When You Don't Know What Else to Do

Because I don't know what else to say, here's a stock photo of Lake Superior

Once again, I find myself in the position of being on the cusp of publishing a different blog post when a shockwave so strong goes out that it just blows away the point of publishing that subject matter in the first place.

By and large, in my personal and professional life, I try to limit my commentary on political issues. After all, this is a blog about Qigong. What’s more is I completely respect that my students represent both sides of opinion on this issue and that being sensitive to that may be the best course. But I find myself absolutely dumbstruck and can think of little else than yesterday’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade, and its wide-reaching ramifications. Remember, when I’m not teaching Qigong, I work within women’s health and fertility, and possess the broad base of medical knowledge of the successes and complications that go along with my work. As such, it’s hard not to feel like I have to say something.

So, I’ll say this: what do you do when something, no matter what it is, shakes you down to your core? How can you use your Qigong training to respond in the best possible way?

Find a quiet space. Put that thing down, no matter how bad it is. After all, it’s not going away, so clear your mind of it for a few moments. Stand upright and relaxed with your mouth gently open and your eyes closed. You can either go into Flowing Breeze Swaying Willows if you know how, or you can simply breath into your Dan Tian (or your abdomen), slowly, gently, noticing it rise and fall, about 10 to 15 times. Afterwards, continue to stand with your eyes closed and your body relaxed, with gentle awareness of your breath coming into and out of your nostrils. Stand like this for 2-3 minutes. Finally, rub your palms together and dab your eyes a few times before opening them.

You will not open your eyes to pixie dust and rainbows. You will open your eyes to the difficult thing still there, but at least you will now be prepared to approach it from a place of mental clarity, and in the best position to begin to heal. There are no easy answers to what comes next. But the best answers will come from that grounded place. Peace.