The Longdance
At Long Dance, lives change. Stories are shared. Tears are shed. Hugs are given. Hands are held. Faces glow. Joy is inspired. Sisterhoods are made. Hearts are healed and no one remains the same.
All these joys and a thousand more are part of the ceremony that is Long Dance.
Women of all ages, from those who have just begun their moontime to those who are in there grandmother-hood, as well as the brothers who will stand sentry, gather in the bowl shaped valley for teachings and preparation before the ceremony. On Saturday, the day of Long Dance, the men go into the hills around the bowl to stand sentry, and let no one enter. The huge fire in the center of a great big medicine wheel is lit, and opening prayers are said while the women gather inside the Medicine wheel. As soon as the sun sets, the big drums start to beat out a deep steady rhythm that will continue evenly and unending until Sunup. The drums are the heartbeat of the earth mother and the women begin to dance.
As we dance we pray. The prayers danced out at Long Dance are incredibly powerful not only because we bring our prayers out physically, but because we surround ourselves with powerful medicines. Every woman there wears beautiful empowering clothing that has special meaning to her, as well as being rich in symbolism.
Around the wheel are the lodges; the sweat lodge, the drum lodge, the mother lodge, the moon lodge, the latrines, the grandmother lodge and the healing lodge. The dancers are allowed to visit these lodges when inspired and the sweat lodge when the two sweat ceremonies are held.
Throughout the night dancers pour their hearts out to the Spirits. As the first light begins to glimmer over the mountains to the East, emotions run their highest. Every woman is elated and exhausted. Many have tears streaming down their faces. This is when the most powerful prayers come out. There are many powerful moments during long dance but this is the climax. The sun seems to take forever to rise over that mountain, but finally it does! With it come gifts best experienced first hand. These are the kinds of moments that change people’s lives, and every moment at Long Dance is one of them.
Miriam Gill is a 1st year dancer o The Longdance.
The 19th Annual Women’s Long Dance will take place on September 24, 25, 26 & 27 at an Arroyo Grande location. To learn more visit the website: www.churchofempowerment.org.