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25. The Whirling Dervishes 7/5/03
Could it be there is a potential whirling dervish in us? Often in the early days of self-processing while standing and breathing, my body would like to go in to a spin and I would follow it out. One evening I decided to go into Central Park to explore spinning while on the earth.
I went to the softball fields off of west 64th St. to spin to my hearts content. Sure enough 10 o’clock on a summer’s eve the park was quite. Standing in the center field of four ball-fields I proceed to spin to see what might occur. While spinning for about 15 minutes I noticed a figure enter the field and take a seat in the stands accompanying a ball-field. That’s nice, thought the *one* that was spinning and on and on I went. No telling what another might think of the spinning freak in the park. Then there came in to view a car! A police car was moving in on my field of expansion and I thought I better stop this spinning until we find out if it is legal. Stop I did and the inquisitive policeman asked, as they pulled right up to me, “are you on LSD”. I kind of chuckled and said noooooooooooooooo. So ended my session with spinning and a new life awaited.
I have found that when working in sessions with others, their body may feel like it wants to spin with such an intention that all they can do is allow it and observe. This could be of curative value when it comes to using the body and have a healing effect on the psyche as well as being of value for our brain/heart system. A conclusion I would leave to scientist of the high art physical nature we move around. People are generally pleased by their own spinning and have a great time with it.
Posted by harmon at 7/5/03
Comments
Harmon,
I remember loving to do this when I was a kid. I would spin for very long periods of time. Now when I try it it makes me nauseous. My nervous system seems to have changed. I have to say I'm a little jealous of you!
Also--that's a great story about spinning in the park and being accosted by police. . .
Ruth
Posted by: Ruth on July 6, 2003 08:15 PM
I am glad you enjoyed the story. I love that people enjoy spinning and other
ecstasies.
Posted by: Harmon on July 7, 2003
WHAT A WONDERFUL WRITER THIS HARMON HATHAWAY IS!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you and, by all means, keep it coming! Dr. G
Posted by: Geronimo on July 7, 2003
Yes, he is a wonderful writer and just as wonderful a man! How lucky I was to get to spend an hour with him in Central Park just two weeks ago!
As for spinning, Jean Houston, at one of her workshops, divided the group up into smaller groups and I went with the spinning group. We had a partner, and the partner made sure we didn't spin off the platform we were on. The direction given was to spin until dizzy ... which I did! It was great. As a kid, of course, we spun until we were dizzy, but as adults it is hard to find the space/time/confidence to do such things.
Also, of course, just finding the physical space to do *anything* out of the ordinary is often a challenge. Even PowerTapping ... if you start doing it in public ... or reboudning ... people think you are weird (or on LSD!)
Posted by: Jordan on July 8, 2003
Geronimo
Dr. G, A man who has worked with the top names of screen and b’way and has run the oldest barn theater in America since the early sixties. Teaching the local children of Plymouth Mass in stage productions, introducing them to the rich works of playwrights from Shakespeare to modern day masters, musicals to tragedy. Bless his dear heart for the wealth of his giving. Dr. G each day gives mindfulness practice and breathing with alignment to all the young folks to enhance their performance.
To enter hear in praise of my writing is truly an honor. Thank you Dr. G
Posted by: harmon on July 9, 2003
Jordan
Working with Jean must have been super. I think in my forties I decided it was ok to be regarded as eccentric, Being eccentric may be a pleasure that many young people don’t appreciate. Still it is challenging, breaking the adult mold of life in a box, when our body needs to unwind from the limitations placed on our motion.
Posted by:
harmon
on July 9, 2003
this spinning has happened to me during (or as) "self manifest chi movement" in Shaolin Cosmos Chi Kung as taught to me by Sifu Wong Kiew Kit.
Posted by: lion lotek on July 11, 2003
Working with Jean, and getting to occasionally spend time with her, is a huge highlight of my life, Harmon. We have an interview I conducted with her earlier this year which we'll put up on the site soon. Bad sound quality, but great content!
Posted by: Jordan on July 11, 2003
Thanks for the interesting story, Harmon. Do you incorporate spinning in your patients' therapy sessions?
Posted by: Solstice on July 13, 2003
Lion Lotek that is great. Thanks for sharing your experience. It seems that
spinning will manifest in many forms of bodywork as a natural impulse. Does
our body know something we don’t? I do feel when we allow our body to present
action itself, while we are working with it, there are many surprises in store
for us.
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Jordan you are one lucky guy. Rubbing shoulders with the Big Guns of our integral age is your calling. That you bring this to us all is special. I look forward to hearing more from Jean. Bless
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Solstice, your welcome. I don’t introduce this at all, but find that some people reach this impulse after a while and will start doing it in session. I will provide a bucket just in case it is needed, but only encourage them to explore spinning. Could be they are turning around in the seat of there consciousness.
Some times if in a class someone might get in to it and of course others will want to try it also. That is fun.
Peace brother
Posted by: harmon on July 13, 2003 06:28 PM
I live in Australia and would like to access information on how to spin correctly. Can anyone help me please?
Posted by: margo on November 2, 2003 09:44 PM
Margo, I don’t know where you would get information on spinning as a practice. As far as spinning “correctly” I can only say that this is an exploration that we can undertake in very small stages until we feel comfortable with spinning. You should consider your age and physical condition. I’m sure a good yoga teacher would help you with this exploration if you can locate one in your area. Maybe even a Dance teacher would be good.
Posted by: Harmon on November 5, 2003
I had an "accidental" brush with the power of spinning at the end of a Journey course last year. We all went out onto the grass to break our usual morning routine. Some people formed big circles, dancing, others did cartwheels or other physical expressions that came to them naturally. I felt the urge to start revolving myself in a circle when all of a sudden it felt like another energy just picked me up and started spinning me faster and faster. The first time it happened I stopped myself by throwing myself on the ground. I collected myself briefly then thought I would see if it happened again which it did. This time as I was spinning I was seeing many many lifetimes passing before my eyes and a very deep sense of grief emerged that I had kept myself separate from my true essence or source for all these lifetimes. Eventually I allowed my body to drop to the ground
Posted by: Michelle on December 28, 2003
Thank you Michelle for
sharing this with us. Tis amazing what can occur when we take our self out for
a spin. :)
Peace H
Posted by: Harmon on December 28, 2003
I'm not sure if this
discussion on spinning is dormant - I see the last comment was 12/28/03. But I
wanted to say I used to spin a lot when I was a child as well. When walking
down the street in New York with my mother, I would spin - hadn't thought
about that in a while.
Also recently I attended a "Trance Dance" event in which Jonathan Horan guided
us through the 5 rhythms of Gabrielle Roth (author of "Sweat Your Prayers -
Movement as Spiritual Practice - the 5 Rhythms of the Soul"), which she
labels: Flowing, Staccato, Chaos, Lyrical, Stillness. Horan is an amazing
fellow - cool guy. At first he seems a little punk, but then I realized he was
really beat. Anyway we were all moving around in these various rhythms, and
really got lost in the process, and it really made me think about the whirling
dervishes.
Here's a link to a web page about Jonathan Horan. Evidently he's Gabrielle
Roth's son.
http://www.movingcenterschool.com/jonathan-horan
Posted by: Michael Cook on April 9, 2004
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