Dancing for Peace in an Era of Collapse
Posted on by jembendell
There are many ways of living with ‘collapse acceptance’. My own approach doesn’t represent the best one. To acknowledge the diversity, and help us all learn from that, once in a while I ask a colleague or friend to share some thoughts on how they are responding. Katie Carr was a founding member of the Deep Adaptation Forum and teaches the ‘Leading Through Collapse’ course with me (online twice a year and for one time only in the States this October). I asked her to share why a dance camp is one of her most restorative activities of the year. I hope it inspires. Thx, Jem
By Katie Carr
I recently returned from rural Oxfordshire in the UK, where I joined around 300 people from across the country to dance in a circle while chanting songs and mantras from many different spiritual traditions. Sacred Arts Camp is an annual week-long community event, where we camp in small circles, sharing cooking, care, and connection. Every time I attend, I am reminded of the importance of this kind of embodied and joyful ritual, especially as the world and our day-to-day lives seem to become more precarious. I also remember how much my heart longs for the experience of community and belonging that are so difficult to imagine, let alone co-create, in the midst of industrialised consumer societies.
In a world marked by social upheaval, war and environmental crises, and a growing sense of isolation for many people, the Dances of Universal Peace offer a gentle path toward reconnection, rejuvenation and healing. I have learned that the simple, meditative, and joyous circle dances – rooted in the spiritual traditions of humanity – have a profound capacity to foster a sense of community, facilitate collective resilience and respect, and engender a deep connection with humanity, the planet, and the divine. As we navigate the complexities and challenges of a world in turmoil and breakdown, these dances demonstrate the ongoing power of collective movement and shared spiritual experience.
The Dances of Universal Peace were conceived in the late 1960s by Samuel L. Lewis, a Sufi teacher and Zen master who envisioned a form of spiritual practice that would transcend religious boundaries. Lewis sought to create a space where people from all walks of life could come together to experience the unity of all spiritual paths. Drawing on sacred phrases, chants, music, and movements from various world traditions – including Sufi, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Native American, and others – Lewis crafted dances and embodied prayers that celebrate the universal truths found within each tradition. Since their inception in the United States, these dances have spread across the globe, touching countless lives and communities with their message of peace and unity.
In an era where many feel disconnected from others and from themselves, these dances provide a sacred space where individuals can come together, bringing awareness to how our attachment to judgement and competition keep us separated and entangled in our stories of the ‘Other’. The simple act of joining hands in a circle, moving rhythmically to the sounds of sacred music, creates an immediate and tangible sense of belonging. Participants often report feeling an instant connection with those around them, regardless of their background or beliefs. This sense of community is not superficial; it is rooted in the shared intention of peace and the mutual recognition of our shared humanity.
I have benefited from an instant sense of belonging when joining circles in different locations with different people. That’s why I am looking forward to joining a circle in California later this year, when I visit to co-teach (with Jem Bendell) the Leading Through Collapse course. It’s rare we get our students participating in circle dance, although it has happened upon occasion. We will see what our students are up for in the run up to October – but I’m excited about the prospect of bringing the spirit of these dances to our training in the region where Samuel Lewis first introduced the practice.
So much learning is limited to the intellectual and ignores the emotional and somatic dimensions of engaging in topics as troubling as societal collapse, and as complex as what our future role on that might involve. I have experienced that in the safety of the circle, we can have a direct experience of our fundamental connectedness. We can feel the sense of embodied relief that comes from knowing we’re held in a larger, more resilient, collective nervous system. We can allow the movements and music to guide us towards feeling safe enough to release the burdens that come from trying to hold and process ‘bigger-than-self’ emotions on our own. The repetitive, meditative nature of the dances helps to quiet the mind and open the heart, creating a space where difficult emotions can be acknowledged and released. In a world where many are grappling with anxiety, grief, and stress, the dances offer a gentle yet profound way to process and transform these emotions.
Most significantly for many, the Dances of Universal Peace can facilitate a deep connection with the whole of humanity, the planet, and the divine. That is because the dances are inherently inclusive, celebrating the wisdom and beauty of diverse spiritual traditions while emphasizing the unity underlying them all. Through the dances, participants can experience a sense of oneness with all of creation, feeling connected to the earth beneath their feet, the sky above, and the divine presence within and around them. This holistic sense of connection is deeply nourishing, reminding us of our place within the greater web of life and inspiring us to seek to live in harmony with ourselves, each other, and the natural world, no matter how difficult situations may become. Many dancers I know are activists, their activism grounded in, and nourished by, their spiritual practice.
So much more happens during the week of Sacred Arts Camp, as part of this community gathering. For the last three years, I’ve coordinated the ‘Green Space’, which is a programme of discussions, sharing spaces and workshops that explore ways in which we can contribute to systemic change towards living regeneratively and in harmony with the rest of the natural world. There are also grief rituals, coming-of-age celebrations, practices that cultivate deep listening and conflict transformation, drumming, singing…as well as much laughing, crying, and a slow rhythm of life surrounded by nature.
Our contemporary world is rife with division and conflict, and many people feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problems we face. I am no different. I feel fortunate to have discovered and been welcomed into this way of coming together with others in a spirit of love and unity. The emotional release facilitated through the dances enables us to move through our personal and collective pain, transforming it into compassion and resilience. And the deep connection with humanity, the planet, and the divine that the dances engender reminds us of our interdependence and inspires us to act with greater care and responsibility.
If you know of a group that is gathering in the Bay Area in October, I’d be delighted to hear from you. Alternatively, if you have an appetite for a more (but definitely not solely!) intellectual approach to developing your leadership in these times, please consider joining me for the 4-day course in Oakland.
Katie Carr
Trainer, facilitator, Deep Adaptation Guide
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Read Deep Adaptation: a map for navigating the climate tragedy or the book Breaking Together.
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