Shiva Nata: the Dance of Shiva
Rice Krispie Treats and the Dance of Shiva
So.
Every once in a while I get an email from a total stranger that’s just pure distilled awesomeness.
Like this one from Erika Harris (reprinted with permission):
Havi,
Hot-buttered-holographic-mantrixdala-cerebral-caresses… and crunches. Dammit.
In other words, the DVD arrived today.
Yay? Nay? Yes!
ErikaP.S. Synap… is mighty close to: Ssss-nnnnap (like a brain crackle & pop). Hmmm, maybe instead of a duck, I’ll practice Shiva Nata with two Rice Krispies treats. You know, just to keep my palms flat and facing heaven :-)
P.P.S. All brain-scramble aside, I’m totally excited about — and terror-fied of — this process. Already.
You know what I love?
When people get how great this is going to be before they even start.
That tingly sensation that’s equal parts oh boy and uh oh.
And all I can say about that is Wheeeeee!
Because Erika, you’re in for a ride.
Also, this is seriously the coolest email I’ve gotten all week. And I get great email.
I LOVE it.
In fact, I might have to put this on my wall.
Or embroider it on a cushion. Or tattoo it on one of my students.
Yes, Dance of Shiva is very, very snap, crackle and pop-ey.
Go in small doses, take your time and enjoy the buzz.
And if you do practice with Rice Krispie treats, you MUST take pictures because it will be the highlight of my life. So so great.
Can’t wait to put this up because it will put a smile on the face of every single Shivanaut I know!
And I’m very excited to hear how it goes.
Enjoy the scrambling and unscrambling, Erika! And same goes for the rest of you too.
Oooh, one more thing.
So I go to Erika’s website, thinking … who is this masked woman of mystery?
And it turns out that she runs a wonderful little place online called Joyful Work for Sensitive People.
Now, if you’ve read my stuff over at The Fluent Self you know that I am also a Highly Sensitive Person. So this is very fortuitous in all sorts of different ways.
Anyway, say hi to a brand new Shivanaut and start hanging out with Erika. Because I like her.
And fill me in on how your practice is going! My duck wants to know.
I like you, too, Havi.
And that may be the biggest understatement I’ve made in a very long time.
XOXO,
Erika
Truly awesome. I’ve been using the hot-oil-on-fire imagery to help me keep my hands facing up, but it’s always seemed a little violent to me. I love getting a new one: dancing Shiva with my favorite childhood sweet-munchy delicacy. Too perfect.
Oh, and “Hot-buttered-holographic-mantrixdala-cerebral-caresses… and crunches” absolutely rocks.
Diane Whiddon-Browns last blog post..Not So Resolute
Twitter: havi
That’s how Selma got involved in this whole thing to begin with. I was using her in class to take away the “burning oil about to drip on your head” scariness.
Also the yoga studios never let me do it with burning oil. Stupid control-freak hippies. :)
Oooh, this is so very cool. Bring on the brain scrambling! I’d love to see what someone who is already so snappy and clever comes up with after dancing it up for a while…
Eileens last blog post..“Suggestion” #2: Mediation
Twitter: havi
That’s exactly what I was thinking.
Imagine all the fantastic connections that are being made right now just thinking about it …
Oooh! The birth of Selma! Now we know how she came into fabulousness! I feel all special now, like I know a secret.
Diane Whiddon-Browns last blog post..Not So Resolute
How fun is this!?
I tried doing it with a hackey sack and it was awesome.
I need to get another one so I have one for each hand.
As soon as I got the DVD and saw the videos I understood your whole relationship with Selma. :-)
Ahhhh. Sublime pleasure. Being in the company of Sparkly, Glistening Dieties like all of you! This feels soul-good. It *is* soul-good.
I’m a new Shivanaut, but a veteran Psychonaut (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychonaut). So I think my brain was already at room-temp, so to speak… and now the Dance is heatin’ things up. Radical and Ecstatic Convergence.
Question: When watching Havi’s level 2 demo at shivanata.com, was anyone else reminded of Neo — near the end of The Matrix — when he gave the agents an enlightened as$-kicking?? Ducking (HA!, lil’ Selma), dodging and stopping their impotent bullets. Effortlessly. Just by calmly leaning and bending, like a wind-blown tree-branch. Anyway, Havi’s demo totally reminds me of that. Ancient yogic movement form meets 23rd century. Blurrrr…..
Erika, from now on I shall picture you doing Dance of Shiva with black wrap-around shades (a la Neo) and a rice krispie in each palm. And you will be my ShivaNaut mascot, because that is awesome. (*peers into cabinet, ponders whether one fruity pebble in each palm will have similar effect as rice krispies.*)
Also? You should come here and post comments like every day because I love your take on DoS. :)
Marissas last blog post..Sex, Logic versus Faith, and Terrorism: An Interview with the Dalai Lama
Twitter: havi
This is fun. And yeah, why not a fruity pebble?
How do you think I ended up with a duck? Before Selma and I met (which is a very long story for some other time), I used candles, bowls, and pretty much anything I could find.
I also couldn’t afford the dvd and so I wrote the numbers on a piece of paper and taped it to the wall. But enough stories of going up hill in snow each ways, because I always win at it and that gets boring.
Neo! Awesome.
Once my brother comes here with his fancypants camera, I’ll put up some more video.
Twitter: victoriashmoria
Now whenever I go to do Shiva Nata, all I can think about is “Ssss-nnnnap!”
That is too perfect.
Welcome to the land of Shiva madness, Erika.
I love that I am in such good company!
Victoria Brouhards last blog post..More on Fears (Not Moron Fears)
Shiva Nata luv at http://lifeblazing.com (#1 of “Happy Reset Button!”).
P.S. Strong and Emphasized CONGRATS on the NYT coverage today, Havi! (http://www.nytimes.com/pages/style/index.html) What an explosive start to the New Year. Talk about Wheeee!!!
Erika Harriss last blog post..Happy Reset Button!
@Marissa & @Victoria,
Just how tightly can you stand your bear hugs?
Muah!
Erika Harriss last blog post..Happy Reset Button!
Twitter: havi
Thanks, Erika! I was so excited I put up another post basically saying how cool Selma is. This is so much fun to have everyone all thrilled and rejoicing for me. You guys are the BEST.
Ok, day 2, first big realization. Not really a realization, as I already knew this, but so funny to see it play out here. I’m having a lot more confusion on my right side. My left arm flows.. knows right where to go. Right arm’s all, duuhhhh…
Found myself writing out the patterns on paper because I couldn’t understand what Andrey meant by ‘both arms forward’ and such. Needed to wrap logical head around it, ie, I think too much. Like I DIDN’T ALREADY KNOW THAT!!! :)
Funny also, I am noticing a physical sensation on my right side, esp my face… like a…hmm.. denseness?
So cool.
Ginas last blog post..mom, can i have a ride out of the nest?