Goddess in the Belly: Bellydance, Goddess in the Belly Dance Camp, Bead Fringe, Navel Gazing Magazine

Artist's Creed

I believe I am worth the time it takes to create
whatever I feel called to create.
I believe that my work is worthy of its own space,
which is worthy of the name Sacred.
I believe that, when I enter this space, I have the right
to work in silence, uninterrupted, for as long as I choose.
I believe that the moment I open myself to the gifts of the Muse,
I open myself to the Source of All Creation
and become One With the Mother of Life Itself.
I believe that my work is joyful, useful and constantly changing,
flowing through me like a river with no beginning and no end.
I believe that what it is I am called to do
will make itself known when I have made myself ready.
I believe that the time I spend creating my art
is as precious as the time I spend giving to others.
I believe that what truly matters in the making of art
is not what the final piece looks like or sounds like,
not what it is worth or not worth, but what
newness gets added to the universe in the process
of the piece itself becoming.
I believe that I am not alone in my attempts to create,
and that once I begin the work, settle into the strangeness,
the words will take shape, the form find life, and the spirit take flight.
I believe that as the Muse gives to me,
so does she deserve from me:
faith, mindfulness and enduring commitment.

An Artist's Prayer

let me move full with my own true voice
let me breathe easy with the courage to dance and share my inner self
let me lift up other’s hearts and show them love and healing
let me have compassion for myself in my progress
help me to reach for the truth inside me
and learn to bring it out for others to see clearly
let me be talented and courageous
let me keep on trying, and opening up to your good
inside and outside of me
give me peace in my process
give me strength to continue against all odds-
and let there be none, goddess
let the universe be on my side
in my creation of you in my art

by Vanessa LeBourdais
(with “dance” alteration, by permission of the author)

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant,
gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world.
There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking
so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.

We are all meant to shine,
as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory
of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we’re liberated from our own fear,
our presence automatically liberates others.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success
of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on
to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful expression at all times
and give every living creature you meet
a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of
yourself that you have no time to criticize
others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for
anger, too strong for fear, and too happy
to permit the presence of trouble.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he sparated the light from the darkness. God called the light “spots” and the darkness he called “to-black.” And there was dinner, and there was sleep — the first day.

And God said, “Let there be an expanse between the wings to separate wing from wing.” So God made the expanse and separated the wing on the left from the wing on the right. And it was so. God called the expanse “stage.” And there was a dinner, and there was sleep — the second day.

And God said, “Let the surface of the stage be dry and forgiving, and let the soda stay gathered in bottles.” And it was so. God called the stage surface “marley” and the gathered soda he called “Coke.” And God saw that it was good.

And God said, “Let the people produce Art: music and dance on the stage to provoke thought, according to their various needs.” And God saw that it was good. And there was tech, and there was morning, and there was no sleep — the third day.

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the house, and let them serve as signs to mark the beginning of the season, and let them draw the people in.” And it was so. God made the two great house lights dim and he set a lesser light on the stage. God saw that it was good and called it the “premier,” and it fell on the evening of the fourth day.

And God caused his chosen director to appear upon the stage, and the director was within the spot light that God set upon the stage. God’s director welcomed the people, and made an appeal to the masses for membership and tithing. God saw the donations and was much relieved.

And God caused his chosen director to leave the stage, and parted the mighty walls of velvet curtains so that the people might enjoy the stage. And God saw that the performance had begun, and it was good.

And God said to the reporters who gathered after the show, “We need a name for this show — let it be called Genesis. Who? Oh her! That dancer is Eve.”

Imagine a woman who believes it is right and good she is a woman. A woman who honors her experience and tells her stories. Who refuses to carry the sins of others within her body and life.

Imagine a woman who believes she is good. A woman who trusts and respects herself. Who listens to her needs and desires, and meets them with tenderness and grace.

Imagine a woman who has acknowledged the past's influence on the present. A woman who has walked through her past. Who has healed into the present.

Imagine a woman who authors her own life. A woman who exerts, initiates, and moves on her own behalf. Who refuses to surrender except to her truest self and to her wisest voice.

Imagine a woman who names her own gods. A woman who imagines the divine in her image and likeness. Who designs her own spirituality and allows it to inform her daily life.

Imagine a woman in love with her own body. A woman who believes her body is enough, just as it is. Who celebrates her body and its rhythms and cycles as an exquisite resource.

Imagine a woman who honors the face of the Goddess in her changing face. A woman who celebrates the accumulation of her years and her wisdom. Who refuses to use precious energy disguising the changes in her body and life.

Imagine a woman who values the women in her life. A woman who sits in circles of women. Who is reminded of the truth about herself when she forgets.

—Patricia Lynn Reilly, M.Div.
"Imagine a Woman in Love with Herself"
excerpt. (Conari, 1999 ©1995)
Graciously permitted by author.

A Real Dancer is human and makes mistakes and is imperfect,
and knows that that’s okay... that is what makes dance great:

not that it's done by precisioned automatons, but
by living, breathing, sweating, striving human beings.

A Real Dancer dances because she loves; she dances because she lives.
She dances her life, her dreams, her knowing,
her pain and her freedom,
her body’s longings and memories and present moment.

A Real Dancer is a womon, striving for Grace:
the liberation of her Shining Self.

It tells a truth of some sort, means something real
...and that moves those who watch it.

It is simple or complex;
has unplanned subtleties that only the gods see;
is healing to those who need healing
and joyous to those who are whole.

A Real Dance is not an enigma: it speaks for itself and it means
whatever it means to each one who watches it,
and the one who dances it.

A Real Dance is a womon being in her body,
moving to her heart’s rhythms,
moving for her own enjoyment,

Womyn.
Womyn dancing.
Womyn in their bodies,
womyn with their bodies, womyn loving
and respecting their bodies, womyn moving
how their bodies want to move:
Womyn connecting with their souls.

Womyn dancing with womyn; dancing for womyn,
womyn dancing for themselves,
for all the womyn who can not
—for whatever reason—
dance.

Womyn dancing for those who yearn to see
womyn empowering themselves,
standing up and sharing
their Shining Selves with all the world...

Womyn taking their space.

Womyn being graceful, and fluid,
and sharp, and dramatic.
Womyn being grounded, being earthy,
being light on strong feet.
Womyn sparkling.
Womyn glowing.

Womyn being joyful. Womyn being deep.
Womyn being angry, and sad, and hopeful, and mischevious;
encouraging, and needy, and vulnerable, and scared;
being confident, and cheeky; being vivacious;
brave, and soft; ambivalent, and amazing;
being sensual, sexual, and sexy;
playful, awesome, grateful;
honest, healing, ecstatic;
generous, and warm, and powerful;
being dynamic, being engaged, being at ease;
satisfied, and smug, and tearful, and sympathetic;
changing, and challenging, and flirtatious; and bold,
Womyn being charming, and strong, and regal, and alive.

Womyn being anything, being everything, but guilty.

Womyn being real. Womyn being whole.
Womyn being comfortable with themselves.
Womyn being Priestesses.
Being Goddesses.

Womyn being beautiful, and proud;
empowered and empowering.

Womyn Being.

Poems & Writings

for Dancers & Women

An Artist's Prayer