Stripper: One who earns a livelihood by means of dancing, entertaining, gettin\u2019 naked, and hustling.<\/p>\n
Bodhisattva: (Buddhist term) One who is motivated by compassion and seeks enlightenment not just for herself, but to be beneficial to all sentient beings by means of developing the paramitas (or perfections: Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Exertion, Meditation, Transcendental Wisdom)<\/p>\n
It’s not an industry for normal people. From patron to performer, to drink-slinger, bouncer and tune spinner, stripping is not an industry for any single type at all. For some of us, it’s a goddamn sweet way to spend some time, and an even sweeter way to make a living. Like any type of entertainment or indulgence, I argue we can use it to check out, or relax and plug in. Personally, I like what I do. I’m an introverted exhibitionist. I’m a meditating artist with an addiction to shiny things. I practice the Bodhisattva aspiration to be helpful. I’m a Professional Distraction. I work for tips. I change when you look at me.<\/p>\n
***<\/p>\n
I.<\/p>\n
“Bust a bill!”
\n“Kiss.”<\/p>\n
It’s dark when she walks into the club, smiling. Night. Time to go to work. Game on.<\/p>\n
Leaving 2012 and the End of the World as we know it behind\u2026 Enter the brand, shiny New Year in the world of the Stripper. There are some resolutions. There are some aspirations to unlock the mystery of the industry, to make money appear out of thin air, to support oneself on wiles and smiles alone–to own the secret of the hustle.
\n“Hustle.”
\nThat word, disdained by some, revered by others. I\u2019m interested in an expose. I\u2019m interested in a (re)definition.<\/p>\n
Performance star, and activist King Lexie Honiotes of The Leading Edge defines it thusly: <\/p>\n
hus\u00b7tle |’h\u01dds\u01ddl|
\nnon-adverb
\n1.[trans.] [intrans.] the choiceless choice, flow, do nothing and everything is done: Somewhere, and then somewhere again, in the midst of her ride… she let go the reins completely; and everything was exactly as she’d meant it to be. Except it was more magnificent than she fathomed in her toil. So utterly unexpected, so colossal in scope. Perpetually given.<\/p>\n
Hawt. Now, let\u2019s break it down for those who would be in the Hustle Association. It\u2019s that invisible edge, the aura of confidence, the game played, and that sweet player who plays for everyone\u2019s win. She gives it all, and by the time you notice it’s happening, you don’t care anymore. The meditating mind meets the hustle of the floor. Let me tell you though, no faint hearts. Hustle is for Lovers.<\/p>\n
Hustle
\nthe choiceless choice, the flow.
\nThat synchronized moment, perfect, the hit the ground and hover.
\nShe uses all her training, the “yes, and…” from improv class, the extensions from ballet and inversions from yoga, those jeditricks, and that face she made last night when–<\/p>\n
Hustle
\nthe flow, and the know.
\nThe overflowing, the give it all for a dollar or a couple hundred.
\nShe\u2019s rich. She\u2019s taken care of.
\nShe\u2019s practicing her paramitas.
\nAnything can become the object of meditation. Breath. Body sensation.
\nThe smile, oh that smile.<\/p>\n
She smiles as if it could work.
\nSmiles even before the music starts. Smiles even afterward.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just the right amount of effort
\nShe watches the moment unfold
\nRelaxed, aware
\nShe\u2019s the perfect canvas for your fantasy
\nThat tall drink
\nconfident
\nShe cuts through time and space
\nSuspended
\nTiptoeing through fear
\nfilling the whole of space with the prosperity of the
\nBodhisattvas.
\nMock her, adore her,
\nShe is
\nAvailable
\nReady
\nGlistening
\nGetting
\nShe is\u2014 <\/p>\n
Yours,
\nSter\u00a3ing <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Stripper: One who earns a livelihood by means of dancing, entertaining, gettin\u2019 naked, and hustling. Bodhisattva: (Buddhist term) One who is motivated by compassion and seeks enlightenment not just for herself, but to be beneficial to all sentient beings by means of developing the paramitas (or perfections: Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Exertion, Meditation, Transcendental Wisdom) It’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":34,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/34"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.sterlingslyce.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}