For me, the wisdom path in life is being even more
conscious when these unique and special moments of personal connection present
themselves. Which in fact, are near constant, nearly every day. At least
they are, stopping by the dance circle, weekends in Central Park.
This little groove haven is such a rich gem of
an oasis, dwarfed by the surrounding buildings on the avenues nearby. It’s uniquely
set in 'the lungs of Manhattan" in an immense metropolis that over the years has become even more commercial,
more expensive, ironically much safer, yet more hardened as well.
The pleasure of people watching and observing
others in mid-flight here, always strikes me as quite the precious glimpse into
the Soul of humanity. Seeing as we’re all making it up, each step as we go, for
me as voyeur-as-witness, it’s always illuminating to watch what passes on by. Each
day is a parade when I’m in a festive mood, while in less buoyant humor, it can
often turn challenging and very uncomfortable.
However without a doubt, walking in Central
Park on a sunny weekend afternoon is people watching at its finest. In NYC, the
visual gamut is about as full as you’re going to find on this planet. Different
countries, different looks, sure - although as in any big city, especially this
one, the spectrum of humanity is the city’s landscape, not the buildings.
It’s as if we’re all zoo animals, roaming
about. Some of us are dangerous, some more benign. Some are house-trained and
others, you wouldn’t let near your front door. As a quick observation, it’s
clear some of us are living outside our cages, while others appear to be locked
behind bars of their own.
To co-exist safely in this city, you have to seriously
develop your discernment skills. Like considerably. You really have to be
aware on the street. It’s just common sense to pay attention, wouldn’t you agree? These
simple, big city, survival skills are 100% mandatory to not get run over, run
down or run through during a normal day. However, I have to wonder, living in
2014 during The Turning of The Ages, what’s so ‘normal’ nowadays anyway? What could
this possibly look like, can you say?
In a more universal, Soul focused way, when
it comes right down to it - what are
your values, what do you stand for and what do you believe in? And is it possibly yourself?
To
awaken your Sacred in life, you’ll be required to ask and answer these queries. I sense during these chaotic, confusing and challenging times, one
way or another, the inevitable will present itself for all to determine. Back on a Soul level - you can run but you can’t hide. Bottom line: you can’t escape your Self.
In a place this totally full-on, where
stepping on someone’s foot, riding on the subway can end you in into a very
unfortunate situation, it behooves you to come to terms with who you are and why you’re here. Alive, I mean.
In fact - aside from what you look like, what
you wear, where you come from and how much $$$ you have – how well do you get along with others? To skinny it even further - how
well can you relate to the person in
front of you? Relate being the root word to relationship, knowing how to do
so, is as basic as it gets.
I’ve learned, to play well with others is one of
the essential skills in life. However we interact, it eventually comes down to
this. Whether we actually do so, is something altogether different.
Like grade school’s Show & Tell, we’re all
getting a chance to show up and meet our lives any which way we can. And always
do, good, bad or indifferent. Except now, instead of standing before our 3rd
grade class and presenting our stuffed moose doll to our friends, we’re doing
it live out in the world, each and every day.
Looking around this Central Park weekend dance
scene, with some of the regulars attending since the 80’s, having lived in
NYC all the while, I know I'm hanging in a very cool playground. Really!? To have lived here so long is noteworthy, duration-wise, if not pretty intense and in some ways, commendable.
(Although personally, had I stayed a moment longer, leaving after 7 yrs in ’87,
I’d a gone really nuts - even more than I did.) To say the very least,
this ain’t no town for sissies, that’s for sure.
As I’ve come to be accepted in this bogie-down,
dance bazaar, having shown up and partied along for 3 yrs now, I’ve developed
connections with some there that in a city this large and impersonal, happens
to mean a lot. It’s plainly clear, this is certainly so for
all who keep coming back.
So you can imagine the city-wise, pedigree quality
of the dancers and chill crew attending, many having shown up since it began, back in the day. As far as new recruits, it’s a selective bunch, this homie
crew. You have to love to dance. You have to connect well with others and most of all, you’ve got to find the common groove, together. I’ve
seen offenders of this unspoken pact get escorted off the premises, strongly
encouraged not to return.
To touch back on a theme in the previous post …
reaching out to the passer-byes, inviting them to join in had become a tiresome
and largely, unfulfilling task. I used to try and tempt these watchers-on to get
up and dance, women and men alike but gave up because the cloak of their doubt
was thicker than the promise of our play. They simply couldn’t let go and go for it.
I became discouraged, always being met with
the typical excuses, accompanied by the silent whisper of their fear, just underneath.
However, for the first time last Sunday – a bigger crowd than usual, being a
radiant Memorial weekend, I was 4 for 4. First time ever. In my own way, I took
the plunge into this fray of strangers (I just don’t give up), asking two
different sets of female friends to just take one step forward onto the magic, asphalt dance floor. And by golly, they did!
I was instantly blown away, taking this as a
really good sign. After a terribly long, cold, funky and very looooong winter, this Memorial Sunday especially, felt like the beginning of something,
hopefully, really good. It really did. Potential and promise were seductively fragrant
in the air, tingling between the notes, reminding us of what’s possible.
Springtime is often rich with these optimistic
feelings, where there’s a sublime feeling, portending of what’s to come. In
this highly pivotal time in human history, this speaks especially so - of the glorious and
exceptional events that will surely play out and the grindingly and brutally difficult
that will flush up as well. It’s clear we’re all on quite a ride on planet Earth, with
destination largely unknown
To a number of co-celebrants I remarked that this summer
would call the very best of us to emerge, all necessary to help us navigate successfully
through. I just get this feeling. Everyone got what I was saying, somehow
tapping into the collective power and mystery of these remarkable times, knowing the
current is indeed flowing faster and the changes coming quicker. Just you wait and see ...
Having this weekly respite is truly heaven
sent, let me tell you. The C Park dance groove is a smokin' jewel but schhhhh ...
don’t be tellin’ just anybody. We gotta keep it under wraps to keep it going
strong.
Thank
You & Love To Us All ~
PS I invite you to share these posts with anyone you feel would benefit and if
you feel inspired, to write your feedback insights through the ‘Comment’ key on
this blog. Also, please check out my work, Heart Tantra - The Attunement
Session - on my web site heartantra.com. I offer in-person sessions here in the
NYC area and absentee or long-distance work if you don't. Always
Blessings On Your Way, Keith
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