Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 26 to 50 of 55

Thread: Dancing and Spirituality

  1. #26
    Banned
    Joined
    Apr 2004
    Location
    ATL
    Posts
    692
    Thanks
    65
    Thanked 138 Times in 51 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Man this topic is very interesting to me because my recent girlfriend/ex-girlfriend or whatever you call it is going through a "finding herself" period; she is exploring Jehovah's Witnessing and is bombarding me with the beliefs they are bombarding her with and it's really making me feel weird. Almost like the level of spirituality I am at isn't enough to be considered a "good person" or whatnot, because I dance. I can't stand when people judge others based on their own perceptions, especially since nobody knows for sure where you go when you die.

  2. #27
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Ramona and krys, I would add from my own experiences that the heavy emphasis on the 'first three souls' exhibited by most club customers and most other dancers on a nightly basis is a MAJOR DISTRACTION to the 'fourth soul'.

  3. #28
    Member Ramona's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    39
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Quote Originally Posted by Melonie
    Ramona and krys, I would add from my own experiences that the heavy emphasis on the 'first three souls' exhibited by most club customers and most other dancers on a nightly basis is a MAJOR DISTRACTION to the 'fourth soul'.
    Melonie, you know, I feel like I'm mentally preparing for that. My new mantra lately is "We create our own reality." I've really been stuck on that. So, the dancing will be what I make it, and the distractions and difficulties are there for learning from.

    If I start getting lost in it despite my resolution, I have a support system to pull me back to my reality - namely family and home.

  4. #29
    Curious Guest Chrisspr's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Portland, Oregon
    Posts
    2
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I'm curious if anyone experiences a connection to the sacred in the dance itself. Like ancient temple dancers and prostitutes, the acts were ways for the goddess energy to be embodied and connect with god energy. I have had fleeting experiences of this and am wondering if others have felt a moment of sacredness or moments that they were taken over by an energy bigger than themselves or the club or the pursuit of the almighty dollar?

  5. #30
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Many dancers feel euphoria from performing for others. Unfortunately, many clubs are restrictive in how much time & free expression a dancer is alloted (EX: two 3 minute song sets, take top off by 2nd song, etc.) You make do with what you can get away with!

  6. #31
    God/dess Lena's Avatar
    Joined
    Jun 2002
    Location
    On a sweet muddy river.
    Posts
    6,399
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 78 Times in 43 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Quote Originally Posted by Chrisspr
    I'm curious if anyone experiences a connection to the sacred in the dance itself. Like ancient temple dancers and prostitutes, the acts were ways for the goddess energy to be embodied and connect with god energy. I have had fleeting experiences of this and am wondering if others have felt a moment of sacredness or moments that they were taken over by an energy bigger than themselves or the club or the pursuit of the almighty dollar?
    Yes, definitely. My sexuality is not seperate from my spirituality. I go through long phases where dancing is intensely spiritual for me, but I also go through phases where it's "just a job."



  7. #32
    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    734
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I agree with a lot of the posts to this thread. Dancing for me was very theraputic to my spirituality; I had just come out of a really bad relationship that had destroyed what I thought of myself.
    It felt like I was performing a beautifying ritual when I was getting ready for work. I really needed it at that time in my life.
    I do think I am the only one I can say I ever truely have to answer to. My God will not judge me for what others perceive. He will judge me based on how I feel about what I have done. If I do wrong and I know it yet do nothing to make it right; then I know I am truely hurting myself and my relationship with him. If I look inward and correct the things within myself that I feel wrong about I move one step closer to feeling a connection with life.
    Dancing really helped me draw the line for me about passing judgement. I can not pass judgement about others choices. Only they can judge themselves and their place within the world.
    Phedre
    ~ my very own pole dancer!

  8. #33
    Veteran Member jessica_rabbit's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Va
    Posts
    522
    Thanks
    13
    Thanked 20 Times in 13 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Dancing can be very spiritual to me. I always bring my moral values into the club with me, and believe in treating customers with dignity, respect, and understanding. This can be spiritually challenging sometimes because some people appear to be incapable of returning the favor. And it's a delicate balance between opening myself up in order to let out positive energy versus protecting my spirit from the constant negative assaults. But I enjoy the challenge. And I feel that I am ultimately bringing something beautiful and valuable to people.

  9. #34
    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    734
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Phedre
    ~ my very own pole dancer!

  10. #35
    Featured Member krys's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Melbourne, Australia
    Posts
    994
    Thanks
    14
    Thanked 13 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Quote Originally Posted by Phedre
    Great Stuff! Thanks for the share

  11. #36
    Featured Member LilSweetVixen's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2005
    Location
    US
    Posts
    1,161
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 18 Times in 7 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I was raised an Anglican Protestant. I used to have an intense sense of guilt and fear even as a child. I used to be a bit hagiophobic (nervous about saints, Virgin Mary, and holy figures). I was constantly repenting for the littlest misdeeds like not honoring my mother. In retrospect I know that the guilt was social guilt about being different from other girls (in my mind): being attracted to men and women, being an early bloomer with a vuluptuous shape, and also from being harassed and abused, because I would just assume I spurned it. The girls would exchange stories about feeling like something was sitting on us in the middle of the night, the Muslims called it a djinn, and we called it demons. Now I call it stress.
    Dancing did a HUGE number on my state of mind. It was part of a long spiritual and sexual healing with my self. It made me a lot more calm, fearless, and apt to try new things and enjoy my youth. I will NEVER go back to letting other people define my whole reality. I will NEVER be made to feel guilty for anything I know in my gut is not unethical. I have my own code of ethics, that is the Golden Rule. My process is Reason, and I get my sense of spirituality from the Diaspora, mainly the Afro-Brazilian wisdom of the Orixas. I like it because it fits my culture, it celebrates sexuality, and spiritually it makes me feel more well rounded. I'm not worried about Hell because I'm not even worried about tomorrow. No Reason for that. I don't feel that I was put on this Earth to worry and Fear is not my God anymore. Besides, I'm HOW old??

    "You have demonic genius" -Naomi Wolf
    "I very much resent it when people - maybe with good intentions or from a progressive point of view - keep telling me, 'It's their culture' ... It's like saying the culture of Massachusetts is burning witches." -Azar Nafisi


  12. #37
    God/dess GoldCoastGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    ...hehehe... email me to ask me where i am ! (i dare you!)
    Posts
    11,486
    Thanks
    42
    Thanked 127 Times in 51 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I have only read the original post.
    So how does your dancing affect your spirituality?
    It doesn't really affect my spirituality as my spirituality is in everything I do every day even when I don't realise it. That's the best way I can answer your question.


    enter: E3167322D9 for your 10% discount

  13. #38
    God/dess GoldCoastGirl's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2002
    Location
    ...hehehe... email me to ask me where i am ! (i dare you!)
    Posts
    11,486
    Thanks
    42
    Thanked 127 Times in 51 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I hate that the stripping industry attracts so many evil people (management, some custies.)
    Actually this is one of the attractions for me. I have never really been to afraid of the taboo and/or the "darker side of life"... I understand it to a certain degree/extent. Yes, it does attract the unsavoury.. however it also has alot of beauty in it as well.. the whole ying/yang thing.

    I've been able to stand somewhere in a relatively busy club (whether I'm working or not at the time) watching just what is happening... and looked at it through two perspectives .. and can see how people can easily see it as one or the other. The two perspectives are: in a negative way (the women are exploited, etc) and in a postive way (the men are exploited by choice hence the women are goddesses in a way).


    All in all, it hasn't affected my spirituality for the better or the worse... dancing is part of my journey.


    ..there are criminals and hustlers in every profession..
    I re-posted it as it is very much worth repeating. We all forget that it doesn't just happen in our business.

    So, the dancing will be what I make it, and the distractions and difficulties are there for learning from.
    I see "reality" as a co-creation between myself and the collective consciousness of everyone else... and that collective consciousness, for my own self, I have "label-ed" as God, Goddess and Great Spirit. God and Goddess mainly look over humanity.. Great Spirit looks over "nature".. and they all work together as they are all equal in their 'contribution' to "reality".

    Suffering in whatever form it comes is just part of life.. it is always going to be there... as it is a way of learning. I know I'm one that tends to learn "the hard way" about alot of things. None-the-less, I'm still grateful to God/Goddess/GreatSpirit for allowing me to be alive.


    enter: E3167322D9 for your 10% discount

  14. #39
    Featured Member tampadancer's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2004
    Location
    tampa
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    178
    Thanked 394 Times in 179 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Great topic... something I have struggled with a bit in the past.

    I was raised strict southern Baptist. Life, growing up, revolved around the church (that is NO exaggeration). When I moved out after high school, I was so sick of church (and the idea of organized religion as a whole) that I quit going altogether.

    I've done a lot of soul searching on this one. I am a very analytical, rational, thinking being. The foundations of many religions don't make sense to me because they are faith based. I find it very difficult to "believe" in something that I cannot understand, see, or make any sort of sense of.

    I also have a hard time accepting that there is "one path to God." So that means that one religion is right, and everyone else is screwed?? Then we go off into ideas of predestination and so on....

    With that said, I am a deist. I believe in a creator, a "first cause" (for those of you who know the history of deism), and that God basically created life then, then bailed. A spiritual afterlife? who knows... maybe one day I'll be inspired to believe something further.

    And dancing is, in no way, a spiritual event for me. Just a job.

  15. #40
    God/dess
    Joined
    Jul 2005
    Posts
    3,354
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 57 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Quote Originally Posted by tampadancer
    Great topic... something I have struggled with a bit in the past.

    I was raised strict southern Baptist. Life, growing up, revolved around the church (that is NO exaggeration). When I moved out after high school, I was so sick of church (and the idea of organized religion as a whole) that I quit going altogether.

    I've done a lot of soul searching on this one. I am a very analytical, rational, thinking being. The foundations of many religions don't make sense to me because they are faith based. I find it very difficult to "believe" in something that I cannot understand, see, or make any sort of sense of.

    I also have a hard time accepting that there is "one path to God." So that means that one religion is right, and everyone else is screwed?? Then we go off into ideas of predestination and so on....

    With that said, I am a deist. I believe in a creator, a "first cause" (for those of you who know the history of deism), and that God basically created life then, then bailed. A spiritual afterlife? who knows... maybe one day I'll be inspired to believe something further.
    Rather than type out my own thoughts on religion, I'll simply agree with yours. That's pretty much what I would have said about it.

  16. #41
    Veteran Member Angel1112's Avatar
    Joined
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    267
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    it's something everyne has to come to terms with to believe in God or not to believe........i do believe in God and i have accepted his Son Jesus Christ as my LORD and savior......the only way to the Father is through his Son Jesus Christ....there is no other way.

  17. #42
    Featured Member tampadancer's Avatar
    Joined
    Nov 2004
    Location
    tampa
    Posts
    1,582
    Thanks
    178
    Thanked 394 Times in 179 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    ^^ so YOU believe.

    we could get into a little theological debate here.
    here's the question I pose to you:

    If there is only one way to God, and that is through Christ, what happens to the people of the world who have never "heard the word of God" or had the opportunity to "accept Jesus into their hearts"? They are just damned to hell because they were born into the wrong culture?? AND - if you believe this, obviously you believe in the 17th century Puritan ideas of "predestination." Well, if a soul was "predestined" to be damned to hell before it was even born to a person, why would God have created them in the first place? MY God is Not that cruel. I think that there are many paths to God, and I'm so sick of these organized religions and their superiority complexes.

    Everyone can believe what they want (thats the beauty of being an American), however I wish people would stop being so egotistical with their beliefs and condemning everyone else's.

    okay I'm done

  18. #43
    Yekhefah
    Guest

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I don't think religion has to be as exclusive as that. I am Jewish and while I'm not the strict Orthodox wife I used to be, I still have a deep faith. Judaism teaches that "there are many paths to the top of the mountain," and as long as your path leads to a better life and a contribution to the world, it's fine. I don't think my way is the only way for everyone. It's just the only way for *me.*

  19. #44
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    I've looked at the number of bad, exploitive people in the SC industry as proof of Hell....LOL....there is right & wrong and it doesn't matter where it occurs or to who....but you don't even have to "believe" in fire & brimstone for those people because their bad energy comes back to them. I've seen it.
    Your faith can change from life events..I know people who lost their faith after losing a loved one....it's so bad because then they really have nothing left. Faith isn't neccessarily believing in something you don't see, but rather having the inner strength to do the right things in life with hope you will be enriched....

  20. #45
    Featured Member LilSweetVixen's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2005
    Location
    US
    Posts
    1,161
    Thanks
    8
    Thanked 18 Times in 7 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Quote Originally Posted by tampadancer
    what happens to the people of the world who have never "heard the word of God" or had the opportunity to "accept Jesus into their hearts"? They are just damned to hell because they were born into the wrong culture??
    Christians believe that "where there is no law there is no sin." So people who were never exposed (both say Asians and say cavemen) would be automatically redeemed. But this begs the question of why anyone needs to be exposed to the word at all then, and why there would be a need on the Church's part to spread it... who knows.

    "You have demonic genius" -Naomi Wolf
    "I very much resent it when people - maybe with good intentions or from a progressive point of view - keep telling me, 'It's their culture' ... It's like saying the culture of Massachusetts is burning witches." -Azar Nafisi


  21. #46
    Member
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    15
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    re the salvation of those who have not heard:

    replies from me, a liberal Christian. (By a "liberal Christian," I mean someone who believes the Bible in general terms, while believing that it contains errors in what it teaches in faith and practice also. More conservative Christians would hold that the Bible has no errors, or that it has only factual errors, but not errors in matters of faith.)
    re those who have not heard, I believe that
    1) everybody or nearly everybody reincarnates until their purpose in being on the earth has been accomplished;
    2) everybody can and everybody sooner or later does learn about Jesus in the afterlife, if they did not do so while on the earth;
    3) some people know some of God and Christ without necessarily knowing them by those names;
    4) everyone will eventually be "saved" or return to fellowship with God. (This idea is called universalism, if you wish to research it further. Throughout Christian history there have always been at least a minority of thinkers and Christians who held that all would be saved. At one time, there might even have been a majority.)

    Paul says in Romans 10

    18 But I ask: Did they [all the other people other than Jews] not hear? Of course they [everybody] did:
    "Their voice [the voice of the stars and the heavens] has gone out into all the earth,
    their words [telling people about God] to the ends of the world."

    20 And Isaiah boldly says,
    "I was found by those who did not seek me;
    I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me."

  22. #47
    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    734
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Where did that come from? How are you relating it to dancing and spirituality? Are you a dancer? Are you quoting scripture directly from a bible? What bible?
    Phedre
    ~ my very own pole dancer!

  23. #48
    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    734
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    No one asked to be saved or heard by God as far as I can tell, so I am utterly confused by your post.
    Phedre
    ~ my very own pole dancer!

  24. #49
    Member
    Joined
    Feb 2005
    Posts
    15
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    With respect to the one who posted about dancing, and giving up dancing because it stopped her yoga practice and made her feel bad spiritually,

    here is my reply, (from David the liberal Christian):

    I believe in the testimony of near-death experiences, which is that many people, after death, will experience a life-review. In the life review, they will experience their own life, but will experience it at least in part from the perspective of the other people with whom they interacted. On one hand, I believe that Hitler is likely to experience a bunch of people being put to death on his orders or at his whim. The police in New Orleans who beat up that man Davis will experience being beaten up as if they were Davis and being beat up by nameless, uncaring white policemen. On the other hand, those who have given to help the victims and survivors of the U.S. hurricanes and/or the Pakistan earthquake will experience being those people who are being helped. Or, yesterday I picked up a hitchhiker and gave him a ride on my way from Point Mugu in Ventura County to Santa Monica in LA County. If and when I have a life review, I will experience being him and being given a ride by me. If I helped or hurt him, I will experience that help or that hurt. I may experience what his life would have been like if I had not stopped and given him a ride. I also think George Bush may experience some grief from invading Iraq and some other things he has done, but I am not God and am surely not infallible.

    A stripper who thinks about NDEs and who wished to explore the morality of dancing would ask the question as to whether she helps or harms those who view her or receive dances from her. Help or harm includes experiencing spiritual and emotional things and not just the physical health of the viewer or customer.

    Most of you and perhaps all of you will have life reviews and you will experience temporarily being all those men who watched you and all the customers who bought dances from you. Some strippers I believe create beauty and they will experience the beauty they have created, from the viewpoint of the men who watched or received it. Other persons in life (whether strippers or police or politicians or ditchdiggers) create disharmony and harm and it is not pretty. For example, when we read of US military or others who abuse Iraqi prisoners, we might grieve and pity those who do such things and pray that God show them the right way, which is not to abuse other people, whether Americans or Iraqis.

    If a stripper cares about people (including customers) and it shows and the customers perceive it, she will later experience that care. If she is careless, she will experience being on the receiving end of that lack of care that later. How would a Christian stripper care about those who watch and those who are her customers? I think she would hope to create beauty and joy for them, and to let them know she hopes well for them, and to have the intention, that while men view her as sexually fun or desirable (and that is OK, morally speaking, with God) that they do not as a result look on other women in life as a mere object rather than a person. And, if any of those watching or who are customers are married or engaged, that they continue to love their wives, or, if the marriage should come to an end, that it do so gently and peacefully for all.

    If a person were conflicted about whether or not her dancing was spiritually good or bad, I'd suggest she consider taking some time in listening to God. Over time, in quiet and silence, things would become clear. I personally believe that dancing/stripping can be a fun way for many women to create joy and beauty.

  25. #50
    Veteran Member Phedre's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Montana
    Posts
    734
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Dancing and Spirituality

    Thank you for your clarification. I think a lot of the women that are on this forum feel somehow that the entertainment they are providing is not morally corupt. I dance because it makes me feel beautiful and more at peace with my sexual side without having to actually be giving more of my sexuality than I desire.

    I have in the past had sex with people that didn't value me at all and it messed with my head. So to perform and feel truely sensual without giving sex to someone is fulfilling for me. I love to provide a show for my customers. The customers that appreciate my dancing are more looking for the entertainment aspect of our relationship, they aren't planning to leave their wives or cheat on their partners and they know that I am enjoying entertaining them. I didn't view myself as beautiful after a really bad relationship and sometimes all someone needs is to be remiinded of the beauty they posess. Dancing helped me with that so I treasure the experiences I have had while dancing and when the time comes that I am in a club or atmosphere that I feel others are looking for more than the entertainment part I don't last very long.
    Phedre
    ~ my very own pole dancer!

Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Website for dancers and spirituality
    By Phedre in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 4
    Last Post: 10-17-2005, 05:40 PM
  2. Can't Post Under Dancing Jobs *Dancing Job
    By FoxyRoxIt in forum Other Work
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 09-23-2005, 03:45 AM
  3. Does your pole dancing reflect your lap dancing personality?
    By Head Boy in forum Stripping (was Stripping General)
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 05-16-2005, 07:55 AM
  4. Suicide...Religion...Spirituality...oh my!
    By MojoJojo in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 01-10-2005, 04:39 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •