Dance: Healing, Sexual Energy & Creativity
by Verona Spence-Adofo
Publish Date: Sun 10th Mar 2024
I’ve been meaning to write this piece for some time, as this message came to me clearly throughout January as I received insight during a journeying session from the Yoruba orisha Oshun (energy force represented as fresh waters and associated with healing, fertility & prosperity) regarding dance and its connection with healing, sexual energy, abundance & creativity. The teaching was aimed at me to implement but am sharing as it may also resonate with others.
Before getting into the specific messages received it’s important to note that dance has always been a significant form of expression in Africa, which is deeply embedded in the various cultures. Beyond just a means of entertainment and celebration, dance is a ancient sacred form of communication and an expression of our divinity. There are dances for multiple purposes, including generating rain, healing, going into battle, fertility, rites of passage ceremonies and so much more.
The intricate movements, rhythms, role play and storytelling elements of traditional African dances have been utilised for centuries to promote healing on physical, emotional, and spiritual levels. Incorporating elements of ritual and ceremony to connect with ancestors and spiritual energies. Many dances are performed as a means to communicate with spirits, seek guidance and cleanse the energies within the body. Through these sacred dances, individuals are able to tap into a deeper sense of spirituality and connection to the divine, finding solace and healing in the presence of higher vibrational powers.
Fertility Dances
One of the teachings revealed to me from Oshun is that the fertility dances carried out in African communities are related to the water spirits. Historically across Africa the water spirits are associated with healing, fertility, wealth & creativity. This theme is explored further here. She explained that these dances are to mimic the flow of water and are heavily focused on movements around the hips and waist. These movements are carried out to clear any stagnant energy that may be blocking the womb/sacral region and have been historically used to help prepare the body for pregnancy, assist with infertility issues, balance hormones and aid menstrual and menopausal changes within the body. She also highlighted that ‘fertility’ not only pertains to bringing a child into the world, but our ability to manifest and create abundance in our lives and for the community.
These dances allow individuals to express and release emotions that may be difficult to articulate, or even emotions that they may not be directly conscious of. Through the rhythmic movements of the body, dancers are able to connect with their innermost thoughts and feelings, releasing tension and stress that may be affecting their mental and emotional well-being. Serving as a therapeutic outlet for emotional expression and energetic release, providing a sense of catharsis and healing for the physical & spiritual body.
I noted that this is the same teaching now commonly referred to as somatic movement.
Here’s an example of a fertility dance:
Mbende/Jerusarema Dance
The Mbende Jerusarema fertility dance is a traditional dance that holds great cultural significance, practiced by the Zezuru Shona people of eastern Zimbabwe. It is a celebration of fertility, prosperity and the interconnectedness between humans and the natural world.
The dance is typically performed by women, who wear colourful traditional attire and adorn themselves with beads and other ornamental accessories. The dance is characterised by rhythmic movements of the hips, feet and hands, accompanied by chants, songs and percussion instruments such as drums and rattles.
One of the key elements of the Mbende Jerusarema dance is the stomping of the feet, which symbolises the breaking of the earth and the planting of seeds. This action is to invoke the spirits of the ancestors and fertility goddesses to bless the land and ensure a bountiful harvest.
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Dances in honour of Oshun are characterised by fluid and sensual movements that imitate the flow of water, as well as intricate footwork and graceful gestures that express love, joy and the embodiment of Oshun. Dancers may wear yellow and white dresses embellished with beads, feathers and other decorative elements that symbolise her attributes. The music that accompanies Oshun dances typically include instruments such as drums, rattles and bells, creating a rhythmic and hypnotic sound that energises the dancers and evokes a trance-like state. The lyrics of the songs often praise Oshun’s qualities invoking her attributes, blessings, guidance and protection.
Here’s an example of this dance being carried out in the Santerià (Regla de Ocha/Lucumí) tradition in Cuba.
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Sacred Sacral
The womb is the sacred portal to the spiritual realm, where human life comes into being. She clarified that its vital to keep this area clear as it is responsible for our divine connection and our ability to create. This is directly correlated to our ability to manifest in this world, bringing ideas/concepts from the unseen into the physical reality. When this area is energetically blocked, we are not aligning to our full potential, it can enable feelings of a lack of power and belief in one’s own ability.
She explained that the energetic clearing of this region is not just limited to a specific gender as we all have a naval, which is our sacred remnant of our umbilical cord that connects to our divine mother and regularly clearing the sacral region is necessary for all our mental, physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. She highlighted that what we call the lower chakras are all interconnected, so the root, sacral and solar plexus are all important areas for healing this aspect of our being. This is why some of the dances may seem sexual in nature, as they often represent courtship but also the creative and healing aspect of sexual energy.
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This also reminded me of the stomping on the ground action that usually accompanies these dances, which is known to activate the root chakra, promoting a sense of grounding, feeling safe and being present in ones own body. This concept is explored further in our article that speaks on similarities in African and Vedic traditions.
In addition to dancing to help release and clear the energies in this area. She also recommended the following:
Abdominal core exercises:
Doing exercises that develop the abdominal core muscles. She explained that by strengthening the core, it also targets all of those areas aiding the energy to flow throughout the lower chakras and helping the whole body.
To incorporate ginger:
I’m familiar with many of it’s properties but here’s some insight on the benefits of Ginger.
Ginger has been used across the globe in traditional and modern medicine and is commonly used to fight colds & flu. It’s a natural energy booster and is also used to treat morning sickness and other forms of nausea, manage body weight and support blood sugar regulation. It’s properties aid digestion and reduce inflammation.
Gut health is directly linked to the Solar Plexus region and is associated with digestive issues, including bloating, gas, indigestion and constipation. It’s also associated with weight issues, low energy and stress.
Seeing the correlations between the medicinal benefits of ginger and the symptoms associated with an unbalanced solar plexus it becomes extremely clear why this was recommended. These insights from Oshun serve as a reminder of the holistic nature of our ancestral healing practices, nothing is ever viewed from one lens, as everything is interconnected and accessible to us.
Through the expression of dance, we can initiate healing, balance and liberation by embodying the spiritual power that exists within ourselves. Aśe.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this message, you can add your views in the comment section below.
Verona Spence-Adofo (Ancestral Voices Co-founder)
Verona offers one-to-one consultations, more information is available below.
