To be spiritual, we must be open, receptive, yielding.The artist asks and waits expectantly for the answer.
The spiritual seeker asks and waits expectantly for the answer.The artist trusts and steps forward in faith into the unknown.
The spiritual seeker trusts and steps forward in faith into the unknown.
The artist listens, observes, tastes life, then responds in action based on contemplation.
The spiritual seeker listens, observes, tastes life, then responds in action based on contemplation.
When we are creative, we give back the gift we have been given.
When we are spiritual, we give back the gift we have been given.
The artist in in awe of the world. For the artist, the world is truly a wonderful (WONDER FULL) source of learning and inspiration.
The spiritual seeker is in awe of the world. For the spiritual one, the world is truly a wonderful (WONDER FULL) source of learning and inspiration.”
(written as Barbara McQuarrie, Thesis title ” Dancing to the Still Point: The Expression of Creativity and Spirituality Through Movement and Dance in a Christian Retreat Setting”)
Lovely
Inspiring
Encouraging
Hopeful
Thanks, Meg, for your supportive comments. I checked out your site and found it to be all of the things you said about my article and more. I found it even more interesting because I just finished reading “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant and it was so much like your statements about a time when people and communities were connected directly to their environments, their spirits and their God. I will check out the many links on your site. They all look interesting.
Great to hear Barbara. I have been recently called to be a full-time United Church minister in Elmvale. I feel so blessed to get paid to do what I have been doing with passion and eagerness all my life. And I am learning so much more about Wisdom and her hidden in plain sight presence everywhere. Are you involved with a congregation these days? I’m very interested in what you describe as lay ministry through the arts. Are you still doing this?
That’s good to hear of your placement at Elmvale. I think Doris Major used to be a lay minister there. Do you know her? I am presently not involved with a church. When I moved to be with my husband Tom (now deceased), I didn’t find a new church. I was commuting and very busy and have just never returned to a home church. My thesis for my MA in Dance at York University was based on my professional experience with Ruah. I held a day-long workshop for my study but haven’t held any since. I was a full-time school teacher and left the dance world behind for a number of years. I have returned to dance in the last few years through workshop and week-long retreats in Nia dance, conscious dance, Soul Motion and Yoga but not on a regular basis and I have not done any teaching myself. Since I’ve retired, I’ve focused more on my writing. I see the possibility of a dance ministry being in my future but not for now.