G’day, mate! Let’s dive into something as old as Uluru and as deep as the role of movement within spiritual practice. We have our rich traditions here in Australia, but this is a worldwide story that goes back through the mists of time. So get yourself a cuppa, sit down, and let’s have a look at some ancient roots of moving with meaning.
The Dance of Life: Movement in Indigenous Cultures
Since we first stood on two legs, humanity has moved forward with purpose. On Oz, it is not possible to discuss spiritual movement without referencing our First Nations peoples. You don’t just dance at a corroboree; you are dancing with the land, the ancestors, and the Dreamtime.
Take the bunggul dance of the Yolngu people for example. It is not a dance but a map, a history lesson, a prayer rolled into one. Every step, each clap, and every song tells the story of creation, law, and the interrelatedness of all things. It is as if the dancers with their bodies inscribe the universe. It is not just about the physical movements; it’s the intention, the storytelling, and the connection to the place that makes it spiritual.
Whirling Dervishes: The Spin of the Soul
Now, moving across the other part of the globe, to those Sufi mystics who have for ages been spinning into some of the frenetic rhythms, belong the whirling dervishes, in technical terms-which is part of the Mevlevi Order, a dervish dancing his way right into a ‘sema’. Through this spin, they imagine the shedding away from earthly ties as they spin toward the will of the cosmos.
It is not just a spinning dance; it is the symbol of the journey of the human being, from God back to God.
The dervish wears a white robe, signifying the shroud of the ego, and as he spins, the robe flies open to reveal a black vest, symbolizing the tomb, and a white skirt, representing the shroud of the ego’s death. All so poetic, isn’t it? This dance, with one palm facing upwards to receive blessings from heaven and the other downwards to give those blessings to earth, is a physical manifestation of divine love.
Yoga: The Union of Body and Spirit
Whether you’re a beginner exploring the basics or an experienced practitioner certified by Yoga Australia, the journey of yoga offers a path to self-discovery and inner peace. Yoga isn’t just about getting bendy; it is a comprehensive spiritual practice that seeks to unite individual consciousness with universal consciousness. Every asana or pose is another step toward such unity, an expression in the form of physical postures for inner peace and enlightenment.
Ancient texts such as the Bhagavad Gita and Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras refer to yoga as a method for quieting the fluctuations of the mind. We can’t help but envision contorted postures upon mention of the word yoga, but it is about breath, meditation, and philosophy. The idea is an act of awareness in movement our bodies are temples, with every pose considered an act of worship, an active prayer.
Martial Arts: The Discipline of the Dance
What about martial arts? Across Asia, the various forms, including Tai Chi and Qigong, have much less to do with self-defense and everything to do with spiritual practice; steeped in the roots of Taoist philosophy. Tai Chi itself is sometimes called ‘meditation in motion’. The movements performed very deliberately and slowly, are supposed to nurture the chi-life energy in harmony with nature to provide a balance of the self.
These movements are circular, emulating the natural flow of life, and are designed to take practitioners to inner peace and health. The practice is not about fighting; it’s about understanding the flow of energy within and around us. It is a dance wherein the opponent is not some other person, but oneself, in the pursuit of personal mastery and spiritual growth.
Modern Echoes: Movement in Contemporary Spiritual Practices
Fast-forward to today, and you’ll find those ancient practices still very influential in how we connect spiritually. In our bustling cities from Sydney to Melbourne, yoga studios, meditation groups, and dance workshops are full of people looking to find that ancient connection through modern means.
We have also followed suit, in some respects-even in those things we’ve taken up to enjoy such as Zumba or ecstatic dance. It’s the joy, community, and sense of the sacred one finds in movement. These newer practices are about less rigid forms, but more about freedom of expression, release of energy, and a celebration of life.
The Universal Language of Movement
What, then, does all this say about movement and spirituality? Pretty clear, across cultures and through centuries, it would seem, that movement of the body is a common language through which humans have spoken to connect themselves with something beyond themselves. The rhythmic steps of the indigenous dance, the spinning meditation of the dervish, the disciplined flow of the martial arts, and the unifying postures of the language of the soul are one of movement.
We all form part of this big dance where each culture has its specific step, and yet the song remains the same underlying is the urge to connect, understand, and transcend. These traditions also remind us in our moving and dancing to flow with a universe that too often feels unmovable and apart.
Conclusion: Keeping the Dance Alive
So, next time you are out for a walk, doing your morning stretches, or even just tapping your feet to your favorite Aussie band, remember you are continuing a tradition as old as humanity itself. Be you in the city or the outback, there’s a pulse, a rhythm that’s been beating through us for millennia.
Let the dance continue, not in our movements only but within our hearts. Let us embrace the stories, the energy, and the spirit that come with each step. Because, after all, is not life itself one big circle of dance, wherein every step we make could be a prayer, a celebration, or an interconnection to everything that ever was and everything that will ever be?
Thanks for joining me on this journey through the ancient roots of movement in spiritual practice. To more movement, deeper connection, and dancing through our lives with a bit of that ancient magic! Cheers!