I've had the honor of participating in a prayer-formance part 2, A ceremony of Masculinity here in Eureka Springs, AR for the summer solstice. I'm one who has been to many drum circles, ceremonies, dance performances, women gatherings and not once have I had an experience such as this. As part of the ceremony us women had to drum/dance in our own circle while the men just admired us. As a few of the leader women start the beats, I have my eyes closed and start to feel the thump of the drum. The sound of the drum starts to get louder... more drums thunder in and rattlers of all kinds surround my ears. I feel myself to move more and as I feel the urge to jump I open my eyes. MEN ARE WATCHING US! I suddenly felt constricted and scared. I forgot about the men and now they're staring at me. With my monthly women groups I was used to letting go and dancing free, but now I have these new eyes watching a, 'sacred act' if you will; of when us women get together. As I took note of this new feeling I started to be comfortable with it and allowed them to watch. I jumped, I moved, I stayed my pure self as If I was with just with the women. I wanted the men to see this powerful and emotional act we do as women every month. I was honoring the men by allowing them to watch such a private act that we do. For one who has danced with my husband and performed in front of hundreds of people I didn't expect this feeling. It was special and I found myself giving thanks to the men as I danced. Their energy surrounded us and filled us with wildness. In return they had their circle, but we were to ignore them until the sound of their beat filled us with dance. I never had such a sound turn me on. It was great! I danced and found myself circling the beat of my husbands. As I danced and he drummed there was a flow that was missing when it was just us women. I felt whole, I felt connected. I remembered how important the Man is. To be wild in my dance and for him to respect my movements ... and for him to beat on the drum and for me to feel the energy was something I will never forget.
Honoring our Men for the Summer Solstice (prayer-formance pt. 2)