Dances of Universal Peace Saturday, March 22, 2014
"Our Sacred Heritage"
with DiAnahita
Musicians: Sut Jeevin on Drum, Tamara on Guitar,
Nickie on Ukulele, Patrick on Shruti box $10 donation + potluck dish
~ RSVP Appreciated ~ If you need directions or would like to carpool, include your town.
Schedule Come early to enjoy the lake & woods, people & animals.
2:00 – 2:45 Arrival Enjoying the Lake & Woods
1:30 - Musicians practice
Please arrive in time to check in & begin together
3:00 – 5:00 Dancing in the house or possibly outside
5:00 – 5:30 Free time in nature
5:30 Potluck setup at the cottage
6:00 Dinner by the lake at the cottage
7:15 Zikr
8:30 Desserts in the house
Please reserve ahead if you would like to spend the night:
$25 per person per night.
Dancing Peacock Paradise is a privately owed lakeside
spiritual retreat center, N. of Ft. McCoy (SE of Gainesville)
in the woods of north central Florida.
Please leave your pets at home & enjoy ours.
Leave your cares & cell phones behind too.
& enter the warm friendly atmosphere with a relaxed smile
Our next Sufi class led by DiAnahita and hosted by Patrick will be on Wednesday, March 19th at Tigert House north of the Duck Pond, 224 NE 10th Ave at NE 3rd Street. from 7:00 – 8:30 PM followed by tea. We hope you will join us for this sacred, informative, deep space in our lives.
Twenty-first century Universal Sufis are “a diverse community of people devoted to cultivating a living wisdom for our time. We draw on the intelligence of the natural world, humanity's sacred heritage, and contemplative insight to inform and inspire this pursuit.” Pir Zia Inayat Khan
Our togetherness at the Feb. Dance was deeply enriching. Amidst the leafing, flowering woodlands, we felt the Divine within our hearts, & the expansiveness was palpable. The Universal Worship on Sunday Morning was also lovely with music provided by birds surrounding the Gazebo.
This dance really seemed to bring an inner healing with it. I have noticed a big difference already this week! Smaller group with big energy! I am so appreciative of the acceptance I feel (as a newbie!) and I am especially appreciative of all the work DiAnahita puts into each dance. Looking forward to more! Tee Lee Wood
Going to the dances at peacock paradise is virtually the only social event i have participated in for some years now. the conversation & human interaction is needed & beneficial for me so i am grateful for the opportunity….i also enjoy many of the mudras & love to sing or chant prayers even if my voice range is very limited.
what i most enjoy is participating in the group energy & experiencing the precious moments of communion when we are as one. a long-time dancer
Chief Seattle
A prominent figure among his people, Chief Seattle pursued a path of accommodation to white settlers. A widely publicized speech, given in the mid-nineteenth century, arguing in favor of ecological responsibility and respect of native Americans' land rights has been attributed to him.
Ancestors, sky people
Ancestors, sky people all here today
Hear my heart song
Hear my respect
Hear my love
Hear my grateful tears fall
I am truly blessed
You are truly blessed
We are truly blessed
As a stranger in a new location, I find nourishment among this group. Meeting the like - minded people reinforces my will to succeed in critical care in a hospital far from familiar surroundings & people. May we all be healthy of spirit, mind, & body. Sincerely, Tim
Dear Anahita,
I had high expectations for the Sat & Sun Dancing, meals, community, & Universal Worship Service; You, & the other wonderful Beings present, exceeded them in all ways. Infinite gratitude for all the time, energy, resources, & love that you devote to making these the highly effective weekend events that draw so many participants from a large area of the state. This was extraordinary enough to be similar to a weekend retreat ….only just for a shorter time!
And I can’t thank you enough for creating this holy place & opportunities to provide a weeklong stay that was the most peaceful, meaningful, & enlightening that I’ve experienced in a long time.
I came to FL with an important goal of exploring the Sufi path; & the setting, HIK book, Sufi class, weekend events, & other experiences certainly propelled me well along that course.
Deep Peace, Much Love, Kim
Chief Seattle’s Reply
Selections from words attributed to Chief Seattle
Music by Anahata iradah
Every part of the earth is sacred to my people.
We are part of the earth & it is part of us.
We all share the same breath;
We all share the same breath.
If the beasts were gone,
we would die of a great loneliness of spirit.
All things are connected;
all things are connected.
Our God is the same God!
Our God is the same God!
This we know, the earth does not belong to us,
we belong to the earth.
We belong to the earth We belong to the earth
We belong to the earth We belong to the earth
"Dancing Peacock Paradise is an amazing space to deepen dance practice. It is very beautiful and inviting, an experience not to be missed. I have spent wonderful, magical days here over the years and cherish all. I look forward to returning."
-Sophia Shunny Silver City, New Mexico
Dances of Universal Peace honor religious traditions of the world by chanting phrases from holy scriptures & oral traditions.
Everything is taught in the moment as we join our voices together.