Exploring the Moments

They say in the world of writing that if you don't make the practice your first priority it will be your last. Well with a sideways glance and a few pupil rolls (6 to the right then 6 to the left) I gotta admit it's been one of my main frustrations and blockages in life. Why do I find it so hard to make time to write! More hours in the day would be nice, I will say, but beyond that there has got to be a more telling reason as to why I avoid one of my major passions. I see it in other areas too such as yoga, personal hoop practice, meditation, sleep and detoxing. Always too busy doing a gazillion other things - important, meaningful, fun-filled hoopy things, but still leaving me with a feeling of not having covered some fairly essential bases that contribute to the experience of maxing out on LIFE. I am guessing it's about organisation and prioritisation. Now is a significant time.

I think I've said it before, when the 8 week term is on it is ON. Living in StarLand is blissful to be sure. It has however added quite an amount of travel into my daily schedule so this is a factor to weigh up in the upcoming transition in June. Term 1 is now complete giving me four weeks to chillout, recapitulate, rest, WRITE, plan, organise, enjoy the paradise that is my home on more of a continuous rather than sporadic level and create a daily schedule that includes all these creative life essentials.

What to do first though? Self preservation. It's more of an undoing process than anything, something that transforms into being. I can feel myself withdrawing more and more into this self-created retreat and sharing it with those who care to join me. It's been quite incredible spending time and life with the hoopies who participated in last weekend's teacher training, with the Scorpion whose presence is always adorable, with GemStar who is soon leaving Australia and with myself in those brief moments that I get to be by myself. I'm not forcing the solitude - it will arrive when it's right. Having said that, I can feel that being the theme of next week. Is it possible? I'm excited! Often I feel like I need to be alone to write, to fully relax, to go deeper into my yogic practice and to sort out my life.

It's Week 2 of a 3 month detox - no social lubricants, sugar, or wheat. Sugar and wheat have been in small doses but my major vices have thus far been eliminated. Such a different feeling! My waking and dreaming minds are so much clearer. Thoughts, feelings and energy flow so much more smoothly. I have been craving this space for a LONG time. It's only now that I have found the desire strong enough for it to overwhelm unconscious patterns of outdated and collective urges. The social factor is a big one and for now I am safely AWAY in my tree house at StarLand but I know that I can't stay away forever nor do I wish to - it's the next big challenge and one that is coming up this weekend. I don't want to be rigid with myself and start creating unachievable rules BUT I do know that I don't want toxins in my body right now and for a substantial period so I need to focus on that intention and healthy craving rather than falling yet again into unconscious and peer driven habits. My new "guideline" is that if I really want it I will have it but I would like to be more fully conscious of whether I really do want it before succumbing just because everyone else is in on the "fun" train - Libra alert!

Practical to do list - Agh... the bookwork - another if it's not the first it's the last. It HAS to be done and WILL be done and brought to a point that can be delegated in an organised and systemised condition rather than dumping my mess onto someone else. I will not hand it over until it has reached this point. My instant instinct right now is to think about something more fun! Hello Mardi Gras!





More pix

More videos to come... Got a pile of files just waiting for the digital nip and tuck. A stunt double I tried in the form of DD Hoop Love but wouldn't you know it! Two versions of a humanoid like me = EVEN more bling life to do than eva! More hoops more gigs more videos more makeup more hair!! We did have fun though... more more more! Stay tuned for the Party Tina 7 minute Hoop Dance Party Workout. Not to mention the freakn amazing video Alex Chomicz shot of us down at Customs House a few weeks back. Tina come home! Party Daniel misses you... X




More AMAZING pix by Talen

Speaking of videos - instructional DVD on its way. The wheels are in motion and the drawing board is ready. What colour pens to use in the mapping I wonder...

The concept of time is transforming along with a lot of perceptions. Eckhart Tolle's A New Earth on audio has been cell shifting to say the least. Depth awareness replaces the linear paradigm which on a practical level is useful but ultimately hits walls beyond the material realm. The dimension of time in its limited human construct can be overwhelming and stressful in a chasing of tails kinda way. Hours of the day, days of the week, weeks of the year, years of our life... age, time, where we need to go and what we have to do before time runs out or the memories fade... don't be late! etc etc What about just enjoying every single millimoment to the utmost? Exploring the moments and using "time" as a framework in which to do it rather than the heavy density A-Z anchor that we are bound to.

Emotional freedom found in identifying triggers to the "pain body" breakthrough experiences and release into transformative thinking response-ability replaces reaction allowing space between thoughts and a sense of Nowness that knows there is no other time other than the present. Which right now means dream time - a personal favourite.

But before I do, I wanna wrap this entry up by coming back to where I began in honour of the circle and then zap it back out into the spiral. There are no regrets and no expectations. The moment is all that counts. I am ready to write. I am ready for yoga. I am ready to detox. I am ready to rest my mind. The exploration will go well beyond the surface. The results will be as they are. All I know is that there are very few days when I don't soak up every single cellular moment and if there are ways to expand that then I'm up for it. Practical organisation of physical, mental and emotional spaces are required. The moments are becoming more intense and less stressful in a way that only makes room for more moments because of intent, clarity, space and an awareness that this is IT - the tunnel of passion leads to a light brighter than the sun rays. And like the butterfly that hovered above on Sunday night I choose to fly freely into and amongst it knowing it supports my every move.

Unified Chakra Meditation

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Opening my heart
Into a beautiful ball of Light,
Allowing myself to expand.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand,
Encompassing my throat chakra
And my solar plexus chakra
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand,
Encompassing my brow chakra
And my navel chakra
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my crown chakra
And my base chakra
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my Alpha chakra
(Eight inches above my head)
And my Omega chakra
(Eight inches below my spine)
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body.
I allow the Wave of Metatron
To move between these two points.
I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my eighth chakra
(above my head)
And my upper thighs
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body.
I allow my emotional body to merge
With my physical body.
I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my ninth chakra
(Above my head)
And my lower thighs
In one unified field of Light
Within, through, and around my body.
I allow my mental body to merge
With my physical body.
I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my tenth chakra
(Above my head)
And to my knees
In one unified field of Light
Within, through and around my body.
I allow my spiritual body to merge
With my physical body,
Creating the unified field. I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my eleventh chakra
(Above my head)
And my upper calves
In one unified field of Light
Within, through and around my body
I allow the Oversoul to merge
With the unified field. I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my twelfth chakra
(Above my head)
And my lower calves
In one unified field of Light
Within, through and around my body
I allow the Christ Oversoul to merge
With the unified field. I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my thirteenth chakra
(Above my head)
And my feet
In one unified field of Light
Within, through and around my body
I allow the I AM Oversoul to merge
With the unified field. I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
Allowing the Light to expand
Encompassing my fourteenth chakra
(Above my head)
And to below my feet
In one unified field of Light
Within, through and around my body
I allow the Source's Presence to move
Throughout the unified field.
I AM a unity of Light.

I breathe in Light
Through the center of my heart,
I ask that the highest level of my Spirit
Radiate forth from the center of my heart,
Filling this unified field completely.
I radiate forth throughout this day.
I AM a unity of Spirit.
I AM a unity of Light.

Declare Independence!

With Australia Day done and dusted I am back in Starland flying solo, doing the catchup thang and reflecting on what has come to pass. It's a strange life this one and often I feel too much goes unnoticed and unsaid. Call me verbose. I guess I'm just interested in having a voice and being heard. I'm not one for patriotism, don't ask me why, it simply doesn't hit my radar. So on Australia Day when we are all called upon to celebrate this 'wonderful' culture we live in, I couldn't help but feel really sad and a tad angry about the whole thing. I think of it more as "Invasion Day" - a day of mourning. It is the anniversary of the day in which a boat full of white men invaded this country, killed hundreds of thousands of indigenous people, took over their land, annihilated their culture and enforced 'civilisation' onto one and all. It makes no sense to celebrate such a day.

Cut to the masses on Bondi Beach regularly boozing it up (only slightly more cautious on Hooray Australia Day now that public drinking has been delegalised), with a countdown until the first fight breaks out, waving their Union Jack-esque flags in the air and carrying soon to be land-fill ugly as, giant green and yellow floatable flip flop / thongs courtesy of Haviannas. This is actually a 'civilisation' that people are proud of. Am I an alien not to get? As an aside, which I find particularly odd and relevant to this discussion, beyond a certain hour you can't actually enter late night Quicki Marts in Bondi, you have to Brooklyn NY style, order through bullet proof glass, have the dude rummage through the store and deliver you your order through the window while you wait outside wondering whose got the gun... I found it odd that this wasn't the case in a less prestigious part of town, i.e way out West where I was in the early hours of the morning. So if we are to use the Eastern Suburbs as a benchmark of esteemed culture - there it is ladies and gentlemen.

Given that I was performing at a sunrise festival in Parramatta, followed by another festival at Dolls Point, then back to Bondi in the afternoon... I traveled from East to West then South and back East in which time I did not see a single Aboriginal flag anywhere. Not one. Many above mentioned 'Australian' flags flying off cars, hanging out of windows, on bikinis and boxer shorts etc etc... but not a single indigenous flag was to be seen. Should I have traveled North? I'm guessing the chances were even less in that direction.

The level of ignorant insensitivity is offensive. It's like celebrating ANZAC Day or 9/11... we just wouldn't do it. So why do we seem so convinced of how right it is to be all Ozzi Ozzi oi oi! on a day that reminds us of the mindless slaughter of the ancestors of this land? Because it allows another day off work in which to get drunk?

Read this article, it says it all. Note the comment: "It's got nothing to do with Aboriginal people." The karma!

It's been interesting trawling through the online media to find differing points of view - a challenge at best! The mainstream are tied to toeing to the line. I found this article, while obviously representing the pot of (white) gold opinion that the conservatives are looking for (note the photo), to actually hold some merit. It shook me off my own high horse in any case. It's true that we need to move on and live in the now and unity beyond anything else is what we aim for in all areas of polarised life BUT, I don't think that necessarily means turning a blind eye, forgetting what has passed, and showing a lack of respect or sensitivity to the original custodians of this land and what they have experienced in the name of progress. Can we at the very least start to fly some Aboriginal flags? That's progress, in fact that's an evolution in consciousness. It would seem like the logical start, especially on Australia Day. The Federation of Intergalactic Space Babes are onto this mission... more about that soon.

Hoopaholic Mardi Gras Float 09

Dear Hoopaholics and friends,

We are putting together a Hoopaholic Mardi Gras float for the 2009 Mardi gras parade. We would love for you march with us. Please indicate if you would like to be a part of it.

Hulahooping skills not necessary. Bring hulahoops, toys, banners, noisemakers, swan around, hoop it up...

The Hoopaholics and the Colour Parade have been further workshopping the theme for our 2009 MG float entry. We've come up with "Intergalactic Colour". Basically that translates as anything SPACEY in whatever colour you like. The more colourful the better, although of course the silver still applies.

The Hoopaholics and the Colour Parade are known for their eye-catching ensembles and we trust that ya'll are up for making a statement with your fabulous costume slash hairdo slash makeup!

Think intergalactic space babe, rambunctious robot, butch borg, interplanetary messenger, androgynous android, UFO Hunter, Sigourney as Ripley, Darth Gayder, sexy mutant, a falling star, come as your favourite planet, a Klingon from Uranus?... or whatever else you can conjure from OUTERSPACE...

Check out the pix for more inspiration...

CAN'T WAIT to see what you come up with! x

The parade is 7th March 2009.

Love from,
The Hoopaholics and the Colour Parade

2009 - Organise Systemise Realise

Again its been another hardcore quarter year. At the moment life is divided into four x eight week teaching terms with four week breaks in between and a little longer over the Summer break... which is now - yay! Stop to catch breath, chillax, recap and move forward. The past six months have been even more jampacked given that during break time I have been traveling - to the Australian desert mid year then over to California for Hoop Camp and Harbin Hoop Jam. A thousand thankyous to Tiger Rowly for editing this hot video of Harbin.



The current break has been all about taking time out, moving to the South Coast of New South Wales and really taking stock of what has happened, is happening and will happen in the coming year. The breath has been long as the fast paced Year of the Rat comes to a close making way for the Ox - slow and steady. I dedicate 2009 to more deep, long breaths, taking organisation to a new level and putting systems into place to realise the ongoing success and longevity of what feels like a mammoth life project - hoop evolution... hoopmorphosis!



Feels good to ignite the jamspace here - Joy and I got it going on right after XMas and last weekend GemStar, Phoebe Linguini, TamStar and Wendy blew in for some hoop time. It works and has the potential to rock right out. Starborough energy is clear and ready for manifestation. From the outset it has been quite effortless to create here. Hoop time is a joy and the main cushion room craves the whirl. One of my reasons for moving out of Sydney was to make more space to write and expand consciously and creatively. But there is no rush as this is the space for flow and recently its been downtime which means simply making space to see what happens and rest. Life has been filled with a lot of lovely guests, beautiful food, divine ocean swims, yoga, reading, drawing, hooping and the ever important visioning of what next!



Now it's time to get back onnit! I will admit this is a challenge with an ocean staring me in the face and an office set up on an outside deck amidst the trees and birds and bees... but what's life without a few challenges right. With Mardi Gras around the corner I am devoting some time to creating the show for the Club Kooky Mardi Gras Extravaganza, working on the spaceship for the parade and designing costumes. A Hoopaholic landing is in order so the Intergalactic Space Babe blinglicious thinking cap is well on.



The parade will include the Colour Parade collective and will be loosely themed Intergalactic Colour as will be sketched out in my next post. This is the first year that the Hoopaholics have had their very own float so look out Mardi Gras! That Taylor's Square hot spot might never be the same again... we intend to bust some fairly serious moves.

The vision map includes a lot this year - expanding the business through replication and technology so lots of learning resources in the form of E-Books, Audio Books, Videos... story books. Travel - a mandatory life activity... of the body and mind. More rest than last year - Rat on Rat WOAH Bessy! More Yoga, raw food, vegie garden akshun, fasting, hoop retreats, hoop jams, desert missions, meditation, LURV... and more and more dancing. Performance wise - I'm seeing a blossoming, a padding out, a shape shifting type morph if you will of the repertoire thus far. As ever its gonna be FULL ON and MEGA BLING in the form of light, glitter, shimmer, costume hair makeup extravaganzas and routines that elaborate on the story of BunnyHoopStar and the Hoopaholics - the Intergalactic Space Babe Journey. The Hulian Mission commands full presence.



Deanne arrives in a few weeks so the Wonder Twin Powers will activate... more on that soon!

Many happy hoopy blessings to one and all for 2009. May your dreams be activated and realised with clarity, courage and a style that is distinctly YOU!

Harbin Hoop Jam October 08

This year’s inaugural Harbin Hoop Jam was a life changing, even cell-shifting, experience. Located in the lush forests of Northern California, just beyond the Napa Valley, it was held at one of the most beautiful natural hot springs retreats in America. After Hoop Camp I was craving Harbin for a variety of reasons. Mostly I was looking for a decent amount of time and space to practice all that I had learnt at Hoop Camp, all that I was working on personally and to go beyond anything that I had experienced or expected in a blank canvas environment. Naturally I wanted to get Intergalactic in oh so many ways.



The beauty of this land exceeded all expectations. As Miss Rosie drove Deanne and I up to the retreat there were several moments where my breath was literally taken away… and then promptly returned with absolute wonder and awe. The land that the retreat sits on, and the retreat itself, is like a magical hideaway from the rest of the world. Add to that completely natural and extremely hot and cold spring pools to soak in, some warm water in between, a steam room or two, healing treatments such as Watsu, massage, yoga in the temple and sleep (!) … well, let’s just say it was hard to leave. We arrived on the Monday directly after Hoop Camp weekend and I left on the following Sunday so a week all up – long enough to get lost / found in the paradise that is Harbin, short enough to eject to complete the rest of the journey.



The Jam was held at the conference centre which had very little left to be desired for a hoop space / home base / disco dance land. Our training area was decked out with a split of floorboards and carpet, cushions everywhere, a DJ booth, ceiling to floor mirror, incredible skylight that bathed us in the sun's beams, hoop shrine, tea and water on tap, snacks, three delicious and healthy (predominantly vegetarian :)) meals a day, magic... hoops of all weights and sizes not to mention lights thanks to psi guru Merlin. I set my bedroom up on the outside decks allowing me to fall asleep to the sound of the flowing stream and dream under the stars in absolute comfort. With all those cushions that deck was like a palace. I woke up to the Harbin “peacocks” (funny looking bush turkeys) and deer wandering around, like everyone else, in an ultra relaxed fashion - a gait that was aptly coined by Lady Hoop Love as the Harbin Slide.

In such a setting it’s amazing that we managed to get anything done other than bask and eat grapes. But we had the vision of our hosts Merlin, Nayeli and Ourobous to fulfil, not to mention missions of our own, which involved a whole lot of hooping, some serious soaking and, an exploration into collective creativity and connectivity. It was the perfect mix – a blissful combination of good sleep, delish food, yogic warm-ups, group directed exercises, freestyle hooping, power dips in the pools, chillout space and party time at night. In a word, it was ideal.



As the first Harbin Hoop Jam the collective vibe was brimming with excitement, anticipation, ideas, a whole lot of energy, the desire to connect and a united and dominant intent to have as much fun as hoopily possible. We dove into the unknown co-creating spontaneously and continuously for the better part of five days. We numbered 18 so the group was large enough to encompass a broad diversity in perspective and style and yet small enough to hold an intimate energy in which we all got to know and enjoy each other’s company.

Having left Australia in super frectic rat mode, landed in San Francisco on a Summer of Love pre-Hoop Camp bling mission then Hoop Camped my little heart out while trying to shake the jetlag, something I really craved from Harbin was the time and space to majorly chillax. As in timeout! I feel like that didn’t fully arrive until the weekend after the Jam was officially over and most of my fellow hoopies had left, leaving a small crew of us to hang out, hoop super casually and play. This need was more a personal requirement than anything I sought from the Jam itself. And how fortunate I was because I can't think of a more chillaxed vibe or venue to watch it appear. It really was a most unique experience of fitting in as much hoop training and play as possible with a lot of space as well to jump onto one's own personal bandwagon if so desired. The chill zone was well and truly under way as the week progressed and the chance to hang at Harbin for a little longer was Divine!

I should not neglect to mention the blissful musical contribution of DJ Sophia. She kept the tunes rokn all the while with lots of eclectic, electric and gypsy style hoopdance tunes that kept our soul train well and truly fuelled. Sophia's beauitful presence as a ball of light human energy and DJ was the cherry on the pie. Much love, adoration and gratitude to Lady Sophia who I could dance to and with infinitely.



The highlights of Harbin for me are numerous. On a hooping level, just being given the opportunity to participate in such a space is an absolute gift. The benefits of working together with a group of like-minded hoopies within an aligned, elongated and intended process is immense. As worked out as I was by the end of the week, I could have happily continued the training for several more weeks. Do not underestimate the regenerating qualities of those hot and cold pools! It's like they reset your energy each and every time.

I also high five the process of blindfolded hooping. WOW! This was one area that I was fully able to access and go beyond the beyond. Like meditation, it frees the mind to just be, intuit, flow, know. The inspiration, and really specific details, for my New York show came from this practice. A story appeared as a standup and spin, using the voice and hoop with Love as the theme. Dee-Lite's Power of Love triggered and shaped then shifted it accordingly. More on that show later, but for now ... can't recommend blindfolded hooping enough and intend on introducing to the hoopies at home.



Tuesday and Thursday nights were Harbin party nights at the conference centre. Local Harbonites poured in and we turned it on hoopstar style. Deanne and I made light work of the Bling Machine and had a wild old time that's for sure :)



My life changed for so many reasons and in so many ways at Harbin. One of the main seeds of change was in giving myself the chance to play without work in my chosen field of work which is about play - an ongoing (if not THE ongoing) conundrum for every professional hoopi I'm sure. The development of my work and personal life requires this free time and space to allow me to grow. It was a major bonus that I was able to share this with fellow hoopies as it amplified the experience.

My cells shifted many times - in the pools, on the dance floor, behind the blindfold, walking the path... Harbin Hoop Jam was an affirmation of the need and desire for hoopies to gather in such a way - i.e for an extended length of time in a magickal paradise - to connect with and inspire our selves and each other. Hoop Camp ignited a flame that was fanned at Harbin. I look forward to the next Harbin Hoop Jam with much hoop love, respect and admiration for those who help create it. Bring it ON!



More pix here

Intergalactic Space Babes in a Trans-Galactic Landing: Hoop Camp 08 - California

Its hard to know where to begin as the adventure has been just so full and incredibly mind blowing too. It took me 24 hours to reach San Francisco from Sydney (instead of 12) due to a cheap airfare that hit Tai Pei along the way. It wasn't until I found my new beautiful camera in SF that I could truly appreciate the saving as the leg to leg journey became rather trying. Zen bending techniques essential. Upon touchdown I felt that familiar feeling of coming home. It's an interesting sensation as I have felt it only in a few places in the world but always from the very first instant and beyond - Sydney > San Francisco(/Harbin) > New York all do it for me - a golden triangle perhaps. Europe is just gonna have to wait for this Intergalactic Space Babe's trans-galactic landing. Already I am re-plugged into the vibe that is the United States... West Coast style.

So Deanne of Tokyo's Hoop Lovers and I pretty much cruised the town over the few days we had before Hoop Camp started and soaked up a lot of the Summer of Love vibe that is The Haight and camped out at the Red Vic. Needless to say there was extensive bling expansion in already bulging luggage! If ever in need of a little going beyond the beyond of bling, this is definitely the strip of strips. God bless the Haight! I don't think I've ever talked so much as we did during that passage. Deanne had come from Tokyo and I from Sydney so were jetlagged and exhausted from our frectic lives back home but when we met it was immediate and infinite download upload reload of it all really - vegetarianism, love of the hoop, love addiction, love love love, past present future, visions and dreams, the style train, fashion, jetsetting and the all-essential bling-O-rama. In Deanne I have discovered my cosmic twin. Many others saw it too so it was without surprise that we faced an onslaught of questioning as we walked the streets, hooped the forests and flew through dreams - sisters we are! Much love to Deanne x





Time to tune into the local vibe as we were were picked up by JenaLuna, hooned down the 101 and off into the forest to arrive at Hoop Hot Spot #1 : Kennolyn Retreat near Santa Cruz.

It was non-stop from the moment we arrived. The Hoop Path crew were raring to go so after all 90 of us introduced ourselves one by one and filled the prayer hoop with goodness and love we settled in for a journey within - a blindfolded guided meditation through the legend of the Maidan. Baxter is a true master. What a present spirit! As we listened to the story of the orphans who were gathered by the female warriors known as the Maidan we explored the internal space of the hoop as we rocked it in our first and second currents. The hoop became a vortex and our minds shooting stars as we created visions of what it is to rise to the higher self in a space that I found blissful, confronting and Utopic. Ann and Beth co-taught the 90 minute workshop as around 90 of us flowed with the technique and the meditation of the Hoop Path. Together the Hoop Path team initiated a powerful level of intention and consciousness that kept spreading throughout the weekend and well into the Harbin Hoop Jam in the following week. Baxter's blog on the Hoop Camp weekend is worth a read. He is a wonderfully spirited writer and wraps the workshops up ever so eloquently, including a review of yours truly! Blessings to Baxter - such an inspiration and a definite magnet for my hoop journey... those martial art style paddles and breaks and the ethereal yet powerful philosophy of the Maidan really hit a deep spot within me. It literally brought me to tears.



So the next morning I was ON. 90 of us were organised into 3 groups of 30 that rotated around 3 sessions of 50 minute workshops. I taught Multiple Circus hoops so splitting, coiling, controlling and a few hand tricks with twins (two hoops). It was exciting to present this material as a definite shift has occurred in the US hoop scene in that the big mamma cadillac style hoop is no longer the only way. Pathways have diversified and hoops are becoming smaller and smaller right down to the super mini guys of which Christabel, Shakti and several others are embracing in a way that I can only describe as American Indian Hoop Disco. The days of one hoop wonderment have also passed and have been joined by an interest in adding hoops to the ever evolving groove. Put this all together and circus style hooping and hoops have definitely found their place on the American scene right now.

Like Baxter, I felt strangely very comfortable with the large groups of hoopies. I thought I would be more nervous, I don't know why but I guess the Hoop Camp had a pretty rokn line up of teachers so the benchmark was high. I entered the space with a feeling of deep gratitude that I had been invited to teach amongst the bad-ass hoopers in town. It was like (dare I say) my ego simply disappeared the moment I was on and as Hunter (Harbin astrologer) echoed yesterday - it was a case of the message being more important than the personal feeling so everything other than bright light, clear instruction and joyful energy just fell away. The classes were received really well. It's interesting because I didn't really pre-plan my lesson plan too much as I knew I had to actually be there to know what was needed. I had a very general idea of what material would work best for several months and kept letting that shape shift as the time drew nearer and into the now. This is pretty much how I like to prepare for performance as well - loosely and spontaneously allowing for flow in the moment. Given that twins are now a not so new part of the scene I kept hand-hooping as an added extra and focused on splits, particularly getting the downward split (butt and waist) on the hoopdance map. It's one thing to be able to split hoops, it's very much another to dance with it.

I feel grateful that the Australian hoop scene pushed me out of the small pond searching for more as it led me to these incredible people who have a real craving to share and learn as much as they possibly can from each other with positive intention. That's not to say there isn't politics or issues as there always is everywhere but the vibe about the Americans seems to be an acceptance that the more you give the more you receive and a knowing that if they shut down from each other it doesn't work for anyone. What comes out of that is a focus on unique essence - the defining element of my teacher training program and life. Let's complement each other not compete!

Back to the workshop - so as I have come from the more is more circus style of statuesque multiple hoop spinning and the Americans more from one hoop rock the rhythm hoopdance we merge in the middle. Let's get the multiples on and lets shake it and break it and reverse it and work it and funk it right out. Our missions are aligned. I have to admit, I was deeply humbled by the recurring positive feedback on my workshop as I am sure my fellow teachers are in the knowing and acceptance that each of us blew that camp away. We all taught such different styles and from different philosophies, both personally and transpersonally. As Baxter said in his opening words in reference to 'stealing' moves and grooves - "nobody can steal you." And to that I can simply say, WORD. It's about your unique essence - hooping, life, love... find it, work it, own it - its yours and nobody elses. LOVE IT!

After finishing my workshops on the first morning I felt ready to relax into the weekend and play. The afternoon started with Spiral - of whom I could definitely be tempted to remain speechless. Precise and concise description required as this journal could quite well be overtaken by a Neptune style poetic dance of awe and wonder about the incredibly AMAZING beautiful, talented, otherworldly Spiral. One need only utter the name to watch the collective breath be sucked up into the cosmos then exhaled right out in gratitude for the presence of Spiral on this planet and in this community. When she knocked out a demo at the end of the class there wasn't a single person who was not awe-struck and completely captivated. Spiral has an awareness of movement and flow like no other - her workshop was called Rhythm Form and Flow. She drew awareness to rhythm of the body, the hoop and the music; form of the hoop's shape and movement using the hoop as a dance partner; and flow incorporating it all using the masterful energy that comes through when we are completely engaged in blissful presence and awareness. Thank you to the Universe for bringing us Spiral. For those of you who have not seen her dance get your booty over to YouTube right now and be prepared to be amazed

Sharna Rose from England was next with her workshop that focused on Intuition and Play. Such a high vibe! Sharna demanded the inner child in us all to come out and play. Her choice of diverse music, insistence on high energy playfulness and her own ability as a hooper all totally hit the spot. Stop start, jumping around, happy accidents in the hoop, all of it I just loved. I don't think I have ever been worked so hard in a workshop - she is unrelenting and really understands the energy requirements of the child: to be exhausted through wild bursts of exhilirating movement, play and frequently changing diverse mental stimulation. Not only did she inform me on how to get my little hooplings in more of a spin but also the bigger kids too, including myself. Thank you Sharna!

To finish the day was Shredder. What an inspiration she is in so many ways! Another 20/12-oid. My collection is really expanding. Shredder embodies an energy which I have identified in American woman as the full Shakti warrior goddess. On the first night at Hoop Camp there was a performance zone for those who wished to take the stage in a log style auditorium under the stars. Most people who got up on that stage did not hoop - they spoke. Poetry, song, stories. Shredder shredded the stage with her acrobatic super flexi hoop routine in a style like no other and the fairies of the night got their tiny twin hoop akshun on but mostly it was voice. What struck me was how powerful the American female voice is - its strong, direct, clear and often deep. I'm into it. Shredder is no exception. Deanne describes her 'tood perfectly as "get it on bitches". Yes ma'am! Her workshop was on acrobatics and getting flexi with the hoop with some added funky helicopter passes as well. Shredder inspires me with her strength and agility. She also has a presence as a performer and a presenter that is soul-splitting - it's a no shit sherlock here I am love me for who I am because I am HOT! Again - word ya'll.



The night was filled with more bliss. Its worth highlighting that this trip from beginning to end has been anchored in presence and flow inspired by the intense amazingness of each and every experience. It's also been filled with awesome costumes... the heavy slog from portal to portal has been well worth it! So on this night of nights, who came to the party but Bunny Bardot... inspired by the secret rokn disco that Anah got going on in the schoolroom above my cabin and a Barbarella siting amidst the play. She was pretty well behaved I must say that Bunny Bardot, but she did want to dance and dance she did! I have felt that throughout the journey it has been essential to put down my hoop... if only occasionally to let my body express outside of the circle. Some fire hooping went down of which I did not partake as my jetlag had really kicked in and my hair was just too damn big. So I gladly watched my boundaries and floated down to Merlin's PSI hoop heaven and joined the fireflies in their frolicking. Unfortunately I didn't last too long as I had worked it that day on four hours sleep, the tail end of the lag and an early morning yoga class so by the time I reached Ground Zero I was well past my limit. Nonetheless I enjoyed watching and grooving it sans hoop with camera. There is life outside the hoop too!





The next day was spent with Christabel, Anah and Shakti. Christabel aka Hoopgirl honed us right in with some core groovin sexy style. That girl is such an inspiration and wonderful to observe in her teaching essence as she has definitely got it down. What an instructor! Just full of beaming light, juiciness, energy, intention, detail and real connection with each and everyone of her students. Those eyes! And again, what a voice. Hoop Sexy was the name of her workshop and let it be known, no one could have facilitated this better. What a sexy lady! The word "mastress" crossed my reality a few days ago... I think Christabel can try that title on. She is both ferocious and delicate all in one. Hunts like a tiger and plays like a kitten.



Anah aka Hoopalicious - just WoW. Yet again. What always strikes me about Anah is her pixie like features and yet her hard driving dance style. I adore her androgyny and her power, her gift at moving within her hoop with full control and rhythm. Anah is known for initiating much of the hoopdance on the West Coast hoop scene. Much respect and kudos to her for inspiring and birthing such a community! As the hoop size trend is now to go down, Anah has remained in her chunky Cadillac style hoop. It suits her. Watching her rock it is like standing on the side of the road seeing a timeless (yet of a distinct time) piece of beauty glide along the road in all its stylised glory. By this I mean I can see that she is driving it from the 90s and yet there is solid 70s disco there too and a dance of no time as she is so unique in her groove with a range of flexibility and funk that is just 100% nOWness. Awareness was drawn yet again to the core as we learnt to put the dance back into the hoopdance. I identify with Anah's core foundational focus as this is where I also drive from and have been anchored in for a very long time in my own hoop journey - rokn it from the centre. Circling the upper body while locked in the core - now there's a practice I'm gonna be working on. Thank you Anah! Check out this hot video of her rokn it at Hoop Camp.



Finally we collapsed with the beautiful women of Kaivalya Hoops - Shakti SunFire and Ali Cat. We talked business. I was deeply grateful for this discussion as it has been a back burned discussion for many years now. We talked about group dynamics, how to mix hoop biz with friendship, leadership and delegation, ownership and opportunity. To be honest we could have spent a whole day or even weekend nutting out the nuts and bolts of what we do as professional hoopers and I don't think it will be long before we do. We need to. Forum to discuss is essential and when we are working in such bliss states it is no exception. It is essential that we protect our passion and our joy that we find in hoop biz otherwise the downward spiral can be tempting. Having left Australia literally spent and with very little energy left I think it is safe to say that I often over-work myself into a state of complete exhaustion which detracts from the experience of being a hoopi. A yogi wouldn't do it that why so why would a hoopi. This is my greatest lesson and the forum really allowed me to explore this and the wide range of issues that we confront when working in such an unconventional industry. Delegation and acknowledgement of limitation are essential.

I really want to explore this journey in a literary sense to historically document this exciting time in the hoop world. It feels like we are birthing an incredible community of fully embodied light working entities who know how to play and have fun. I think we all are aware of how we elevate the collective and personal vibration in what we do creating an upward spiral of higher consciousness. We aim to inspire and share and gift the world our talents and we are joining forces to spread the joy. It is needed right now, particularly in the USA at this time of intense financial strain. It is needed on this planet as we have gone beyond the collective limit and are exhausting our own resources on a massive scale. I also want to explore this personally and hopefully beam out some insight to others so that we can inspire each other to become more in tune with our inner realities and connect as conscious sentient beings. It will take another entry to follow this latter path and it will be the story of Harbinia - the Goddess of Harbin.

In case it hasn't become apparent already I am totally inlove with my hoopi family. Every single one of them. The presence and high vibrational clarity and light that each of us have found in the hoop sits within the essence of our practice. I felt so many of my Australian friends' spirits come through me throughout this retreat particularly in Harbin. But one particular transmission sits with me - a message from the beautiful Darinka:

"I am inlove with Love and Love is inlove with me. My body is inlove with my soul and my soul is inlove with the body. I open my arms to Love and it embraced me like a Lover." Rumi

This poem instantly filled my breath - it was love at first sight. It blew out into the sky one stunning morning in Harbin after the tempest the night before in the form of a luminous rainbow that arched over the valley. The cellular vibration was intensely blissful and I knew in that moment that all love that ever was is and will be, is so completely universal transpersonal and cosmic that the transferal to the third dimension of human personal reality is but a piece or two or three or more of the holographic way in which we can live life through our own individual perception. The mer-ka-bah comes back into view: mer - meaning spinning light, bidirectional, an energetic force that surrounds our bodies and planet; ka - the unique essence of each individual; bah - the interpretation of our own reality and a space to shift dimensions.



Through hooping we can truly and fully embrace this notion of cosmic movement and flow. We can shift our bodies and our multi-dimensional selves from space to space while sprinkling the cosmic bling that comes with the hoop. We can connect with ourselves, each other and the universe. We can love like never before - infinitely and unconditionally. The hoop represents our integration and completeness as spiritual beings having a human experience.



More HOOP CAMP pix