Fire - Passion

"Life is movement." - Joseph Riggio

Martha Graham often repeated her father dictum: 'movement never lies.' As a founder of modern dance, she identified a method of impulse breathe and impulse control that she called 'contraction and release.' Her style of movement originated in the tension of a contracted muscle and continued in the flow of energy released from the body as the muscle relaxed. This gave her dance a percussive and angular look. Similarly, her contemporary, Doris Humphrey utilized a method that she called 'fall & recovery.' These women were not interested in narrating a story; their passion was for expression in movement and in aesthetic considerations.

I was reminded recently that my grandmother was part of the Doris Humphrey Company. She always had a spark that shined through and lots of energy. We called her GoGo because she was always coming or going from some travel adventure -she was a world traveler. I think I inherited my travel desires from her. She seemed to dance through her life gracefully full of passion.

Bruce Springsteen , the Boss…passionately sings "Can't start a fire, can't start a fire without a spark…"

My friend Jeri definitely has used her sparks to start a fire. She held the heat to our state bureaucracy so that laws were changed. I was so honored to hear her speak last week as she accepted a well deserved award as 'Volunteer of the Year' for LACCAW. She earned this by being the woman she continues to become. I admire her ability to speak with intensity and her ability to ignite interest in her work.

Many athletes have that intensity. One memorable tennis player that enflamed many was John McEnroe. I just finished reading his book You Can't Be Serious. Early on he writes; "One of the things I'm striving to come to terms with is the deep-down part of me that isn't completely willing to give up my anger. After all, I feel certain that its part of what drove me to the top, & though I may not be at the top of my game any more; that fire in my belly is still hot. Where would I be if I let it go out? And what exactly do I need it for now?"

Fire as he describes it was part of his drive to get him where he got (… and no further.) That fire is useful for getting things done I've rediscovered since the last mytho 4 in May.

Rumi wrote "…You have the energy of the sun in you , but you keep knotting it up at the base of your spine.…Give up if you don't understand by this time that your living is firewood…"