Bringing my spirit back into my body.
That is what I’m about.
Those places that let me hear from them
Are God’s voice, calling me back where I belong.
So yesterday I started to notice a real achiness in my lower left back–in my ribcage when I turned my body in a particular way. Oh no. Now what? was my initial response. What’s wrong now? Why me? I quickly ruled out travel. I’d actually made a very long journey, but it had been kind and it had been a couple days since I had arrived home safe and sound. I went to bed hoping that it would be gone in the morning.
No such luck. So I made tai chi and my date with my beloved on the roof a priority. First thing, I was on the roof with my tea in hand. No gorgeous sunrise, though. Not even visible stars, with Hurricane Matthew roaring off in the east somewhere. As I listened to Trina Brunk on my iPhone, I heard her words and they penetrated my soul, opened my heart.
Remembering that my task is to live what I ask others to do, I brought my awareness to my ribcage. Tight. Frightened. Abandoned.
And I realized that as my spirit enters my body, it may need to do so little by little. And that is what is happening here, though without realizing it, I had been resisting it out of fear.
And so I made an adjustment in my perspective. Today my spirit is entering my ribcage. Am I going to greet it with “You are too much!” “Go away!” “You are such a pain!” It is asking me for my caring, tenderness, touch. Curiosity, listening.
Yes, I think I can do that. What else might be in order? I could check with a couple books to see what “ribcage” might suggest. What it means in the universal language of dreams and nature. What I already know is that this has to do with breathing deeply, turning to the left and flexibility in the face of expanding capacity.
I can rub myself gently and be aware of this tender place in my beloved, vulnerable body. I can slow down. I can pause and say, “I notice you, and I’m wondering what you need. Are you okay? You have been protecting me and supporting me for all this time, and I have not even acknowledged you. I am so grateful for what you do for me. I honor your presence in my body as part of my system. I recognize that you have needs and I am interested in understanding what you have to say. Your pain is not so great that I need to shut it out. I am not afraid of you. Thank you for communicating with me. You matter to me.
Ahhhh, that feels better. And I can add Mantak Chia to my meditation regimen, which will encourage me to breathe more consciously and bring awareness to my organs and inner energy flow. I realize that I am needing a little more structure to provide boundaries to my days. I also realize I am needing a durable but expandable container that allows for movement of the whole, while protecting the vital vulnerable parts inside. Thank you, ribcage. Welcome, spirit, into my body. Thank you for your wisdom that I can know with just the right timing and in just the right way that I can understand and allow this amazing, transformative process. I am willing. I am grateful. Aho.