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Amoda: Trance Dance and Beyond Trance dance is an updated version of Nataraj meditation with some native American influences. It is excellent for beginners to the world of meditation. The evening was led by Amoda and her friend Bob. Amoda is a loving and compassionate young woman. There were about thirty participants, mostly young, rather quiet types. Two of the young ladies were pregnant. Alok John
The evening commenced with an hour or more of warm up dancing. Unfortunately I found it difficult to find the Highbury Roundhouse and missed this. As I arrived we all sat in a circle and Amoda explained the meditation proper. Amoda taught us the breath of fire, in through the nose, out through the mouth if I recall correctly. The meditation commenced with Amoda initiating everyone with burning sage. We were in a large circle. Each of the participants stood up one at a time with their eyes closed. Amoda went up patiently to each of the participants in turn, and cleared their energy with burning sage. Then the trance dance proper commenced with excellent live music provided by Bob. I only kept up the breath of fire at the beginning of the meditation. It was too much for me.
We all danced our own dance, mainly with our eyes closed. I opened mine once or twice to have a peek, and of course everyone was dancing in his or her unique fashion. Some were dancing vigorously, others were just lying on the floor or against the wall, each following his own body energy. This went on for about forty five minutes.
Finally there was a closing circle in which Amoda patiently allowed each of us to give our comments. Everyone said how much they had got out of the evening, albeit there was a little social pressure not to say anything negative.
I found the meditation excellent and definitely left the Roundhouse calm and invigorated. I felt just like I had done Nataraj meditation.
The price of £15 was a little expensive. However many are obviously attracted by Amoda's exceptionally compassionate energy and are willing to pay that price. (There were the usual concessions).
As it happened it was actually Amoda's last Trance dance evening! She told us she was moving away from dance into more general awareness and energy programmes. She obviously has great natural talent as an Osho therapist. If you are an absolute beginner to the world of meditation, I think there would be few people better to go to.
Amoda commences workshops and trainings again in March 2004.
For information go to her site http://www.movingcreations.com/