tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77795837978415757602012-02-16T05:09:37.274-05:00Aepril SchaileAeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.comBlogger261100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-5830394755241385102012-01-25T13:59:00.002-05:002012-01-25T14:03:59.448-05:00

I am a Wolf mother. And I am pissed. I just heard today about the release of a movie called The Grey. It stars Liam Neeson and is about a group of men who brave the Alaska wilderness and are attacked by a pack of Grey Wolves. I understand that like all fictional movies, it is supposed to be fantasy. So here is what I have to say about this particular fantasy: it sucks. Over the last few

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-35191887791874814382011-11-13T12:20:00.001-05:002011-11-13T13:08:47.563-05:00

I am having such an INTENSE time!!!Where do I start? Well, I suppose I should start at the beginning.… My arrival in Strasbourg, France (right across the border from Germany) was at 10:40 AM Europe time, so to me it felt like 4:40 AM. Yet, even after a long flight across the pond, and having to ride two buses to get to my plane in Paris that would take me to Strasbourg, I was wide awake when I

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-58064313864786097852011-10-21T13:30:00.001-04:002011-10-21T13:43:24.623-04:00

I am getting ready. I am simultaneously getting ready for my DVD pre-release party, and for my trip to Europe for two Bellydance festivals. I am both excited and melancholy. While the DVD did not get packaged in time for the party tonight--or the travels--I am still excited about its pending release. Theatre of the Dark Goddess has been a great labor of love, indeed. I am excited to be

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-21498319991532953432011-09-20T19:45:00.000-04:002011-09-20T19:46:29.130-04:00

"Shamanic Bellydance" In Belly Dance New England - Featured Articles My article "Shamanic Bellydance" has been published! Please read.

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-90649815910460002732011-09-02T21:28:00.000-04:002011-09-02T23:01:32.527-04:00

Today is a special day. It's the four-year anniversary of Coda's passing into the world of spirit. This is always a very emotionally charged day for me. Coda's passing was difficult. Yet each anniversary I feel in awe of the powers of Nature, the beauty of impermanence, the importance of being here in the Now, like Coda was. Mike and I spend the night of September 1 with the candles on

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-65486112471366736532011-08-29T15:40:00.005-04:002011-08-29T19:42:58.249-04:00

An audience member at a show I once performed at told me that my dance performance remided her of the Japanese art of Butoh. Knowing little about Butoh, I decided to learn more. A few months back I found this beautiful video of the artist Kazuo Ono who was at least in his 80's at the time. Info from "bobdena" on YouTube: A short clip of butoh's co-founder Kazuo Ono dancing. Date unknown,

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-63335317559066012962011-08-11T18:36:00.001-04:002011-08-11T18:36:58.088-04:00

I love this piece Witch Dance, the one for which Mary Wigman is of course most famous. The German Expressionists certainly knew how to do shadow material!

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-21818415679702010332011-08-08T17:44:00.005-04:002011-08-09T18:21:53.028-04:00

I was recently asked by a friend over tea: (paraphrased) How does your spirituality influence your bellydancing?  I answer this question differently every time I'm asked, revealing its complex and fluid nature. And it's a subject that is of great import to me.  My forthcoming Bellydance DVD, Theatre of the Dark Goddess, deals with many threads involved in the relationship between spirit and dance

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-80687037860490137672011-07-31T12:07:00.010-04:002011-07-31T13:39:35.504-04:00

On Friday, Mike and I went to Winslow Farm Animal Sanctuary. I've wanted to visit ever since I saw a spotlight on the place on NECN; it showed a peaceful place full of love for the rescued animals that resided there. Located in Norton, MA, Winslow cares for goats, horses, cats, dogs, peacocks, pigs, geese, doves, chickens, turtles, donkeys, lamas, alpacas, sheep, emus---all rescues, often from

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0Norton, Massachusetts, USA41.936144 -71.1650409999999741.596658999999995 -71.47967899999998 42.275629 -70.85040299999997tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-70058930505478925782011-07-25T11:18:00.002-04:002011-07-25T12:07:51.993-04:00

I miss being a forest witch! (Right after I wrote the above statement, a cacophony of crows and jays began calling! I love corvids!) I love Salem, don't get me wrong. Witch City, indeed! But it's a suburb. I am wishing for more breathing room again. I would love more isolation, more room to be with the forest, listening and working and playing in it. I've lived like this before...years ago.

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-28766832023402836262011-07-19T17:08:00.009-04:002011-07-25T22:12:22.839-04:00

I was reminded of The Prayer of St Francis as Mike and I stood by a statue of St Francis last night. It was a beautiful summer night, and our thoughts, as they often do, turned to Coda. Standing next to the Protector of animals and nature, my thoughts also turned to the animal sanctuary I hope to create someday. The Prayer of St Francis was a consolation to me when Coda died almost 3 years ago. 

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-28501205306008311932011-07-17T16:31:00.006-04:002011-07-17T17:33:25.442-04:00

I recently read an interview in a national Bellydance mag with a respected and widely sought after Bellydance teacher and performer. When asked for advice she would impart to new dancers, she said (and I paraphrase) that one should spend more money learning the dance via workshops, classes and videos, than on costuming. As a Bellydance teacher, I agree. Albeit with some reservation. I agree, if

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-20460720579136886902011-07-09T19:15:00.006-04:002011-07-09T20:16:56.517-04:00

I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with my Grandmother this past week. Wednesday was her 92nd birthday. My Grandmother is very sick. Physically worn-out, her body hurts. Her heart is sick with missing my Grandfather; they married when she was just 16. Now she says she is ready to go to God. I feel helpless. Death and old age! I feel lost about how to give her more comfort, to

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-49369318298365037042011-06-30T13:14:00.005-04:002011-06-30T14:27:47.027-04:00

 Solar eclipses are wildcards. I happen to love wildcards (maybe because I have Uranus strong in my chart). One never knows exactly when the power of the solar eclipse is going to strike. It can happen days before during or after the eclipse event. To me this is part of its shadowy beauty.  The chart for this Solar Eclipse shows a grand cross involving some very serious characters: Saturn, Lord

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-2025678056542693262011-06-25T16:49:00.003-04:002011-06-25T16:59:56.373-04:00

I've written what is below based on anthrologist and author Angeles Arrien's "Four Fold Way", a mode of being and practice that is harmony with the deep self and with Nature. I teach this to my students as a way to approach performance. It is how I endeavor to approach performance. It is also an approach to LIFE! The Four-fold Way:1.       Show up:be present in mind body and spirit.2.       Pay

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-87771566544875606842011-06-24T15:56:00.001-04:002011-06-24T20:38:09.277-04:00

Theatre of the Dark Goddess: Bellydance with Aepril Schaile A Bellydance instructional/performance DVD focusing on dance technique, form, expression, energy and ritual. Aepril is thrilled to announce her new self-produced DVD to bring you her unique approach to Bellydance! Help make it happen! http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aepril/theatre-of-the-dark-goddess-bellydance-with-aepril

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-33008552338139489702009-06-18T15:21:00.007-04:002011-06-25T18:49:39.238-04:00

photo: Peter Paradise

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-70129477328053774882009-03-17T15:21:00.004-04:002011-06-24T20:40:05.927-04:00

Love is bigger and stronger than I am. I have come to realize how much I've sometimes resented this fact, and, instead of becoming the power of love, I have seen it as outside of myself; I've tried to control it, to resist, to even be above it. But love is a river... Love is a river; drink from it.--Rumi

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-76969966395873288862009-03-11T13:38:00.002-04:002011-06-25T18:49:06.431-04:00

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-66005808028137841932009-03-09T15:38:00.006-04:002011-06-26T10:45:28.683-04:00

On my mind is how to maintain a practice of love over fear. Of keeping up the spiritual discipline. Of not letting fear win the day. Fear. Fear of what? Fear of the unknown, of losing, of dying maybe. Fear of envy, of guilt, of other people, of not loving enough, or being or having enough. Fear is insecurity. Fear makes us lie, to be inauthentic, to cheat ourselves and others. Fear leads us

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-38824172456195474482009-03-05T16:04:00.003-05:002011-06-26T10:46:31.502-04:00

"Every human heartbeat, he’d said many times, is a universe of possibilities. And it seemed to me that I finally understood exactly what he’d meant. He’d been trying to tell me that every human will has the power to transform its fate. I’d always thought that fate was something unchangeable: fixed for every one of us at birth, and as constant as the circuit of stars. But I suddenly realised

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-50486606176349087632009-02-24T13:17:00.003-05:002011-06-25T18:48:36.864-04:00

more to come...

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-34394138007961580282009-02-21T21:25:00.002-05:002009-02-21T21:37:36.928-05:00

“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.”Wolfgang Amadeus MozartI love this quote. It is this fact about Mozart that made Sallieri fume...;)There will always be a Sallieri to contend with. But the Sallieri's of the world never win in the end.This quote is what I offer today.

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-68195010081341897022009-02-19T15:07:00.003-05:002009-02-19T15:41:32.276-05:00

I have received several very thoughtful and moving emails regarding my first posting. Thank you! I am always interested in hearing your stories, and in getting responses of all kinds.I am wondering though--no one is posting comments. That's OK, but I got the message about the restrictive settings I had set for posting. I've changed the settings so that even those w/o Google ID's can comment. You

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-71161442158411668202009-02-18T15:29:00.002-05:002011-06-25T18:50:03.176-04:00

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7779583797841575760.post-28179140229758510462009-02-16T08:46:00.017-05:002011-06-24T20:41:50.347-04:00

I love all my songs from The Furies' Prayer. I own them fully and lovingly... My childhood was one that was filled with confusion, pain, and hardship. Though I also had a lot of joy, I had to struggle to survive. My album The Furies' Prayer is partly a testament to that time, and to my life as a volatile and confused young adult. I love this album with all my heart, as well as loving that

Aeprilhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00474421407970763721noreply@blogger.com2