A freeform discussion led by Sky and Zareen from Echo Basin Ranch (Colorado), recorded on the last morning of a Dances of Universal Peace camp as they were packing up.
Opening: the article & “being the prayer”
Karima kicked things off responding to an article Sky had shared before the call. Her key takeaway: the dances aren’t an abstract ritual — they’re a present, living, co-created experience, happening “here and now with who’s there.” This led into a discussion of Hazrat Inayat Khan’s invocation prayer — the group reflected that when dancing together, they’re not just saying this prayer but building and reactivating the universal. The idea that ancient humans “were the prayer” rather than reciting one recurred throughout — body prayer, rhythm, and movement as something hardwired into being human (echoed by Rosemary’s mention of brain research on ritual/community bonding, and Xtevan’s book on ritual mentioned in the chat).
Leading dances — surrender, simplicity, and partnership
Sky and Zareen talked about their long working partnership as co-leaders (also joined by Bernie this camp) — describing an intuitive, synergistic way of leading together, “dropping into a space beyond the personal self.” Key points on leadership:
- Simple dances are often the most powerful because they bypass the “critical brain.”
- Leading well requires surrender — not overselling or over-controlling the dance, letting the group itself carry it.
- A leader’s role is holding spiritual connection, not logistics. Sky mentioned this camp was her last as a “structure holder” — she wants to focus solely on holding the container, not the admin/logistics burden.
- Leaders draw on others’ expertise (Sanskrit, Buddhist, Christian participants) rather than positioning themselves as sole authorities.
- Being authentically “grouchy” with each other sometimes is part of staying real, as long as it doesn’t spill into the dance space itself.
Meeting people where they are
A long thread on accessibility: choosing dances that resonate with a given community (Hanukkah dances in Mormon towns, Jewish-themed dances noted as broadly resonant, “indigenous-light”/nature-themed dances vs. explicitly Native content). Stories included Cleo’s Mormon friends being drawn to the dances despite religious differences, and a retired Christian minister who found the dances affirmed things he’d always felt about Christianity. General theme: the dances work because they don’t require doctrinal belief — just presence, breath, rhythm, and eye contact.
Community, connection, and modern isolation
Several participants spoke about the loneliness of modern/church life vs. the deep connection felt in the circle — “meeting everyone’s eyes,” feeling like family with strangers. Zareen linked this to a broader cultural hunger for community (citing rising interest in meditation/Buddhism online) and framed the dances as helping people “wake up” to a more connected, less individualistic way of being — subtly countercultural to Western conditioning.
Conflict, healing, and non-duality
One participant shared a moving personal story of tension with another dancer during a partner dance (a hard grip, hurt feelings) that resolved into an apology and reconciliation by the end of camp — offered as an example of how the dance container lets difficult emotions surface and clear.
This opened into a philosophical discussion of the phrase “La ilaha illallah” (commonly translated “there is nothing but God/Love”). Sky pushed back gently on “there is nothing but love” as too narrow given cultural baggage around the word “love” (attachment, codependency); Zareen offered “the one reality” as an inclusive alternative, adaptable to each person’s own spiritual language. Others added related practices: the Taoist “inner smile,” and the zikr phrase structure of “emptying and filling” (emptying the small self, filling with spiritual ideal/presence).
Closing: Wendy’s canoe journey
Wendy closed the call describing an upcoming Pacific Northwest Native canoe journey/potlatch gathering she participates in (Paddle to… with the Nisqually tribe hosting this year), drawing parallels between that tradition’s communal, prayerful, dry-camp culture and the Dances of Universal Peace — different form, same essence of connection.
The session closed with warm thanks all around to Sky and Zareen.
