Crankyzenpants

Today I woke up with a migraine and that completely unreasonable and uncontrollable rage that can only come from one thing.  Don’t worry – I’m not gearing up for a post about all things girly, just a frame of reference.

Anyway, I was feeling about as good as Godzilla with a toothache and I had to get up because we had plans with friends for some meditation and chi-gung.  It REALLY made me cranky that I had to get out of my comfy bed to go out and get all hippied up.  Plus it’s a long drive out to their house and all I wanted was a diet coke and a headache pill and closed curtains.

But I went.  I wasn’t gracious about it because really I’m not fit for human company when I’m in this condition, so grunting from behind sunglasses was as good as I could manage.  A little caffeine helped, but only barely.

We got out to our friend’s house and it’s so beautiful out there that I can’t help but feel better when we’re there no matter what we do.  The first thing we did was a little zazen and I can’t tell you the difference it made.  Our friends have this wonderful bell that makes a sound that just fills you up.  And then the quiet.  As I sat I could feel myself uncranking, like leaves falling off a tree in the fall.  My head started to lighten and then it cleared up entirely.  There were 8 people in our group but I felt completely alone and at peace.  I even felt myself starting to smile!

After zazen we did a little chi-gung, just warmups really.  It was stimulating and relaxing at the same time.  This part we did outside and it was perfect.  Our friends live at the base of a mountain that overlooks a lake, in a place full of fruit trees and just the sounds of nature.  We did our chi-gung outside by the pool for about an hour.  Chi-gung is similar to tai-chi, but a little different.  There are many applications for chi-gung, including medical and martial applications.  What we did today was relaxed and easy, but it can also be strenuous.  I’m just a beginner both with the meditation and the chi-gung. but my husband is a veteran and it’s nice to watch him because he’s so fluid with his movements it’s like watching a dance.

I felt so peaceful afterward.  I wish I could carry that feeling around with me all of the time!  It’s such a contrast to how I felt when I woke up and I’m glad I didn’t let the blackness I felt this morning stop me from going because it totally changed my day.