MAPPING THE NIGHT BUTTERFLY - Hannover 2001

These passes can be followed by performing the Night Butterfly (AKA the Moth).
To the three female sorcerers of Carlos Castaneda's generation, the Night Butterfly form has a special significance. To Carol Tiggs, it meant the arrival of unbridled, relentless affection for the world and everything in it; for Taisha Abelar, it represents an effortlessness in crossing the boundaries between the first and second attention; and to Florinda Donner-Grau it represents being aware of Death - knowing that we have only this moment to live.

It is also believed that the Moth is a guardian to silent knowledge and power.

Start in a sitting position, with the knees up.

1. Perform the Ocean Breath: inhale curling the spine and shoulders inward, exhale straightening the back, and arching the shoulders backward; point the hands to the floor behind you. Do this a few times.

2. Gently tease the upper side of the feet at the joint with the shinbones, by brushing them lightly upward with the fingertips. Every time you stroke upward with the fingers, you lift the toes up to accentuate the movement.

3. Slide the hands up to the vital centers. Inhale sliding both hands up the legs to the left vital center, where you exhale looking to the left and back. Mirror.

4. Perform the Cocoon Breath: curl the arms around the calves, press the knees close to the shoulders, bring the chin to the sternum, and breathe in a relatively rapid, shallow fashion... Unlock the arms after a minute or so.

5. Coming out of the cocoon. The hands gently touch the ground behind you; stretch the left leg out in front (not on the floor), then shake the leg. Repeat with right leg.

6. Roll over on the right side, rest the head on the right arm, who is stretched out upward completely..

7. Lift the left foot about a foot in the air, and make circles with the left foot in the air, then vibrate the foot, then the entire leg, if possible, continue the vibration upward through the whole torso..

8. Rotate the shoulder: lift the left elbow away from the torso, and roll the shoulder up and forward a few times.

9. Elbow pushes: First lift the elbow up from the torso, then push it to the front, inward. Repeat a couple of times. Remember to keep the shoulder in a down position (i.e. don't pull the shoulder up).

10. Flap your wing: Very slowly, bring the left arm from a position near the pelvis, in a big arc overhead so that the left hand touches the right palm. Repeat a little faster now. Truly flap your wing.

11. Lay on your back, extending the arms out overhead as far as you can, totally stretching or elongating the body upward.

12. Roll over on left side, resting the head on the outstretched left arm, and mirror all moves 7 to 10.

13. Sit up and move elbows: Sit up, feet on the floor, knees somewhat up. Move both elbows laterally away from the torso, then extend the arms backward pointing to the floor. Keep the shoulders in a down position at all times.

14. Tap the floor behind you gently. The intensity of the tapping should be like how a butterfly touches down. Tap the soil with only the index and middle fingers extended. In unison, also tap the floor lightly using the toes.

15. Flap both wings: arms down to the back, palms facing about a foot apart. Arc the arms upwards to the front so that they and up about a foot apart with the backs of the hands facing. Flap your wings in this fashion three times up-tempo, then one time terribly slowly.

16. Rise up slowly. Get on all fours, touching the floor with only the index and middle fingers extended. Look down and brush the sides of the head with the upper arms. Slide the extended fingers up the legs to the pelvis area.

From here, effortlessly continue with the Night Butterfly.