Inspirit Blog

‹ Back

Paula's Reading Nook!

September 2026

 

The Dance

Moving to the Deep Rhythms of Your Life

by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Published 2001, 2006

Find out more about the book here.

Check out Oriah Mountain Dreamer's website.

Below are a couple of extracts from the book:

Chapter 2, Dancing with the Mystery, p. 27-28

"This is all I really know: 

there is a presence that is larger than myself that has been with me all my life.

I experience this presence as loving, and in some essential way it is what I am.

Many of the people I know experience this presence in their lives in ways

they would never label spiritual—by the way they see and cherish all that

is green and alive on the planet, through their participation in the ecstatic

struggle of creativity, by giving themselves to a greater beauty

in shape or colour or sound or word. Some longing within us is met

when we participate in the beauty of creation by really paying attention. 

It connects us to the presence of that which is unnameable.

Beneath all our longings, the ache within the ache is a soul-deep desire to live

with an awareness of this presence that is larger than ourselves,

every moment."

 

Chapter 10, The Song, p. 151

"To dream is to create the stories of how we live our lives,

and these are the stories our children's children will remember.

I write with as much honesty and frankness as I can,

because I want to offer stories of being present with what is.

I recite poetry when I speak, because I want to offer

beauty and the power of art to remind us of who and what we are.

I share personal stories, because I want to co-create a story of intimacy

and cultivate our capacity for compassion in dealing with our human failings.

I tell love stories because I want to learn how to love well."

 🌀 🌀 🌀

I adore the way Oriah thinks and writes. 

She inspires me to write with a depth of meaning that truly comes from within myself.

This book is the second in her series, after The Invitation.

The Dance gives you a different perspective on how to live your life authentically,

with an awareness of presence, so you let yourself kind of

lean into or engage with what's happening in your life, just as it unfolds. 

And simply sitting with what is, in every moment.

This is not always easy to do; however, practice makes progress.

Keeping the above perspective in mind,

here is a preview of what's coming up on Paula's Reading Nook.

October: Mind

The Perennial Philosophy - Aldous Huxley

November: Soul

Focus: Following an inner calling and purpose

December: Body

Focus: Getting out of your head and into somatic healing

January: Creation 

Focus: Igniting creativity, intentions, and inspiration for 2027

Book titles will be revealed early each month under Educate.

💜 Enjoy Every Moment!! 💜

#TheDance #DancingWithTheMystery #AwarenessOfPresence

🌸⋆˚꩜｡⋆🌻