On a Monday night not too long ago, I got off on another exit on that long spiritual highway I've either gunned it in my metaphysical Maserati on my way to self actualization, or drove like a clueless tourist with their blinkers on in the left lane. This exit took me to this beautiful , ornate temple tucked into jade colored unspoilt hills. A temple of breath that opened itself up to me and revealed within it a chamber of wonderful little curiousities that I will certainly explore further.
Truth be told, the setting wasnt quite as idyllic as that, but within the painted beige cinderblock walls of the Spiritualist Church of Awareness, amidst the rumble of old and younger lungs in unison, a quiet waterfall flowed, buzzed, and gurgled into our bodies, a waterfall called Qi Gong.
My friend Lee from my meditiation circle had first turned me on to Qi Gong, and he began teaching it on Monday nights before our meditation circle. Qi Gong goes back a millenia, and it deals with "Qi" or "chi" energy and using meditation and breathing to manipulate it for a practitioner's general health and well-being. In China, where it originated, it is viewed by the medical establishment as being as integral to the practice of medicine as physiology, anatomy, and so on. So I sporadically attend some of the classes; Ha! how pedestrian and ADD of me, I know,considering the weight of history behind it.
So a story was related to us in the circle with almost childlike glee by Lee that through a serendipitous kwinkerdink, he was able to get Jocelyn Brock, who is a very advanced teacher of Qi Gong, and one of the higher ups in the organization he is a part of. To give perspective to this, she has led Qi instruction for close to 5,000 people....at one time!. So her coming and teaching our little group of Spiritualists, Pagans, and astral travellers was to be a priviledge AND an experience. And it was.
The evening started off humbly enough. People would come into the hall in small spurts, some familiar faces, some not. Mats and pillows were the suggested furniture for the evening, and as some were sitting on the floor already, including myself, there was the muttered grumbles of "If this involves getting on the floor, I don't know whether Ill get up" and "I don't do floors!" In the midst of the gathering comes a spritely, youthful, unassuming woman who we find out is Jocelyn, the person everyone has been waiting for. After a very cheerful introduction by her, it was time to get to work!
Using a technique referred to as the "Warrior Breath", our entire group was lead by the soothing, empowering words of our teacher for the evening, as most of us embarked upon this primer on what Qi Gong is. Strong inhalations, chests expanding, feeling the rush of oxygen into expanded lungs, doing this intense breathwork almost immediately brought on one of the most intense physical feelings I've ever experienced.
At the beginning I admit I wasnt sure about if I could maintain these powerful breaths, but as the minutes went by, the whole of me felt this powerful pulsing and buzzing that brought about this euphoria, and this unexplainable need to raise my arms into the air, with my hands locked in this strange position!. Jocelyn had explained that this was normal and among Hindus, this was a very good sign and a priviledge for this to happen; it signified cleansing. At one point, it felt as if I was going to float right up and off the ground! My arms felt a literal energy field around me, as if they were moving through water, that I am told is the "Qi". It had been mentioned that many who experience this at its most intense are almost moved to tears. I admit, for me the feelings were pretty intense. Jocelyn's voice slowly came back to the fore as she was bringing us back. I didn't want to come back! But slowly, our bodies were brought back to this realm, but all still feeling the residual effects as we sat up and related each of our personal experiences.
So yet another interesting stop on the highway that leads to......Higher awareness? More in touch with the Infinite Source? the Great Spirit? I think all of those and many more.The night's experiences will remain with me for some time, and I look forward doing more than just scratching the surface. The next logical step would be to go to Qi Gong Revolution that is taking place here in Orlando at the end of May. If my path leads me, I will gladly follow for some more Really Really Good Vibrations!
No comments:
Post a Comment