Every dance takes me beyond everything I thought I knew. And every time I get stuck in the tricky traps of the mind, a dance sets everything right again.
Sometimes I move and express myself through an innocent piano piece, and sometimes I let go, losing myself in the powerful, captivating, or rhythmic waves of a drum, a beat, a violin, or a guitar.
For me, dancing is about letting go of control and surrendering to what wants to express itself in physical form. It is something sacred where you show both your humility and command respect.
Dancing is the song of the body… Freedom in its purest form.
My dance has come to fruition over the years through connections with entheogenic plants like mushrooms, truffles, and ayahuasca. The life energy that repeatedly built up inside of me demanded to be expressed.
By now, it’s become second nature that there is always a dance. A dance of life flowing through my body. A dance where my consciousness quiets, and I experience a deep spiritual journey filled with recognition, insights, and answers.
Dancing is much more than just moving to music. It is a deep connection between body, mind, and soul. It has a powerful impact on our emotions, mental health, and well-being.
But what exactly does dancing do for us on an emotional and mental level?
1. Emotional Expression and Processing
Dance is a direct way to express emotions when words fail us. Through movement, we can process pent-up tension, sadness, or anger. It can give you a sense of freedom and self-expression—especially when you surrender to the music without judgment, with a “F*CK it” attitude, this is me.
This not only helps to express emotions but also to process them. Dancing allows you to release emotions that might be too heavy to verbalize.
2. Stress Reduction and Relaxation
Dance has a proven effect on reducing stress. It lowers the production of stress hormones like cortisol while increasing endorphins—our body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals. Rhythmic movements help you get out of your head and into your body, reducing overthinking within minutes. It’s like a breath of fresh air for your mind, a powerful tool for letting go of stress.
3. Boosting Self-Confidence and Self-Worth
Freeing your body through dance gives a sense of strength and self-acceptance. Instead of controlling or hiding your body, you allow it to move as it wants. This enhances your sense of self-worth. Additionally, dancing in groups creates a sense of connection and social support, which can further boost your self-confidence. Dancing together, sharing energy with others, reminds you of your value and the power of community.
4. Increased Mental Clarity and Focus
Dance stimulates the brain and improves cognitive functions such as memory, creativity, and problem-solving. Because dance synchronizes the body and mind, it helps you become mentally sharper and more alert. After just a few minutes of dancing, you often feel mentally refreshed and can approach your work with renewed focus. The rhythms of the music can also help you stay present and organize your thoughts, offering clarity and insights that might otherwise be elusive.
5. Connection with Yourself and Others
Dance brings you into the moment, making you aware of your inner feelings. It creates a direct connection with your body, mind, and soul. These connections strengthen not only your relationship with yourself but also with others. It brings shared energy that is often needed to feel complete.
Dancing from your core: A Spiritual Experience
Dance is not just a physical or emotional activity. It also has the potential to be a profound spiritual experience. Dance brings body and mind into harmony, opening doors to higher consciousness. It enables you to connect with your inner self, higher forces, or nature.
Body Awareness and Energy
Dance helps you become aware of your body and the energy flowing through you. It allows you to feel what’s happening inside and express it through movement. It’s a powerful way to connect with the deeper layers of your being.
Ego Dissolution
In dance, the ego can fade into the background. You no longer need to control yourself. It’s a moment of surrender to the present, an opportunity to show your authentic self without inhibition or fear. You no longer dance from “what should be,” but from “what is.”
Trance and Rituals
Rhythmic movements can lead to trance, a state of deep connection with higher consciousness. Consider rituals like the Sufi dance (whirling dervishes), which brings you into a meditative state. This creates space for spiritual deepening.
Connection with Nature
Dancing in nature is a way to attune yourself to the elements around you. Whether you’re dancing in the rain, the wind, along the shore of the sea, or under a full moon, the connection with nature can bring you to deep reflection. It’s a ritual that reminds you of your place in the world. Something ancient within us is recognized.
Healing through Dance
Dance provides space to express deeply rooted emotions and blockages. It creates a channel for emotional and spiritual healing, allowing old pain to be released and a sense of liberation to emerge. By dancing, you give your body, mind, and soul the space to heal—something I often hear as feedback from participants of psychedelic plant process days.
The Dance of Life
Dance is a way to restore harmony between body, mind, and soul. From silence arises the dance, and from the dance comes silence once again. It’s a cycle of harmony where movement and stillness complement each other. This balance creates a deeper understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe.
Whether you’re dancing in a group during psychedelic plant process days or alone in your living room, dance has the power to heal you emotionally, refresh you mentally, and let your life energy flow.
By dancing for just five minutes, you can completely transform your perspective on the day and on yourself.
Dance, a powerful tool for self-expression, healing, and spiritual growth. It allows us to look deep within, connect with others, and, above all, be in harmony with ourselves. So, when you don’t know where to go… dance, move, and follow.
Are you ready to take a deep journey within? To restore contact with your body and discover your essence?
Connect with your body and experience true knowing during a three-day process weekend, supported by psychedelic plants.
Perhaps through silence in the dance, or by observing a dance in the stillness of your body. Create space for experiences that need to be processed and for potential that wishes to be expressed.
Please reach out for more information.
Love,
Carlijn
