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4. ASCENDING

"Ascending is enjoyable for man; it brings him joy and expansion. While descending, man experiences suffering through which he develops depth. This depth corresponds to the height to which he has risen. If there is no descent, man will experience joy but will remain on the same level of development."

"When a man climbs to the high peak, he is ready to do everything. When he looks down from above, he shakes his head and says: Now I can understand God's Ways! Lord, send me down again.' When he comes down, he is already filled with that great Power of Love. Wherever he passes by, he brings Blessings. Such are the Great Brothers. They all descend from this high peak. This is where they dwell. When they come down, they climb again to the peak because it is their only abundant Source. Now according to the same Law, you too will begin to climb up and then descend. This is the Great Solution of the meaning of life."

The successive raising of the right and left arms upwards, almost straight speaks of the Eternal Way of Life. It speaks about ascending and descending as two processes in nature which alternate continuously. Suffering is the valley, joy - the mountain peak. Poverty is the valley, richness - the peak. These processes exist everywhere in nature. When we walk, we lift one leg. This is ascending. Then when it comes down - this is descending. When rising and descending, one should know that this is the way one needs to go, that this is the way of life, because if one does not come down, one will not be able to go up again. This exercise makes it easy for one to understand the Eternal Way of Life and to have the correct attitude toward it.

Description

Music: "First Day of Spring" - 26 measures.

Starting position
(Back to Exercise # 3)

The last position of the previous exercise is the starting position of "Ascending", transitioning into it without interruption. The weight of the body is on the left foot.

Movement sequence
(The measures are marked in the musical score)

1st measure, 1st beat: step forward with the right foot. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd beats, the right arm is raised forwards and upwards, almost straight [In other description: "almost at an angle of 67.5 degrees height."], palm to the front. At the same time the left arm goes downwards and backwards with palm turned outward so that both arms form a straight line.

2nd measure, 1st beat: step forward with the left foot. On the 1st, 2nd and 3rd beats the left arm is extended forwards and upwards with palm to the front. At the same time the right arm moves down and back with palm turned outward just as the left hand in the 1st measure.

Note: Both hands describe ascending and descending semi-circles. The body is stretched forward and the weight of the body is on the front foot while that behind is on its toes.

These movements are repeated until the end of the melody. On the last bar, the hands come down to the sides.

The first ten exercises are performed without interruption.
(Go to following Exercise)

***

The materials are excerpts from the book "Paneurhythmy" presented by Ernestina Staleva and Antoaneta Krushevska.

For more information and ordering the book contact:

Ernestina Staleva 112 Old Mountain Rd. Leverett, MA 01054,USA

Antoaneta Krushevska
27475 Hesperian Blvd. Apt. #56 Hayward, CA 94545, USA
tel. 510-732-0315
E-mail: rila@earthlink.net

Publishing House "Byalo Bratstvo" ul. KonstantinSturkelov, bl.78, vh. 3.
Sofia 1113, Bulgaria