Values

For three decades, Heron Dance has explored what it means to live a deeply meaningful life. We’ve explored adventure (life as a free spirit), serving others, creativity, the human connection to the natural world, journaling, and now, the poems of ancient Taoist hermits.

We search for the truth underlying the surface truth. We seek a simple way of life based on a close relationship with our inner world, and the peace we find there.

We find inspiration in the ancient poems of the Taoist mountain hermits of south China.

We find guidance in the combination of meditation and journaling.

We seek to express our gratitude and fascination of the gift of life with art and poetry.

What is Really Going On here?

The short answer – we don’t know. There are forces surrounding us, some based on mathematics and physics, some based on a search for harmony between opposites, the yin and yang. Those forces are both powerful and subtle.

To connect with them requires a connection with our inner world. Our inner world is sacred.

The sacred, the spiritual journey, is one of sacrifice.

Empathy

The journey toward “effortless being” is not easy. Tuning into who we really are, what we really want out of the gift of life, is difficult. It is easier to stay in our rut.

Like the baby elephant born to a circus mother, we were tethered to a stake in the ground with a chain. As the years went by, we were tethered with a twine, one we could easily break. We think we want to break it, but can’t. We think we want a life outside the one we walk, round and round, but in reality that world is unfamiliar and scary. So we walk round and round.

Humility

We never forget that we are here to serve searchers and seekers on a spiritual journey, and that we don’t have the answers.

We sometimes have good questions. Sometimes we don’t.

The objective is a life well-lived

No matter what anyone tells you, no one has the answers. We don’t either. It is a journey on which the ultimate destination, perceived vaguely in the distance, is unknown. We’re all pilgrims.

But we gain energy from each other. And some paths give us energy and some don’t.

OUR VALUES

Integrity first

Nothing we do has any value without integrity first. The spiritual journey is one full of promises of an easy life in a state of perpetual bliss. It don’t exist. What exists is trials and tribulations, of steps forward and steps backward. Of constant challenges – you have come to a spiritual revelation so now the powers that be will test you. Do you believe?

All that is sacred only comes with sacrifice, and sacrifice isn’t easy.

We Strive For Excellence

At Heron Dance, we are engaged in an effort that consistently falls short of our vision of what is possible. It is a game of numbers. If we paint a hundred paintings, one will be excellent, ten good, ten more okay.

We need to relax into that. Sometimes we do.

Speed and Quality

We strive to do work that does not trade-off speed and quality.

Positive Intent

At Heron Dance, we strive to live up to our values. We fail sometimes, but we strive. And we don’t give up.

We strive to listen, to think before talking, or writing, to be on the side of quality, integrity, goodwill, compassion, justice to live with an open heart and create work that is a positive force in the lives of others.