The Dakinis are luminous, subtle, spiritual energies. They represent the elemental power of consciousness. They invite us to see into our occluded emotions and find radiant wisdom within the experience. We celebrated them through dance, song, meditation and empowerment. Each day we wore the color of the element being represented. Every evening one woman offered a solo dance representing the Dakini of the Day.
The Dakinis are Dancing
We started in the center with the Buddha Dakini. Taras were invited to pass through a tunnel of waving scarves to enter the evening program
Anahata and Isa called them in with the Buddha Dakini mantras
Our Kitchen Chiefess, Suki
Lama Tashi gave the empowerment of the Dakini, Prema gave teachings and led everyone through a guided meditation
Karen Metta, Buddha Dakini. Element - Space - Color - white with touches of blue
Anahata led dances she created to the peaceful and wrathful Dakini energies
Vajra Dakini is in the East. Deana from Georgia danced to the music “I Can See Clearly”.
Vajra is Blue with touches of white. The element is water. The sense gate is sight
Anahata’s group dance
An extra bonus, Mekare also prepared a solo Vajra Dance
MyriDakini from Brazil danced the Jewel Dakini. Earth Element. Represents abundance.
A bonus for Jewel Dakini, Iya Negra offered a dance of Oshun, the Yoruba Goddess of Sweet Waters. Her color is also gold.
Padma Day, the element is fire and we started with Rosie introducing our Padma Dakini
Siobhan was outrageous, portraying passion gone amuck
And then passion redeemed
Using her magnetism
To call other Taras to dance
They snaked after her with great delight
And then
Anahata led the group in a raucous Padma mantra dance
The fire was burning bright
Lama Tashi got so excited we were all in hysterics watching him
The next night Karma Dakini was danced by Parvati from Phoenix, Arizona
Karen Metta had made the mask during the retreat for her to wear
Karma - the element is the wind
Parvati had prepared a slide show that played behind her, a very Karma like thing to do
During the Green Tara section of the retreat Janice Walfren from Vermont led 10 Taras in mask making
Dancing in a mask is a very special kind of experience
Myri and Deanna
Mekare prepared the group to dance in their masks for the final day when we meditated on all five Buddha families
The masks and Mekare
The masks come alive
Leah
Deanna
Trishana
