Some of you have written to me in support of my post re "the sacred origins of our dance" on the Indigo tribe. Thankyou.

It seems one individual has taken it very personally and insisted that my writing (and thus by extrapolation me - Palika - have dared to define the world of archaology and anthropology. I certainly didn't write anywhere about defining or containing or even insulting (oh no don't do that) the hallow ground of anthropology, archaeology or early human history and evolution. Nope I wrote a narrative taken from my many years of historical, anthropological, archaeological and yes anecdotal reading of research and theorizing on the subject of a personal interest - that of the origins and existence and practice of Goddess, matrilineal social organization and existence and exploring theories of how real life events create meaningful and ritualized dance for humans.

Fact is I choose what inferences and hypothesis to believe from what research I've read because it makes sense to me. And......

the voice there claiming to be the protector and herald of archaeology is hardly the end all be all voice of anthropology and archaeology and certainly not of the topic I'm interested in. There is much research and plenty agreement among many (no I'm not claiming all) prominent scholars of those fields on the origins of Goddess, matrilineal social organization and the origins of sacred dance. All one has to do is look and read. I suggest people do their own research. I don't know why, but she seems to be very personally triggered by what I wrote, but it doesn't really change anything, there may be folks with PHD's who agree or not, but plenty, plenty has been written and explored on these topics and anyone with some good library skills can find it and read it for themselves. I was just summarizing and infusing my own storytelling visions with what I've discovered in that body of literature and sharing my POV on how it may relate to current inspirations and practices of Belly Dance.

Because I had recieved so much personal email appreciating the original post on tribal belly dance tribe, and my own tribe here, I decided to post the essay on the Indigo tribe, a community I don't know as well and rarely post on. And yes that may have been my hubris acting. I do post alot of original writing on tribe in general, using it as a reflection pool and interfacing with women (and some men) about issues that are meaningful to me and perhaps to them in their personal life of self realization and personal transformation - two practices that interest me greatly. Those that know me, know that my interest is in service, humility, learning to embrace all feeling states in equanimity and developing empathy, gratitude and joy in prayer and mind states as well as in a daily practice of living. I'm an avid reader, writer and sitter as well as dancer and beekeeper. And I can be motivated by my own ego as well as by mindful awareness in my writing practice and explorations. The post was intended to be inspirational and came from a deeply personal reference point. It seemed to push out of me to be shared.

And... whenever you stir the pot, bubbles rise to the top.

So when the posts on Indigo started getting heated, I breathed alot, did some sitting and responded with open heart only to recieve even more irritation in response. Truth is, this is life. There is no guarantee that one can dissipate anger, hostility, or personal soapboxes by any personal practice. But in fact we do the practice of humillity, stepping back and slowing down because it is the life of peace and mindfulness that we cultivate and because its OUR OWN HEART we want and intend to transform. What reactions happen around us may or may not be what we hope for and interdependent understandings may not be reached.. We can do one of two things, we can retreat and continue our practice carefully dusting, brushing, transforming, rearranging, cleaning out, creating anew and then come back into contact or not with the previous stimulating situation, person or issue, - or we can continue to defend due to ego clinging to author an alternate outcome. Either way no judgement, but a call to deeper self reflection is the main thing for me and the path I choose at this moment.

In my passion I may have made statements that sounded like all encompassing assumptions of Truth. And thanks to the responses I recieved I can pursue more thoughtful and careful writing as well as pursue the experience of writing something controversial and then learning to truly be with the "hot" responses it evokes. Both insights are there for me and I'm grateful for them and those that helped generate those insights are my teachers so I give them thanks and send them well wishes for freedom from suffering and the experience of deep and authentic happiness and rightful situatedness in this life.

As for the hallowed halls of archaeology, anthropology, history and human exploration etc, they are full of both suffocating hubris and expository paradigmatic mindopening explosions. I hope to contribute to the latter in my small little way for my benefit and others.

Blessings and gratitude, Palika