to be as they are. Be they polarized or mixed, let’s allow more heart to emerge towards differences and especially loving presence.
I am asking these questions for myself…
And I wonder with confidence why we are so anxious…
I wonder where are the people that share the same needs as me.
Where we can, as Seraina says, remember that we walk together on this earth, breathe the air together, that the water flows without knowing any borders, that the sun shines for all of us….
That we unite in our soul power and share presence together. Every moment sacred in its inherent aliveness. Where the people are here to learn and open their heart.
This is my prayer.
We had such a juicy line up of workshops:
A vision quest put into ceremony and gratitude. With gentle touch and hypnotizing music.
The exploration of how deep the smallest movements affect our systems with Feldenkrais. The exploration of insanity and sanity with the help of Butoh wisdom. Integrating even divination in a group setting, like a family constellation. Allowing the universe to speak for us and through us.
The discovery of how powerful our inner child is within exactly the current context of crisis in our world. Oh boy, we need more child like nature to speak through us…
The experience of being held, guided and buried within the earth in a shamanic way. Acknowledging all directions and elements in our life in relationship to this humane existence. Mysticism is so personal.
Tasting the power of Eros in the exquisite way of flogging. Getting nearer and safer with pain and pleasure. YES!
Liberating our bodies, our minds and our souls to the big cosmic clock. When our time comes. In masterfully elaborated exercises.
Surrendering to the bizarre yet fundamental reality of being the creator of all that is. Even for what you considered to be unconscious.
Practicing moving, stabilizing and sinking your chi with voice integrated. Simplicity is in your hands.
A fusion of bodywork and contact improvisation.
A medicine wheel
And the practice to present your identity that is the agglomeration of all your aspects of being… Becoming the Avatar of our time.
