Last day at Esalen. Again, I was walking by the internet booth and saw it unoccupied! What luck.
Today is foggy and overcast. How lucky I have been to have gleaming sunlight over the last three days! But the fog carries it own delicate magic here... an air of mystery and refreshment.
Slept 10 hours last night, got up early and tubbed for an hour, watching the waves. Contemplated how easy is to get fascinated by the big drama of waves breaking on the shores, but how little I contemplate the still, silent expanse of ocean far beyond. So I let my attention linger on the peaceful infinity of shining waters, hoping to entrain my body's cells to seek more of that than the crashing in life.
A phenomenal Tai'Chi class! Completely unexpected. A joyfilled teacher with words so wise they made the hairs on my skin stand on end. He said some things like this...
Watch the waves. There is no wishy-washy. They come in and crash, they go out. They don't come in part way and think, "I wonder if I should go in?" They don't head out and second guess themselves, "I wonder if I should have stayed in?". Nature goes all the way. Move from your dan-tien!
And we would step forward and all say loudly "I am here!". Then we would step back and all say, while holding our hara, "Now I am here!". We opened our arms to the sky and welcomed the energy of the sky, feeling the mountains at our back, then welcomed the energy of the ocean, and brought Aloha into our hearts. Then we faced the clouds where the sun normally is and sang a song together.
I am my sunshine
My only sunshine
I make me happy
When skies are grey
I've got lots of chi
Keeping me strong and healthy
My sunshine
Is always here
He spoke about how we have to be our own source of sunshine, or chi, in life. even if you cannot see the sun, visualize it keeping you warm and strong. We can't get it from outside of us. It must come from inside. Of course! Such obvious insights, yet so deeply profound with the wind blowing through one's hair on a clifftop overlooking the ocean! These types of observations are so easy to forget in everyday life. Lots of laughter, lots of movement which progressivly slowed down to a trance like speed, but always still lots of smiles and laughter and a joyous teacher who was smiling and explaining how important it is to stay loose and open, moving energy through the body like a flute. I wish I could stay and take the whole week long retreat he is facilitating now! But I have to go later this afternoon... perhaps I will come back to study with him again one day.
Decadent breakfast talking with more amazing people about travels in India, Thailand, other retreat centers. Wandered the grounds, looked at all the amazing kale and chard growing the garden, sculptures, the adorable dayshool, now back to read my book, "Make Your Creative Dreams Real", by SARK, and drink tea then more tubbing.
I am so grateful! My life is a series of miracles, one right after the next! Thank you!
Comments