Thread: Bellydance/Witchcraft fusion DVD

Victor Anderson, as in one of the founders of the Feri traditions?

Ooo. That book does look like a winner. Ever since I started studying dance, the incorporation of it into my spiritual life has been one of the primary motivating factors into doing all of those plank and locust poses that suck so much. :)

I've always had this fascination with the places that dance and spirituality overlap. The Zar trances, the Sufi Dervishes... I was at an American Indian pow-wow once, and talking to one of the dancers there. I asked him what he got out of his dancing... he said, "When I dance, it's just me, and God, and that's it."

Motion as a means to raise energy, as a means to clear the mind, as a means to dissolve the boundries of ego... such is something I've always been searching and exploring. Now I have a framework within which to do so.

If you're more nerdy, like me, I'd recommend "Drawing Down the Moon" by Margot Adler (as in NPR's Margot Adler), which explores the development of Neo-Paganism. It's a little out of date for the last 15+ years' developments, but still a good read on the history.

Have more books and info listed on my Witchcraft website, The Modern Tradition of Witchcraft

(also hasn't been updated in about 5 years, but the basics there are still very good reading).

my favourite website in terms of wicca is: Wicca: For the Rest of Us
since it is very down to earth and non-nonsense.
The booklist there is great.

Originally Posted by Psyche

Victor Anderson, as in one of the founders of the Feri traditions?

Yes. And if you're really into this tradition, check out Thorn Coyle's Devotional Dance dvd. Thorn Coyle CDs and DVDs

We were in a devotional dance troupe together called the Painted Fan and she's danced with Fat Chance and has also studied with Victor. Though she has a more Reclaiming bent than I do, lol!!!

And I apologize for getting a little too spammy. I absolutely love what I do and my enthusiasm might be a little too much, but it's all well intended.

Does Feri = Faerie?

I studied witchcraft as a youngster. I never thought of it as "dark" though.

Originally Posted by fancypants

Found the trailer on youtube to this dvd ( but I don't know what I should think of it either ): YouTube - Anaar's Dark Imaginations: Ritual Dance Instructional DVD Promo.mov

Wasn't there already a ritual DVD called Sacred Bellydance by Jehan? Or am I mistaken?

Actually, Jehan's Sacred Bellydance are not ritual DVDs at all. I practice with them (a 2-DVD set) all of the time. She has one section in the beginning that she calls a "body prayer" which is a sort of brief moving meditation. Personally, I skip this section. In the intro, she does include some "Goddess-y" talk but throughout the 2-DVD set she just goes through classic dance moves and technique. She really is an absolutely stunning dancer and I've learned alot from this set.