Introduction

366 Steps To Heal Souls: A Moving Journal

                                      Introduction

“Where’s the Juice?” my girl-friend screamed at me, while we were dancing.

“Why don’t you move your feet when you dance?” a friend wondered.

 “ Move your hips,” whispered another friend at a dance.

  

        I remember Stan Strickland, one of the best saxophone players in Boston, moving across a huge gymnasium while playing his instrument to a room full of joyful dancers.  I was joyful too--especially because Stan appeared to be walking straight towards me.  He put down his saxophone when he got closer and opened his mouth.  The loud drumming from the drummers made it impossible for me to hear what Stan was saying to me.  But when he stopped in front of me, I could finally hear his words, “Move with the rhythm.”

      I need a dance teacher.  I meet Pat in a one-day workshop called “The Fundamentals of Movement.”  I ask him, “Would you come to my home to teach me how to dance.” 

      I think Pat will look at how I dance and offer suggestions.  Instead we begin with the fundamentals of movement.    He tells me, “Keep your feet planted on the ground.  Don’t move them.   Breathe and be aware of how the rest of your body moves just a little. The only intentional movement is to stop if you are going to fall.”  While I do this Pat says, “You are now dancing—it’s called a “Small Dance.”

     We meet once a week for over ten years.  He teaches me to enjoy moving and enjoy dancing.  He helped me heal from abuse.  And he helped me discover deeper ways to touch and be touched, love and be loved.  He repeatedly insists that I first have to be aware of myself, my sensations, feelings, movements and momentum, before I begin to relate to another.

He confesses to me, “I first began to be aware of the importance of movement when I was uncomfortable sitting in my high school auditorium.  I discover how many of my difficult feelings are more manageable or leave when I focus on how to sit comfortably in my chair.”

     Pat and I take notes during and after each session.  While I trun these notes into steps for this book, I imagine Pat is coaching me to re-create our classes together so they more fun, teach me more and are even more healing   And he doesn’t yet charge me for channeling him.