My #1 mission: The quest of the couragous warrior is one who seeks to understand the mysteries of the unknown, the unspoken languages of the animals,the healing qualities of plants, the spiritual messages offered in the natural world, the interwoven patterns of the stars, the sweetness of angelic realms, the aliveness of the universe, the touch of divine intervention, the inner peace of the spirit, and the infinite wholeness that comes from moving beyond the limiting human concepts of separation." -Jamie Sams (author of:Dancing
the Dream)
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"Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem,
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb,
Do a loony-goony dance
'Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
that ain't been there before!!!"
-Shell Silverstein
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Fire hooping video from 10K music festival
( my first time ever -in public!):
www.youtube.com/watch
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Hoola Hoop Bio: Meghan O'Brien is a Columbus,Ohio native whose passion for dance has come alive through the wonderful world of the hula hoop! As syncronity shall sing,she picked up her first hoop on "Independence" Day 2001 at a String Cheese Incident show in the beauty-full mountain town of Steamboat Colorado and since then,nothing has made her feel more FREE!
Years of spinning in fields and frolicking with fellow "hoopers" from all over the United States evolved into an unanticipated opportunity to celebrate this beautiful,free flowing and meditative art form as MORE than just a playful pastime. In 2001, Meghan's sparkling energy literally collided with one of the world's brightest spirits, Stefan Pildes, who is the founder of the New York based professional hoop troupe "Groovehoops"
www.groovehoops.com. Little did she know, she would never be the same! For Stefan coined her with name "Meghan the Kat" (She always wore a tail to the shows to connect to her "Where the Wild Things Are" spirit.) As you know, her funky feline name still lives on today.
Since then, she has had the time of her life performing all over the country with this funktified hoop troop! Megs has performed at major events like High Sierra Music Festival in California, Burning Man in Nevada, "Vegoose" in Las Vegas ,10,000 Lakes in Minnesota, SCI's Hornings Hideout in Oregon,the Jerry Garcia Birthday Bash and All Good Music Festivals in West Virginia, Shambala in Canada, and the Kentucky Derby. She has also made appearances on Carribean cruise liners, (Jam Cruise I and II), traveling as far as Fiji for a New Years Eve Cruise Act!! Her all time favorite gig was during the summer of 06'when she and Stefan were hired to hoop and 'create spontaneous joy' for the String Cheese Incident's entire Big Summer Classic Tour of 06'. Meghan the Kat has made many exciting appearances on stage with jam bands such as The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Micheal Frianti and Spearhead, New Monsoon,Umphrey's McGee, Yonder Mountain String Band, Brett Dennen, Souleye\ BLVD,The March Forth Marching Band, the Shantee, and Mike Perkins. The "Kat" looks forward to rockin it with Souleye's BLVD this summer....
When in Columbus, Meghan proudly performs for HighJinks/Grimaldi Circus Productions. Owner/mentor/and great friend,Kristina Isabelle, infuses raw fearless passion into modern dance/aerial/stilt/fire and other circus acts creating elaborate one of a kind performances! So, as you can imagine,stilt and fire dancing has literally taken the Kat to new heights! High Jinks Dance Company makes regular appearances at local dance clubs such as BOMA( the Bar of Modern Art), Karma, and the Skye Bar. They perform at the Columbus Zoo and Cincinnatti Zoos,the Farmers Market, the Roller Derby Games, Gallery Hops, and at Columbus' Community Festival,etc. They also do corporate gigs and host private parties as well.
When "Meghan the Cat" is not dancing around the country, she transforms into Miss "O" and teaches grade 5 at an amazing,super conscious,nature-based school in California. Along with working towards a master's degree in Elementary Education, she spends her spare time making and selling hoops, designing costumes, painting, playing guitar/violin and "werd whittling"/writing music to go along with the children's literature book that she hopes to publish soon. Meghan's inspiration comes from passion she holds deep within to honor and celebrate nature, goddess energy, and the Great Spirit. She practices meditation and yoga regularly and is a is a level III Reiki Master. You often will find her with her dog in the mountains,by the ocean, or in the woods. Meghan the Kat's vibrant attitude and whimsical art forms are her ways of inspiring others to embrace their inner child, connect to the SPIRIT within,and to spontaniously spiral MUSIC.... with mind/ heart/body awareness, and movement to create a divine DANCE that celebrates this gift of life in the most colorful way possible!
**Ms.Meghan the Kat is currently teaching hoop classes and workshops at sacred Space in Ojai and in the Venura/Santa Barbara areas. Feel free to contact her to be a part of the fun! Her hoop classes are held with strong intention to invoke a sacred,magical connection to the divine self. Dancers are invited to share poetry,quotes,music and stories to raise the vibrations. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BRIGHTLY....
I sing to be happy, I dance to be free,
I celebrate life-most consciously!!
Nature moves me, magic endures,
love, light, and spirit are my cures!
I love to laugh, live to love,
I welcome vibes from beyond & above!
"Miss O" by day........"The cat" by night,
Ancestors,miss MOON- bring sweet insight!
Romantic heart, wings of a fairy,
Stilt dancing, fire hooper-----quite contrary!
Intention is key, gratitude proceeds,
Color-full energy-my soul does feed!
Paint me a song,write me a dance,
Gotta create !!--with every given chance!
My hoops in one hand, "Mo-Mop-I" by my side,
8 lives to go!!-----eyes open wide,
Fun and adventure -I'm on the prowl!
Divine mysteries "aw" this night owl!
My family-my roots, my friends-my wings
my soul-my fire..(*most honored "things"!)
"Give me the beat,boy ------to free my soul!!
I wanna get lost in your rock and roll..."
Amazing grace........she sets me free............
"Inspiration---move me brightly!"
inspiration,move me brightly...............
**The time is NOW---to explore the unknown!
I know you are out there---- and I'm not alone!!!
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"The whole universe is the stage
on which your mind dances
with your body, guided by your heart"
---YOGI tea bag (hee hee)
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"Breathe in with gratitude, Breathe out with love"
- Unknown
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Dreams come true:
all sorts of live music/electronic and drums played with intention,tons of artistic expressions of all kinds that represent conscious/organic living, protection/honor of our home-Mother Earth and the sacred,spiritual,universal connectiveness that comes from within; FIRE, stilt, poi, staff, break, belly, HOOP(etc.!!) dancers frolicking freely under the sweet sun or a full moon in between a beauty-full mirror lake ,the desert, or ocean and a mountain range with trees and wildlife that groove with the never-ending mandala of friends, soulmates, family (of course-dogs too!!) who are creating infinate,loving energy that spirals brightly into the cosmos reaching our ancestors,our spirit guides and the higher power of our universe with such grace and ease....only to recognize and give thanks and praise for the celebration of ALL life and for the one thing that we all know so well-LOVE!!
****A BIG THANK YOU***** goes out to all of my freaky family that allows this to happen for me a couple times a year!!! I LOVE you all! Here's to the next throw down, ya'll!!!! MeOwNow!
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A teacher's thoughts with one month of school till summer:
No time....
no money...
this is where I want to be!!
Of these two things,
JUST SET ME FREE!
-and I'll be on my way!
Wake up when I want to...
howl and howl at the moo---n!
sleep till 3- don't matter to me,
-throw the "nine to five" away!
Grab guitar-
write a song,
fire hoop in da yard
it won't be long--
TILL I'M WITH MY FREAKS
WHERE I BELONG!!!
-cause MUSIC knows the way!
With my dog at the park:)
paint my soul ,make my mark,
write that book! ( be like SARK)
-DREAMS CAN COME TRUE,
HOORAY!!
Can't wait to DANCE!!!
Can't wait to PRANCE!!
This lifetime seems as our best chance,
to SHINE OUR LIGHT
and SPREAD DA LOVE
-it is our way to pray!
Thank you for this day!
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