Open Circles

Hello Dear Ones,

DANCE this Thursday June 26th at 7:30 pm at 344 E Mountain Ave (Art and Science studio)-Fort Collins. – suggested donation $10

Also at the same place join us for CHANT on Sunday, June 29th- 7pm – suggested donation $10

And you might as well go ahead and mark your calendars to join me every Thursday in July for Dances of Universal Peace-same place, same time.

Starting Sunday, July 13th, I will be leading dances and the opening walk at SpiritKeepers in Boulder. 10 AM, senior center at 9th and Arapahoe.

Saturday, July 19th- Community Zikr- Studio Be- 2077 30th St, Boulder- 7 pm. I will be facilitating the evening and including some seated wazifah practices and readings.  – $5 suggested donation and dessert potluck… bring something yummy to share.

I don’t know yet about July chants… stay tuned… make no assumptions because, as you know, it just makes an ass out of someone or other, probably me.

PLUS… the big news for this fall… STARHAWK is coming to facilitate the Dancing with the Goddess retreat with me. Sign up now… http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

For optimal summer experience, practice Zen meditation with ants and mosquitoes. Breathe in happiness, breathe out tranquility. Breathe in peace, breathe out equanimity. Breathe in sunlight, breathe out ease in each moment.
Love to all… peace to the bloodsuckers!
Sára

(970)227-5275

Darlings,
TODAY!!! at 4:30 PM… join us at Avogadro’s Number (605 Mason St, Ft Collins) for a Five Wishes dinner, conversation and completion… I’ll bring the forms, the pens, and my big mouth. Please bring your pocketbook (if you want to buy dinner, drinks and dessert)… and let me know if you’re planning to join us.

TODAY!!! at 7 PM… join us for an evening of CHANTING (344 E Mountain Ave, Ft Collins) – $10 suggested – very inter-faith…hang out and sing, sing, sing!!!

THURSDAY, June 5th… join Brooke and Willow for a sweet evening of Dances of Universal Peace (344 E Mountain Ave) – $10 suggested. This is their first entire evening of dance and they have a lovely evening planned for you! Habib will be accompanying on guitar. THANK YOU HABIB!!!

I’ll be back with you for dance on the 12th.

LOVE ALL AROUND!!!
Sára

Darlings,
Would you like the latest info about my shenanigans?
Read on!

TOMORROW – Thursday, May 22nd – Dance in Fort Collins – 344 E Mountain Ave – 7:30 PM – I will be leading with some sweet contributions from Brooke and Willow! We’re so lucky! – $10 suggested

NEXT Thursday, May 29th – Dance in F.C. – ditto to all the above…

THEN…

Sunday, June 1st – NEW EVENT – Five Wishes Party – 4:30 PM – Avogadro’s Number (625 S Mason St, Ft Collins) – Bring money for dinner, drink, dessert… – I will bring copies of the Five Wishes and pens… if you don’t know what I’m talking about, please read on…
Five Wishes are an easy, simple, fast and awesomely effective way to do some end-of-life planning… state your advanced directives, name your medical decision maker, outline your desires and plans in a clear, effective manner. Many people put off these plans because it’s just hard to prioritize or it’s scary or it doesn’t feel urgently important… and then (as I see in my hospice work), it often ends up being a stress and struggle for family members, loved ones, and individuals facing difficult decisions under difficult circumstances. Much better to get things in order early. Please plan to join me at Avo’s… Contact me if you have questions or want more info… AND.. please RSVP so I can set up a table with enough chairs!

THEN…
We’ll go CHANT!!! – Sunday, June 1st – 7 PM – Chant at 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Thursday, June 5th – 7:30 PM – will be led by Willow and Brooke and friends! – 344 E Mountain – Please plan to join the circle… it is bound to be a sweet, beautiful, and lovely opportunity for all of you to enjoy the leadership of these wonderful young women! – $10 suggested

June 6 to 8, I’ll be in Virginia for a Singing Retreat at Anahata… join me if you can! – e-mail me for more info!

Thursday, June 12th – Fort Collins Dance – I’ll be back in the leadership ring… 7:30 PM

NO DANCE on the 19th… because…

MEADOWFEST – y’all sure are slow about signing up this year… if you’re planning to come camping with us, e-mail me IMMEDIATELY!!! – Meadowfest goes from Thursday June 19th to Sunday June 22nd – at Jack’s Gulch – $35/adult

AND… the next big chapter for me… and you… I am certifiably insane. After long consideration and much discussion, I have agreed to assume leadership of the Boulder Community Zikr as Habib is retiring. There will be some changes afoot… here’s the info, starting…

Saturday, June 21st – Zikr will begin at 7:00 (yes, it’s 30 minutes earlier) – at Studio Be (2077 30th St, Boulder, in the Aspen Plaza) – please plan to arrive on time. There will be a 30 minute (or so) seated portion of the evening, which will likely include some wazifa practice, readings, breath concentrations, etc… – Zikr will end at 9:30… and dessert potluck will follow. – Suggested donation $5

I think that’s plenty for now. If that’s not enough to put on your calendar, please consider joining one of the following meetup groups:
1. llama hair weaving hippie mamas with long, painted-orange fingernails in the northern colorado area
2. mountain climbing 35 to 55 year old former catholics with propensities for using too much hair gel
3. confused adult children of OCD fathers married to spanish soap opera addicted mothers, who play boxcar dominos as healthy coping mechanism
Love and happy rain to all,
Sára

(970)227-5275

Dear Community,
I know that all of you grown-ups working for a living in this day and age are simply overwhelmed with responsibilities and demands on your time, energy and financial resources…
As a relatively intelligent, somewhat spiritually inclined, living, breathing human being walking the sweet earth along with you… I’d like to strongly encourage you to pack up all those adult obligations, drop them into a deep, fast-moving river, and go on retreat!!!
For real! Here are a few for you to prioritize above all else:

SINGING RETREAT – at Anahata Community in Floyd, Virginia… June 6, 7, 8… I’m so happy to be part of this! Kathryn Ashera and Craig Green are phenomenal human beings with stellar vision and alignment with spirit, joy, and the power of music. Check it out!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1410768745849379/

MEADOWFEST… June 19 to 22 – Jack’s Gulch – Come camp with us! Pagan-centric, happy, relaxed camping fun! I’ll be heading up rituals, chants, maybe some dancing (if y’all like that sort of thing) – I love cooking up breakfast pancakes for all y’all! Here’s the link for more info and registration:
http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

GODDESS RETREAT with STARHAWK and ME!!! – September 26 to 29 – I can’t even begin to express my overwhelming delight to be bringing Starhawk for this retreat! Facilitation will all be by me and Starhawk! I’m quite certain this retreat will sell out! Sign up early! Like, NOW!!!
http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

Then… as normal, on-going, not so super special, but pretty darn great ways to enjoy community without needing to quit your jobs:

Dance this Thursday, May 15th – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain Ave, F.C. – $10 suggested

Chant NEXT Sunday, May 18th – 7 PM – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Dance Thursday, May 22nd – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Dance Thursday, May 29th – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Chant, Sunday, June 1st – 7 PM – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Dance with Brooke and Willow, Thursday, June 5th – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain – This is a very exciting, wonderful opportunity for all of you beloved dancers to enjoy, support, encourage, celebrate and delight in the blossoming, gorgeous leadership of these young women! I SO wish I could be there in my absence!!! – $10 suggested

A tip for living a happy life:
get a cat… take naps with said cat at least daily… in the sunshine… or the shade.
Love to all,
Sára

(970)227-5275

Dear Ones,

Dance tonight (March 27th)! – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain Ave, F.C. – $10 suggested

Dance next week! – April 3rd – same bat time, same bat channel!

Dance – April 10th … ditto to the rest…

Chant – Sunday, April 13th – 7 PM – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

NO DANCE APRIL 17th…

NO DANCE APRIL 24th…

NO DANCE MAY 1st…

BUT…

CHANT RETREAT!!! It’s time to sign up… deadline is April 15th…
Retreat goes April 25, 26, 27 – here’s the link for info and registration: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

AND…

SUFI YOUTH JAM!!!
Retreat goes April 29 to May 4 – here’s the link: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

PLUS…

EVERYONE… please do join us at Camp Santa Maria for May 3rd afternoon and evening community day at the Youth Jam – Come experience the leadership of the next generation of Dance and Sufi Ruhaniat leaders… $25 includes dinner – Pre-register for dinner so our AMAZING caterer knows how many of us to cook for – e-mail me for the flyer with all the details…

AND… FINALLY…
I highly encourage you to spend at least an hour a day in the spring sunshine… and if you do it like me… be super lazy about it, don’t move at all, and you too can get a nice first-sunburn-of-the-season on your sweet noses!

See you at the dance!
Sára

(970)227-5275

Dear Darling Circling Community,

may I suggest walnuts and mass quantities of sesame seeds to alleviate confusion… and as a human supplemental agent, allow me to clarify a couple things for this weekend (before I leave town)… which I should have included in my last mailer, but I forgot to take my brain pill yesterday.

1. Tomorrow – Saturday – I will be leading the Sufi Class at Studio Be (2077 30th St, Boulder) at 6 PM – by donation – we do some practices, breath concentration, readings, etc… seated and sedentary…not very Ruhaniat-like at all…

2. THEN – also Tomorrow – Saturday – Habib and I will be leading the evening Zikr at 7:30 also at Studio Be – $5 donation – dessert potluck – not seated or sedentary – very Ruhaniat-like!

3. Sunday – I will be facilitating the Chant evening in Fort Collins – 7 PM – 344 E Mountain Ave (Art and Science) – $10 suggested donation

Then I’ll be gone… Next planned gatherings upon my return will be… Thursday, March 6th – Dance of Universal Peace – 7:30 PM – Fort Collins Sunday, March 9th – Chant – 7 PM – Art and Science

Studio Thursday, March 13th – Dance – 7:30 – Art and Science

Saturday, March 15th – Sufi Class in Boulder AND Zikr in Boulder (6 PM and 7:30 PM, respectively)

Thursday, March 20th – Dance – Fort Collins

Sunday, March 23rd – Chant – Fort Collins

Thursday, March 27th – Dance – Fort Collins

and I think that is quite enough looking ahead and being responsible grown-ups mapping out our calendars into the future…

In this moment, I want to tell you that I do understand fish oil to be the best brain food… but I am a vegetarian and even though little orange, squishy gel caps don’t look like any animal I’ve ever seen, I just can’t condone eating them even if they would make me smarter.

that being said, if you feel your brain really needs a boost, I will not judge you for eating squishy orange gel caps filled with fish oil…

and I also will not judge you for wasting several hours a day solving on-line Sudoku and Kakuro puzzles. (Studies show they are good for you and this form of brain exercise is supposed to stave off dementia. Worth a try. Dementia sucks).

In fact, I will whole-heartedly celebrate you taking such good care of your brain! God knows I’ll be depending more and more on your intelligence as mine continues to plummet into the depths of inanity (that is not a type-o, just a creative use of language, and a very nice word… feel free to look it up).

Love and Good Chocolate to you all!

Sára

(970)227-5275

If you were a type of music, what would you be? Classical, jazz, hip-hop, dub-step, folk, bluegrass, oldies, reggae, death metal…

If I were a type of music, I would have to create my own genre… but the primary instrument would be the saw. Not like a power-saw, but the old fashioned saw, played with a bow… the kind that sounds like ghosts and broken door hinges. Want a sample?

Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL2J9Q2F0Wo&list=PL_RyXRArZZ2rYGQr6eyy1–qyfZa6Ezkm

I must admit.. there were lots of REALLY pretty musical saw samples… but this one made me laugh so that’s the one you get!

Thursday, January 30th, 7:30 PM – Dance of Universal Peace – 344 E Mountain Ave, Ft Collins – $10 suggested

Saturday, February 1st, 1 PM to 9 PM – Tending the Heart (mini Sufi retreat) – The Yoga Room, Idaho Springs – facilitated by me, Gayan and Rafia – an afternoon of Sufi practices and teachings, a long break for dinner and hot springs, an evening of Zikr – flyer and registration link here: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

Sunday, February 2nd, 7 PM – Imbolc Chant – 344 E Mountain Ave, F.C. – $10 suggested

Thursday, February 6th, 7:30 PM – Dance of Universal Peace – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Thursday, February 13th, 7:30 PM – Dance of Universal Peace – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

Saturday, February 15th, 6 PM – Sufi Class and Zikr – Studio Be, 2077 30th St, Boulder – I will be leading the Sufi Class again this month… by donation – Zikr will be with Habib and me… $5 suggested – Dessert potluck, bring a treat to share!

Sunday, February 16th, 7 PM – Chant – 344 E Mountain – $10 suggested

NO DANCE in FORT COLLINS FEBRUARY 20 or 27!!!

I’ll be out of town, leading events on the east coast… have buddies you want to send my way? Here’s the general idea:

February 21st an evening of Universal Worship concentration, music, movement and prayer – somewhere in the DC area

February 22nd a day-long Dance Leading workshop and an Evening Zikr at OneCircle in Silver Spring Maryland

February 23rd to 27th… an array of events from DC to Floyd, Virginia to Asheville, NC…

February 28th morning workshop… evening Zikr in Asheville NC

March 1st afternoon Meditation and Movement workshop… evening Dance of Universal Peace at Earthaven

March 2nd Charge of the Goddess Cycle of Dance in Asheville

If you want more info about any of these things, please let me know and I’ll forward you flyers with details.

See you back in Fort Collins for Dancing March 6th!

Also… don’t forget to register for:

1. CHANT RETREAT w/ me and Allaudin – April 25 to 27

2. SUFI YOUTH JAM – April 29 to May 4

All registration info and flyers are here: http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

QUESTION: is there a “Beautiful Name of God” associated with laughing hysterically for no good reason?

I’m going to have to make one up…

Ya Guffaw!

Love to all,

Sára

Darlings,
Chant, Dance, Retreat… repeat… Chant, Dance, Retreat… repeat… Chant, Dance, Retreat…

Let’s CHANT!!!
Sunday, January 19th
7 PM
Art and Science Studio, 344 E Mountain Ave, Fort Collins
$10 suggested donation
Bring a cushion or backjack for your own comfort.

Also…
I’m in the market… Does anyone have a hint about where I can purchase 15 backjacks for cheap?

Thursday night dances are still happening.. hope to see, sing and boogie with you on:
the 16th
the 23rd
the 30th
and on into February…

AND…

For your yearning Sufi Hearts…
I just confirmed details with my co-conspirators from last year:

TENDING the HEART – 2nd Annual Sufi Mini Retreat – Idaho Springs (The Yoga Room) -Saturday, February 1st – 1 PM to 9 PM with a big break in the middle for dinner and hot springing – check out the flyer and register here: www.trigoddess.org/special-events/

Love to all!
Sára

Beloveds,
WELCOME to 2014!
I dare say, it has been (so far) a flawless transition for me, meaning that since the december page gave up the ghost, I have not once written “2013” on a check or official document. Rare display of intellectual vigilance!
I also dare say, I am impressed at the non-existent New Year’s Resolutions I’ve been hearing from all y’all and out in the big bad world. Do New Year’s Resolutions not exist anymore?
Where’s your sense of commitment?
I’m telling you, the world is settling into a self-indulgent lethargy of humanity. Lapsed gym memberships, wagon deserters, cookie and cake consumption rages on!
With all my rabble-rousing enthusiasm, I say:
HUZZAH!!!!
Keep the vices coming! Diets be damned.
And when you’ve finished your toast… back to the serious spiritual matters at hand:

Thursday, January 9th – Dance of Universal Peace – 7:30 PM – 344 E Mountain Ave, Ft Collins – $10 suggested donation

Thursday, January 16th – Dance! – 7:30 PM – E Mountain – $10 suggested

Thursday, January 23rd – DANCE!!! – ditto…

Thursday, January 30th – DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!!! – same bat station

… and then, there are the out-of-the-ordinary offerings…

CHANT  RETREAT with Allaudin Ottinger and Me! – registration is open! – April 25 to 27 – $115 for lodging and meals (w/ a vegetarian potluck dinner) – more info and registration form here:http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

SUFI  YOUTH  JAM with the next generation of Dance Leaders and Sufi folks! – registration is open! – April 29 to May 4 – $250 for lodging and meals – I’m unbelievably excited for this event! – A retreat for and by the young’uns – http://trigoddess.org/special-events/

If you LOVE the idea of the Sufi Youth Jam, whether you are attending or not, I heartfully invite you to donate money to help with registration and travel expenses for participants. You can dog-ear donations to the Sufi Ruhaniat International indicating your donation is specifically for the Sufi Youth Jam. Here’s a website: http://www.ruhaniat.org/index.php/support-sri/financial-support

Note: I’m not sure what’s happening with chant circles yet. Nothing scheduled at the moment… I’ll keep you posted. Stay tuned. I haven’t discontinued them… I’m just in a temporary limbo.

Peace out!
Sára