My Blog

The Power of Intentions

bellydance_richmond — Tue, 13 May 2008 03:55:19 GMT

Intentions are indeed very powerful if they are created in the right way. There are a few basic rules you will want to understand, otherwise your intentions may simply evaporate, or even backfire. By backfire, I mean they create just the opposite of what you wanted. The Purpose of Making Intentions: We use intentions to guide our attention in a new direction, in order to create a new or different reality. For example, maybe you'd like to change your job. Most people would start with the intent to have a better job, as the old one doesn't satisfy anymore. However, trouble may be brewing here already... If you move on from something you don't like, to something you prefer, you may deny your current situation. In order to make successful intentions, it is important to deal with the current situation first, and do some analytical thinking about it. Understand that you created this situation so don't blame anybody else for it. Take full responsibility, and understand that you are the only person responsible for the current circumstances. Once you do away with any judgments of your current situation, you can see it from a neutral perspective. There was a point in your life when it was the perfect decision. Don't compare the now with the past, as you have since had new experiences and gained a different viewpoint. This is a common mistake in thinking: it is like a loophole in the "mind". You jump from one time-line into another time-line, and then compare them. This leads to false conclusions. Besides that, leave the past; don't reinvent it. Evaluate Your Current Situation...if you look at your current situation without judgments, you empower yourself. Only from a neutral standpoint can you make a powerful new decision. This new decision will be based on deliberate intent of reaction to circumstances. This is where choice and free will comes in. Remember - be neutral...approach it like it's the 1st intent. What do I like about what I'm doing now...my current job. What do I want to improve in my next endeavor? What would be the perfect life for me? What would I like to feel from my next endeavor? What am I good at? In which areas is this endeavor supporting me to live my full potential? Write down the answers to these questions, and start to craft a few full sentences out from you answers. Include all the positive points. Make these sentences as precise as possible. It could read like this: "My next endeavor is exciting: it flows with me, makes me happy, and I am able to learn and grow with it. When you are done, read it out loud. If you have trouble saying the sentence, or even memorizing it, then it is not ready. Simply take a few moments and refine it. Overcoming Pitfalls when Creating Intentions are formed in your conscious mind; however, it's your subconscious that received these commands and creates the necessary opportunities in your life. In other words, your conscious mind is deciding on this new opportunity and creates a new reality. 1. Use only positive words 2. Include a time frame 3. Remove negations 4. Be precise - Here is a sample test. Don't think about a blue elephant! What happened? You thought about the blue elephant, you may even imagine it. The subconscious does not work analytically; it cannot understand words like "don't" or "not". It works mostly in images, sounds, and smells. You want to avoid use of any negative words in your intentions. Always formulate your intentions in such as way that they reflect the outcome of what you'd like to create. Example of how not to do it - I don't want to have so much responsibility. Better Example - In my new endeavor I feel comfortable with my responsibility. Including a Time Frame - There is a difference between creating in your own universe or in the physical world. When you create inside yourself, there is not time involved - you consciousness is timeless! For example, if you'd like to change your attitude toward someone, you don't need to set a time frame. You can simply create the intention: "I appreciate so and so", or "I value so and so's viewpoints and beliefs." It will work instantly if there is no other belief or intention in its way. When you deal with the physical world, setting a time frame becomes important. The physical world works within time and space. If you build a new house, first you must have a plan, and then you move dirt, assemble wood, install plumbing, and move furniture, until the house is complete. It takes time and effort. Pay attention to any reactions you have when you formulate your intention. Your mind may interfere and tell you: "No way. I will never get this," or "this is impossible." If you encounter these instant judgments, formulate your intentions differently, so that they feel more do-able. Sometimes you may want to break a big intention into smaller pieces. Most of all...if you include people who do not have postivie intentions focused toward you - KEEP THEM OUT OF YOUR SPACE. When you clear yourself of people who envy you, your intentions will have a wonderful outcome. Take care and remember - Love yourself

It's Late....Thank You All

bellydance_richmond — Tue, 06 May 2008 21:59:37 GMT

It's been over a month since the Karim Nagi 3-day Arab Dance Workshops and Lectures! It has taken me this long to pull everything together, reflect on certain outcomes, and finally pull my head from under the covers and once again.....FACE THE WORLD!!! First of all I would like to give thanks and praise to the following people: Karim Nagi - You were wonderful. I consider myself very lucky to have you as a mentor, teacher, instructor and most of all FRIEND. You are one of the few the really GET me. Be blessed, prosperous, healthy and happy all the days of your life. I'm looking foward to seeing you soon. Chandani - Thank you for coming to vend your lovely dance ware and eye candy, but most of all being a solid and caring friend. This was my second promotion and you made it seem so easy. Whatever you need, please let me know. I'll be there. Saahira Nashita - The angel that saved the day!!! Thank you for your help and expertise. You were a Godsend. I'm looking foward to planning "EARTHDANCE 2008" with you as my assistant. Your performance was breathtaking. Hang in there ladybug. RanNahid - Thank you for the wonderful performance! I am very happy to have met you and can now call you "friend". Zuleika - East Coast Classic Promoter, inspirational performer and friend. You captured the entired audience in your spell. I loved it. Nadira - Wonderful, beautiful, inspiring. Thank you Morgana - Inspiring, and enchanting...Thank you Women of Selket - You do what you do BEST....Thank you Johara - Self-less....thank you sweetpea....your performance was Magnificent !!!! AND THANK YOU ALL WHO PERFORMED IN THE FRIDAY NIGHT HAFLA - DJ DISCO PARTY...........Rachel, Nicole, and others........ SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!

Karim Nagi/Turbo Tabla ARAB DANCE LECTURE/WORKSHOP APRIL 4-6, 2008

bellydance_richmond — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:22:38 GMT

WHERE: University of Richmond North Court Reception Room 40 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Virginia 23173 SCHEDULE: FRIDAY - APRIL 4, 2008 2:00 PM - SURVEY OF ARAB MUSIC FOR DANCE (LECTURE): Although music exists without dance, dance rarely exists without music. Arab culture has a strong dance tradition with specific music that propels it. Students will study the relationship between music and the movement it creates or accompanies. The context, storylines and themes of each song will be explained. Overviews and recording samples will be given in the categories of Performance (Stage Dabka and Raqs Sharqi), Ritual (Zikr, Zaar, Sama/Whirling), and Social Dance (Dabka and Raqs Baladi). Karim will also demonstrate the intimate connection between rhythm and movement in the performance category, with live examples. 5:00 - DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:00 - 10:00 DJ TABLA DANCE DISCO - Not Your Typical HAFLA – Be prepared to have the time of your LIFE!!!!!! In addition to loving modern music, DJ TABLA (Karim) is also a traditionalist. He has always loved the "pre-classics" of Egypt, Syria and Turkey. The great songs of the early 20th century have an intoxicating feel and spirit that is rarely found in modern music. Karim re-records these classics using top-notch musicians and singers. He bolsters the sound with heavy grooves and Electronica. These grooves (remember, Karim is a drummer) serve to propel the music on the dance floor, while maintaining the authentic spirit of the original composition. Karim prefers the use of traditional instruments, instead of the keyboards and synthesizers that dominate modern Electronica. SATURDAY - APRIL 5, 2008 9: 00 MAQAM FOR DANCERS (workshop): Maqam is the Arabic system of scales and melody creation. All songs weather classical, pop or dance, are created in a Maqam, which dictates whether the song is happy, somber, uplifting, spiritual or sensual. Dancers will learn how to recognize, sing and move to maqams by learning famous song examples. Special attention will be given to Taksim, the art of instrumental solo improvisation. The dancer will practice interpreting the instrumental music into movement and personifying the mood of the music. This workshop is vital for dancers who wish to better interpret melody into movement. 12:00 - CATERED MIDDLE EASTERN LUNCH $10.00 1:30 MUSICALITY FOR DANCERS (workshop): Despite any mastery of technique and bodily dexterity, true dance expression requires musicality. The best dancers are those who emulate the music into their own movement. Karim will demystify Arab music for the dancer. Several recurring themes in Arab music will be identified (using recorded examples) and explained in emotive, non musical terms. The class will cover Taksim, Melodic Themes, Vocal vs. Instrumental Songs, Rhythms & Rhythmic Changes, Melodic Modulation, Song Structure, Orchestration and Instrumentation. Karim will guide the students through several songs and lead them in dancing to each of these themes. This is a movement class that will help the dancer become the physical personification of the music. 3:00 FROM THE VILLAGE TO THE STAGE - ARAB MUSIC & DANCE, THEN & NOW (LECTURE): This lecture will illustrate the function and setting of dance and music in the Arab world over the past 100 years. It is wide in scope, and will attempt to differentiate between dance and music in ritual settings, vs. entertainment and cabaret forms. The music ensembles and compositional styles will be explained, with listening examples. We will also discuss how dance performances evolve when transported from village to urban settings, including the introduction of choreography. The controversial role and status of the Dancer in society will be illuminated. Dance and music in the different regions in the Arab world (Egypt, Gulf, Levant and North Africa) will be compared with one another. The talk will conclude with an analysis on the effect video and mass media distributions have on the art form and Arab society. 5:00 DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:30 - 10:30 PROFESSIONAL GUEST PERFORMERS $10.00 SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2008 9:00 SAGAT & Zills FINGER CYMBALS (workshop): Using the techniques of the Egyptian Sufi Zikr, Karim will present the Zills as a classical instrument and not simply a dance accessory. Karim has developed a comprehensive zill method that utilizes drum techniques, and an ambidextrous approach. Students will learn the Arabic rhythms by name and how to play them while dancing! Dancers will learn to use the cymbals to communicate rhythms to a band and accent solo dancing and body movements. Dancers and percussionists of all levels are welcome. Karim promises to transform dancers into musicians with his finger cymbal teaching approach. 12:00 LUNCH ON YOU OWN 1:00 RHYTHM FOR DANCERS (workshop): It's time to raise the bar for rhythmic literacy! A dancer's immediate connection to the music is the rhythm produced by the Tabla and percussion. Karim teaches each rhythm using the three-sound clapping approach. Karim then performs sample rhythms on the Tabla. Students will learn each rhythm by name, "dum-tak" vocalization, and clapping. Afterwards the dancers will learn choreography segments to help gain bodily control with the sample rhythm, putting theory into practice. By physically personifying each Rhythm, bodily mastery of that rhythm will be achieved. This movement workshop is perfect for any dancer who wants to better understand what they are dancing to. 4:00 END OF SEMINAR PayPal: oryantaldanse@comcast.net Money Order – MAIL TO: Patricia Clark Hines 3927 Biddeford Place, Richmond, Virginia 23233 Full weekend - $190 Individual Lectures: $60 each Individual Dance Workshops: $70 each Catered Middle Eastern Lunch: $10 Professional Guest Performancers Show: $10 (Saturday Night)

The Princess Groove By Sarah Zadok

bellydance_richmond — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 14:37:28 GMT

This evening, I was feeling kind of blue. I was tired, feeling over-worked, over-weight, and under-appreciated. I didn't feel like going out at all, but I've been a committed student of a Middle Eastern Dance class that meets every Wednesday night, and even though my mind was begging to differ, I knew my body would thank me later. I've learned from experience that I can go to class in a bad mood, but I never leave class in a bad mood. So I threw on some clothes that reflected my drab mood and headed out to dance class. I adore this class. It fills a gaping void in the creative department in my life. And I adore my teacher. She is beauty incarnate. I could watch her for hours. She is the most graceful and fluid dancer I have ever seen. She looks like her name should be Jasmine or Cleopatra, but her name translates from Hebrew to "gift from G d," which, truth be told, suits her perfectly. Her guidance is beyond instruction in technique. She treats movement as a meditation and encourages us to strive for beauty of movement in all areas of our lives. All I could see was a postpartum pooch shimmying in a baggy tee-shirt This particular evening, I was feeling stiff inside and out. And to top it off, she had brought in a stage mirror to help hone in on a certain movement we were working on. I usually don't mind looking at myself in the mirror, but tonight I just couldn't quite get into it. I felt like everyone else was dressed better, moved more fluidly, and was, basically, just having more fun. This style of dance celebrates the body and emphasizes the beauty of natural movement regardless of shape or size, but all I could see was a postpartum pooch shimmying in a baggy tee-shirt. Not exactly the image of fluid beauty. My teacher noticed me grimacing in the mirror, and asked about my mental whereabouts. "I feel so un-beautiful tonight," I blurted. She stared at me deeply for a long moment and then took my hand and led me to the center of the room. She changed the music and disappeared behind the mirror. "Tonight, you are all princesses... follow me." Darbukah drums pulsed an earthy and exotic rhythm as she ceremoniously donned a red velvet tiara thick with gold beads and demonstrated our task. The assignment was to wear the tiara, walk the interior of the circle on the balls of our feet (the "pigeon" step), chest raised with our arms out to the sides. We needed to greet each woman in the circle with our eyes, continue to the center of the circle, and perform a free-style princess dance in tempo with the drums, and in character. Each woman had to take a turn and then pass the crown to someone else. It was not optional. Eye contact was mandatory and we were instructed not to make a parody of it, not to over-do it, but rather to assume the persona of a true princess. Confident – Regal – Simple – Beautiful. "Princesses don't show their effort. Let the movement be slight and gentle," she coached. "Stand up tall, believe that you are worthy of the throne. You are the daughter of the King." I'll be honest, I wasn't feeling super-princessy. I would have preferred to just watch everyone else strut their princess-pigeon selves. But I did it. And ladies, I am so glad I did! I can't remember the last time I wore a tiara in a room full of adult women, and played "princess" with musical accompaniment. It was so liberating. So beautifying – if that is a word. I was nervous and self-conscious when I began, but the faces of the women I greeted helped me forget about myself a bit. When my turn was over, I passed on the crown and watched the rest of the women spin into royalty before my eyes. It was one of the most powerful experiences I have ever had. It was so transformative, so Queen Esther Women of all ages, shapes and sizes unfolded into their best, most regal and elegant selves. Laced with confidence, style, grace, class and purpose, these women - not all fantastic dancers, by the way - became perfect princesses. It was pure therapy. My focus completely shifted from hyper-body awareness to super-soul awareness. I transformed from shlumpy Mommy to "Princess Sarah" using my body, the chalice of the soul, to acknowledge Him and thank Him through dance. It was so transformative, so Queen Esther. There are plenty of times that I find myself feeling totally out of touch with my inner self. I forget that I come from a long royal line... Sarah, Rachel, Rebecca, Leah, Esther… and this dance reminded me of how possible it is to access that place inside of me. When I'm in Princess mode (I'm talking daughter of "The King of Kings," not the Sleeping Beauty variety), not only do I feel confident and purposeful, but I share that vibe with everyone around me. A true princess elevates her surroundings, she lifts up her people, she is a confident and selfless leader. You better believe that since that night I've invested in a few extra tiaras to keep around the house, just in case. And there is no question as to my costume for Purim. After all, every one of us women is a Daughter of The King. We need to remember that simple, glorious fact and own it.

Karim Nagi/Turbo Tabla ARAB DANCE LECTURE/WORKSHOP APRIL 4-6, 2008

bellydance_richmond — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:38:31 GMT

WHERE: University of Richmond North Court Reception Room 40 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Virginia 23173 HOTEL: Hilton Garden Inn Richmond Innsbrook, Glen Allen 4050 Cox Rd, Glen Allen, VA 23060 Phone: 804-521-2900 Official site: www.hiltongardeninn.com SCHEDULE: FRIDAY - APRIL 4, 2008 2:00 PM - SURVEY OF ARAB MUSIC FOR DANCE (LECTURE): Although music exists without dance, dance rarely exists without music. Arab culture has a strong dance tradition with specific music that propels it. Students will study the relationship between music and the movement it creates or accompanies. The context, storylines and themes of each song will be explained. Overviews and recording samples will be given in the categories of Performance (Stage Dabka and Raqs Sharqi), Ritual (Zikr, Zaar, Sama/Whirling), and Social Dance (Dabka and Raqs Baladi). Karim will also demonstrate the intimate connection between rhythm and movement in the performance category, with live examples. 5:00 - DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:00 - 10:00 DJ TABLA DANCE DISCO - Not Your Typical HAFLA – Be prepared to have the time of your LIFE!!!!!! In addition to loving modern music, DJ TABLA (Karim) is also a traditionalist. He has always loved the "pre-classics" of Egypt, Syria and Turkey. The great songs of the early 20th century have an intoxicating feel and spirit that is rarely found in modern music. Karim re-records these classics using top-notch musicians and singers. He bolsters the sound with heavy grooves and Electronica. These grooves (remember, Karim is a drummer) serve to propel the music on the dance floor, while maintaining the authentic spirit of the original composition. Karim prefers the use of traditional instruments, instead of the keyboards and synthesizers that dominate modern Electronica. SATURDAY - APRIL 5, 2008 9: 00 MAQAM FOR DANCERS (workshop): Maqam is the Arabic system of scales and melody creation. All songs weather classical, pop or dance, are created in a Maqam, which dictates whether the song is happy, somber, uplifting, spiritual or sensual. Dancers will learn how to recognize, sing and move to maqams by learning famous song examples. Special attention will be given to Taksim, the art of instrumental solo improvisation. The dancer will practice interpreting the instrumental music into movement and personifying the mood of the music. This workshop is vital for dancers who wish to better interpret melody into movement. 12:00 - CATERED MIDDLE EASTERN LUNCH $10.00 1:30 MUSICALITY FOR DANCERS (workshop): Despite any mastery of technique and bodily dexterity, true dance expression requires musicality. The best dancers are those who emulate the music into their own movement. Karim will demystify Arab music for the dancer. Several recurring themes in Arab music will be identified (using recorded examples) and explained in emotive, non musical terms. The class will cover Taksim, Melodic Themes, Vocal vs. Instrumental Songs, Rhythms & Rhythmic Changes, Melodic Modulation, Song Structure, Orchestration and Instrumentation. Karim will guide the students through several songs and lead them in dancing to each of these themes. This is a movement class that will help the dancer become the physical personification of the music. 3:00 FROM THE VILLAGE TO THE STAGE - ARAB MUSIC & DANCE, THEN & NOW (LECTURE): This lecture will illustrate the function and setting of dance and music in the Arab world over the past 100 years. It is wide in scope, and will attempt to differentiate between dance and music in ritual settings, vs. entertainment and cabaret forms. The music ensembles and compositional styles will be explained, with listening examples. We will also discuss how dance performances evolve when transported from village to urban settings, including the introduction of choreography. The controversial role and status of the Dancer in society will be illuminated. Dance and music in the different regions in the Arab world (Egypt, Gulf, Levant and North Africa) will be compared with one another. The talk will conclude with an analysis on the effect video and mass media distributions have on the art form and Arab society. 5:00 DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:30 - 10:30 PROFESSIONAL GUEST PERFORMERS $10.00 SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2008 9:00 SAGAT & Zills FINGER CYMBALS (workshop): Using the techniques of the Egyptian Sufi Zikr, Karim will present the Zills as a classical instrument and not simply a dance accessory. Karim has developed a comprehensive zill method that utilizes drum techniques, and an ambidextrous approach. Students will learn the Arabic rhythms by name and how to play them while dancing! Dancers will learn to use the cymbals to communicate rhythms to a band and accent solo dancing and body movements. Dancers and percussionists of all levels are welcome. Karim promises to transform dancers into musicians with his finger cymbal teaching approach. 12:00 LUNCH ON YOU OWN 1:00 RHYTHM FOR DANCERS (workshop): It's time to raise the bar for rhythmic literacy! A dancer's immediate connection to the music is the rhythm produced by the Tabla and percussion. Karim teaches each rhythm using the three-sound clapping approach. Karim then performs sample rhythms on the Tabla. Students will learn each rhythm by name, "dum-tak" vocalization, and clapping. Afterwards the dancers will learn choreography segments to help gain bodily control with the sample rhythm, putting theory into practice. By physically personifying each Rhythm, bodily mastery of that rhythm will be achieved. This movement workshop is perfect for any dancer who wants to better understand what they are dancing to. 4:00 END OF SEMINAR (HURRY - WE ARE QUICKLY FILLING UP - SIGN-UP NOW TO GET EARLY PRICES) PayPal: oryantaldanse@comcast.net Money Order – MAIL TO: Patricia Clark Hines 3927 Biddeford Place, Richmond, Virginia 23233 EARLY BIRD MUST BE POSTMARKED BEFORE OR ON 2/15/2008 Full weekend - $190 Individual Lectures: $60 each Individual Dance Workshops: $70 each Catered Middle Eastern Lunch: $10 Professional Guest Performancers Show: $10 (Saturday Night)

Remedial Female Vocabulary

bellydance_richmond — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:00:29 GMT

So, I was on the 'net earlier today and I crossed this on one of my girl's pages. I read through this and thought you might enjoy the read and the males needed a little education. This is oh so true in most cases, lol. Men, you should read this and take notes. 1.) FINE: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right, and you need to shut up. I'll add that this is sometimes a "fine then" that really means you've done something wrong. 2.) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means half an hour. Five Minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the game before helping around the house. 3.) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine (see #1). 4.) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It! 5.) Loud Sigh: This is not actually a word but a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing . (Refer back to #3 for the meaning of nothing. ) 6.) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman can make to a man. "That's okay" means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake. 7.) Thanks: A woman is thanking you - do not question or faint. Just say you're welcome. 8.) Whatever: Is women's way of saying "%@&* YOU!" 9.) Don't worry about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking "what's wrong" - for the woman's response refer to #3.

Most Embarrassing Moment in 08

bellydance_richmond — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 07:47:01 GMT

Is this too early? Well, thus far I have had my first "Most Embarrassing Moment in 08" and it's only January 19th. Keep it rolling. Write your most embarrasing moment and keep adding to the list for all to see. 1. I didn't know I was wearing a pair of jeans with a split down the crack until a woman in WaWa told me. No wonder a man walked up behind me and said "ummm nice". Thank goodnesss I had my dance pants on under the jeans. - Jan 18, 08 -BatSheva

Ok - I Hijacked this from a Tribe.net Friend

bellydance_richmond — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 14:06:07 GMT

But I did ask permission :-) This quote arrived from a friend of mine... by 60 Minutes Correspondent Andy Rooney (CBS) "As I grow in age, I value women over 40 most of all. Here are just a few reasons why: A woman over 40 will never wake you in the middle of the night and ask, 'What are you thinking?' She doesn't care what you think. If a woman over 40 doesn't want to watch the game, she doesn't sit around whining about it. She does something she wants to do, and it's usually more interesting. Women over 40 are dignified. They seldom have a screaming match with you at the opera or in the middle of an expensive restaurant. Of course, if you deserve it, they won't hesitate to shoot you if they think they can get away with it. Older women are generous with praise, often undeserved. They know what it's like to be unappreciated. Women get psychic as they age. You never have to confess your sins to a woman over 40. Once you get past a wrinkle or two, a woman over 40 is far sexier than her younger counterpart. Older women are forthright and honest. They'll tell you right off that you are a jerk if you are acting like one. You don't ever have to wonder where you stand with her . Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize. For all those men who say, 'Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?', here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage! " Just thought I'd pass that on. Wishing everyone a very happy new year filled with dance and fun and lots of love

KARIM NAGI/TURBO TABLA ARAB DANCE LECTURE/WORKSHOP

bellydance_richmond — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 21:40:39 GMT

KARIM NAGI/TURBO TABLA ARAB DANCE LECTURE/WORKSHOP WHEN: APRIL 4-6, 2008 WHERE: University of Richmond, North Court Reception Room, 40 Westhampton Way, Richmond, Virginia 23173 SCHEDULE: FRDAY - APRIL 4, 2008 2:00 PM - SURVEY OF ARAB MUSIC FOR DANCE (LECTURE): Although music exists without dance, dance rarely exists without music. Arab culture has a strong dance tradition with specific music that propels it. Students will study the relationship between music and the movement it creates or accompanies. The context, storylines and themes of each song will be explained. Overviews and recording samples will be given in the categories of Performance (Stage Dabka and Raqs Sharqi), Ritual (Zikr, Zaar, Sama/Whirling), and Social Dance (Dabka and Raqs Baladi). Karim will also demonstrate the intimate connection between rhythm and movement in the performance category, with live examples. 5:00 - DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:00 - 10:00 DJ TABLA DANCE DISCO - Not Your Typical HAFLA – Be prepared to have the time of your LIFE!!!!!! In addition to loving modern music, DJ TABLA (Karim) is also a traditionalist. He has always loved the "pre-classics" of Egypt, Syria and Turkey. The great songs of the early 20th century have an intoxicating feel and spirit that is rarely found in modern music. Karim re-records these classics using top-notch musicians and singers. He bolsters the sound with heavy grooves and Electronica. These grooves (remember, Karim is a drummer) serve to propel the music on the dance floor, while maintaining the authentic spirit of the original composition. Karim prefers the use of traditional instruments, instead of the keyboards and synthesizers that dominate modern Electronica. SATURDAY - APRIL 5, 2008 9: 00 MAQAM FOR DANCERS (workshop): Maqam is the Arabic system of scales and melody creation. All songs weather classical, pop or dance, are created in a Maqam, which dictates whether the song is happy, somber, uplifting, spiritual or sensual. Dancers will learn how to recognize, sing and move to maqams by learning famous song examples. Special attention will be given to Taksim, the art of instrumental solo improvisation. The dancer will practice interpreting the instrumental music into movement and personifying the mood of the music. This workshop is vital for dancers who wish to better interpret melody into movement. 12:00 - CATERED MIDDLE EASTERN LUNCH $10.00 1:30 MUSICALITY FOR DANCERS (workshop): Despite any mastery of technique and bodily dexterity, true dance expression requires musicality. The best dancers are those who emulate the music into their own movement. Karim will demystify Arab music for the dancer. Several recurring themes in Arab music will be identified (using recorded examples) and explained in emotive, non musical terms. The class will cover Taksim, Melodic Themes, Vocal vs. Instrumental Songs, Rhythms & Rhythmic Changes, Melodic Modulation, Song Structure, Orchestration and Instrumentation. Karim will guide the students through several songs and lead them in dancing to each of these themes. This is a movement class that will help the dancer become the physical personification of the music. 3:00 FROM THE VILLAGE TO THE STAGE - ARAB MUSIC & DANCE, THEN & NOW (LECTURE): This lecture will illustrate the function and setting of dance and music in the Arab world over the past 100 years. It is wide in scope, and will attempt to differentiate between dance and music in ritual settings, vs. entertainment and cabaret forms. The music ensembles and compositional styles will be explained, with listening examples. We will also discuss how dance performances evolve when transported from village to urban settings, including the introduction of choreography. The controversial role and status of the Dancer in society will be illuminated. Dance and music in the different regions in the Arab world (Egypt, Gulf, Levant and North Africa) will be compared with one another. The talk will conclude with an analysis on the effect video and mass media distributions have on the art form and Arab society. 5:00 DINNER ON YOUR OWN 7:30 - 10:30 PROFESSIONAL GUEST PERFORMERS $10.00 SUNDAY APRIL 6, 2008 9:00 SAGAT & Zills FINGER CYMBALS (workshop): Using the techniques of the Egyptian Sufi Zikr, Karim will present the Zills as a classical instrument and not simply a dance accessory. Karim has developed a comprehensive zill method that utilizes drum techniques, and an ambidextrous approach. Students will learn the Arabic rhythms by name and how to play them while dancing! Dancers will learn to use the cymbals to communicate rhythms to a band and accent solo dancing and body movements. Dancers and percussionists of all levels are welcome. Karim promises to transform dancers into musicians with his finger cymbal teaching approach. 12:00 LUNCH ON YOU OWN 1:00 RHYTHM FOR DANCERS (workshop): It's time to raise the bar for rhythmic literacy! A dancer's immediate connection to the music is the rhythm produced by the Tabla and percussion. Karim teaches each rhythm using the three-sound clapping approach. Karim then performs sample rhythms on the Tabla. Students will learn each rhythm by name, "dum-tak" vocalization, and clapping. Afterwards the dancers will learn choreography segments to help gain bodily control with the sample rhythm, putting theory into practice. By physically personifying each Rhythm, bodily mastery of that rhythm will be achieved. This movement workshop is perfect for any dancer who wants to better understand what they are dancing to. 4:00 END OF SEMINAR EARLY BIRD PRICES – PAY BY FEBRUARY 15, 2008 FULL WEEKEND - $190 (DOES NOT INCLUDE SATUARDAY LUNCH or PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE ADD $10 FOR EACH) LECTURES ONLY: $60 - EACH INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS SAT/SUN: $70 EACH AFTER FEBRUARY 15, 2008 AND AT THE DOOR FULL WEEKEND - $210 (DOES NOT INCLUDE SATUARDAY LUNCH or PROFESSIONAL PERFORMANCE, ADD $10 FOR EACH) LECTURES ONLY: $70 – EACH INDIVIDUAL WORKSHOPS - SAT/SUN: $80 EACH

The Law of Action

bellydance_richmond — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 15:06:17 GMT

Yes folks, I'm sitting at home catching up on the Universal Laws and Conditions of Third Dimension Living. I try to refresh my life at the beginning of the Jewish New Year. This is my time of renewal. Enough about me. THE LAW OF ATTRACTION: No matter what we feel or know, no matter what out potential gifts or talents, only ACTION brings them to life. Those of us who think we understand concepts, such as commitment, courage, and love, one day discover that we only create knowingness when we act; doing becomes understanding. Every aspirant is a focal point of energy and should be a conscious focal point. In the midst of the whirl and storm (of the chaos of third dimension) she/he should make his/her presence felt. Presence meaning "Higher Self" must be felt by others. Just taking action is not necessarily enough, you need to follow through to the completion of your goal or quest if you are to successfully integrate the law of action into your life. Many people face problem after problem in their lives but only ever manage to chip away enough of the problem to be able to shelve it for a while until they have to face it again in the future. Unfortunately this procedure only manages to compound the problem making it even harder to deal with next time. What normally happens eventually is, a culmination of problems arises at the worst possible time in your life and suddenly you are in a crisis situation. As human beings, most of us often need to get to the crisis point before we will invoke the law of action. It is only through the law of action can we ever comfortably continue with our journey through life. I suppose it is a combination of fear and laziness why we often fail to take action when we should but those who do take the action steps before their problems lead to a crisis are the ones who have a much easier time with life. Taking action requires a certain amount of discipline and a change in your normal behavior. Although you can trick yourself into devising clever ways to avoid your problems and they may even seem rational, avoiding your problems will never work in the long run. You need to take action and by making it a habit your life will run so much more smoothly. The best way to take action is by dealing with the bigger issues in your life and forgetting about the trivial little issues. The trivial things will take care of themselves as you overcome the more significant concerns. You can even use the law of attraction in helping you to facilitate your action plan by remaining positive and keeping your thoughts on the achievement of your plan or goal. By remaining positive you may come up with innovative ideas that open up new doors that allow you to get to your goal sooner. A negative mindset will only cause frustration and impede your progress. The law of action works when you work and it has a kind of kinetic energy that keeps working for you as long as you remain focused on achieving your goal. Let go of the fear that got you in that difficult position in the first place or let go of the fear of failure if your plan is to achieve a new goal. Fear is the only thing that stops you from taking action and persistence is all you need to get where it is you want to be. Once you figure out what it is you want, taking action and never giving up is a sure fire success plan in getting there. Why wait for tomorrow, start integrating the law of action today and tomorrow you will already be on your way. Feel free to hit me up with comments BatSheva

The Law of Abundance

bellydance_richmond — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 14:18:38 GMT

"The Law of Abundance (sometimes referred to as the Law of Opulence or Success). By creating visualizations of abundance in our lives we draw this energy of success into our reality. Success or abundance does not only apply to money. There is success in communication, spirituality, relationships and so on. When creating the abundance of financial gain remember to be IN this world, but not OF this world. We are not the sum total of our possessions." One example of an abundant life is that of Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa on September 10, 1946, experienced what she later described as "the call within the call" while traveling to the Loreto convent in Darjeeling for her annual retreat. "I was to leave the convent and help the poor while living among them. It was an order. To fail would have been to break the faith." Despite Mother Teresa's success in growing the Missionaries of Charity' worldwide, her philosophy and implementation faced criticism. By 1996, she was operating 517 missions in more than 100 countries. At the time of her death, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity had over 4,000 sisters, an associated brotherhood of 300 members, and over 100,000 lay volunteers, operating 610 missions in 123 countries. These included hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counseling programs, orphanages, and schools. In 1979, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, "for work undertaken in the struggle to overcome poverty and distress, which also constitute a threat to peace." She refused the conventional ceremonial banquet given to laureates, and asked that the $192,000 funds be given to the poor in India, stating that earthly rewards were important only if they helped her help the world's needy. When Mother Teresa received the prize, she was asked, "What can we do to promote world peace?" She answered "Go home and love your family." Building on this theme in her Nobel Lecture, she said: "Around the world, not only in the poor countries, but I found the poverty of the West so much more difficult to remove. When I pick up a person from the street, hungry, I give him a plate of rice, a piece of bread, I have satisfied. I have removed that hunger. But a person that is shut out, that feels unwanted, unloved, terrified, the person that has been thrown out from society - that poverty is so hurtable and so much, and I find that very difficult. When you use the "Law of Abundance", what will you visualize? A peaceful world? A fat bank account? Wonderful relationships? What? I visualize living a life of love and peace. Don't get me wrong....I'm a very strange person (ask anyone). Quotes from Mother Teresa to live by: Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Even the rich are hungry for love, for being cared for, for being wanted, for having someone to call their own. Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world. Everytime you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing. I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Next: The Law of Action Namaste

Something to Think About

bellydance_richmond — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 21:10:54 GMT

Since the early 80s, the quality of life in the U.S. has been the most stressful of the 20th/21st century. Here is a list of companies that is confirmed as "Exporting America." These U.S. companies are either sending American jobs overseas, or choosing to employ cheap overseas labor, instead of American workers. Go to: http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/lou.dobbs.tonight/popups/exporting.america/content.html Once you have reviewed this list, it is up to each individual to choose to continue to use these companies or to support companies who hire American workers. The list is very long, so I am listing the companies I've personally chosen to cut out of my life and pocketbook. Aetna Alamo Rent A Car Allstate American Express American Greetings Anheuser-Busch Apple AT&T AT&T Wireless Bank of America Bassett Furniture Best Buy BISSELL Black & Decker Bose Corporation Bristol-Myers Squibb Capital One Carter's Charles Schwab ChevronTexaco Circuit City Cisco Systems Citigroup Clorox Coca-Cola Columbia House Comcast Holdings CompuServe Continental Airlines Corning Delta Air Lines Discover Dun & Bradstreet DuPont Eastman Kodak Eli Lilly E-Loan Equifax Ethan Allen Expedia ExxonMobil Fair Isaac Ford Motor Frito Lay Fruit of the Loom GE Capital General Motors Goodyear Tire & Rubber Google Halliburton Hasbro Manufacturing Services Hershey Hewlett-Packard Home Depot HSN IBM Intel International Paper ITT Educational Services ITT Industries Jacuzzi Johnson & Johnson Kellogg Kraft Foods Levi Strauss Lexmark International Lillian Vernon Lockheed Martin Lowe's Maidenform Mattel Maytag MetLife .......to name a few. I guess I need to find some land, get some organic seeds, grow my food, know where my water is, and build a farmhouse and smokehouse and live off the fat of the land. Nowdays, you don't know what you're eating. No I'm not paranoid. Just realistic. If there aren't any jobs for our large population....you can't continue to pay for services that's exported. Just Think About It. BatSheva

Creating 2008

bellydance_richmond — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:14:15 GMT

It is so hard for people to comprehend the importance of "positive thinking". Even I have trouble staying positive most of the time (and I teach techniques to others..Go figure). I think since 9/11, most of us are paranoid and are possibly suffering from psychological wounds from the experience. I grew up old school. Do you remember that old saying "what you see, is what you get". Unfortunately I am seeing our world getting caught-up in negative thinking patterns. Don't get me wrong, I am aware that I control my thought patterns and I can not control the thought patterns of others. This is how I see it; when a majority of anything is negative, there is an equal impact on those who are positive. I promise My words will be endless and some may think I am some kind of nut. That's okay. It is about me this time. "Finishing 2007 on the Positive Tip" was the title of my personal journal that tracked goals, triumphs and challenges. The month of March was my planning month for 08 because of the projects I envisioned that would bring together many present friends and new friends from the Richmond bellydance community. But to my dismay, there were more negative thinkers than I expected. Don’t get me wrong, the positive thinkers made March 07 a personal success for all. We never know who have cruel intentions (negative thought patterns) until their intentions are executed. What isn’t surprising is they do not know the law of cause and effect. The moment someone does something negative to another, a chain that can not be broken is set into motion. Not many people are aware of the “Universal Laws and Conditions of Third Dimension Living”. So I will share with you the most important laws of living a positive and magical lifestyle. Mind you “the lips of wisdom are closed, except to the ears of understanding.” I am going to skip the first law just to focus on the law of cause and effect (aka the law of karma). It is a long and detailed law, and I am more than willing to share it with you. After all, desire is the chain that binds man/woman to the reincarnation wheel. Karma is attracted only where the magnet of the personal ego still exists. An understanding of karma as the law of justice underlying life’s inequalities serves to free the human mind from resentment against God and man. Now, may I introduce you to the “Law of Karma”? This is the natural principle of cause and effect. Every cause has its’ effect; every effect has its cause. Everything happens according to the law. Chance is but a name for law not recognized. There are many planes of causation, but nothing escapes the law. It is ever at work with chains of causations and effects that govern all of life and manifested matter. If a person was to follow each chain link of causation, it will be found that it has its beginning and endings in the non material realm, the realm of spirit. It affects the throwing of dice on a gambling table or a rock slide that is caused by rain and wind. Each can be followed and understood to the observing mind which sees the cycles in all things, and realizes that all things follow the Great Law. The law itself is illusive and cannot be proven other than observed with the mind and is used to determine the causations and effects of any event. When this law is used with conscious effort, desired results can be pro9duced in a person’s life by steering him or herself along definite paths of causation. When the law is used in an unconscious and haphazard mind, the effects could become potentially disastrous for the individual or group of individuals. So called “accidents” could occur without warning to individuals who toil through life without awareness. We are responsible for the very thoughts that we produce and the final result of our own mental alchemy. Fear is one of the most dangerous mental causation that prevents a person from thinking and acting as the higher self would prefer. The cause of fear is the result of lack of knowledge about the unknown God which should be the most important educational journey in a person’s life. The causation of fear can only be removed through knowledge, wisdom, and understanding Universal Law, the reality that we live in order to produce the desired effects in our lives. The greatest evil under the sun according to Hermes/Thoth, is NOT knowing God. In every minute thought, action, and deed that is performed, a person sets into motion unseen chains of causations and effects which will vibrate from the mental plane throughout the entire cellular structure of body, out into the environment, and finally into the cosmos. Eventually the vibratory energy returns to its originator upon the return swing of the pendulum. All this in less time than the twinkling of an eye! Because there are seven dimensions of reality in which causations can occur, we remain unaware of many reasons for effects. By understanding Universal laws we can learn to operate in grace instead of accumulating karma (restrictive). This law is mechanically or mathematically operative; its workings may be scientifically manipulated by men and women of divine wisdom (fully realized). The karmic law requires that every human wish find ultimate fulfillment. Please feel free to ask questions and give feedback. The next law I will visit is the first law….The law of Abundance. Namaste

May Regret This...but what the HELL

bellydance_richmond — Fri, 13 Apr 2007 18:48:50 GMT

What does a woman need to do in this town to get a break!!!!!?????? ANNNNNNNNNNND....what does Paying Your Dues Mean? What dues? How long does it take to pay these so called dues? How do you know if you are not a part of my destiny and I'm not a part of yours? I let very few people get close to me enough that I feel safe enough to share with them information about my life. Those I chose to share my stories, some of them have been very faithful and some have not. Yes, I'm hu man - or should I say, I'm in a temporary body having hu-man experiences and 90% of them haven't been easy. So let me introduce myself and you determine in your mind if I - BatSheva-have done enough in my temporary lifetime to meet the qualifications of.......paying my dues in full....how about that? It seems as if my early years were just as torrent as my later years. I was born in the early stages of the civil rights movement. Can you imagine living in this city during that time as a Hu-man? In a Segregationist period and town? Yes, the very same schools they are talking about knocking down are the very same schools I and my brothers attended. It wasn't very fun if you ask me. By the time I turned 10, I had made up my mind to get as far away from this city as fast as I could. The neighorhoods I lived in weren't the best, but they were the only neighborhoods my mother could afford. My mother is a very good, disciplined, hard working (worked 3 jobs for over 20 years), determined woman, who worked her way into Philip Morris and retired 30 years later. Oh boy, was she strict. If only mothers today, would be as wonderful as my mother. She gave us what we needed, but made us honestly earn some of the things we wanted. And, she was mother, not someone who wanted to be my friend. She became my best friend after I raised my children. So at the ripe young age of 16 1/2, I graduated from high school, took a fulll-time job while attending VCU and as soon as the 1st session ended, I fled this city (but not the mosters I had to fight, the memories of the negative things adults would say to a child and even the predictions they made concerning that child's future based on their own insecurities, fears, and regrets). Where did I flee? I went to my dear uncle..Uncle Sam that is. And enlisted in the United States Air Force, In the mist of the Vietnam Conflict (Just like Iraq, Vietnam was not a war, but a conflict. Our leaders never declaired war on Vietnam nor Iraq.) I went into the Air Force and turned 17 while in Basic Training. I can't talk about my military duties or history, but let me tell you this.....while I was in the mist of chaos, you were able to go to school, have fun, sleep soundly. dance. entertain, dream, make dreams come true, and never had a doubt that the men and women who are protecting this country and way of life were failing in any way. Our leaders may have been on the deep end, but you knew that military personnel was on point to protect. I think I should get 60 points for that. After all, looks like you're doing fine to me. Please remember, I was under the Nixon/Ford administration. Some of you were too busy having a great time to even been aware of what was going on behind the scenes to care. Watergate was the beginning of the end of low interest rates, afforadable housing (not talking about houses for low income people) low gas prices, and incomes a 3 member family could afford to live on. But wait....if you think the military members were doing well, check again...depending on rank/time in service/and other factors, the average military member with a family were earning less that 8,000 a year. Before Nixon, they were earning less than that. Just think what we were paid if we were single. Yet, while you were sleeping, you were protected and you slep well. I think I should get 10 points for that. Then came Carter, who was handed the mess from the previous administration. I was proud to serve under him. I must say, he did a wonderful job in keeping us all from blowing up. I lost quite a few friends in the Iran Hostages Rescue attempt. May they rest in peace. I signed them out, they never returned. I think I should get 5 points for that. Next we had the Reagan/Bush administration. TWICE!!! Hmmmm, where should I began? Oh yeah, savings and loans scandals, interest rates off the chart...can no longer claim the interest on credit cards on tax returns, limited resources, once again, gas prices off the charts, inflation, college educations tripled, massive joblessness, manufactoring companies were closing on a daily basis, and now everything is made in China. Oh yeah, while all of this was going on, we had bombings on several military installations overseas including where I was....major injuries, but no lives lost....can it get another 5 pts on that? Now here is the epitaph of the Reagan presidency: When Ronald Reagan became President, the United States was the largest creditor nation. When he left the presidency, we were the world's largest debtor nation. The blindness of Reagan's Department of Justice during the 1980s permitted new forms of corporate fraud to be pioneered such as junk bonds that stole billions from investors and the misuse of savings and loan charters, a scandal that drained billions from the public treasury and private investors. Neither of these massive huge rip offs attracted Reagan's attention because their perpetrators and the beneficiaries of these crimes were almost entirely male Caucasians Oops, did I say that...so why are you mad at me? How about 5 points? For me that is!!!! With our little salary from the military....who could invest and raise a family? But we kept you safe Now lets look at Daddy Bush, George Hurbert Walker Bush...what can I say, he finished what Reagan started. Way to go!!!!!! And I served but not without putting my life on the line. President George W. Bush sought to prevent the planned release of some 68,000 pages of documents from the Reagan-Bush administration (1981-1989), documents which may well contain embarrassing information about the way in which the government funded, supported, and even created terrorist groups in Central America and elsewhere. He has issued an "executive order" to halt the release of the documents. The release is required by the Presidential Records Act passed by Congress. As is well known, some 200,000 to 300,000 persons, mostly of American race (American Indian ancestry), were murdered, tortured, and disappeared during the Reagan and George Bush I years. They were killed both by terrorist squads (such as the Contras and by paramilitary death squads) as well as by Guatemalan, Salvadoran, and Honduran regular army troops often led by officers trained at the notorious School of the Americas run by the US Department of Defense. Native Americans comprise the vast majority of those murdered in the 80s and 90s. How about another 5 points? Would that be asking too much? You were dancing, singing, working, getting a good education, traveling, investing, getting the high dollar jobs, marrying, birthing, etc, life continued. Yes? It wasn't until the Clinton Administration that the federal budget once again produced surplus, an achievement squandered by Bush and his reduction of federal tax revenues by massive tax cuts. We were almost civil again (if there ever was a time in US history). Oh, but with all the good, the US focused on the man and a young woman who ripped his zipper to get to the goodies. Interest rates were falling, employment was in abundance, not too many positions were outsouced overseas and grants/scholarships were still for U.S. citizens. Oh yeah, did I mention we were happy...while the Clinton adminstration tried to clean-up the mess that had been made. You miss him don't cha? Me too. It was during that period of prosperity I laid down my weapon and decided to come home. I could only hope that the good days would continue. 5 points please!!!! And now, may I introduce baby Bush.....still protecting the Reagan/Bush1 administration and we are still here, for now. I no longer serve to protect. I do believe I have earned the right in this community to enjoy myself, support the community, and be supported by the community. I support everyone, it is your choice to support me. There hasn't been anyone that hasn't been paid, or given the opportunity earn cash. If the opportunity wasn't taken it was because you chose not to take it. Look mom, I'm a big girl now!!!! I don't play girly girl high school diva games. Never have, never will. I treat people with dignity and respect until they choose to show me that it is time to leave their space. I've never been disrespectful nor cruel, but to hear you say that I have not paid my dues.....it is a figment of your imagination. BatSheva

One Of A Kind - March 28th HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!

bellydance_richmond — Wed, 11 Apr 2007 04:11:20 GMT

The Black Sheep Many of us have had an experience in which we felt like the lone black sheep in a vast sea of white sheep. For some of us, however, this sense of not belonging runs more deeply and spans a period of many years. It is possible to feel like the black sheep in families and peer groups that are supportive, as well as in those that are not. Even if we receive no overt criticism regarding our values, there will likely be times when it seems that relatives and friends are humoring us or waiting for us to grow out of a phase. Sometimes we may even think we have been adopted because we are so different from our family members. These feelings are not a sign that we have failed in some way to connect with others. Rather, they should be perceived as the natural result of our willingness to articulate our individuality. Many black sheep respond to the separateness they feel by pulling back from the very people to whom they might otherwise feel closest and embracing a different group with whom they enjoy a greater degree of commonality. But if you feel that your very nature has set you apart from your peers and relatives, consider that you chose long ago to be raised by a specific family and to come together with specific people so that you could have certain experiences that would contribute to your ongoing evolution. You may be much more sensitive than the people around you or more artistic, aware, spiritual, or imaginative. The disparate temperament of your values and those of your family or peers need not be a catalyst for interpersonal conflict. If you can move beyond comparisons and accept these differences, you will come to appreciate the significant role your upbringing and socialization have played in your life's unique journey. In time, most black sheep learn to embrace their differences and be thankful for those aspects of their individuality that set them apart from others. We cannot expect that our peers and relatives will suddenly choose to embrace our values and offer us the precise form of support we need. But we can acknowledge the importance of these individuals by devoting a portion of our energy to keeping these relationships healthy while continuing to define our own identities apart from them.

I'M STILL STANDING ØµÙØ¹ÙˆØ¯ (Ø§Ù„Ù…ÙŽØ³ÙŠØ)

bellydance_richmond — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:42:58 GMT

For those who didn't make it to the Karim Nagi 3-day Drummer/Dancer Workshop, you missed out on instruction in dance and drumming that surpasses anything an American can even hope for. It was as if a spiritual master had descended to earth and taught us how to move, play, and enjoy life to a level of ascension. But don't worry!!! It was such a great success, and he will be back next year....same place.....same sponsor/promoter. I really want to thank those who helped make my first promotion unforgetable: KARIM NAGI (Turbo Tabla) Workshop Participants....you know who you are!!!!!! Performers......I love you and there will be another blog singing praises to your performances and sisterly love!!!! Volunteers: Nicole Cook - who stepped up to the plate and took registration Connie Hudson - who assisted vendors, and registration Nikole Jones of Fullarmour Studios who created the Karim Nagi T-shirts and helped me keep it all together. Check her out at: www.facomic13.com, www.theglassbook.com, www.artistnikkij.com Special thanks to: Elizabeth Oliva who guided us with her wisdom and healing encouragement the Curry House family who allowed us to let our hair down and celebrate into the wee hours Vendors: Susan Dodds of Shereazade Imports dazzeled us with lovely merchandise we couldn't keep our hands off Krishna of Magical Fashions prepared our senses for the wonderful delights of the evening performances Until next year....be blessed, stay positive and stand tall. Namaste BatSheva

VA. LAWMAKERS PASS SLAVERY APOLOGY - By LARRY O'DELL, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 53 minutes ago February 24, 2007

bellydance_richmond — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:52:01 GMT

This is the first time I've addressed or posted something so dear to my heart. Today, February 24, 2007, the Commonwealth of Virginia Assembly in the former Capital of the Confederacy apologized for the Commonwealth's role in enslaving Africans and the mistreatment of Native Americans. It took 388 years! Although African decendants have overcome the racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding, maybe now our nation can heal. RICHMOND, Va. - Meeting on the grounds of the former Confederate Capitol, the Virginia General Assembly voted unanimously Saturday to express "profound regret" for the state's role in slavery. Sponsors of the resolution say they know of no other state that has apologized for slavery, although Missouri lawmakers are considering such a measure. The resolution does not carry the weight of law but sends an important symbolic message, supporters said. "This session will be remembered for a lot of things, but 20 years hence I suspect one of those things will be the fact that we came together and passed this resolution," said Delegate A. Donald McEachin, a Democrat who sponsored it in the House of Delegates. The resolution passed the House 96-0 and cleared the 40-member Senate on a unanimous voice vote. It does not require Gov. Timothy M. Kaine's approval. The measure also expressed regret for "the exploitation of Native Americans." The resolution was introduced as Virginia begins its celebration of the 400th anniversary of Jamestown, where the first Africans arrived in 1619. Richmond, home to a popular boulevard lined with statues of Confederate heroes, later became another point of arrival for Africans and a slave-trade hub. The resolution says government-sanctioned slavery "ranks as the most horrendous of all depredations of human rights and violations of our founding ideals in our nation's history, and the abolition of slavery was followed by systematic discrimination, enforced segregation, and other insidious institutions and practices toward Americans of African descent that were rooted in racism, racial bias, and racial misunderstanding." In Virginia, black voter turnout was suppressed with a poll tax and literacy tests before those practices were struck down by federal courts, and state leaders responded to federally ordered school desegregation with a "Massive Resistance" movement in the 1950s and early '60s. Some communities created exclusive whites-only schools. The apology is the latest in a series of strides Virginia has made in overcoming its segregationist past. Virginia was the first state to elect a black governor — L. Douglas Wilder in 1989 — and the Legislature took a step toward atoning for Massive Resistance in 2004 by creating a scholarship fund for blacks whose schools were shut down between 1954 and 1964. Among those voting for the measure was Delegate Frank D. Hargrove, an 80-year-old Republican who infuriated black leaders last month by saying "black citizens should get over" slavery. After enduring a barrage of criticism, Hargrove successfully co-sponsored a resolution calling on Virginia to celebrate "Juneteenth," a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

I AM BACK

bellydance_richmond — Sat, 10 Feb 2007 23:05:40 GMT

Not much has changed in this new world. Yet, my life isn't the way it was back then. Yes! I was the apple of my father's eyes, and my mother's joy. Life was everything a rich Southern girl could dream of and everything she could desire! But..that was then, this is now. I have the same parents I had then, but they now have the faces of those that once served them. But that was then and this is now. Their lives are very different now that they (we) are experiencing another level of Existence which we never would have imagined. I (on the other hand) rebelled. Yes, you heard me REBELLED!!!! I was a rebel in my own right and married a man who did not accept the lifestyle of the privileged few antebellum Southerners. We spoke out against the inhumane behavior of man against man. But even the life of the privileged comes to an end (or should I say, transform). My transformation allows me to revisit my actions and face the consequences thereof. So, here I am living this lifetime in the form of those once despised. I watch my parents live their lives not proud or arrogant; but modest and full of thanksgiving to pay back the debts of lives past with gentler spirits of love and acceptance. As I sit and observe the world, I recall and record. I know the stakes and the destiny for I AM the blossom that was pressed in the book of life and born again after 100 years only to this day to return and observe and record. I AM Charlotte Bohme`. I have returned to pay that which is owed and love without expectations. I AM she who walk the earth as a recorder, not of the actions of other, only that which are mine. I see now that which I have seen throughout my return to flesh, mankind making the same decisions that create negative Karma. It is not my duty or right to judge. I only observe so I can make decisions that will end my cycle of birth and re-birth. Are you also an observer?

Only Our Relationships Endure

bellydance_richmond — Sat, 02 Dec 2006 17:28:57 GMT

I was sitting on a beach one summer day, watching two children, a boy and a girl, playing in the sand. They were hard at work building an elaborate sandcastle by the water's edge, with gates and towers and moats and internal passages. Just when they had nearly finished their project, a big wave came along and knocked it down, reducing it to a heap of wet sand. I expected the children to burst into tears, devastated by what had happened to all their hard work. But they surprised me. Instead, they ran up the shore away from the water, laughing and holding hands, and sat down to build another castle. I realized that they had taught me an important lesson. All the things in our lives, all the complicated structures we spend so much time and energy creating, are built on sand. Only our relationships to other people endure. Sooner or later, the wave will come along and knock down what we have worked so hard to build up. When that happens, only the person who has somebody's hand to hold will be able to laugh. The Year 2006 (Hebrew Year 5767 has ended) is coming to an end opening the way to new beginnings. It is in the month of December I take time and do my new beginnings ritual "Mirror mirror on the wall" and review the happenings in my life by seeing myself as others saw me during the year. By doing this, it helps me to navigate my social universe, and review how others think of me based on the experiences they brought into my life —although the clearest view depends on how I see myself. I have had some wonderful experiences, met amazing people, traveled to new places, danced and taught in several new spaces. There were those whose view of me was not the me I thought I projected, yet those individuals did as much for my personal and spiritual growth as those who saw as the I AM that I AM. How so? Well, people are a mirror, a reflection of our own personality including the parts which often times we deny. No one wants to see themselves as an angry, lustful, greedy, materialistic, and vain person. Although these 5 mind perversions are a part of human nature, it is very important to balance them in order to live a long, healthful and loving lifestyle. I have encountered several people who are not aware, and have displayed a high degree of these perversions as well as those who have learned to master them. When I encounter those who are unaware, I take time and look in the mirror. I check my intentions and determine if they are loving or fall in the catagory of imbalance. Then I make my adjustments through meditation, prayer, positive affirmations, and cleansing. Why...because we are a mirror of each other and each person and experience is sent to us to learn about ourselves. When I acknowledge that the lesson has been learned, I remove myself from those people, places and things. Won't you join me during this wonderful season and give the greatest present you can give to the one you truly love, which is YOU. To those who I call FRIEND, you are liken unto me as my own soul. To those from whom I have removed myself from their space, I continue to look forward to your awakening. Namaste. BatSheva http://www.worldglobalexpress.com/books_tapes.htm

WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?!

bellydance_richmond — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:40:29 GMT

This movie is just what the doctor ordered for those who are Spiritually AWAKE. This is the time of realizing your hopes, dreams and allowing fears and misconceptions to fall away. Check your television station to see if WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?! is playing. I am going to use the water exercise to control the hot flashes. I'll let you know how it works out :0) Let me know what you think after you have enjoyed this movie. WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?! is a new type of film. It is part documentary, part story, and part elaborate and inspiring visual effects and animations. The protagonist, Amanda, played by Marlee Matlin, finds herself in a fantastic Alice in Wonderland experience when her daily, uninspired life literally begins to unravel, revealing the uncertain world of the quantum field hidden behind what we consider to be our normal, waking reality. She is literally plunged into a swirl of chaotic occurrences, while the characters she encounters on this odyssey reveal the deeper, hidden knowledge she doesn’t even realize she has asked for. Like every hero, Amanda is thrown into crisis, questioning the fundamental premises of her life – that the reality she has believed in about how men are, how relationships with others should be, and how her emotions are affecting her work isn’t reality at all! As Amanda learns to relax into the experience, she conquers her fears, gains wisdom, and wins the keys to the great secrets of the ages, all in the most entertaining way. She is then no longer the victim of circumstances, but she is on the way to being the creative force in her life. Her life will never be the same. The fourteen top scientists and mystics interviewed in documentary style serve as a modern day Greek Chorus. In an artful filmic dance, their ideas are woven together as a tapestry of truth. The thoughts and words of one member of the chorus blend into those of the next, adding further emphasis to the film’s underlying concept of the interconnectedness of all things. The chorus members act as hosts who live outside of the story, and from this Olympian view, comment on the actions of the characters below. They are also there to introduce the Great Questions framed by both science and religion, which divides the film into a series of acts. Through the course of the film, the distinction between science and religion becomes increasingly blurred, since we realize that, in essence, both science and religion describe the same phenomena. The film employs animation to realize the radical knowledge that modern science has unearthed in recent years. Powerful cinematic sequences explore the inner-workings of the human brain. Quirky animation introduces us to the smallest form of consciousness in the body – the cell. Dazzling visuals reinforce the film’s message in an exciting, powerful way. Done with humor, precision, and irreverence, these scenes are only part of what makes this film unique in the history of cinema, and a true box-office winner. http://www.whatthebleep.com/synopsis/ BatSheva

The Magic of Believing

bellydance_richmond — Thu, 06 Jul 2006 12:25:48 GMT

Almost since the beginning of the human race, the molding of men has been done by those who knew something of thought's great power. All the great religious leaders, kings, warriors, statesmen have understood this science and have known that people act as they think and also react to the thoughts of others, especially when it is stronger and more convincing than their own. Accordingly, men/women of powerful dynamic thought have ever swayed the people by appealing to their minds, sometimes to lead them into freedom and sometimes into slavery. There never was a period in history when we should study our own thoughts more, try to understand them, and learn how to use them to improved our position in life, by drawing upon the great source of power which lies within each of us. There was a time when I would have laughed at people who talked about the MAGNETIC FORCE of thought, how thought correlates with its object, how it can affect people and inanimate things, even at great distances. But I no longer laugh, nor do others who know something of its power, for anyone who has any intelligence sooner or later comes to the realization that thought can change the surface of the entire globe. "We become what we contemplate" - George Russell Undoubtedly, we become what we envisage. However, it must be borne in mind that many of our ideas, the thoughts we think, are not ours at all, or those of our own originating. We are molded also by the thoughts of others; by what we hear in our social life, what we read in newspapers, magazines, and books, what we hear in the movies, the theater, tv, and on the radio; even by chance remarks from the conversation of bystanders - and these thoughts bombard us constantly. Some of them that accord with our own inmost thoughts and also open the way to greater visions in our life are helpful. But often there are thoughts that are upsetting, that weaken our self-confidence, and turn us away from our high purposes. It is these outside thoughts that are the trouble makers, and later I shall point out how we can keep free of them. Few people give much thought to the law of KARMA - or Cause and Effect as applicable to the operation of the mind, or comprehend what is meant when they hear such thoughts as, "Everything is within; nothing is without" or "Mind is the souce of all power," and so on. As I continue on this journey of "Self Evolution", I invite you to walk with me and talk with me. This evolution will take a life time for those who step upon its path. BatSheva

#7 Participating in Cause and Effect Chains

bellydance_richmond — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 02:03:47 GMT

Have you noticed how society has a few pre-determined cause and effect chains for almost every situation? They can be found in the idioms we use, such as "No pain, no gain" or "Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise" or "Nose to the grindstone." These idioms teach us to follow certain cause and effect chains. For instance, we are taught that if we get good grades in school we can get into college, and if we get good grades in college we can get a good job. The latter part of this chain says that if we get a good job, we’ll have a secure income, and hence be able to attract a mate, and live happily ever after. This example is a bit of an exaggeration, of course, and yet the chains that we’ve been taught are quite blatant. Generally, we are taught that if we work hard on the physical plane, we’ll reap the rewards in physical wealth and manifestation. Yet, have you noticed how much effort (translation = loss of force) is involved in these kinds of chains? Words like "sacrifice" and "delayed gratification" and "struggle" are heavily used in this cause and effect equations. Those of us who have played with manifestation have come to realize that, in truth, what we do on the world plane has very little to do with what we get, and any gain through struggle is a modest gain at best. If we participate in the cause and effect chains that society offers, we are apt to lose more force than we gain through the struggle. These cause and effect chains are reasonable, logical, and definitely linear. They preclude the miracles, and the hope, that comes from living outside those chains. There isn’t anything wrong with participating in those chains if you don’t mind losing force. But if you want the miracles to happen in your life (which only happens when you gain force), you have to step outside those chains. You have to do what people call "impossible" or "hopeless" and, in addition to the footwork, you have to include things like hope and wonder and delight in the equation. Bottom line: our current society isn’t in touch with miracles, so if you want to manifest your desires it’s better to gain force by not participating in society’s cause and effect chains. The seven ways of losing force described in this series seem to be the most prominent, but we are all different people with different modes of living. The bottom line is, if you are aware of yourself and the way you feel, you will be able to determine the ways and times in which you gain and lose force. Each of us is a perfect being, a perfect machine, with all the monitors and gauges that tells us when we are on track and when we aren’t. If things are going better and better for you, you know you are gaining force and your bank account is growing. If you’re sliding down the slippery slope and things are getting worse, maybe it’s time to review this series and see if you’re losing force in a few major areas. You will know because you are a spirit having a physical experience, and your spirit abilities are more than adequate measures for this entire process. Have fun with this, play with this, and get your nose off that grindstone! Note: This wonderful series was created by Stephanie Yeh, a coach and teacher of magical and shamanic practices. Her aim is to teach practical, hands-on magical procedures that can be easily applied in daily life. She works with anyone who is interested in studying the art of manifesting desires. Note from BatSheva Don't be surprised that once you start applying the principles in this series, negative people will automatically be removed from your life. Rejoice when this happens and bless them.

Taking Life Too Seriously - #6

bellydance_richmond — Sun, 11 Jun 2006 13:12:18 GMT

Imagine these two scenarios and see if you can feel the difference between the two. In the first scenario, the executive prepares for a big meeting. He is anxious to get all the details he is presenting just right, and feels a little bit as if he is going before executioners because the people in the meeting have the power to grant his request or consign him to failure. They are his last chance. In the second scenario, another executive prepares for a similar big meeting. She is thrilled because for her it’s a game. The bigger the stakes and the higher the risks, the better she likes it. The thrill of the chase far outweighs the outcome of the meeting. She has been studying the process of manifestation, and is eager to test the effectiveness of her latest experiments. Both scenarios are filled with adrenaline – the first with nervous adrenaline, and the second with excited adrenaline. As with riding a roller coaster, the line between nervousness and excitement is very fine indeed, and on which side of the line we stand makes all the difference in the world. In the first scenario, the executive loses force before the presentation through excess worry, then either gains or loses force according to the whims of the participants in the big meeting. In the second scenario, the executive gains force no matter the outcome because the force comes from the love of the game, not the outcome of the meeting. Without becoming aware of it, most of us begin falling into life, taking the events with life and death seriousness, and allowing our carefully acquired force to leak out. We are forgetting that we came to this planet to play the game, to gather new experiences, and because we thought it would be fun. So how can we maintain that perspective in the midst of life’s many struggles, trials and tribulations? A great way to stay centered and focused is to play a different "game" each day. Here are a few of them: • You will live to be 500 years old. How much does it matter what you accomplish today? Who will remember your failures 500 years from now? Do you really need to worry if your career is on track right now? • You have 24 hours remaining to live in this physical body and experience physical sensations. What will you do with your time? Don’t the experiences of eating, talking, touching, feeling, moving your physical body, or making love take on a different light? • You are an alien here to study Earth and the human race for 24 hours. Aren’t these humans really strange? Why do they…? • You’re only job is to spend a certain amount of time on this planet – how you spend it is up to you. You are not required to accomplish or do anything, but you are also allowed to accomplish or do anything. If you can play one of these games for a few minutes whenever you feel life closing in on you, you’ll find yourself laughing with life rather than bemoaning your fate. More importantly, you’ll develop a galloping thirst for the chase –and gather a lot of force while you’re at it.

Having Expectations - #5 Seven Major Ways We Lose Force

bellydance_richmond — Fri, 09 Jun 2006 13:10:58 GMT

In many 12-step programs, there is the saying, "Expectations are pre-meditated resentments." In other words, when we have expectations, we are setting ourselves up for failure and disappointment – and loss of force. Expectations, which are different from visions, are fixed ideas about how certain situations or outcomes will come about. While a vision may be flexible, expandable, compressible, or changeable, expectations are hard and unyielding. Since the Universe rarely delivers miracles in the ways we might expect (otherwise we would be in charge of miracles, and not the Universe), holding expectations prevents us from receiving the miracle. Hence, we lose force. People often ask, "How can hold a vision of what I want as a point of attraction, and not slide into expectation?" The answer is simple. Expectations have to do with HOW an outcome will manifest, while visions just have to do with the fact that the outcome will manifest. Visions are not concerned with the mechanics of how. In fact, holding a vision is like looking at a distant scene through binoculars – depending on the weather, the distance from you, and the state of your eyes, you will need to keep adjusting the binoculars to achieve clarity. Visions are adjustable while expectations are not. When we have expectations, we lose force when we are disappointed in the outcome, and we also lose force because we expend a lot of force constantly looking for signs that our expectations are being met. For instance, if I have an expectation about how something is going to happen, I will keep looking at possible signs, and asking myself, "Does this mean it’s happening or not happening the way I want it to?" or "What if this doesn’t happen or what if that does happen?" Expectations, because they are specific, are accompanied by a lot of worry, doubt, and anxiety – in other words, we NEED it to come about a specific way and so we are forced to be much more alert. And, if we feel for some reason that the manifestation isn’t happening in the way we expect, we often have to leap into action to MAKE it happen. All in all, holding an expectation is a great loss of force. It is much better to simply hold a vision of the outcome and wait with bated breath and wondrous delight to see how the Universe will deliver it to us. It will always be different and better than what we expect.

Tolerating People, Things, or Situations

bellydance_richmond — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 12:32:06 GMT

#4 in the series: Seven Major Ways We Lose Force How often have we played the martyr in our own lives, tolerating people, situations or things? People often compliment our martrydom by saying, "What a saint you must be!" though if we understood how much force we lose in martyrdom we would be less willing to accept such compliments. We might tolerate situations to avoid conflict or avoid hurting other peoples feelings. There are many reasons we might tolerate aspects of our lives that are less than pleasing, but no matter the reason, we must understand the heavy price we pay for toleration. Unlike the feeling of allowing, in which we might not agree with something we see and yet feel no particular negative emotion about it, the feeling of toleration is always associated with some form of negative emotion. Its a feeling of perhaps gritting our teeth on the inside while smiling on the outside. It is also a great loss of force. Lets be clear about this. There is nothing in our lives that is worth tolerating. Whatever confrontation or situation we are avoiding by tolerating the current situation is usually a momentary explosion, in which the loss of force may be great for a short period of time, but nothing compared to the slow, steady bleeding of force that comes from toleration. When we find ourselves tolerating, we are faced with a choice: we can either change the situation so that we no longer have to tolerate it, or we can change our feeling about the person, situation or thing. Since we are all quite adept at manipulating our physical reality through direct physical action, that choice doesnt require a lot of discussion. However, if we want to change our feeling about the situation, we should examine the Law of Attraction, which plays a great role in this. Law of Attraction says that whatever we focus on in any situation is what will manifest. For instance, if we are in a relationship with another person and all we can see is that persons faults, then our experiences with that person will consist mainly of his or her faults. If, on the other hand, we can begin a little at a time to find pleasant aspects of that person to experience, then the way we feel about the person will begin to change. Or, if that person has no pleasant aspects, he or she will leave our life. Bottom line: nothing is worth tolerating. Another wonderful tool we can employ to change the way we feel is a classic Gurdjieff work exercise, which says that we are to deliberately observe the things which we dislike and tolerate, and make ourselves passive to them for short periods of time. For instance, if I cant stand the way that my good friend Joe smells but I like everything else about him (and I know that I dont want to mention it to him), I will practice being passive to his smell for a while. What does being passive mean? It means quieting the inner sensation of dislike that wells up. It doesnt mean stuffing the sensation, but allowing it to move through us without attachment. Its an inner sense of detachment, as if we were watching someone elses dislike instead of our own. This exercise is to be practiced in short segments no more than 2 to 3 minutes at a time, lest we lose force during the exercise! As with everything, learning not to tolerate anything takes time, and must be practiced one small step at a time.

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Only Our Relationships Endure

WHAT THE BLEEP DO WE KNOW?!

The Magic of Believing

#7 Participating in Cause and Effect Chains

Taking Life Too Seriously - #6

Having Expectations - #5 Seven Major Ways We Lose Force

Tolerating People, Things, or Situations

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