Luminous Souls Dance

A spectacular dance performance by the Open Arts Luminous Souls Dance Project in Northern Ireland in May 2011. Dancers from across the country, with the help and inspiration of the Candoco Dance Company, have been engaged in various residential workshops over the last year. The project is most gratefull to help from various groups, including Arts Council Northern Ireland, Connections, The Legacy Trust UK , and Inspiration 2012

Trying times

Good Times and Bad

Through good times and bad you've been there
you’ve been there

I’ve felt your arms surrounding me
Holding and uplifting me
Surrounding me with your peace, sheer peace

Showing me others who have been through worse
Much worse than I

You kept my head above water
Well above water
When others would surely drown

Even when I felt like a clown
You showed me one day I would wear a crown
So I needn’t wear a frown, because that wouldn’t suit
My coming crown

No matter what I went through, good times or bad, I always felt you were with me even when I didn’t know how to respond or accept the inner peace. Or maybe I wasn’t ready to accept peace. I always seemed to struggle and stay on the negative. Maybe I put up the brick wall purposely to continue my daily battle. In the beginning stages of growing I filled myself with the continual question of why? Why was I here? Why did things happen? Why are some blind? while others could see? Maybe we are all like that: we begin life searching until we find what we are looking for, to fill the gaping hole in one’s inner soul

Luminous Soul Dance Residential with Candoco. Click here to go to Candoco's Web page

2 photos that were taken this week one with Tara throwing me in the air and one of me leaning on Brooks back

need advice or someone to talk to click here to go to women's aid

Freedom Received

Thud, bash
You’re just another punch bag
Continuous taunting, haunting
Spoken words buried deep inside

Cages unlock old iron, gates creak
Pushing and pushing
Finding an inner strength
Tears flow with an unstoppable flood gate

Happiness is seen only in dreams
Get out while you still can is the panicked voice ringing in your ears

Your peace begins as the door slowly opens to new things
An open arm; a gentle smile, a caring hug is all that’s need to start the healing

By Julie Richmond