Hello Friends,
It has been a while since my last correspondence and as I "turn" 41 today it felt important to reach out. It seems as though I had to lean fully into the archetype I played for much of my 41st trip around the sun. The Hermit who lives with both feet in the world ceases to be a hermit. It has been a pleasure to connect with several of you via classes and workshops, carving out a couple hours a week to connect with a friend - one foot has remained standing among you and the other is firmly rooted in esoteric matters. For a hermit that exists in both worlds the hidden doesn’t remain hidden from those who care to stay connected. So thank you for bearing with me while I reserved some light for solitary spaces.
I trimmed my beard yesterday, from a prominent 5 inches to a 1/4 inch shadow. There are many reasons a person might grow a beard, much as how we choose to style our hair or the type of dress that accompanies our presentation to the world. I have often grown my beard out for the winter, and this winter lasted a little longer than others. The past couple years symbolic of vision and occupying the center of my circumstances have found me going increasingly inward. Spiraling into self, focusing upon the macrocosmic while mostly avoiding the material.
As my 42nd trip around the sun commences, the cycle shifts to energies conducive to stepping out into the world. Reluctant to embrace the change, I’ve spent preceding weeks/months pointing to a world in disarray and longing to continue spiraling into the comfort of ethereal matters - less abrasive than the harsh reality we share. I suspect this moment may find some of you in a similar state of confusion. Some state of “what now?” after a tornado has leveled your community; perhaps a feeling of “why bother?” when one believes another natural disaster could be forming on the horizon. A demon whispered this message to me when I tripped on the beach last week, grabbing hold of me in a vulnerable state. Recognizing the stench of despair, I banished it - though its brethren linger amongst us.
I’m "shaving" as a symbolic measure. Hiding behind a pronounced mask of bristles seems antithetical to stepping into the world. The last time my facial hair was as prominent was the winter of 2016-2017 - a challenging year personally, transitioning out of a marriage and finding aspects of a past identity that were shedding rather uncomfortably. Echoes of the past resound in a vastly different landscape today. I’ve decided to acknowledge a purpose fulfilled, even if the reality feels far more complex. A ceremony performed, a face not clean shaven in seven years - ever closer to being revealed to the world. Recognizing my true “self” as not amenable to empty gestures; I’m attaching the gesture to an act of greater material substance.
On Saturday August 27th at 7:00pm, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Narberth, PA, I will give my first public music performance in a long time. My first in at least 2 or 3 incarnations. My sister Brittney Marquand Sedgwick, recently completed her first year of a graduate program in Vocal Performance at DePaul University will share this recital presenting several pieces of music, meditation and a bit of verbal appreciation about the art we passionately adore.
I have wished to communicate more through these past few collectively turbulent years but was largely unable to “will” it. Filled with passion about our shared predicaments, I perceived a world better off without more shouting and insufficient in solutions. The excitement within me hasn’t gone away; I’ve held it close to the heart and I am finding ways to communicate despite lingering misgivings. Music has allowed me to venture outside of national boundaries, homogenous communities and monolingual cultures. Music continues to speak to a deep spiritual longing; Reveling threads that connect our species beyond flags, parties and teams. I hope you might be able to join us. We accept any donations to support our expenses, time and efforts via my venmo: @noahmoves but your presence requires no payment.
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I have also recently booked a workshop at Evolve Yoga and Beyond: “Breathing with Intention” September 17th 2-4pm.
If you are new to a breathing practice or have long appreciated the power of breath I welcome you to this two hour workshop and practice.
For the first hour I will introduce several techniques for pranayama (breath control) giving steps for personal progression with an individual’s practice. For the second hour we will use techniques introduced to create a physiological change in the body opening a doorway toward transcendent experience.
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I continue to teach public classes at Gorgas Park in Roxborough, PA Wednesday 6pm and Sunday 10am; reply to this email to let me know if you will be attending an upcoming class ($20 requested, but accommodations will be made to all).
Thank you for your continued support. I look forward to connecting soon and hope you will be able to join me for one of these upcoming events.
❤️🙏
Noah
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Two esoteric maps are referenced in the body of this email. Hidden wisdom often imposes patterns and archetypes unto ideas that seem common to human conscious experience. Numerical patterns are found in many traditions, some overlap and others may be only tangentially related. The magic square a 9 pattern employed by many practitioners of Katonah Yoga, maps a sigal of Saturn and the concept of time (Kronos). I have used this 9 pattern to notice emotions and trauma held in posture and utilized the number to understand cycles in nature and society. If this topic is of interest to you, consider visiting Katonah Yoga’s websiteand looking at the artistic maps designed by Nevine Michaan.
The other reference to “The Hermit” pertains to archetypal personalities as found in the Tarot. I have been unpacking the tarot via my patreon for the past several months. I’m including a link to a post from last month about the hermit should the Tarot archetypes spark your intrigue. The poetic reference to the demon will remain esoteric to the uninitiated in these matters (for this present post)...
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