To me, with love

First and foremosty…

What is Shiva Nata (sheeva nahta),  or Dance of Shiva as it is also known ?

It is described as “…. a system of conscious liberation. It is an ancient yogic art which uses synchronized movements of arms and legs to create powerful flows of life energy. As the movements become increasingly complex, the practitioner is challenged to develop increasing conscious control of these energy flows, with beneficial physical, mental and spiritual results. Andrey has created a uniquely modern and systematic method of teaching this ancient practice.”

This is Havi doing it

This is Andrey Lappa, doing it (Andrey Lappa is a m a z i n g and does some outlandish stuff I never imagined a human being would be capable of doing)

Watched it?

Yeah.  As they say in Spain, holiness.

My first thought upon invitation (which by the way I originally thought was just an update and didn’t open until Monday)?

Naw.

It’s in Portland fuhgawdsakes!

How am I gonna find childcare? And how would I even get there? And, oh oh oh oh oh….

Then I said:

Y e s

After which followed:

I will go.  I must go.

And then (Monday):

24 hours of furious hunter-gatherer activity ensued in which I realized my passport is way expired (don’t let this happen to you, go get your passport looked after, you *never* know when you’ll need it) got passport photos (lunch break), filled out passport app (afternoon coffee), phoned neighbour to ask if they could be my guarantor (they said yes), called one, two – wait – 6 people about possible childcare, picked up son, made dinner, went to neighbours for signatures, tried to buy a train ticket online (you need a passport # which I did not have yet), and finally fell into bed.

Z O N K

Yesterday:

Wake up,  go to train station to buy ticket. They won’t sell it to me either. Need a passport to get ticket – Need a ticket to get passport (proof of travel required for expedited requests, did I mention not to *ever* let this happen to you?)

Some would call that a CATCH 22.

Train guy ( Michael, a rotund and plain-faced gent) gives me printed ‘reservation’.

Passport guy ( I’ll call him fastfingerfreddy, types like a demon) says, ‘I’ll accept this provisionally now take this receipt back to train station and show them you have proof of receipt for passport and will pick it up up Thursday. You need to buy the tickets and come back here to show us PROOF OF TRAVEL.

Go back to train station.

Train guy says, ‘I can’t sell you a ticket without a passport #’.

Narrowly approaching some rage and tears suddenly.

I whip out my old passport and say, ‘ will this help?’

He says, ‘yes’.

I get my ticket.

Back to Passport Office.

I glide past the line of 48 people standing next to the sea of 61 seated people (I have a special ticket that puts me first in line : )

I wait 5 minutes.

They photocopy my tickets and remind me to come in Thursday for passport.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, what did I discover during the last 36 hours ?

…how incredibly capable I am of doing something when I really want to make it happen.

…how coming up against obstacles stimulates determination and creativity in my approach

…how much more tolerant, patient and flexible I am now than I used to be and ever thought possible

…how good it feels to be involved in making something I really want to happen happen

and

…how important it is that I continue to make things happen in my life, things I want

All of this – 16 hours on a train, food & lodging for one night and crazy madness up till I leave – for 2 hours of Shiva Nata you ask?

Y e s.

And n o.

This is for me.

* a warm thank you to Nicola & Co., mi familia, Lisa, my supportive friends and, of course, Havi & Richard for inviting me