Ritual Movement Arts

The priestess in ancient times was integrated into her community.

With time priestesses as keepers, and dancers of ritual disappeared.

The altars, which had been centered in each family’s hearth, were moved to the temple.

Churches replaced the communal worship grounds and centers. Temples were now viewed as separate edifices to a distinct institution of priests. Ritual became to be the domain of only select individuals on behalf of the community in place of community participation and self-expression.

Organic rituals became prescribed religion.

Dance as an interregnal part of women’s spiritual practice shared a parallel fate with the priestess.

As many religions forgot their roots and were forced to conform, the priestess now in secret lead communal nature dances. But the sacred dancer was now made the servants of the temple and its priests.

The momentous split between artistic form of worship in a devotional setting. Social division of priests and worshippers, now made masters and servants, brought about a split between the sacred and the profane.

Devotional dances gradually became commissioned works for the enjoyment of paying ruling spectators, for provocative entertainment.

Dance was transformed from religious art and rite to a work of art intended for observation and subject judgment by the observer.

From these shifts a rose a culture of dance and theatre as entertainment.

The universal feminine principle of spirit matter connection was transformed into the duality of seductress/virgin, priestess/midwife these roles were considered black magic.

This is when primal exotic illusions appear.

Repeating itself over and over in history.

Sexuality and procreativity were split from a concept of belonging to nature and the flow of seasons. In addition to the sacred dance became a spectacle and only entertainment. Another major transition occurred when men gradually began emulating and then taking over woman’s roles in dance. Increasing the propaganda against her and her rituals. Phrytharim men dressed as women and danced for their kings.

The few steps in the priestess steps.

Many women now awaken into their birth right of this sacred role of devotion to the great goddess.

She is the lens focusing for the others, the higher energies. The sustaining life that constitutes and defines earthly existence.

She acts as the transmitting agent of divine emanations. Her dance is a system of movements, gestures, prayers, and devotion to the invisible forces of life. The function of the priestess is to facilitate the groups and gingival process to teach and remind how to be receptive. The mysteries of unification of spirit & matter  is present within and capable of  birthing white light into great joy and expression.

Open, receiving, considering. Her dance is not concerned about personal but rather the transpersonal and eternal. A conduit of energy.” Sacred women sacred dance