sun rise Qigong

The sun catches me and pulls me towards its light splashing the east side of house.  Time for qigong on mornings I'm not teaching. Arms over my head to meet palms, pull prayer hands down to chest, breathe in, hold, breathe out and lower hands, separating across abdomen to rest at sides. I warm up, slapping sides, then down each leg, each arm. I twist my hips so that my arms swing and pat my ass. I smile. I do the wild goose set; thinking of the couple of geese at the river paddling upstream. 

Monochrome weary

I despair of the still white landscape, and the road seemed more icy this afternoon than yesterday. I was planning on a practice run to make sure I can get out for tomorrow's lunch with good buddies, but have not done so. Walking up with the dogs to retrieve the mail was enough of a hike. I'm pretty sure that the Subaru will have no trouble tomorrow for qigong. Missing the pod in the land of color and family. Ah, will be good medicine to see friends tomorrow.
Worked on poems to send out, but find I am not able to post on blog as that disqualifies them for consideration by some magazines and readings. Stupid I think as I know I have few readers, and it isn't the same to see as to hear. I may post rough drafts as I've done before.

2nd Day

We've fallen into cooler weather, but the walk was vigorous and warming; watercress delicious at the spring before the swim hole.  Dogs and I walked to get mail as the sun was leaving the hollow but still blazing gold at the blue house. Distracted by a puzzle I had left out for Alma when I was gone; but she really didn't get into it and now I have nearly completed it. I've other things I think I'd rather do, read - write - or paint. Or if uninspired, I could sort books and clothes for donations, New Year's resolutions running over from last year.  

Still bemused by a discussion the other day with person who once took qigong class; feeling like what was said could very well be more a reflection of person's own inner issues. After  five years I love the way the class changes as different people come. I want it to reflect a changing community of people who come together to do qigong and sometimes talk, exchange books, share vegetables. The other day someone brought their 6 yr old. The class changed and I focused on the 6 year old - explaining wild goose forms to him.  It is a free class. We stand in a circle. A few folks have come who wanted music and no talk; we tried that, it wasn't for us. We do have silence. But we do greet each other. We share.

New Year's Eve 2015

Ending the year by bringing all my trash to the recycling center before leading my class in qigong. I will begin 2016 with empty garbage cans and aim to spend at least some of the new year weeding thru my too many things. Bring books to the library and clothes to MEAP store. I have accumulated too much to clean out in one day. Besides I need to burn old writing and poems, a cold weather project. And cold winter is due to come the weather man says; we have been unusually warm. I will just dearly pray that snow will hold off until after I return from my trip to Dominican Republic!
Speaking of trips, I enjoyed my time in Houston with Ez, Jen and Fia and with Jen's mom and her brother and his family. Played with Fia's Christmas presents with her: legos (princess and her cat with castle and catapult - really, ha!), playmobile (family camping with tent), tee-pee and huge soft dog, play-do (sea turtle mold and jewelry making kit), and with Fia's doll - oh and puzzles too!! Ez and his friend, Mulvi (who let me stay in his guest room only a few blocks from Ez's house) met me in New Orleans for my brother's party for his daughter, Libby, at the Home of the Blues. I was supposed to be there at 5 PM; but due to fog in Roanoke, I didn't arrive until 10:30. The airline finally got a bus for 50 stranded passengers to Charlotte. Brief hello to Brother, Libby and William - enjoyed the band (Pat Green) and Irma Thomas who sang a couple of songs. We flew to Houston in the morning, Christmas Eve. I was supposed to leave Houston  on the 28th at 8 am, but, deja vie, planes were delayed because of tornadoes in Dallas and foul weather across the country. I finally got home at 8 in the evening, standby status. ah! Global Warming bringing dramatic weather; Mississippi higher than recorded.

Thinking Heavy in the Cold, Thinking Light

Warmer today after two mornings in the 20s. Wild goose qigong at the river while dogs nose the river bank. Stamping on the heaved earth. Trying to find good remedy for cold in the nose; Schussler tissue salt, Kali Muriaticum seems to be helping immensely. Shortly after the first dose on Friday, swollen glands deflated! "Without the presence of this salt no new brain-cell formation would take place!" (Boericke & Dewey's bk on 12 Tissue Remedies of Shussler). I think I needed this remedy years ago. "It is found in the blood in greater quantity than any other inorganic salt except its close relative Sodium chloride (Nat-mur)." Interestingly, it is the principle remedy for smallpox - controls the formation of pustules; in that vein, to be considered in cases of herpes, shingles, lupus, measles, hoarse cough and glandular swellings. 
This has prompted a closer study of all 12 tissue salts and some other of the Kali remedies. I have recently suggested Silica for a friend. A remedy which I think of when treating an infant who seems to be failing to thrive, with difficult dentition. Interestingly, Silica is an excellent remedy for gum disease in adults. Mentally, people who need Silica, are very detailed oriented. I now think that their physical state (difficult assimilation)  correlates with their tendency to take copious notes and tape classes, repeating classes without retaining skills. These folks are cold, prone to wearing hats, lack vital heat. There is a lack of 'grit."

 This is where I go when I feel too cold! The green house is heavenly with the blooming lemon and lime, festive with the riot colors of the blooming geraniums. A break from my study.
Another tissue salt which I find useful is Ferrum phosphoric, which if taken at the first sign of inflammation can prevent full blown head cold. "Iron (ferrum) is the biochemical remedy for : 1 The first stage of inflammations.
2 Pains that are worse from motion and better from cold.
3 Hemorrhages caused by hyperaemia.
4 Fresh wounds cause by mechanical injuries." 
The mental symptoms with call for this remedy include "trifles seem like mountains, annoyed at trifles!" 

Salubrious Weather

Maybe not the expected weather of December, but glorious sun and 50's to 60, expected 70 on Saturday. Celebration long walks with dogs. Qigong at the river; singing and airing out the house. I cleaned up my CD player and tried out two new discs - the whole house filled with the music.
After qigong today, Beth offered a presentation of salt fermenting vegetables and fruit; inspired I have started a quart jar of cabbage, ginger, garlic, carrot, jalapeño, stem of broccoli. In 7 to 10 days I should have some goodies. After a quick trip to the recycling center in Riner, I met my class at the Buffalo and More for lunch - they treated me. I love the way the class has expanded and continues after five years. Here's to more qigong and to fermented vegetables!
The island in a different light!

The Weather of Gratitude

Coke bottle green, the river. Qigong on the sand where Baldwin's benches were before the flood. Down below the fire pit at the edge of the river below the shelf falls, a small sapling scratched bare by the rutting stags. Thank great river,earth, sky of it all. 

oh, March

I wanted to have qigong class, but the schools closed and so cancelled qigong. It is still only rain falling down, but Alma tells me the rain is frozen on the ridge just a mile away where she lives. We plan to meet half way when it turns to snow - Alma has almond pear cake to share. And I have just learned that this weekend Robin Murphy Qigong seminar is cancelled due to plumbing issues and weather. I'll do my routine at home as usual and turn up the music. In anticipation of white, here's a picture from the 26th of February - not so long ago; all of this scene has turned back to winter tan, brown, black and gray - even the road has thawed from the sheet of ice. Sharon moans that even on the coast of Mississippi tonight's temperature may burn the azalea buds. We've nothing so delicate here; however, the birds yesterday sounded spring.

another warm day

This weekend was filled with qigong in Blacksburg, so today was for Mr. Lee and Mojo. Alma did come to take them for a walk on both days; but by the time I got home they were hungry and happy for a short walk in the dark. I am still trying to coax Mr. Lee to face the camera instead of barking at invisible river monsters.  I did the "stand by the stream" standing pose watching the water rush around the rocks.The qigong Saturday and Sunday was strenuous, not so much as to raise sweat, but knees are a bit sore. I just feel like I need a slow day and a good night's sleep.This morning I did follow our warm up routine, in hopes of imprinting the set for class on Tuesday morning. I'll go over it again this evening in lieu of driving into Blacksburg for Robin's class. Yesterday evening when I checked to laying nests, there were 4 eggs!

baby baby

It is hot and much of Montgomery County is still without electricity, needless to say, Giles County and much of West Virginia remain hot (without fans hot)! I know what that is like, but fortunately my power returned after 24 hours. On last Friday, June 29, a very wide front, furious from record heat, in the evening blackened the sky with 60 to 75 mile winds. We got no rain, mercifully no hail. Just direct wind which knocked out power from Maryland to DC and down throughout Virginia and West Virginia. The tops of trees nearly touched the ground, some stayed down. We were lucky, just branches in the yard. Stories at qigong this morning: a neighbor was lifted in the air attempting to close a deck umbrella, another neighbor spent the night at her sister's as trees fell across the road, someone else lost their heirloom apple trees. 


On a much cheerier note, I've pictures of baby baby!

 

I think I will be amazed

I can't imagine that a photograph can come close to being there; I am looking forward to stepping on this high ground. I may put rocks in my pockets to hold down my spirit! I know in Colorado's high mountain, I felt so light that I hugged rocks for warmth and weight.
Was good to hear on NPR this morning a piece on Tai Chi and the benefit of this practice for older folks. Tai Chi, as with Qigong, strengthens bones, works to maintain good balance and helps to prevent falls. I was driving to lead my Qigong class. At the intersection of Rt 8 and Rt 669, the "redskins" truck was waiting across from my Prius. Makes me want to put more Obama stickers on my car!

waking to no snow

Of course, I am disappointed that we in Riner have missed any sign of snow this morning. But the part of me that needs to drive to Qigong this morning is elated, hoping that Blacksburg also missed the fluff or possible ice because I've scheduled a guest for class. Friend Ann who studies with a different Qigong teacher in Blacksburg is coming to demonstrate some new techniques. Alma is bringing snickerdoodles!
Such rain for two days has swollen the creek which is now backed up all the way to my spring turning the water a muddy hue I dare not drink. Water from Blue house well has me covered and I will begin boiling my water when the color clears for several days. I am so accustomed to the life form in my water that it doesn't seem to disturb my health. I hadn't expected such rain and forgot to save water in preparation. The river was tumultuous yesterday, yet Baldwin's cairns have all survived. I carried Mr Lee across the creek twice and then he managed quite well the next two creek crossing on the way to the bottoms. He's a strong little dog!
Working on my folders for the blog - this will be an endless project for this winter which may bring snow at some point. And for half of January and all but leap day of February, I will have time on my hands with the Blue house on vacation.

Qigong happiness

I love our class. I love qigong! And we all notice rewards in our bodies, and perhaps in our minds. I giggle as I don't know that super brain yoga has changed my tendency to forget the necessary word in mid sentence, but my energy is better. At the river every day I do sets by the huge tulip tree.
Rita has already used super brain yoga on a first grade class! Jenny has taught qigong to her friends on vacation!