So yesterday I received what my dear friend April refers to as a "Tune Up". I was overdue by a very long shot.
Allow me to explain.
Immediately after graduating from massage school, I dove straight into working. I was hungry for experience, and even hungrier for income. A majority of my focus over the last year has been on work, work, and more work. I've come a long way for sure, but I've been neglecting something, or I should say someONE a little too much. I've been neglecting ME. More precisely, I've neglected my spirit. Now, that's not to say I've neglected my soul. I've certainly been in tune with what I need to do, and how to spend time with my family and with my Brian. But I haven't been doing things often enough to edify my spiritual side.
While going through the massage program, I was learning about Eastern bodywork and philosophies. I had been giving and receiving this type of bodywork on a regular basis, but then stopped after I graduated.
Well, it has caught up with me. In a big way.
I had been feeling that disconnect for quite a while. An imbalance. And it all came to a head over the last few days. A series of small events occurred, and I could no longer ignore that the universe, and my spirit were telling me something.
Enter, April.
April is very dear to me. We were Comrades in Massage school, and now we are both Teaching Assistants there...but more than that, we are friends. Yesterday I met with April, and she asked me what was going on. I attempted to tell her how I was feeling, but couldn't quite succeed without the tears falling. I told her how I just felt imbalanced. I could just FEEL all the bottled up "junk" I had inside me.
After talking for a bit, she and I settled on a session of Acupressure*, with a Chakra alignment**
.....a "Tune-Up".
Bingo! Perfect.
Before we began, April asked me to select crystals from her collection, so that she could include them in the session. Interestingly enough, I had selected the same type of crystals I used to carry around with me when I was younger.
Tiger's eye.
Amethyst.
Green Aventurine.
Smoky Quartz.
Malachite.
"We are old friends", I told April. Funny how we naturally regress when in need of comfort.
I relaxed into the massage table, closed my eyes, taking several deep breaths.
April proceeded to gently surround me with the crystals I'd selected.
What happened over the next hour was.....emotional, to say the least.
I felt my body melt.
I never once opened my eyes.
I knew I was in a safe place to battle out my little demons I'd been carrying and I struggled with my body to release them. They were those self-depleting thoughts and feelings. You know the ones. They can be a cancer....locking in, then spreading, and eventually seeping in to all you do.
Well, I came head to head with each of them.
I cried them out.
And with each gradual purge, I welcomed cleansing breath.
As the session came to a close, I felt RELIEF.
April and I exchanged our experience with the session, and there's no way to really go into that kind of depth...but it was beneficial for us both.
Later, I went home and slept. Ah, blissful sleep. When I woke, I felt lighter. I felt balanced.
I rummaged through some of my old things, and found that little pouch I used to wear in High School. I used it to carry my crystals or stones in it, as little reminders of the types of energy I needed for the day. I grabbed my amethyst, popped it in, and around my neck it went. At bedtime, I placed it under my pillow....and slept like a baby.
Today, I've been reflecting on that session, and I probably will for a while. One thing I know for sure is, I will not allow myself to go that long without acknowledging my spirit, and feeding it what it needs.
*http://www.acupressure.com/
**http://www.healinggateways.com/ChakraBalancing.shtml
