Trance Dance - From Darkness Into Enlightenmentby Ernesto Ortiz, LMT, CST
Primary facilitator for Journey to the Heart
Imagine a darkness so intense that you get completely lost and inundated by it a darkness where sound and silence are the same this is the place the melting pot of all there is, out of these darkness comes inspirations, memories, ancient visions and healing. This is the place of creation the laboratory of the self.
I enter the darkness by covering my eyes with a bandana and completely surrender to the process that I was going to get into, the music started it was powerful and hypnotic, the type of music that makes you go deep within, my body responded to it a spontaneous way moving undulating sensually and feeling it all over my body, everything started tingling I felt like I was entering into a very sacred space that sacred space was being created by the breathing, the Trance Dance breath; two deep inhalations and one exhalation. This type of breathing and the music started pushing me into a beautiful altered state of consciousness where the music became alive, the floor became a canvas of my creation, not only I was dancing but I was painting a picture as I was responding spontaneously to my feelings and emotions.
I became aware that I was loaded with all the stuff accumulated in my auric field from all the interactions I had during the week; I became aware that I am the receiver of all energies from people and how I accumulate material that doesn't even belong to me. Trance Dancing made it possible for me to whirl and shake to let loose and let go of all the material that was trapped within my energy field… I was moving to lightness and freedom and this was just the beginning of my experience. As I continue dancing and moving the music took me into a wonderful voyage of color, sound, movement and emotions, my body felt alive far more alive that I have felt in a long time the music changed numerous times it went from mild to wild and back again to mild, it was sensual it was powerful dynamic, tribal and strong. Sweat started pouring down my whole body I was aware of others in the group even though I was wearing a blindfold - it was as if I could see with closed eyes. At times the awareness of others was enhanced by the gentle touch of another and at times it felt like I was dancing all alone in a wonderful forest exploring my primal self my Shamanic self and my only companions where the animals and spirits of the forest.
From time to tame the voice of the facilitator reminded me to breath or to let go completely, which I did; at the end of the session which lasted approximately two hours I experience the most beautiful and complete connection with my self and with the Divine I was in a space of complete ecstasy.
Trance Dance as we know if is a blend of ancient rituals with a modern twist it is a way of recognizing our ancient heritage and apply it to our modern lifestyle. We can go back as far back as we can and we find evidence in history of dance and movement.
If we look at shamanic practices from all over the world we can clearly see that our original relationship to dancing and movement was for the purpose of connecting with a Higher Self, to worship and to heal. Our ancestors viewed nature, the earth and all of its elements as sacred, as en expression of God and the Divine. The goal then became to duplicate nature to mimic what we saw as a part of creation of life and death. To duplicate through movement and sound was the first and most powerful way to connect with God and Spirit, we learned to use our bodies as the instrument that could carry the energy, the vibration to make this possible, we dance to ecstasy, to celebrate with our bodies that we where alive.
Spiritual dancing is a cross-cultural phenomenon, it is something that we witness in all cultures from every continent on this planet simultaneously embraced unique dance forms based on their environment their perception of their reality on the animals and elements of nature present within their domain. Their purpose in dancing was to enter the consciousness or become the spirit of the sun, moon, and various animal and plant life. It was to call in the spirits or to drive them away. We have some beautiful examples of these in the Balinese Kecak, the Hawaiian Hula, the Kerala from the hills of Malabar, the Togo from west Africa, and the Native American Ghost Dance to name a few.
Through these dance rituals they believed that the spirits within nature could empower them with abilities such as courage and compassion, as well as reveal insights into the future. Spiritual dancing we witness in all cultures, unique dance forms are used based on the culture and their environment their perception of reality on the animals and elements of nature present within their domain. Their purpose in dancing was to enter the consciousness or become the spirit of the sun, moon, and various animal and plant life. It was to call in the spirits or to drive them away. Just as our ancestors through Trance Dance we can empower our lives as well and to have revelations and insights into the future.
Ernesto Ortiz LMT, CST is the primary facilitator for Journey to the Heart, he has been in the healing field for more than 20 years, has facilitated workshops and seminars in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Africa, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Ernesto has been licensed as a massage therapist in Florida for 15 years, and has certifications in Neuromuscular therapy, Cranio Sacral therapy, Integrative Breathwork, GIM (Guided Imagery and Music), Hypnotherapy, Hot Stone Therapy and Trance Dance.
Ernesto has spent many years studying and facilitating Indigenous Shamanic practices, and has studied with many teachers. From his early childhood he was exposed to shamanism and shamanic practices in Mexico, he continued his studies with indigenous teacher throughout South America. He has had the good fortune to study with some gifted teachers such as Michael Harner, Frank Natale, Robert Ghost Wolf, Starr Fuentes, Berret Eagle Bear, Mary Parker, Hellen Bony, Jackie Small, Marcel Vogel, Randall Bear, Dan Winter, Don Miguel Almena and more.
For more information, professional training and speaking engagements call Ernesto Ortiz at (305) 632-5603 or email your inquiries to Kiva101@aol.com. Visit his website at www.Journey2theheart.com
© 2002 Ernesto Ortiz, & Journey to the Heart.