Arriving home at the end of my work day, I usually pull in the garage and sit in silence a bit before walking in the door.
It’s a lovely ritual I’ve had for years to help me center and return home with peaceful enthusiasm for the night ahead. This evening, however, I heard music blasting as if teenagers were throwing a banger in my house. Curiosity overrode my ritual and I quickly popped in the door to see what was happening. I found my husband pulling dinner out of the oven while the rhythm pulsed through the neighborhood.
I mean that dude was positively rocking out. And the beat was so good that I dropped my bags and started dancing.
While he plated dinner (his evening ritual), I danced in the kitchen with the dog. No need to even say hi, it was clear that my body was busy and I wasn’t gonna spoil that party. My happiness quotient rose rapidly and laughter erupted when the cook occasionally sang back up. The song was unfamiliar but I was too busy sliding and spinning to listen to any words. When it ended, I quickly searched Spotify for the next dance tune so I could keep the party going.
Sometimes, I have a dancing dinner.
My husband sits at the kitchen counter, I dance between bites all over the kitchen, and we catch up on the day. My body thinks this is a good idea after sitting for hours in a comfy chair, and I have to agree. This night, however, the music was too loud to speak and the beat too good to disrupt. By the time the dishes were done (again, his ritual) and salt and pepper put away (my contribution), the playlist ended and I went to play ball with my dog (his ritual).
After all that dancing, Milo was a bit pooped and didn’t seem to remember how to return the ball.
Fast forward to the following night. We drove to the forest where we like to walk and I asked for the name of that Googamooga song.
I realized Milo was trying to clue me in that the song was Ball of Confusion by the Temptations.
I rarely listen to the Temptations but I liked the beat. So I added it to my Spotify playlist and got jammin’ in the car. So many lyrics had me looking them up and singing along. No easy task as there were a lot of words. What I soon realized that this 1970 Motown song, written by Norman Whitfield for the Temptations, was a searing commentary on the state of the union. Racial tension, unemployment, drug addiction, crooked politicians, gun control, and hippies in the hills.
“Great Googamooga,” I thought, “has anything changed in this country?”
Back in 1970, Tricky Dick was president, we were embroiled in the Vietnam war, and “great googamooga” was a saying indicating either shock and dismay or unbridled enthusiasm. It certainly wasn’t with unbridled joy that the Temptations sang “Can’t you hear me talking to you? It’s a ball of confusion. That’s what the world is today.”
We got out of the car and walked in silence through the woods, listening to the breeze and feeling the peace.
To be more accurate, I noticed the peace, however was observing the turmoil within my mind and emotions. The words of that song resounded through my inner soundscape as pictures of today’s world swam through my vision. A riot of emotions accompanied that slide show: dismay, anger, sadness, fear, disgust. Witnessing visuals of melting ice caps, systemic racism, inner city violence, drug cartels, hungry families, broken systems, and class inequity, I let all those feelings and images roll out into the woods.
53 years later and that song was still relevant. What the hell was I to do in the face of all this?
The answer was simple, wise, and easy to achieve. First, I had to reestablish my coherence amongst my mind, body, and emotions. If I remained in a dysregulated system, my thinking would be a “ball of confusion” leading me into the wrong kind of action. While an inner calm could open me to creative solutions and wise responses to this (still) messy world.
So I walked in the woods, aware of the breeze and the trees.
I listened to the rustling squirrels and sound of my husband’s sneakers on the path. I sought out the green trees, smell of the soil, and searched the skies for soaring birds. I called the deer and foxes to come out for a visit. They didn’t arrive, but peace settled around me like a cloud from heaven.
As did gratitude for my ability to walk peacefully in the woods and dance freely in my kitchen.
I realized two things as we strolled back to the car. First, there was wisdom in dancing in enjoyment of the beat while the first hearing of that social commentary floated through my (un)awareness and my energy field. Dancing activates the Radiant Circuits which are energy pathways that can support releasing energy and fueling the body with yummy life force energy.
Second, I could be active in my work to improve our world with one of two attitudes.
Shock and dismay or unbridled enthusiasm centered in loving optimism. So, “googamooga” for me is an internal invitation to dance with awareness through my days. So I may spread the rhythm of hope, love, and action which inspires and improves lives. Rather than sink into despair, spew my anger, or fight the fight.
“Make love, not war,” says my inner teenage hippie.
I think I’m gonna listen to her, especially ’cause she had some good dance moves and a pair of really cool purple bell bottoms.
Peace be with you and with all. No exceptions.
Ceremony and ritual have always been part of indigenous culture, religious traditions, and societal rites of passage. Given their prevalence across the ages, researchers have explored the benefit of participating in ceremony. There is a general consensus that participation positively influences physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual health of the individual. Participating in a group ceremony increases a sense of belonging to community as well as something greater. You may be your own researcher and explore the personal impact of participating in ceremony or creating your own meaningful ritual.
Learn the one essential skill that allows you to face any challenge with confidence, sturdiness, and inner calm.
More than a technique. It’s a game changer.
In September, I’m returning to the Temples of Humankind in Damanhur, Italy. It feels like an understatement to claim that this is a place of power, mystery, and majesty. Yet, I’ve found this to be true for myself and those I’ve met who’ve traveled within the extraordinary to the Temples and the community of Damanhur.
One cool Spring morning, I stepped on the treadmill at the gym looking forward to walking a few miles. Recovering from an injury, I had to walk at a moderate pace so I had brought my copy of What Is Enlightenment? magazine to explore. I always found something to inspire me within this publication focused upon consciousness, culture, and cosmos.
Stress is a natural experience in life. It’s often viewed as a doorway to disruption of wellbeing, peace of mind, and a clear navigational path in a challenging situation.
I’m a bit of a news hound these days. As one who hasn’t watched a newscast in years, I’m surprising myself. Ordinarily, I wait for the news to come to me. And it does. When something is important for me to know or respond to, I hear about it. Kind friends, clients, my husband, or a random stranger share a soundbite which cues me to look into a situation further. I’ve been very comfortable with this level of engagement for years now.
In the midst of our country’s woes, I’ve got Lucinda Williams singing in my head.
“You can’t rule me
you wanna go and tell me what’s good for me
you wanna tell me what I’m payin’ for
Well, the game is fixed, it’s plain to see
I ain’t playin’ no more”
I drove through a hail storm today. It began gently, offering a musical accompaniment to my journey. Intensifying, the hail noisily demanded my attention.
