Day 2

More impressions of Tyre, after a rainy night that invited cooler weather in. I will, a la Authentic Movement, include more of the sensate level of my experiences. This is what makes them real for me.

Wandering the streets here is comfortable for me. Despite any prior impressions I may have acquired, from media and news, I feel a comfortable warmth inside my torso as I walk through the streets, some very busy with traffic and people, others tiny, windy corridors that sneak their way between tall stone buildings. Smiles, colors, smells evoke a sense of familiarity. An internal ease. A deep breath. I hear the call to prayer and it resonates; resonates the way our soundbaths do in Continuum sessions, each breath and each vocalization a soundwave that penetrates skin, bone, cells. Again, it warms, and I breathe a little more space into my lungs. I can stand still and listen for a long time.

Training began today. We spoke about the dynamics of oppression, and how it is the body that is controlled by those who wish to retain power. The space we are working in feels generous to me--open, spacious, kind. We worked with the breath and heart, and the stillness in the room quiets my torso---I experience my central body as a chamber of sound and stillness. The rhythms of 6's and 9's infuse the air and sneaky corridors -- the rhythm wraps around the buildings and also enters the chamber of my heart, lungs, center.

Day One Lebanon

After years of traveling to work, teach and support survivors of political violence, war and torture around the planet, I've decided to blog my travels. This blog will be written in the language of Authentic Movement--one of my favorite dance movement therapy --and restorative--practices.

What this means is that I will describe the world as I see and experience it, from the perspective of observer, or witness. I endeavor not to judge or interpret; only share my work and travel experiences from as present moment a perspective as I can.

I arrived last night and the trip from Beirut to Tyre felt effortless, thanks to my friend who met me at the airport. Spent the day wandering around Tyre, tried to get farther South (near the border) to visit a former detention camp turned museum, and learned I need a permit, so I'll hope to do that another day. I see many colors here ...the sparkle of the sun and now the moonlight on the ocean, buildings painted a variety of shades from pale neutrals to bright orange, red, blue. Women's dress runs the range from leggings and short dresses to fully covered, always fashionable. As I have seen anywhere else in the world, children play in the streets. Today I saw at least three children playing with very authentic looking toy guns (pistols, rifles and automatic), and in their play they point the gun at another child's head. These toy guns are for sale in many of the shops.

Somewhere between Beirut and here the billboard images changed; the faces of artists and martyrs line the road from North to South. In the evening, cafes are busy and many people wander the narrow streets in the older section of the city. I have spent the whole day walking, sitting and observing; I have seen a lot of smiles today.