32nd Life Dance 2024: We danced – sang, hatted, sweated, prayed and laughed!
Enriched by this year’s 32nd Dance of Life 2024, this magnificent ceremony, we have returned to everyday life. “Thoughts, dream fragments, images buzz through our heads and in the room.
They come together in our hearts as longing, desire, vision, while our feet carry everything to the tree.
The smoky scent of the child’s fire tickles our noses and a light breeze cools our sweating bodies.
The shrill sound of the whistles of people dancing to the tree mingles with the chirping of crickets: from the first light of dawn until deep into the night.
And the earth shield dances high above the altar at the east gate between glittering dragon tails: close to heaven!” More than sixty enthusiastic people, including Leonie’s kitchen team, experienced the 32nd Life Dance in Lavaldieu in one way or another.
It was particularly touching to see how the next generation got involved: some very young adults, who have been familiar with the dance since childhood, slipped into new roles: as singers, guardians or first-year dancers: chapeau!
That gives us hope …
For the second time, we were also able to count on the help of five young French people.
Thanks to their energetic support, setting up and dismantling the dance floor around the ancient oak tree is much easier and livelier.
As this makes the preparation time in Lavaldieu much more relaxed for all participants, we want to continue to engage our French helpers in the future.
This year, we have experienced how quickly they also become part of our spiritual community: One of them spontaneously became a dancer. “Diversity” is our watchword for the new life dance year: at noon and midnight, one of us traditionally prays with the family pipe on the tree during the ceremony: for happiness, health, humor, hope, harmony – and this year, for the first time, for diversity.
This word has crystallized during the days of the dance because it shines the brightest for us at the moment and also flashes up in the set of intentions.
Life on Mother Earth is naturally diverse and colorful in its most beautiful form.
This is what we dream of every day for a peaceful and joyful human existence. Participants write to us about this year’s dance:
“For me, it was the most beautiful dance of life ever.
And it was proof that it doesn’t depend on a certain number of people, but on adequate preparation, intelligent solutions and loving cooperation.
…
It was exactly as I had always dreamed it would be, powerful and light and beautiful.” Dana “… and it still dances with me.
And am touched by the diversity and flexibility of how young and older people work together and how the young people show us and help us to keep the dance curious.
I accept the challenge, after this light, beautiful and simple ceremony, thanks also to the weather, the 362 days in between, to put this knowledge, images and insights into practice in everyday life.
To take care of my inner attitude, to do good for our planet, for my loved ones, family and friends and for myself.” Sigi “… I was personally very, very impressed by the small groups!
Even if it was an extra effort to find time for it – for me (and I think for everyone in our group) it was one of the most valuable things about the whole dance.
Especially the fact that you get together with people with whom you otherwise (supposedly) have little overlap, I found enormously enriching and also very touching.
There was also space to say things that might not otherwise have been said.
Thank you for this wonderful idea!
I hope you keep it up!
…” Renata
