There have been many layers to my healing journey with Covid, but one of the things that stands out the most as a critical part of my healing has been my understanding of breath and energy. I have so much gratitude for this gift and believe that had I not had this knowledge that has been passed down to me from my amazing teachers Minke de Vos and Wendy Lang at Empty Mountain Institute I would not have healed as quickly from the state that I was in. It’s important for me to give appreciation to the Taoist lineage and my teachers for these ancient wisdoms and teachings.
Within weeks of having Covid pneumonia, my breath and body had changed dramatically. I had extremely shallow breath, residing mostly in my upper chest and neck, and my oxygenation was low. Once the state of emergency had passed and I was beginning my healing, I
immediately began to focus on deep abdominal, kidney and bone breathing. I needed to call my spirit fully back into my body. To become the fullness of breath itself. Bringing life and spirit back into my being with the In-Spirit-ion.
The breath is the bridge between our physicality and our spirit. It connects us to our energy and our emotions, and gives insight to our inner world.
It’s interesting that this virus attacks the lungs. The place where we breathe from and exchange life force with the universe but also where grief and sadness are stored. I know for myself that it is the case, but I wonder during this pandemic, if we are collectively being called to look at and honor this deep sorrow that resides in all of us. To acknowledge this is deep pain within and also the pain of the planet so that we can heal and find compassion for ourselves and Mother Earth. To understand that our lives are so inexplicably intertwined as we share in this suffering with each other and our first and truest mother.
So let’s breathe together and with our beautiful planet earth that makes it possible. With every conscious inhale, we choose life and draw it in. And with every focused exhale, we release sadness, suffering and sorrow.... into the earth. Remembering that the light and the dark go hand-in-hand, and with their integration we create wholeness.