'Asah, Action, Part 2 - The Dance...
One of the best examples of the interaction of Damam, Stillness, and 'Asah, Action, is the Dance. Dance can show us the reality of these two concepts, and all of life can be a Dance.
A Dance is a perfect balance of Stillness and Action. There are points where you are in motion and points where you are still, but both are part of the Dance. When we walk, stopping is no longer walking. When we stand, walking is stopping standing. But when we dance, both are very important parts.
There are two many forms of Dance in Jewish culture. The first is Machol, the Circle Dance. The second is Rikud, dancing to and fro. Machol is also called the Dance of the Virgins. It is a dance of courtship, and is a group dance. The form is that of Samech, the unending circle. All the dancers join hands and dance as a group in a circle. Rikud is also called the Bridal Dance, and is a dance of coming together. It's form is that of Chet, Vev and Zayin joined together as the bridal canopy. It is a dance of partners. Each couple joins hands and dances just with their partner. Machol is the dance of Creation; G-d created and we all have Danced the Dance since then. Rikud is the dance of Moshiach (Messiah) and Shekhinah, a personal Dance between each of us and the Divine.
Each time of Stillness followed by each Action can be seen as part of a Dance. The Stillness is an intimite time with the Divine, which leads to Action, which leads back to Stillness. We all Dance Machol with each other. This is what it means to be part of a community. But few Dance Rikud. We must learn to come together with the Divine and Dance Rikud. This is the meaning of Damam and 'Asah.
~Muninn's Kiss
A Dance is a perfect balance of Stillness and Action. There are points where you are in motion and points where you are still, but both are part of the Dance. When we walk, stopping is no longer walking. When we stand, walking is stopping standing. But when we dance, both are very important parts.
There are two many forms of Dance in Jewish culture. The first is Machol, the Circle Dance. The second is Rikud, dancing to and fro. Machol is also called the Dance of the Virgins. It is a dance of courtship, and is a group dance. The form is that of Samech, the unending circle. All the dancers join hands and dance as a group in a circle. Rikud is also called the Bridal Dance, and is a dance of coming together. It's form is that of Chet, Vev and Zayin joined together as the bridal canopy. It is a dance of partners. Each couple joins hands and dances just with their partner. Machol is the dance of Creation; G-d created and we all have Danced the Dance since then. Rikud is the dance of Moshiach (Messiah) and Shekhinah, a personal Dance between each of us and the Divine.
Each time of Stillness followed by each Action can be seen as part of a Dance. The Stillness is an intimite time with the Divine, which leads to Action, which leads back to Stillness. We all Dance Machol with each other. This is what it means to be part of a community. But few Dance Rikud. We must learn to come together with the Divine and Dance Rikud. This is the meaning of Damam and 'Asah.
~Muninn's Kiss