Your Dancing Helix is a visual metaphor into the wonders and mysteries of the rhythmical resonating patterns of Nature. From the spiraling galaxies to the curvy-linear form of DNA, the swirl of the pattern of hair on our heads to the rhythm of our hearts, we along with the entire natural world are made from these same magical wave patterns.

Hang your Crystal Dancing Helix in a window with sunlight streaming through and feel inspired watching a myriad of prismatic rainbows dance round. Place a Rainbow Helix in a corner with small spotlights shinning on it and enjoy the play of light and shadows as color cascades in joyous spiraling patterns. Watch the Luna Helix in a dark room with black light on and be totally amazed by the dance that unfolds.

Dancing Helix is interactive. It loves to be played with. Gently hold back one of the ribs for not more then a couple of rotations. Let go and watch a shimmering of ripples move up and down. Give a rib a push into the direction of rotation. Stand back and take notice. Always watch more then do, but do experiment. The quality of your touch will be reflected in the quality of the wave generated.

To hang your Dancing Helix, first take the motor out of the box and hang it from the ceiling. The instructions that come with it will explain how to permanately hang it using the plate, screws and plugs provided. Or you can take the plate off and hang it from any hook on the ceiling. Then lay your Helix on a flat table and unroll it. Gently separate it from its wrapping paper and lift it.

Grasp it from not just a hook, but holding the neoprene spine as well. Hook it onto the motor shaft and place the provided crystal globe on the bottom hook. Turn the motor on, stand back and witness a most amazing dance.

Your motor has two different cycles. When you have it on "I", then the motor is on continuously. This creates a helix form that is its pattern of dynamic equilibrium. It will stay with that form unless you input additional energy, as a push on a rib in the direction of rotation or holding one of the ribs back for a few moments. Then, as throwing pebbles in a pond, you will see rhythmical wave patterns flow out in both directions, resound upward and downward, gaining speed and loosing speed, moving through each other and chasing each other, till their energy is spent and Dancing Helix returns to its perfect helix form.

On the intermittent cycle, "II" on the motor switch, the motor is on for 3 minutes and off for about 3 minutes. With this, the complexity of the waves generated is greatly increased. Watch as it opens with a seemingly chaotic pattern and then from the bottom up, open up as a flower opens, to the helix form and then transform itself as it flips around and commences helixing in the opposite direction. This type of cycling goes on till the motor shuts itself off and Dancing Helix then opens and closes under its own momentum till it nearly comes to stillness. Then the cycle starts again as the motor turns on. Watch and be amazed. At any time give Dancing Helix an input of energy and watch new patterns form.

Care and feeding: Gently dust to keep it clean, use a damp cloth on beads. Change top to bottom, bottom to top every six months or so. When you move it, grasp not just by the hook, but by the hook and again 6” lower on the neoprene spine belowthe hook, as though you were holding a snake. To store, roll up with tissue paper as a sushi roll, make sure that the spine is not twisted.

Aligning the Ribs: If any ribs are slightly askew, follow the drawings and gently push the rib in the direction it needs to go to be parallel at the point where the rib is attached by the steel clip to the neoprene spine. Do it again if it needs more.

WARNING: SUPERVISION RECOMMENDED WHEN USING WITH CHILDREN UNDER 3 YEARS OLD

Infants love to follow its rythmical patterns, tracking it with their vision and smiling in delight. For those 3 and above, to first show them how to gently hold back a rib and then give it a little push and then have them track the wave as it propagates up and down through the piece, is guaranteed to bring delight. By showing the child to be gentle, give a push and then stand back and watch, a calming and focused excercise is created. Children seem never to tire of watching it.

As a child enters the grades it is perfect for the classrom. It is a great visual of what DNA looks like. Whenever it is put into the classroom it becomes both a point of discussion and also a place that brings calmness. It very visually shows how waves are formed as well as how actions create reactions. Its grace is a springboard for the imagination and is a starting point for poetry and other sorts of creative endeavors. It is also very calming and is being used in school offices with that purpose in mind.

In high school it is a great tool for teaching the physics of wave propagation.

Dancing Helix is also a perfect item for the home and office. At home it becomes a point for calmness and meditation. The crystal beaded Dancing HElix placed in a window with sunlight creates a waterfall of light, color and rhythm. In the office its calmness will be shared with all who watch. It becomes a centerpoint of inquisitive conversation and wonder. Dentists are even using it in their treatment room, where its rhythmical dance helps to calm a concerned patient. Chiropractors use it as a visual cue to show that a gentle input of energy in the spine generates rhythmical and healing wave patterns up and down.

Dancing Helix makes great a gift as its unique dance brings joy and happiness.

When you journey to the ocean and watch the waves lapping the shore or hike up to a mountain stream to enjoy its mirthful play, you feel both calmed and enlivened with these graceful, healing wave patterns. Bring these same inspiring patterns into your living space as you enjoy your Dancing Helix come alive.

“My inspiration in creating Dancing Helix was to produce an artistic creation that would be an opening into the world of the formative forces of Nature. I hope that it gives you glimpses of that unseen though very felt world, and connects you with the wellspring of hope that is always present for each us. Enjoy. Let me know your experiences.” -- Laury Ostrow