my utopia*

story board of me dancing, canon digital rebel xti (click for larger view)

Dancing has been healing my heart and opening up my senses lately.

Today I danced to the song Utopia by Alanis Morissette and wanted to capture the freedom I felt. The freedom I haven't felt is so, so long. My body is loosening from the tight grip of sadness that has taken its toll on my spirit.

I'm going back to what used to feel healing as a young girl, when I felt troubled inside and would bring the "boom box" out to the backyard and dance it off. I have a clear image of twirling and moving while my dear mother watched from the kitchen window, wiping a dish and smiling, knowing that this was my nirvana.

So, in a sense, me bringing dancing back into my life is like being in touch with that inner child. The one that was more free and enchanted with her natural ability to move.

Today, as I cleared the stuff aside in my studio, I danced to this song that has always taken me to a place that I dream of for our world.

The lyrics carried me...

Utopia

we'd gather around all in a room fasten our belts engage in dialogue
we'd all slow down rest without guilt not lie without fear disagree sans judgement

we would stay and respond and expand and include and allow and forgive and
enjoy and evolve and discern and inquire and accept and admit and divulge and
open and reach out and speak up

This is utopia this is my utopia
This is my ideal my end in sight
Utopia this is my utopia
This is my nirvana
My ultimate

we'd open our arms we'd all jump in we'd all coast down into safety nets

we would share and listen and support and welcome be propelled by passion not
invest in outcomes we would breathe and be charmed and amused by difference
be gentle and make room for every emotion

we'd provide forums we'd all speak out we'd all be heard we'd all feel seen

we'd rise post-obstacle more defined more grateful we would heal be humbled
and be unstoppable we'd hold close and let go and know when to do which we'd
release and disarm and stand up and feel safe

this is utopia this is my utopia
this is my ideal my end in sight
utopia this is my utopia
this is my nirvana
my ultimate