Today Mother Earth Took A Deep Slow Breath

Today I woke up to gray light and the sound of rain on the roof.   My bones and joints ached and I felt incredibly grateful that it was Tuesday.  Because Tuesday in Tai Chi day.

I have started a Tai Chi class at the local community center.  This morning’s class was week three.  In those weeks I have learned 3 poses that build upon each other to ultimately create the final 22 pose form.  The instructors teach in a way that I can relate to and remember:  putting a box on a shelf, holding a beach ball, opening a curtain.  When taught this way it is exciting  and leads me to believe in my ability to remember and learn.  No old dog here!

One continually repeated instruction during class is “remember to breath.”  To breath.  Seems simple enough.  Yet oddly it is more natural to hold my breath when trying to do something new than it is to breath through it.  But from experience I know deep calming inhalations and exhalations are the most refreshing, relaxing, and energizing of things.  Breathing deeper into a pose in yoga or stopping in the middle of any task and simply taking deep breaths puts me in that moment at that time and allows me to continue with my task.  It steadies my hand and focuses my mind when I grow impatient or start to flit away.

Today, in the quiet of a rainy day, I look at the drenched flowering shrub outside my workshop window.   And I know that Mother Earth breaths.  She rests and focuses.  She gathers her thoughts and her strength to continue on with the beautiful birth of this thing called Spring.