The Sabre-Toothed Tiger of intent

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 

In response to numerous requests from Tango subscribers, who asked if they
could publish the narrative that accompanies the Saber-toothed Tiger of
Intent form on the Tango mailing list, Cleargreen and Laugan Productions
are happy to introduce the following previously unreleased description and
narrative of the form for Tango readers:
 
 
 

       THE SABER-TOOTHED TIGER OF INTENT

Introduction
The saber-toothed tiger, for the seers of ancient Mexico, embodies the
passion of the warrior-traveler-the navigator in the sea of awareness. The
saber-tooth roamed from the valley of Mexico all the way along the western
coast and into southern and central California, the areas from which the
magical passes originate.
We may think of the saber-tooth as a creature from another time, a museum
piece; and from our linear perspective, this is true. In the view of the
seers of don Juan's lineage, however, the other time of the saber-tooth is
not the past, but another layer of awareness. They propose that perhaps, in
terms of energetic facts, it would be more accurate to say that we are
caught in the museum case, and the saber-tooth is roaming free, moving from
dream to dream.
We can adopt the fluid dreaming ability of the saber-tooth by practicing
the magical passes of the form known as the Saber-toothed Tiger of Intent.
The intent of the saber-tooth, according to seers, is to dream-to move its
assemblage point. This means it embodies pure perception, and fluid, alert
action.
In adopting the saber-tooth's deep full breathing, we enter new areas of
breath, which for seers means new areas of perception. Engaging the muscles
in the area of the pelvis and the diaphragm in every motion and breath, as
the saber-tooth does, can help us to cultivate the guts of steel needed for
navigating. The rippling motion of the saber-tooth's shoulders as it walks
and moves renders its assemblage point fluid. Its assemblage point doesn't
stay fixed behind the shoulder blades, as with human beings; it moves,
giving the saber-tooth, and practitioners of its form the possibility of
perennially new perceptions.
Practicing the saber-tooth form can move us out of the static position of
contemporary man-slouching in front of a computer screen in an airless
room, or hunched over a cell phone-into a more vast and open state of
awareness. It can allow us to see our prey-our own habits and routines-on
the horizon, and to tear them down, so that we might roam onward to face
new challenges, new dreams.
Magical Passes:
The saber-tooth builds its powerful stance:
Its palms slide down the fronts of the thighs, over the feet and to the
ground with an exhalation. The head is down. The saber-tooth pants,
squeezing all the muscles of the stomach with each exhalation. It leans
forward with an inhalation, putting its weight on its front paws. It leans
backward with an exhalation, shifting its weight to its back paws.
It inhales, pulling its claws along the ground and up its back paws to its
ankles, pausing there to exhale fully. The head is down
It inhales again, pulling its claws to its knees, pausing to exhale once
more. Its knees remain bent. Its hind legs are firmly on the ground.
It inhales again and straightens, rippling its assemblage point. As it
straightens, it pulls its claws up the thighs to the waist, straightening
the knees only slightly, and bending them again as an exhalation is made,
and the bent claws are momentarily opened. The saber-tooth's vision is
clear, and its hearing is keen. It is ready for action.
The pelvis is held straight, tilting neither forward nor backward, so that
energy flows through the area of the midsection to the upper body, rather
than stopping at the hips.
Its stance firmly established, the saber-tooth begins to move very
silently. It inhales, clawing at the sides of the body, gripping the ground
with its paws.
It exhales and claws in front of its body, moving slowly from the waist.
The hips remain forward
It inhales, clawing one more time.
It advances, the opposite arm and leg moving at once.
It flexes its claws with fast strokes.
It slashes suddenly to the left. (SOUND), stunning its prey.
With a quick strike, it turns again. (SOUND)
Its claws sweep slowly across the view of the horizon. (SOUND)
Then quickly, in short energetic strokes. (SOUNDS)
The body turns on.
The saber-tooth pants, (PANTING) squeezing the entire torso with each
exhalation.
It claws, (SOUNDS)
and pushes the hind legs forward one at a time. (SOUNDS) It claws again
(SOUNDS), and strikes with its back legs (SOUNDS).
It pauses, then leaps in the opposite direction.
It steps forward very fast and retreats [QUICK FORWARD/BACK].
Leaning on its back leg, it curls its paws for a moment, preparing to
strike.
It advances and strikes. (SOUND)
It leans in, seizes its prey, and balanced by the enormous strength of its
legs, flings the prey behind it. (SOUND)
The saber-tooth turns without hesitation, to face another prey.
It jumps back, fully alert
The saber-tooth runs and leaps, grabbing its prey and bringing it down.
(SOUND)
It steps back. (SOUND)
(SOUND)
and breathes deeply, crouching quietly in the shadows.
It reaches high and claws downward, as its prey takes its last breath.
(SOUND)
The saber-tooth breathes in and steps forward, then turns. The body returns
to an upright stance, headed in a new direction.
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Email: She Kavner