The spontaneous spasms that characterize ecstatic dance allow us to express spirit with the body. They romp, wrestle, snow slide, chase each other and play catch-and-release with their dinner. The living world seeks out pleasure and avoids pain without fear of appearing lazy, foolish or greedy. Unlike the anteater we try to interpret other's interpretation of us. This is agony for both inner peace and performance. This is providing that you keep trying. We don't have to jump in the water to enjoy this experience. We can let this bother us, or like the anteater, we can dine on what we deserve. I once watched a show called Pet Star, where an anteater was called to perform an exceptional feat: Climb up a ladder, eat from a bucket, and climb back down. He was intent on claiming his berry-delicious reward. This is contrary to ego but so is spirit. Yet when we make a mistake we are often the first to notice and hope to God no one else does. Similarly, a misplaced streak on a canvas can create abstract perfection if we desire. Whether or not anyone was impressed didn't matter. We forget this in our rush to achieve and amass. His trainer/owner watched anxiously as the scaly critter ascended the metal stairs. You otter play Almost all animals play and act silly when young. Failure is relativeThough his efforts were obvious the anteater didn't perform as desired by others.

All he won was some berries, but then again that's all he wanted.On the road to enlightenment, don't forget to laugh……. . Most of us, myself include, are not nearly so free spirited. By looking at their actions from a spiritual rather than biological viewpoint we have a tool to unhinge ourselves from our hang-ups. Nobody has the right to determine the value of your dreams. Whether you want enlightenment, a BMW or the ideal vitamin regimen your work will be rewarded. Besides unknotting our muscles, ecstatic dance unties our mind. Getting what you wantWhat is your heart's desire? If it doesn't seem important to others you may be told, or may feel that your efforts are wasted. Joyful errors People make mistakes; animals evolve. Unlike us he doesn't wait for the music to start to move in a musical fashion. But it wasn't the anteater that cringed- it was the owner.  We judge ourselves so harshly. Spiritual aspirants who fast for greater consciousness believe the same but have a lot less fun in the process. For others, and unfortunately, jeers. For some this will be met with cheers. When did we become so reserved? Play and dance help us to become more spontaneous. I remember what that anteater taught me: There are many mistakes on our way to victory, and others may have not feel we have earned it.  It takes courage to march to the beat of a different drum.

Interestingly, feeling humiliated and being humiliated are two separate matters. Dancing our private dance in front of the marching crowd is a challenge. There were a series of clunks on his journey as his tail patted the ladder and a louder clunk when he reached the bucket.It's been called the " id" by Freud, and hedonism by zealots. Most of us are concerned about looking foolish or feeling like we're on display to be laughed at. This will make the journey a lot lighter. For example, I haven't tobogganed since I was eleven and my romping is confined to a spirited jog. That anteater didn't catch any awards that day. A heap of berries and throngs of audience members bore witness to shame. We have the same choice. Labeling this limits our experience of it. I could learn a lot from an otter. The otter has a better idea.  The irony is that for many animals this creates productivity, dignity and unselfishness. In the otter's game of dinner lost-and-found he shows us that losing can be just as much fun as winning. We can turn a stumble into slapstick if we have the confidence of Chaplin. Still for the sake of reference I'll describe this very free, intrinsically joyful aspect of being as "animal. The blushing young man proceeded to stammer out excuses for the creature, which by this time had climbed down and was happily eating his dinner off the stage floor. Caught in the moment we may realize a meditative type bliss. Dances with spirit Play is one of the few ways we can lose ourselves without trying. Play is good. It's not. His body is free and expressive. He chooses to move with the fluidity of waves rather than the rigidity of trees."  Animal encapsulates it. Dance can feel like play but for some it is meditation. Mind-body exercises like pilates, yoga and tai-chi cultivate this creative body motion. Otters continue this into old age, making him a fun furry dude to be around.

As natural beings our desires are natural, and as long as they don't harm anyone it is our divine right to aspire to them. Either way we must persist. The anteater dealt with this in a better way than most people. Though historically this practice has been thought to exist only among humans it seems that the otter, with his flipping and wriggling, would make a great ecstatic dancer. He relinquishes without regret or strain. Yet in practicing courage we develop it. He had tipped it over. Most important: Play is good. What if the anteater was to stop striving when applause wasn't forthcoming? Motivated by the end result instead of appearances he continued. Just remember to dance and play along Chinese Custom Powder Metals Parts Suppliers the way. When feeling like we've failed we interpret every blink as shock and mouth twitch as dismay. You may not get your prize in the way or at the time you first imagined, but it will come to you. This is between you and the Universal Source. Under the glaring stage lights that illuminated his owner's red-face and sweaty brow, no change could be found in the anteater. In truth, the animal self is the part of us that reacts naturally. In the otter's dinner-game he loses lunch but finds freedom: He doesn't need to eat if he doesn't want to. This creates the disappointment we fear. When else can we do this? Compared to ecstatic dance our movements are rigid as a robot's arm.  Distinctions between right and are necessary in terms of moral issues but they have no meaning when it comes to trying new things