Student's Corner: New Response to Old Patterns
A place for Questions, Comments, or Feedback
Kathleen Greve May 2008
Are there a few situations in your life that you wish you would have handled differently? We’ve all heard the wise, time-tested adages that suggest the true gift in any situation is to learn from the experience. But how do you do that without storing the signature affects of those lessons in your body? And once those responses become buried and locked in your physiology—then what?
In my own experience, I have found something that has worked for me in a subtle, yet profound way. To illustrate my point, several weeks ago I had a very visceral and surprising reaction to a phone message. The call was brief and to the point, but totally unexpected. It took me a few seconds into the message to register and the instant I did, my knees went weak. My stomach churned and I felt nauseous. If my heart could have leapt from my body—surely it would still be far, far away. I felt as if someone had pulled a plug, and my life energy had drained away in a swift gush.
This call was not a confrontation or even a conversation. This call was an 18-second, rather innocuous voice message that rocked my world. Unfinished business…a past series of events that I wish I had handled differently. I did the best I could at the time. I thought I had taken the lessons to heart – and wow, now here I found myself quite unprepared for the onslaught of physical and emotional reactions I was spontaneously experiencing.
That evening I went to the first Acupuncture/Qigong Meditation held at Crossings. I am hard pressed, even now, to describe the intense release and transformation of energy I felt in my whole being after that session. Through the practice of Qigong I am realizing on a whole new level that learning from and incorporating those take-away “gems” from life involves much more than an intellectual pursuit.
Qigong has helped me to appreciate the mind-body-spirit and emotional connections that shape my physiology and life experiences. Somehow the combination of the acupuncture to reduce stress and Qigong Meditation allowed me the SPACE to interrupt patterned responses to old stimuli. I came away from the session changed.
In the past, I probably would have obsessed for weeks about the call – and even though I still have brief moments that I have dwelled on this event – there is something very different about me and the choices I am now able to make.
In all honesty, I am not crazy about the acupuncture needles. Thankfully, I find they fade quickly from my consciousness and better yet--they seem to work amazingly. The Qigong Meditation by itself is exquisite! And the combination of the two modalities is inspired, transformational – understated – and phenomenal. Six of my colleagues have accepted my invitation to join this Wednesday evening class. And I plan to be there for as long as TCCII and Crossings continue to offer it.
