The Medicine of Flow Sacred Scholarship

As part of the inaugural, 2020 NeuroSomatic Flow™ Teacher Training, students were required to submit a scholarly paper & video presentations based on their learnings from the course.

One of those submittals is featured below . . . .

The Dance of the Cosmos 

by Sarah Elizabeth Wegelin

Sacred Scholarship Paper for the NeuroSomatic Flow™ Teacher Training

“Knowing others is wisdom; knowing the self is enlightenment,” Lao Tzu 

How the flow arts ~ dancing with poi ~ symbolizes the flow of the universe and sparks joyful energy, and  wires new pathways, among those who participate in that dance. 

Play and Exploration with Poi and Hoop Dance in the Flow Arts 

“Most scientists believe that the universe happened with a single Big Bang of energy. More and more of  them believe it began as gentler ripples of energy in an endless energy field or sea. All of them agree  that the universe is made of energy, so let us begin with that,” Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris, Gaias Dance, page 30. 

There is so much to discover when it comes to spinning poi or hoop. Even when you start to hone-in  skills and develop new ones, there are ways to keep the experience interesting, by simply changing  direction and dancing with it. It is endless learning physically, mentally, and spiritually as we realize how  closely we connect to earth through this dance and create magic within ourselves through personal  growth and positive change. 

As our planet spins and moves with the universe in circles and spirals in various energies, liveliness takes  place among all the planets, among all the stars, throughout all that exists within ourselves and outside  of ourselves. All is formed through the movement of energy in the weaving and spinning of atoms and  molecules in the continuous creation of change we call evolution. Everything around us is alive and we are all interconnected. 

Participating in the world and evolving can be hard work for the human being. If we are to participate in  ways that keep us healthy and contribute to our individual evolution it may require courage, change  and movement. Mindful movement creates subtle shifts in our energy that creates change from the  inside through to the outside of our bodies. 

“Quantum physics states that mass and energy are interchangeable, and consequently that mass is  merely a manifestation of energy; meaning, everything, including humans is simply energy stored in mass particle form.’ 

“According to the theories associated with the universal energy field, all matter and psychological  processes – thoughts, emotions, beliefs and attitudes, are composed of energy that when superimposed  on each other, create what is known as the energy field,” Kerry D’Ambrogio, D.O.M., P.T., Everything – Including the Human Body – is Made of Energy. 

When we dance, we move; when we move, we shift and shake our energy. Have you ever walked the  grounds of a festival and felt the aliveness in the air? Do you feel joy, excitement, and/or love in that  aliveness? When we dance with an object, such as poi and hoop, the aliveness in the energy we create  can be seen in that object. The subtle control of that object changes the way that object moves. When our brain notices what we are doing in those movements, the realization of the magic within us is  discovered; as our bodies move, we awaken energy within us; it is exciting and invigorating. Joy and  play is discovered in this dance; and when it is contributed and shared with others, connection and  creation happens. When we apply neuroscience and the ancient wisdom of the Five Koshas and Chakra  System to this cosmic dance, we learn we can heal, and feel energized and empowered to manifest the  desires of our heart through this dance. 

The Importance Of Play To Our Survival And Evolution 

At the time that I write this our entire world seems to be struggling to find “Fun!” (Including me on some  days.) It is currently the year 2020. From March to June of this year our world shut down due to the  Corona Virus. As we reopen, we find ourselves having to follow new rules that require us to change the  way we normally do things; develop habits we may have thought we were already good enough at;  we’re being asked to “social” distance; threatened that we may get sick if we don’t. Fear keeps us from  hugging each other. Masks keep us from seeing each other smile. While this is not a World War, it gives  the vibe of seriousness and scariness as though it is one, and “fun” might feel inappropriate at this time, while through virtual means we have found ways to have fun; authentic connection with each other is  limited. Fun is vitally important to our health - in times of high stress it is important to take the time to  make fun and to play. 

“The opposite of play is not work, it’s depression,” Dr. Stuart Brown 

During this time, our species is vulnerable. Vulnerable to mental health issues. Vulnerable through isolation and disconnect to develop unhealthy habits.  

Play is natural among all species, including humans. Research shows, play improves brain function  through reducing stress; increasing dopamine; calming the amygdala and activating the cerebellum. It  helps us improve cognitive brain function and helps create new neural pathways to help us learn and  create. Overall, it is great for our well-being and is linked to our survival. 

(Resource: Play by Stuart Brown: pg. 30 – 33, Play with a Purpose) 

Flow Is Found In Play 

Flow Arts is described by Dr. Jinju Dasalla, Creator of the NeuroSomatic Flow™ Teacher Training Program, as a colourful, diverse, playground of art that embodies a variety of moment-based disciplines,  including dance and object manipulation. Poi, Hoop and Juggling are common Flow “Arts” in that it  embodies dance and can be used in performance. It naturally invites creativity through performance, (imagine a clown, surprised because he dropped a ball), imagery (imagine a collective of fire spinners  dancing together, or photos of people dancing with fire, flag poi, or hula hoops). It brings people together and encourages individuality through expression, while at the same time cultivates community  through the sharing of skills, talents, and experiences. 

Flow Arts supports whole brain functioning through the contralateral patterning of movements required  to use props while dancing. Because of this, Flow Arts, such as juggling, and spinning poi, are powerful  ways to balance the left and right brain. Research shows when a juggler juggles the whole brain lights  up. When we bring neurosomatic methods and mindfulness practise to the practise of poi, hoop or  juggling, in the flow arts practise, during one on one work with a client, or through a personal transformation workshop, or class, we create an opportunity for people to further cultivate personal  growth and change. 

“At any moment, we are either giving humanity the gift of our clarity or our confusion. And that clarity  or confusion is affecting the humanity around us, the world around us. It is manifesting. It is taking  form,” - Adyashanti 

Yoga in the Flow Arts 

The cosmic dance of NeuroSomatic Flow™ with poi and hoop is similar to yoga. In that, like during a yoga session, during its practise, it has powerful calming effects on the nervous system through movements: when we sway we feel joyful and happy; when we spin, we stimulate the vestibular system; when we  move our hips in circles, it reduces anger and increases joy. Through neurosomatic poi we create conscious awareness in our bodies. 

In the beginning, the poi and hoop wiggle and wobble, similar to the way your body might wiggle and  wobble in a standing tree position; when you find alignment and growth in your standing tree, you can feel it and it can be seen and felt by others. As you gain control of your poi and hoop, you have no  choice but to shift your subtle energy and change your thought patterns in similar ways as you would  exercising a yoga move - the poi shows when it’s not in alignment. Through practising with poi and  hoop, similar to yoga, the Anandamayakosha activates when you feel that alignment from the inside out. 

Flow is the Master of Everything 

There is so much to this learning. Ancient wisdom informs us that through our Chakras and our Koshas  everything flows within us, just as everything on earth does. If there is an imbalance to that flow, then  nature will find a way to provide that balance. Ancient wisdom helps us understand how to acknowledge and find balance in gentle ways. 

No matter what, all matter in the universe continues to move. There is a rhythm all around us and  within us. We, as the human species, are a part of that rhythm. The fun in practising the flow arts is in  the discovery of that wisdom and the access you have to the joy in the discovery of it. 

Trauma and fear may block us from participating in the rhythm of our world to our highest potential.  Trauma and fear may put us in positions where we are not contributing our joy to the world around us. Through the experience of trauma, we may become complacent, lazy, and live in a way that is  diminishing to our quality of life; or we may become too controlling and dominating. Trauma and fear  are the dangers found in the psychological realm of our existence. It’s dark, but there is light to be  discovered through movement.  

Neuroplasticity refers to the phenomenon that experience can change both the brain’s physical  structure (anatomy) and functional organization (physiology). If trauma impacts our thinking and alters  our way of being, then we can create healing thanks to the neuroplasticity of our brain, but it takes  movement and action to create that change.  

Our world is in a confused and awkward state right now. We are vulnerable to coming out of this time  traumatized, or enlightened. It may feel unsafe as people become sick; or safe, as we practise ways to  keep each other safe or lean on each other for comfort and safety. As Dr. Jinju Dasalla described in the NeuroSomatic Flow™ Teacher Training video on Resilience, “trauma is a part of life.” How we respond  to trauma is what determines its effects on us and the people around us. If trauma is dealt with in  healthy ways, then we will spread a healthy energy because of that response. If trauma is dealt with in  unhealthy ways or not dealt with at all, then we will spread an unhealthy energy because of that  response. (Think addictions, or how abusive people with unresolved trauma become abusive themselves.) 

Stress reduction and play is important to contributing joy to the energy around us. No matter what, energy will flow, but joyful and blissful energy is what we all deserve to live our lives in. It is something  we all have access to, and it is a choice whether we access it or not. 

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others,” - Marianne Williamson. 

Self-discovery and self-expression are beautiful and courageous. When we share our deepest part of  ourselves through fearless expression, we burst, like the big bang, we inspire others and it ripples out  into the world in endless flow. 

As I emerge as a NeuroSomatic Flow™ Teacher Training, I embrace the opportunity to empower others  through encouragement and safely support others to express their beauty and their courage and to  continue my learning so I may continue to share, grow and evolve as a living creature contributing to the  subconscious and consciousness of our planet. 

I am honoured to be a part of this. I am honoured to share this with others.