Member-only story
I was the first Woofer at the Isle Dance Farm, and everyone started referring to me as Woof. Even when two more Woofers showed up, Clive and Dennis, everyone still called me Woof, so Woof it is. At first, I felt diminished, like my name wasn’t good enough or I now belonged to those who named me. But now, I’m digging into the name and discovering a farmer badass guy who takes seriously his Woofer Status — to dance and sing every task.
The Digging Dance is one of my favorites. The bite of the blade in the earth with a foot stomp reminds me of the Flamenco Dancer’s presentation: I. Woof, ask permission to enter the Mycelium Network and plant seeds. Sometimes, I ask permission to remove sections of the root system, primarily scotch broom and blackberry. That request is tough. I am killing a plant species because I want to use the land for something else. Whenever I get weighed down by residual guilt stress, I go to Central Yurt for Dance Release. First, I learned the Basic Steps: Light the electric fire in the center pit. Turn on music, and use headphones if others are present. Move around the circle clockwise, crossing your arms down into the Mycelium Network with each step back and raising them to the Constellation Cosmos with every step forward. I use step patterns that occur to me naturally, switching from clockwise to counterclockwise like hands on a piano.
