Dancing With The Divine

Carla De Sola has danced in a sacred context for more than fifty years. Over time she has noticed a common bond among dancers, based in part of their developed bodily, or kinesthetic sense, a heightened ability to read and understand the rhythms and dynamics of movement experiences. This was not solely an artistic appreciation of dance but of life experiences seemingly ordinary but consciousness changing. She was led to ask other dancers if they had a story to tell of special times of awareness of Divine presence, that is, their own personal kairos moments --grace-filled happenings beyond ordinary chronos, or clock time, becoming imprinted on their soul. Thus, this collection came into being. The dancers' stories range broadly and in diverse settings. The essays are categorized into sections: Dancing for the Common Good; Dance Moves the Soul; The Joy of Dance; Journey to Awareness;and Called to Dance. Diana Wear wrote theological reflections in order to frame each section. David W. McCauley, Jr. drew upon his artistry, skills, and imagination so that each category was enriched through a visual dimension. The designs, paintings, and photos throughout the book carry a deep purpose--to give readers' eyes a place to rest and space for the mind to contemplate--contributing their own meditative moments.

The Divine Dance has become a classic for fans of Richard Rohr and an important book on Christian mysticism, it provides a fresh perspective for anyone studying or teaching the trinity. The Trinity is the central doctrine of Christianity, but it is still widely considered a mystery we won't ever fully understand. Should we still try to understand it, even so? If we could, how would it transform our relationship with God? In this stimulating and thought-provoking book, internationally recognised teacher Richard Rohr explores the nature of God and the paradoxical idea of the Holy Trinity as both three and one. With clear, surefooted wisdom, he encourages us to build on the early Christian understanding of the relationship between Father, Son and Spirit as a flow and dance - a Divine Dance - that we are invited to join in. An engaging, accessible look at the nature of God, The Divine Dance will challenge the way you think about the Trinity and give you a much fuller understanding of the triune relationship that is at the heart of Christian doctrine. It will leave you with a faith that is renewed and strengthened, and show you how you can engage more deeply in your relationship with God and the world through the Trinity.

Dancing with the Divine is a great instrument for moving with joy & peace through the daily rhythms of following Christ. Written by one who loves the Word and the daily dance with our Creator, Leslie opens the windows of her soul in a fresh way that delivers hope and new insights. I highly recommend Dancing with the Divine to all who desire to grow in God's love and grace! Pastor Kyle Poole Midland Valley Community Church of the Nazarene

The heart of this book is a dramatic love poem, the Rasa Lila, which is the ultimate focal point of one of the most treasured Sanskrit texts of India, the Bhagavata Purana. Judged a literary masterpiece by Indian and Western scholars alike, this work of poetic genius and soaring religious vision is one of the world's greatest sacred love stories and, as Graham Schweig clearly demonstrates, should be regarded as India's Song of Songs. The story presents the supreme deity as the youthful and amorous cowherd, Krishna, who joins his beloved maidens in an enchanting and celebratory "dance of divine love." Schweig introduces this work of exquisite poetry and profound theology to the Western world in the form of a luminous translation and erudite scholarly treatment. His book explores the historical context and literary genre of the work and elucidates the aesthetic and emotional richness of the composition, highlighting poignant details of this drama of divine love. Schweig illuminates the religious dimensions and ethical nuances of the drama, drawing widely from the commentaries and esoteric vision of masters of the Caitanya school of Vaishnavism, a prominent devotional Hindu tradition. Themes such as transcendence of death through love, the yoga of devotion, the contrast between worldly love and passionate love for God, and the dialectical tension between ethical boundaries and boundless love are presented. The final event of the Rasa dance, the author concludes, presents a dynamic symbol of supreme love that provides the basis for a theological vision of genuine religious pluralism.

Landmark interdisciplinary study of religious systems through their dance performances

Are you ready to enter the dance of becoming fully alive? Have you ever wondered, if we have the God of heaven and earth living inside us, why aren’t we experiencing more in life? Why aren’t we seeing more transformation in ourselves, or in others for that matter? What does it look like to have “Jesus in me” anyway, as an individual and also as a woman? These are the questions life coach and pastor Terri Sullivant was asking herself when God answered her in a profound, life-changing way. The Divine Invitation provides a pathway to find what your heart deeply longs for in every area of life. It’s a metaphor showing the way for every woman to enter the dance of becoming fully alive. Learning this dance is about developing a relationship with Jesus, like two people dancing skillfully and gracefully. It’s about becoming so entwined with the thoughts, words, emotions, and behaviors of Jesus that the two of you are one. You find that this deep connection transcends all of life, enabling you to live joyfully and freely, come what may.

A Favorite Author Among Teen Girls Most young women yearn to be chosen, to be called out from the crowd and loved for who they are. In The Divine Dance, Shannon Kubiak Primicerio acknowledges this desire and likens teen girls to dancers, constantly performing to please the "audiences" in their lives. But in family, peers, teachers, and others, young women forget that they were created to perform for God alone. Promicerio provides readers with guidance and encouragement to stop dancing for the world and to start dancing for an audience of One.