With Love, and Light, and Darkness

Greetings QiCurious Explorers,

How do you react when the universe presents you with a series of unplanned ‘surprises’?

After spending a week negotiating with mice in our RV in preparation for a long weekend, my partner got sick, leading to a quick change of plans. Then, while ferrying our doggy back from the vet (thankfully, no broken leg), I received a call that my godmother had passed away unexpectedly. The next call was to tell me my dad was in the hospital (much better now, also thankfully). And this is only half of what July had to surprise me with!

With the first few whammies, my stress level began to rise (shoulders tightening, nervous system poised). And about midway through this series of events, the obvious began to dawn: these stress responses may be naturally programmed, but they don’t actually help me negotiate my surroundings amid such modern stressors.

I took a breath.

I rested in the reality that I couldn’t control the universe. And I began to return to my training. Breathe. Flow.

Just because I am a qigong teacher doesn’t mean my life exists eternally in high vibration bliss. Yet, it does offer me a set of tools and perspectives with which to untangle and release the felt sense of stress. It also provides me with a sense of gratitude that goes beyond being grateful for only the beauty and delight of life.

One of my dear friends and I share a sign-off, a twist on the often hyper-positive wish for “love and light.” It was born out of a discussion about how our challenges shape us, offering crux moments in which our character develops. We asked each other: Who am I to remove this invitation for growth and self-discovery from your path? These are the moments that invite us to truly be with ourselves – through it all.

Thich Nhat Hanh framed it beautifully: “Most people are afraid of suffering. But suffering is a kind of mud to help the lotus flower of happiness grow. There can be no lotus flower without the mud.”

When the universe next offers you a series of ‘surprises,’ I invite you to take a mud bath, root down, and observe how your lotus blossoms.

Wishing you love, and light, and darkness,

Jennie Delich, Founder