My Blog

If I didn't belly dance....

jaia — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:48:42 GMT

...think of all the kick ass pants I'd miss out on. No really, How else would I get to wear and shop for and justify such cool clothes if I didn't have performances and performance income? ...I would have missed out on meeting such ultra cool peeps from all around. ...life would lack a little luster. ...ah, live music and world musicians!! ...tuning into a lineage of women I receive energy from daily, just by continuing the dance. ...learning new intruments. ...my sewing ability might have never grown. ...crafting might not have been so useful. continue this sentance, in my blog, if you will ` If I didn't belly dance...

Give gifts of humanity this season...

jaia — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 14:20:56 GMT

Before you go and spend outrageous amounts of money on family and friends this season please first consider this... A true gift of love is one of humanity. I was so honored when my dear friend purchased a flock of chicks in my name for a family in Guatamala. Purchased through Heifer International, this gift will bless this family 10 fold. One egg is a days supply of protein for a three year old child, and as the hens mature, and reproduce, the abundance of eggs can be taken to market as income for these families. For as little as $10, you can give gifts of compassion this year, rather than material objects. Please look into the following foundations to support. If you have a foundation other than this, please add the link and repost. Blessings, jaia Instead of hitting the malls on Black Friday, head for the mountains, play outside with your family, or share dinner with friends. www.heifer.org www.seva.org

Our time to Stand Up!!

jaia — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 13:50:15 GMT

The other day, when seeing Hillary stand up among her peers for the first Democratic debate in this presidential race, I was moved to tears. In everything from her choice of earthy brown, through a sea of black suits, to her confidence, she was brilliant. She commanded respect from the men that stood among her. As always wisdom guided her words, and she was calm, she maintained, and she prevailed. I thought of Sojourner Truth, of Susan B. Anthony, of Alice Walker. How they fought women's sufferage, and gave us the power to create the laws that govern us. Though voting among women was at an all time low through the past presidential election, I feel, I hope, a renaissance is at hand. Their fight will not be forgotten. The campaign for our rights will awaken, and our voices will echo the wise women of the past. Encourage everyone you know to vote, to get registered now, take back the power and be ready to be part of the change. "Thinking you have no power is indeed the only thing that takes your power away."

Performing during a Mercury Retrograde

jaia — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 11:39:36 GMT

Disclaimer: A few years ago, the first thing I would do as soon as I received my new Astrological calendar would be to look up all the Mercury retrogrades and plan my year around it. Then a "non-believer" said to me, "what if you are drawing on this energy and bringing it to yourself, because of you consciousness of it?". So I ended this retrograde ritual, (but of course still purchase the Astrological calendar, and always will). I have made my peace with Mercury, I now try to use this time as a re-evaluation, re-establishing and re-fueling in these areas. Back to the story: Ananda was booked to do a show for the Freedom Festival in our town. We invited some friends to perform with us, for fun and fellowship. Of the Ananda gals, Amanda has been out due to baby soon at hand, Carrie, from Ananda, could not make it because on a count of going out of town. Leigh, the only other gal from my troupe, received a stress fracture in her foot while running a marathon the weekend before. So then there were three. DeLacey, a dancer from Tallahassee, that's really from Knoxville, who had just moved back to town, and Archer, the "fire poi guy" who has performed with us before. Day of the show: DeLacey and I meet up, (with Amanda, who though pregnant, has been ironically present.) get the game plan and head to the show. Archer is to meet us there. We think. Archer's cell phone is like the black hole, the great void, the anti-signal. I spoke to him briefly Sat. morning, then-- nothing, not even a ring. We go on in 15. Still no Archer. Time to dance, just improv poi parts, everything will be fine. Ya know what? It was more than fine. The Heat: I know it seems like I am harping, but you have no idea. There was one point during performance where I felt like I couldn't make my body move. Seriously. My brain was grapevine/overshimming to the left, but physically, nothing happened. I was surprised, that had never happened to me before. Re-group, Now I said move! The conclusion: I had a blast! DeLacey and I perfomed beautifully, and I dare say will dance together very soon. Our styles are similar enough to match, but different enough to keep 'em guessing! I loved sharing the stage with such a talented dancer the Moral: Don't be so quick to "blame" Mercury for your chaos and troubles, He just may prove to know more than you and change a situation to your benefit, if you can release your ego...

Tagging of a different variety

jaia — Tue, 17 Apr 2007 23:50:36 GMT

1. Grab the nearest book. 2. Open the book to page 23. 3. Find the fifth sentence. 4. Post the text of the next three sentences in your journal along with these instructions. Don't dig for your favorite book, the cool book, or the intellectual one: pick the CLOSEST. 5. Tag five other people to do the same. He nodded. "Are you Bhagabhati's son?" His words were out before I had had time to get Father's letter from my pocket. "Autobiography of a Yogi", truely the closest book to me.

So how do you make connections?

jaia — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 14:33:45 GMT

How to start? Okay, here is the struggle for me. getting this on paper is a little scary. I see pictures of bellydancers with well known bellydancers all the time. I personally look up to these ladies is because their knowledge is greater than my own, and I wish to learn. One definition of "Guru" is the passing of the light", or "the trickling down of knowledge". So the "more experienced dancer" is then by definition, to me, a guru. I guess it's easy to get star struck, I think soooo many dancers are also seeking this knowledge exchange, and the "well knowns" are "put on high", which in turn, I think, ends up being more of an energy leaching. That is, we learners take more than we give to the teachers. Not to mention, the fact that in our industry, the better a dancer is "known" the more work, shows, performances, or gigs, we get. We want and need to make connections. To commune with our community. How do we do this cooperatively? How can we connect and become known without climbing the ladder on someone else's back? That being said, how can we connect so that there is equal exchange? How do we approach without "encroaching"? What can I give of myself to the teacher that is always giving?

Eostre is upon us

jaia — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:21:10 GMT

I have been playing in the dirt all week. The ebb and flow of what grows in my gardens changes from year to year... For instance, I think the Hollyhocks aren't coming back this year! Which makes me sad because my oldest daughter grew them from seed four years ago... And my Bluebells are coming back, which I completely didn't expect (but am pleased to announce). Rosemary has bloomed all winter, and the Lilies are growing furiously. Blessigns to your garden, may it be often visited my the faire-folk.

Moria returns!

jaia — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 13:57:43 GMT

Though I should post a new entry for current info on March 10 Moria workshop. Saturday March 10 Ladies total Fitness, Maryville TN 12-5 pm jaiamara@bellsouth.net to register

Moria workshop in Knoxville

jaia — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 19:19:40 GMT

There are a few spaces left for Moria's most challenging workshop to date. She will be teaching drills to push the intermediate to advanced dancer past the point of burnout! Excercises will be taught to strengthen bellydance technique, along with drills for layering, level changes and shimmies! The fourth hour of this workshop will be a discussion covering costuming and stage presence. A hafla that evening will provide some of the best food and dancing Knoxville has ever seen! Don't let this one pass you by!

acceptance...

jaia — Sat, 05 Aug 2006 14:26:09 GMT

Okay, so with all the unbalanced "solar" energy happening in the world right now (violence, oppression, WAR) being left unchecked, I have began to feel the effects on a cellular level. Less patience with my children, messy house (more than usual), irritability, and even lack of creativity. I even feel a level of anxiousness behind the scenes, if you will. I have also notice this unrest and irritability on the tribe, through postings and blogs. So here is my "counter-blog" The Institute for HeartMath reports that one 5 minute episode of anger will depress your immune system for 6 hours! Our immune system is directly linked to your health and your ability to 'fight' off some of the toxins and pathogens in your system. So, learning to 'tame the beast' within is of utmost importance in keeping your immune system in good shape. When you find yourself irritated, frustrated, angry - just remember you are giving away your health to the other person. And giving way to the solar inbalance in our world. If we could remember that each and every person is a spirit of light, mucked up with the dirty layers that this life can bring. We are all on this journey with a goal of becoming a pure light being again, but some are lost, distracted, or overcome by this feeling of anger looming from our world right now. We, as the visionaries, need to rise above, tap into the lunar energies to help restore balance. Sending out Love, when hatred comes our way, sending Peace to an adversary. As a light being, any darkness sent our way diminishes before reaching us. And by rising above situations of shallowness, we ourselves peel back our own layers and reveal more of our own light, as well as the light in others.

A tall glass of water...

jaia — Mon, 26 Jun 2006 16:16:30 GMT

AaaaHHhh !!! So today it finally rained here. its been something like two weeks at least. The aroma from my happy little faery garden out front has filled the house. Scents of Rosemary and Sage, mingled with the Lavender that has just bloomed along with and the Oregano and Lemon balm,...aaaahhhhhhh ,... incense by nature.

how did this happen?

jaia — Tue, 20 Jun 2006 19:32:10 GMT

not since i was in high school and had my tonsils taken out have i felt like this. i didn't know grown ups could get strep throat. okay, i guess i knew we could, just didn't know we did. musta caught it from anna, thanks anna, which means the rest of the family will probably have it soon! then i go into nurture triple time mode. bein the mama means everybody needs you and loves you, but are incapable of caring for you on the same level as you care for them. what power! i love this job!!

the air...

jaia — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 13:09:17 GMT

this morning the air smells so clean and feels so crisp, i'm thinking i'll take the kids up to the park (smoky mountains, that is). It's one of those days that has the deep blue sky and the cotton puffy clouds. the birds are rejoicing. seems like there is a blanket of peace covering us, if only for a moment.