Sacred dance vs. survival dance

One of the pleasures of my life is hearing of people’s visions and dreams emerging; when the veil of self-doubt and criticism lifts, and they start to truly see their innate gifts and passions, and imagine ways to offer them as service to the Great Turning. It’s a beautiful thing to witness! And quite normal really, for this is the way throughout time we have become fully fledged adults, through the journey of discovering and enacting our gifts in the world. 

Only in our current culture, bringing the visions to fruition is a tough ask. The careers that our culture rewards well are not generally visionary or radical (because visionary soul-centric work is of course at odds with the goals of industrial capitalism). 

I heard this week from Vas Clementine who sat a Vision Quest with Nature’s Apprentice last year, and since then has launched his soul work - Remembering Story Medicine - into the world. “I feel out on a limb artistically and financially,” he said (Vas is cool with me sharing his story).  

Vas on the other side of his four-day fast. Photo by Kitty Garry

It wasn’t an unusual story for my ears. Metamorphosis takes time. I encouraged Vas to consider a ‘survival dance’ to use Bill Plotkin’s term, an ordinary income generating job to support the emergence of his ‘sacred dance’. Just to take the pressure off, and to let the sacred dance emerge organically, rather than forced into a business plan. 

I could almost hear the sigh of relief in his response. “At heart I want to go the long way, the slow way, take the long view. I have at times considered the survival dance an unholy compromise, whereas when I actually accept the need for support it just feels like love, mammalian care.”

Yes. Wise. And humbling. 

The cost of living is high and getting higher. I had a reality check this week applying to a mortgage broker for refinancing. We live relatively frugally, but add up every hidden expense involved in bringing up three kids in secure housing and life requires significant survival dance moves! It feels a long way from the $20 a week I lived on in the bush a long time ago. 

This is part of the reason we have decided to cut program costs and offer the three month Nature Based Leadership Training next year for $500 less than was advertised a month ago. And we have extended the early bird rate until Christmas. 

Because times are tough and this work needs to be accessible. 

And maybe it’s also a summer season gift to my community. 
 

Stay true, 

Claire 
 

P.S Speaking of visionaries, if you’ve been considering making a strong gesture in the direction of a truer life in 2025, consider sitting a Vision Quest with us in March. Take the leap! 
 

P.P.S Check out Vas Clementine’s monthly Story Medicine Gathering on Sunday evenings outside Melbourne. It’s a treat.