"It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still, and just like that,
something in me settles, softens, makes
space for imperfection. The harsh voice
of judgment drops to a whisper and I
remember again that life isn’t a relay
race; that we will all cross the finish
line; that waking up to life is what we
were born for. As many times as I
forget, catch myself charging forward
without even knowing where I’m going,
that many times I can make the choice
to stop, to breathe, and be, and walk
slowly into the mystery."
- Danna Faulds, Walking Slowly (Poem)
Thursday, July 28, 2022
First I want to thank the many of you who emailed me last week to offer such loving and kind condolences. I have saved every single message and it's in a "comfort" folder. We are still navigating the stages of grief. We miss Trudie every day. We picked up her ashes on Tuesday and today, when we got home from celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary, we received am unexpected package from our vet's office - a custom picture frame that reads, "When tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're apart. Every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart. - Trudie" It was a clear sign to us that Trudie is here to celebrate our anniversary with us and that we now have everything we need to do a ritual to honor her memory.
This past Sunday I shared an excerpt from the poem above by Danna Faulds. The excerpt I shared was:
"It only takes a reminder to breathe,
a moment to be still, and just like that,
something in me settles, softens, makes
space for imperfection."
Except I removed imperfection from the sentence and asked everyone to share one word for something they wanted to make space for in our dance on Sunday. The list we created included:
Flow, peace, self-compassion, healing (x3), presence, love, joy, space, kindness, and wholeness.
We invoked those qualities into our dance.
My heart was still tender on Sunday and it was good medicine to dance in community. And then on Wednesday evening, a small group of us danced to "basking in joy" and we included moments of connecting our hands via the Zoom squares. My capacity to feel and sense joy expanded significantly at our connection (even though it was virtual). We truly felt each others energy - it was visceral. It reminded me of the importance of collective and communal joy.
I am finding joy in remembering Trudie. The joy sits alongside my grief. I am feeling joy reflecting on 21 years of marriage and excitement for the years ahead. It is bringing me deep joy to show up to class and serve as your movement guide and co-dancer.
And so this weekend we are revisiting the Collective Joy playlist and class that we co-created in 2021. Know that sometimes when we can't access joy within ourselves, we can sometimes experience a spark of joy from another or bask in the warmth of their joy.
Also for those of you that prefer to experience a Nia class. I renewed my teaching license a couple of months ago and will be teaching Nia on Wednesdays at 4PM PDT for the Embodied Movement Explorations classes throughout the month of August.
Classes this week - Sunday at 10:00AM PDT and Wednesday at 4:00PM PDT
Deeply grateful for this community,
Jennifer
Schedule Going Forward:
- Somos Luceros on Sundays at 10AM PDT
- Embodied Movement Explorations in Body Wisdom & Wellness on Wednesdays at 4PM PDT
- ArcanaDance - next workshop TBA
Somos Luceros
 Somos Luceros is a somatic dance practice designed to illuminate the wisdom of your body and cultivate deep embodiment of archetypal qualities that offer lightness, depth and joy. The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling, opening new chapters in our bodies where we can see and feel our most luminous potential. Release the stories in your body that weigh you down and reclaim your light. In Spanish, Somos means “we are” and Luceros means “bringers of light” or “bright stars.” This name honors my father, my paternal indigenous ancestors in South America, my heritage, and our collective oldest ancestor, the stars. We are dancing bodies of light.
With immense gratitude for your continued support,
Jennifer
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Somos Luceros - Dance of Collective Joy: A Community-Created Movement Experience (via Zoom)
Date: Sunday, July 31, 2022 at 10:00AM PDT
Time Zones: 10:00AM PDT | 11:00AM MDT | 12:00PM CDT | 1:00PM EDT
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience ($5-$25)
Register for class:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZcvcO2gqj8rHNDanSeg3I5G1MgbjMEfXzr9
Join us for the Dance of Collective Joy: A Community-Created Movement Experience
 The focus of this class is elevating and celebrating joy in community.
When stressors arise in our lives we can source joy from within ourselves and/or we can come together and lighten our energies and spirits, buoyed by the collective joy created in community.
Back in 2021 our community of dancers set the collective intention to cultivate joy (for that year). We created a playlist and collected movements and gestures that express joy. This communal task was especially necessary, especially after the unprecedented individual and collective stressors of 2020, and then 2021, and now 2022!.
This Sunday, we are revisiting that playlist showcasing 14 of the songs that have evoked joy in our community members lives. The choreography is a blend of movement prompts and sensations of joy described by those who submitted songs and my (Jennifer) creative expression.
Make no mistake, this is a collaborative creation. Somos means “we” and Luceros means “light.” We weave our light (and our joy) together with music, movement and merriment!
The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling. You are invited to receive the choreography, bring it into your body and make it your own.
Somos Luceros is a somatic dance practice designed to illuminate the wisdom of your body and cultivate deep embodiment of archetypal qualities that offer lightness, depth and joy. The dance moves are simple and guided by the language of storytelling, opening new chapters in our bodies where we can see and feel our most luminous potential. Release the stories in your body that weigh you down and reclaim your light. In Spanish, Somos means “we are” and Luceros means “bringers of light” or “bright stars.” This name honors my father, my paternal indigenous ancestors in South America, my heritage, and our collective oldest ancestor, the stars. We are dancing bodies of light.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the class/meeting.
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience:
Embodied Movement Explorations for Body Wisdom and Wellness (via Zoom)
Date: Wednesday, August 3, 2022
Time Zones: 4:00PM PDT, 5:00PM MDT, 6:00PM CDT, 7:00PM EDT
Class is 75 minutes
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience ($5-$25)
Register for class:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZElc-uurTgqE9FAwQIgcaKOGUBItu_N2inV
Join us for Embodied Movement Explorations for Body Wisdom and Wellness
 Body wisdom is being aware of and attuned to what our body needs to feel well. This somatic intelligence and tending can be accessed and cultivated in many ways.
Every week we will explore a variety of somatic movement practices that include somatic dance, yoga, QiGong, archetypal expression (mainly tarot), and other modalities that emphasize mindfulness and that guide self-knowing.
Classes for the month of August will focus on Emotions and Our Three Body Weights (from Nia Technique).
Our guiding tarot card for this class is the Ace of Cups/Water. The invitation is to awaken our heart and allow ourselves to experience emotional flow.
All classes will be crafted using movement patterns and principle 8 from the Nia Technique. Principle 8 is The Core: Pelvis, Chest and Head. These three body weights are homes to our emotions.
Throughout our embodied explorations we may notice which emotions move through these areas of our body. We get to explore the ways in which emotions flow in and through our Core and likewise where we experience blocks or constriction. Our gentle invitation is to take notice, feel, and invite flow.
In this class we center the experience of living, feeling, sensing and moving in our bodies. We learn practices to know ourselves more deeply, cultivate joy, restore from stress, explore creative self-expression, and ways to nourish the various systems (fluid, muscular, skeletal, organ, nervous, and cellular) of our body.
Come to move your body, develop a deeper appreciation for the intelligence and wisdom of your body, and to learn practices to be well in mind, body, heart and soul.
Wear comfortable clothes to move in. No shoes required. Feel free to have a yoga mat, blanket or towel for floor-based practices.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the class/meeting.
Pay what you can in exchange for the class experience:
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Tarot Sessions - Now August and beyond
 I am now scheduling into August and beyond.
These sessions are my lifeblood and I so appreciate your continued support in scheduling appointments and referring your loved ones and friends to me. As you know, I don't advertise. All of my client work has been via referral. For that I am immensely grateful.
To schedule a session, choose the session type at www.jenniferluceroearle.com/tarot-with-me/sessions and email me your questionnaire.
Tarot Consultation Packages
There are several tarot packages to choose from, including options for multiple one hour to two hour sessions throughout a one year window.
Huge thanks to Brooke Lowe Johnson for the photo (top) above!
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Mary Lenox's Poetry
Following is the poem, Breath of Life, that Mary wrote and shared with us after class this past Sunday, July 24. It brought all of us so much comfort and home.
Breath of Life
There is an invisible Spirit
Beyond skin and bone
Within you and me
Wherever we may roam
I live by that presence
The source of all there is
Filling me with love
Breath by breath
The space between
Inhaling and exhaling
Offers a moment of stillness
Inviting rest in the arms of faith
Some day
When I breathe my last breath on planet earth
I will journey onward Into the mystery
Free of worldly circumstances
I whisper a song of gratitude
For the glorious breath of life
Renewing my body, mind, spirit
Here and now
©2022 Mary F. Lenox
To join Mary's email list: mflenox69@gmail.com
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 Below is an excerpt from Where is breath in your body? by Valarie Kaur.
"When we give our attention to wonder, we call it breathtaking. But perhaps we should call it breathgiving. Awe stretches out our capacity to be present and let in even a sense of joy. Notice what you feel in your body.
Is this feeling in your body familiar or is it rare? How have you been breathing? What do you need to be able to breathe like this every day? Get quiet and listen."
For more: https://valariekaur.com/learninghub/7-breathe/
Image from: https://valariekaur.com/about-valarie/
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