East meets West

Ouch. I thought to myself. “They said this would not hurt”.

Okay. I am going to slide another in. Now let me know if it stings. It should ache, but it should not sting or really be painful. Let me know if anything is uncomfortable for you.

Actually, this entire experience is just a little uncomfortable. New…and admittedly a bit exciting But I tend to like new, exciting and sometimes uncomfortable things. Isn’t that why I keep taking new jobs? Where I am miserable at first, then excited at all I think I am learning..then ultimately bored and looking for something else. Isn’t that why I do strange things like bungee jumping? Whitewater rafting? Camping in the wilderness? Dating men from Africa? Driving in LA?

Okay. That one did not hurt…but it does ache. Now I feel it. Is that good? Or does it mean I have lots of work to be done? More likely the latter. My mind is going a million miles a minute. She said to try and relax. Here on this table, in a medical gown, needles protruding from my arms, legs, feet. I am trying not to move so that I don’t jiggle the needles further into my skin. Breathe. I must keep breathing.

Actually, this is not so painful. I mean I do feel it, but it doesn’t hurt per se. She has left the room now. Left me to my own thoughts..feelings. When she left, she told me to go to a place that relaxes you and makes you feel good. I did. The first place that came to mind was a Sunday morning in bed with Harvard… Cool and breezy… relaxed and just being together under the covers, talking about our families..our future. Cracking jokes and just being together with no pretenses. It was wonderful. That is where I was when suddenly I started crying, What the heck was this all about? I am in good place in my mind. It must be these needles. But how? Whatever..it is passing now.

When she returns I realize that I have taken my mind to a different scene. The beach at sunset always seems to work for me and it did again. When she spoke, she told me that she did a journey on me. Huh? Well I am a Shaman as well, she says. You gave me permission to do a journey on you, remember. I did. She said she lifted a block from my chest and from my back. Maybe that is why I cried. I had a burden relieved without my knowledge. She twisted the needles and chatted with me while. Umph. I felt the twists.
But now I was focused on the journey. She asked me about a fire. Was I involved in a fire when I was young? Not that I know of. “How about your mother? Maybe when she was pregnant with you?” Hmmmm. Good question. I will ask. She said I should, but it could also be symbolic.

Dressed now and talking about my first experiences with acupuncture and Shamanism, she tells me that this is where it gets to be fun. I get to be my own detective. To search for reasons why this asthma has gripped for a lifetime. Was it that my soul was not ready to come into this life? Stifled … Oppressed. Repressed.. Or was it simply allergies that manifested into a disease?

How do you feel?
I feel lighter, I said. Good. Let’s schedule your next appointment.
I am not sure how this will make a difference in my life…my daily living, but I know that it will. It already has. If nothing else, this is one of the most positive environments I have been in of late. My acupuncturist gives positive feedback as she slides those needles under my skin. I feel valued and important. Someone has recognized something good in my being and has let me know.

That in itself is making a difference