This was a very full day! It is now evening. The rhythm I have with this writing is that I tend to do it in the evening (and sometimes stay up too late to get it done). My best writing is typically in the morning, and my best thoughts almost always happen when I am walking on a natural trail.
I did not sleep well last night. I got a vaccination yesterday at the wellness visit and noticed the effects shortly afterwards. It felt like my immune system was not pleased with what was in the shot. When I woke up I was groggy and foggy. It seemed like a good time to do Kapalabhati, also known as “The Skull Shine” breath. When I feel a sense of lethargy doing this for six minutes helps turn things around. It’s a cleansing practice that involves short quick exhalations and passive inhalations. I am careful not to do this where my neighbor can see me so that he doesn’t worry I am having some kind of a spell. The dog has gotten used to me doing it and looks on blandly. I think of these practices as a type of medicine. There are so many practices that it’s overwhelming to consider them all. I find that if I choose a few to practice consistently then I get to know them a bit. The big three right now are Kapalabhati, alternate nostril breathing, and 1:1 breath which is also called sama vritti or equal ratio breathing.
I did some gentle physical movement, just enough to stimulate lymph tissues, followed by some alternate nostril breathing. This all helped quite a bit. I was still achy, but had more clarity and a plan for the day.
It rained all night and was raining in the morning. It was the kind of rain that falls straight down without a lot of fuss. I had the windows open. I heard from two friends while I was making breakfast. I cut up some fresh ginger and boiled it in water to make a hot drink with lemon, ginger and honey. I was looking forward to a massage I had scheduled for the morning. The massage was just what I needed in the post-vaccination state of immune activation and inflammation that I was in. I felt completely nurtured. What a gift to be able to take care of myself this way.
When the rain stopped I went walking. Water was running down the trails, but it wasn’t muddy. The air had the ancient smell of rocks. Everything was moist, and of course there were mosquitoes. They are part of the experience. I saw nobody. I sang about the water and the rocks. We made our way around the 75-90 minute loop and on the way down I heard crickets. I find the sound of crickets extremely soothing. The pitch is medium and the interval between the sounds feels like it matches something in my body in just the right way. It makes me think of nighttime, dark, quiet. They aren’t quiet, but it makes me think of quiet. It’s just the right kind of quiet, like the natural dark and the natural light. Right dark and right light. Right quiet. Crickets and summer nights.
Earlier in the day I had spoken with my father. I couldn’t hear him well, which is often the case with the way he holds a cell phone. But I could hear that he sounded happy that I am coming to visit soon, and I appreciated simply being present to his talking even though I only heard bits. He went through a terrible time last year with his health and to hear him sounding excited and knowing he is well cared for is such a relief to me.
Lunch was tabouli that I made with quinoa. I gathered rainbow chard and mint from the garden. I had chopped all of the veggies and mixed the lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, salt and pepper ahead of time. the flavor was bright and fresh alongside the steamed greens that I made with ginger, cumin, coriander, turmeric and fenugreek (because, why not?! I love using a spice with the name fenugreek.) The chard stems are vibrantly colored red, orange, yellow, and some white. The leaves are gorgeous, unlike all the other greens that the slugs are happily making holes in. I don’t do much (well, anything) with garden pests.
I admired the garden and added to it. I had additional things to plant today. I removed sod, mixed dirt and compost, lay down landscape fabric and planted and fenced. If this sounds familiar, it is. I did a similar size project a little over a week ago. Today I planted a juneberry shrub, black-eyed Susans, butterfly weed, some New England asters, some wild roses, Canada anemone. I love seeing the life in the garden. That’s why I do these big projects. It brings life to the yard. There are American Painted Lady caterpillars in the pearly everlasting. It’s good to see them making use of the garden. That’s why I have it.
I did some research on the kidney. It’s the organ system I am writing about now. I am at the stage of reviewing the anatomy and physiology in detail. As I do that the deeper essence and metaphors emerge gradually. Then I write about them.
Today felt like a thriving day with all the ingredients needed for nourishment of the body. Now it is time to read and rest.
Harebells
Lovely! Crickets! Natures version of green noise. Taboulé sounds absolutely delicious. The breathe….so healing plus a massage, wonderful self care ….well done!