Winning Wounded Women Warriors

On the Winter Solstice I had a day of forced centering. It was sublime. I was snowed in and one of the necessary high priority needs was to shovel a path to the wood pile. Thich Na Hahn reminds us in many of his writing about the value of toil. It frees up the brain (while the body and muscles are otherwise engaged) to just BE, and be Mindful. I found it energizing to let my brain just BE while I shoveled heavy wet snow. Mindfulness led me to gratitude—for many things, but I would like to share one special item from the long list.

I have heard from four women friends this season (close in heart, but distant by miles) about their recoveries from cancer—diagnosis and treatment within the last two years. Each of them is doing exceptionally well. Exceptionally well is relative here, depending on YOUR outlook. Exceptionally well for me is about their making this experience their own, using their personal power to work within whatever healing/treatment system they have chosen, to embrace the experience. Each has boldly stepped forward and made choices base on the Inner Wise Woman they have become.

They have each used their own extraordinary creativity, spiritual depth, personal power, and lifetime of expertise in some field to find their own path to healing. I noticed that each of them went into a period of seclusion, limiting their communication from even closest friends, to summon all energy and focus for conducting the orchestra of their recovery. I liken it to them choosing a Winter Solstice of their own timing, going deep into the rich darkness of Earth Time to dream and prepare for their respective treatment plans. I am grateful for the stunning symphony of recovery that each is living. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Snow—lots of it— kept me from attending a Winter Solstice Yoga experience I had been looking forward to, but I imagine that part of the evening was spent in Warrior pose. I was there in spirit, as were my four brave friends.