Yoga and thorny vines~ Day #3 (Week 3)

You learn a lot about yourself sheltering in place deep in the woods alongside the wild and beautiful ocean in the early days of spring. My family is here, of course, so I am far from alone, but surprisingly, my secluded hilltop fills me with mixed emotions. Like everyone, I am terrified of the mysterious virus crashing its way through society, lashing on to anyone who comes into its path. I want to hide till it goes away. I feel helpless and vulnerable, but on the other hand, I am happy. I welcome the quiet, the solitude, the forced pause we all must endure. I feel intense gratitude for my home in the woods far away from the sad, life-sucking chaos this virus is bringing to metropolitan areas. I also feel intense gratitude to be surrounded by trees - oaks, beech, beetlebung, cedar, holly, and high bush blueberry - but upon closer look, I noticed that miles and miles of thorny vines are wrapped around each and every tree in sight. Having rarely spent considerable time here in March and April, I hadn’t realized how invasive they are. Kinda like the coronavirus, these thick, green, (SHARP!) vines spread fast, climbing to the top of the tallest tree, winding around trunks, limbs, the tiniest of branches, and choking out life. With this newfound time, I have gone to battle. My daily meditation is now beneath a tree, under a bush, cutting and yanking the thorny vines from their helpless and vulnerable victims. For hours each day, I focus on undoing the knotted, entwined, lecherous vines that cling so tightly I have to rip them off their prey, sometimes even hanging on them to loosen their grip. Besides the holes in my fingers and the bruises on my legs, it’s satisfying work. Strangely. In this time of global illness, loss of jobs and tragic death, I feel less helpless. I am saving the trees from their own vulnerable and tragic demise. One by one. I am focused, my mind is calm, my breathing is deep and steady, my body works on its own. This meditative activity gives me time away from the news, the deep sadness, the lack of answers, the unknown future, the unimaginable losses, whatever may occupy my thoughts. You do not need a mat to experience the positive effects of meditation. Grab your loppers and save a tree. One by one.