MOVEMENT
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A group of women with happy expressions on their faces dancing at a Movement event

A dogma-free experience where Breath, Movement, and Music are our sacred pathways to the divine.

Movement emerged from a desire to address the traumas and divisions caused by the 2018 volcanic eruption combined with the global pandemic that followed on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Founded in January 2021, it set out to be a unifying force that transcended race, religion, and cultural barriers.

During the pandemic, when so many people were being divided, we formed Movement, a Faith-Based Organization whose role is to create a safe transformational space for direct personal experience of the divine within.

We learned that this dogma-free approach to spirituality is an idea whose time has come. An idea that allows us to claim our spiritual sovereignty and right to live a sacred lifestyle, practice together, gather community together, celebrate life and dance. And to do these things regardless of the differences that may divide us. But rather, to celebrate our diversity, practice tolerance and to make a safe space for everyone.

Currently, building on weekly San Francisco gatherings, which began in 2016. Today our home is Sacred Heart in San Francisco.

The first Movement event held during the pandemic at Hawaiian Sanctuary.

We discovered that our physical, emotional and spiritual wellness depends on this – the ability to gather and dance.

Movement’s initial Sunday services at Hawaiian Sanctuary was an innovative and holistic experience, combining elements of yoga, cacao ceremony, ecstatic dance, breathwork, farm-to-table meals and botanical elixirs to foster spiritual growth, exploration, and community.

The Sunday service began with a yoga warm-up to center the body and mind, preparing attendees for the transformative journey ahead. This was followed by a cacao ceremony, a ritual that fostered connection and intention-setting.

Movement community dancing together

The main event was a two-hour-long ecstatic dance session, where participants were free to express themselves through movement and connect with their inner realm.

As the ecstatic dance wound down, Movement members transitioned into a guided breathwork session, which helped them process and assimilate the powerful experiences they had just shared. Through this practice, participants felt a profound sense of integration, bringing closure to their spiritual journey and leaving them with a newfound sense of inspiration.

Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to partake in a farm-to-table meal, savoring the flavors of their local community and nurturing their bodies after the intense emotional and physical experiences. Botanical elixirs were also offered, further supporting their physical and spiritual well-being.

One of the defining features of Movement is our commitment to a dogma-free environment.

Instead of adhering to strict religious doctrines, our church prioritizes direct personal experience and exploration, allowing individuals to forge their own spiritual path.

Breath, movement, and music are the modalities of transformation, offering an innovative and immersive way for people to connect with their spirituality, to deepen their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

This fresh and inclusive approach allows for all people to experience on their own terms the transformative power of Movement’s unique ministry.

HoAloha event

As Movement evolved, it introduced HoAloha, a nighttime event inspired by the Hawaiian concept of ‘beloved friend.’

This event further emphasized the church’s mission of unity and spiritual growth, providing a warm and welcoming space where attendees could connect and strengthen their bonds in an atmosphere of loving kindness.

This time of shared nourishment and celebration provided a beautiful opportunity for community members to connect, reflect on their experiences, and forge new relationships. In this way, Movement not only fostered spiritual growth and exploration but also cultivated a vibrant, supportive community grounded in a sense of wellness.

At the heart of Movement lay the idea that the body is a sacred temple and movement a form of spiritual practice.

This transformational approach resonated deeply with the community, redefining spirituality and transcending traditional boundaries to create a unique path of unity, exploration, and connection.

HoAloha event

Discover the guiding values behind Movement.

Fire spinner outdoors in a field making a beautiful pattern in the air at a Movement ecstatic dance

Regenerative Vitality

We believe that our innate vitality is a sacred gift from the divine, and our highest potential is realized when we embody and share this vital energy with all living systems. We reject synthetic shortcuts, embracing instead the mindful and reverent use of natural elements to support vitality.

Woman kneeling down and praying in front of a flower altar at a Movement event

Embodiment of Meta-Emotions

We foster a spiritual path centered on cultivating trust, safety, empathy, compassion, forgiveness, gratitude, awe, wonder, reverence, oneness, and responsibility. Our worship services aim to generate tangible, supportive energetic fields through these meta-emotions.

Group of women at a Movement event holding their hands open and looking to the sky

Inherent Divinity

We recognize and celebrate the God-given right of every human being to be free and sovereign in their unique expression of holiness.

Indigenous elder with Jami at a Movement event

Honoring Indigenous Wisdom

We hold deep respect for our indigenous elders, appreciating their unique relationship with the land and the wisdom they share. We actively seek to learn from, preserve, and integrate their sacred practices and teachings, including the recognition and protection of spiritual landmarks.

Group of people dancing at an Ecstatic Dance LA event

Unity in Diversity

We celebrate the richness of our diverse community, ensuring inclusivity and welcoming people from all backgrounds, ages, genders, and ethnicities. We believe that every individual’s journey is unique and worthy of support and respect.

View of mountains in Hawaii

Elemental Reverence

We are dedicated to preserving and honoring the Holy Five Elements, as they are essential for the thriving of all life. We practice sustainability, regenerative farming, clean energy, and mindful stewardship of our planet’s resources.

We embrace practices that connect the body, mind, and spirit.

Breathwork guided session

Breathwork

Guided sessions to deepen your awareness and integrate spiritual insights.

Group of people dancing at a Movement church event

Sacred Movement

A free-form, meditative movement experience that allows you to express yourself fully.

Stage setup resembling an altar with a glowing infinity sign and angel wings

Music

Curated playlists featuring uplifting and transformative music, along with live drumming, designed to resonate deeply with the soul.

We credit Rumi as being the originator of this kind of Sacred Community Ecstatic Movement Practice. The 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic Jalaluddin Rumi is widely revered as a spiritual pioneer whose teachings transcended dogma to celebrate divine union through movement. His poetry and practices laid the groundwork for ecstatic dance as a sacred communal ritual, most notably through the Sema ceremony of whirling dervishes.

Movement Church is a new expression for modern times of this ancient idea.

“Only dance, and your illusions will blow in the wind. Dance, and your veils which hide the Light shall swirl in a heap at your feet.” – Rumi
Movement community in ecstatic dance

Here's the process all of our events follow. Through this comprehensive 4-part process, our Movement creates transformative events that support the well-being of each participant, nurturing physical, emotional, and spiritual health while fostering a sense of community and connection.

Guided movement practice at a Movement event

1. Opening Guided Movement Practice

Participants begin by engaging in a guided movement practice, which sets the tone for the event and helps them become present in their bodies. Be it Yoga, Qigong, Contact Improv or another somatic modality, this guided practice encourages mindfulness, allowing individuals to connect with their physical & emotional sensations which fosters a sense of balance and inner calm.

Community gathered in a circle for ritual

2. Circle & Community Ritual

After the guided practice, everyone gathers in a circle for a community ritual. This ritual, often led by an indigenous elder, fosters a sense of connection and belonging among participants, enhancing empathy and compassion. Sharing intentions, stories, or simple moments of reflection in this supportive environment strengthens the bonds within the group and contributes to emotional well-being, opening the energetic field with gratitude and sacredness.

Women dancing joyfully at a Movement event

3. Freeform Community Movement Practice

The main portion of the event consists of freeform movement, where participants are encouraged to express themselves through dance and movement. This creative expression promotes self-awareness, emotional release, and a deeper understanding of one’s authentic self. The physical activity also offers numerous health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health, enhanced muscular strength and consciousness expansion.

Movement attendees lying down on the dance floor for integration

4. Integration & Meditation

To conclude the event, participants engage in a meditation practice, focusing on integrating their experiences from the event and further deepening their connection between Body, Mind, and Spirit. This integration fosters greater self-awareness and intuition while promoting emotional regulation and stress reduction.

Borrowed from the ancient Greeks, and even more relevant today, with reverence for the deep level of insight that they carry. These three pillars form the foundation of our personal spiritual exploration.

Two kids sitting on a log at the beach together

Praxis

Praxis is the practice of ethical action in daily life, where good deeds and mindful habits shape character and connect the body with purpose. Rooted in Aristotle’s philosophy, it emphasizes learning virtue through repeated action—like kindness or courage—rather than abstract theory. By viewing movement and work as sacred, praxis transforms routine tasks into spiritual growth.

Group of women holding their hands open and looking to the sky

Ekstasis

Ekstasis (“stepping outside oneself”) describes transcendent experiences achieved through communal rituals like dance, prayer, or music, fostering unity and dissolving ego. Ancient Greek Dionysian rites and Rumi’s whirling dervishes used rhythm to awaken collective joy and spiritual connection. Modern ecstatic practices prioritize safe, inclusive spaces where individuals lose themselves to rediscover belonging.

Movement community gathering

Gnosis

Gnosis is direct, personal insight into truth, bypassing dogma or institutions to awaken inner wisdom. Greek philosophers like Heraclitus saw it as intuitive knowledge of life’s hidden patterns, while Gnostics viewed it as liberation from illusion. Today, it manifests in mindfulness and transcendent experiences that reveal self-understanding beyond words.

Creative Director

Jami – The GathererDeva – Angelic Soul

Jami is a Vibrational Architect, designing potent life-changing experiences for tens of thousands worldwide in live workshops, breathwork empowerments and ecstatic dances since 2005.

He believes that Music, Breath and Movement are the keys to unlocking human potential and returning to the natural frequency of True Love.

Jami has dedicated his life work to the expansion of consciousness.

From Jami: “We are at a unique time in human history where the human race is waking up. We are realizing our true potential as vast and infinite spiritual beings. We are at this moment undergoing a transformative process of becoming who we truly are. Dissolving illusions of separateness and limiting belief structures, rebuilding our world view, our relationships, and our connection with Nature and the Divine.”
Jami Deva headshot while DJing at an event

Women’s Ministry Leader

Megan – PearlCannon – Official of the Church

Megan is an advocate coach for women’s health and empowerment, conscious communication and sacred ritual arts.

With over 20 years experience in leading Movement-based Spiritual Practice, Megan blends her passion for dance and yoga into an embodied ecstatic Vinyasa flow.

From Megan: “Being a Waldorf educator and student of Rudolph Steiner, I realize that this second awakening that Humanity is now going through is one of the Christed Heart. Through deep listening, daily prayer, breath and movement practice, I am dedicated to holding the frequency for Women to come together aligned with their Soul purpose in sacred community.”
Megan Cannon

Funding Development Director

Marika – Angel & Star of the SeaNicole – VictoriousRipke – Bright & Powerful

Marika is a published author, educator/researcher, ceremonial dancer, yogini, soul surfer, and dance choreographer/facilitator.

She holds a PhD in Human Ecology, the study of the relationships between human beings and their environment, including how cultural/social values and practices influence human-environment interactions. Through her service with Movement, she combines her formal education and research with her direct experiences of how music + movement can positively transform lives and communities.

Marika has been involved in movement artistry her whole life. She has practiced yoga for 25 years and has been guiding yoga, dance, and meditation classes and workshops for 15 years. She has also been dancing professionally and ceremonially for over a decade. Her dancing is powered with intention and inspired by love. Her movements are embodied prayers.

From Marika: “Music, dance, ceremony, and celebration have been important values and practices of healthy communities throughout human history. Movement and breathwork have been transformational in my life for discovering joy, celebration, prayer, healing, love, guidance, and connection with myself, others, and our ancestors. I love helping others discover these powerful keys to transformation within themselves.”
Marika Nicole Ripke, PhD

Upcoming gatherings. New ideas. Community stories.
A shared vision for a more connected San Francisco.