How to Dance with the Waves -

I’ve been dancing for as long as i can remember. To me, it has always been an art where it didn’t matter if I was good at it or not. The feeling from just trying was so amazing that I never wanted to stop. Over the years, I’ve tried out many different styles of dancing. From ballet, to hip hop and jazz, even to belly dancing, and currently, pole dancing. But my favorite form of dancing is the one I do with the waves at the water’s edge. Learning how to dance with the waves was a game changer in my magical practice, and it’s something that’s great for any water witch to have in their back pocket!

So how is wave dancing different from other forms of dance?

Well, for starters, the location makes a huge difference. The kind of dancing you’re going to do depends entirely on the water source you are visiting. Dancing with the ocean is a much different experience than dancing near a lake or a pond. But even without visible waves, you can still do this practice. You can even do this in your bathtub, though this method is not the same as the others.

Okay, so what do I do?

I would start at your local water source, or the shoreline where you feel the most comfortable. The crowds don’t bother me anymore, but if you’d prefer, you can find a private spot where you won’t be disturbed. Start by sitting near the shoreline and just watch the water. Soak in its movements and patterns, the ambience of the atmosphere. What feeling does it inspire? Does the sound of the waves invoke a certain melody of a song you already know? Some type of dance you have previously learned. When you think of the body of water you are at, how does your own body wish to move? For instance, I love to do classic belly rolls at the river. Something about the way it winds and bends over rocks and stones reminds me of the motion.

At this time, you may already feel certain body parts wanting to shift. Let them, and see where the movement takes you. You may wish to start by making a playlist of songs you already like to dance to, and pairing them with the water you are dancing with. Normally when I am at the shoreline, I bring my favorite blue shawl for protection, but it serves another function. Since I have the most experience with belly dance, I naturally use the shawl like a belly dance veil. You may also find a special garment you wear for this purpose. I love watching my shawl catch in the sea breeze or float behind me as I glide with the water.

Take it slow

This may take some time to feel comfortable if you are not used to wave dancing, but try to block out how it looks, and focus instead on how it feels. I often feel a great connection to my mermaid spirits when I wave dance, as well as a greater connection to myself. It is because of this that wave dancing can be used as a way to raise energy for ritual, to ground yourself, as an offering to the spirits of the water, and so many more uses! Next to picking up trash, wave dancing is one of my favorite offerings to my mermaids.

Wave Dancing away from the shore

Since I have spent quite a while doing this at the shoreline, I also decided to try it in reverse, to see if I could bring the energy of wave dancing to places where there is no water, like my dance studio, or my bedroom. This can be done by simply pulling that image of the water into your mind (which is why I suggest spending plenty of time studying your favorite water source so it is fresh in your head). Once you have this ready, let that same feeling flow over you, you may even wish to put on the same songs you use when you are by the water, or tie that connection to a special piece of jewelry. Like most things in witchcraft, there is no limit to where you can take wave dancing!

Which brings me to the bathroom. While I strongly caution against dancing in the tub or on tile, I have used my arms and hands in the bath to simulate a similar feeling to wave dancing, as well as in the shower, weaving my arms, hands, head and torso through the stream. Just make sure to keep your feet firmly planted.

Speaking of planted, feel free to adapt this practice to other natural sites, especially if you are landlocked. Weaving with the wind on a grassy knoll, dancing through the trees in the forest. Leaping over a bonfire is a traditional Beltane practice as well as dancing around a maypole. It is actually on my bucket list to (safely) dance near the liquid fire of a volcano!

Stepping into flow

As with anything new, you may find this process feels awkward at first. You may trip up in the sand, or draw the curious eyes of passersby. But the important thing is that you don’t stop! It is often the things we are scared to do the most that give us the greatest happiness when we step into the tide. And the water is there to show us exactly what we are capable of when we dare to try.