Several nights ago, a friend joined me in the sweat lodge. It was his first time and the rocks were especially hot.At about the midway point, I got out of the sweat to soak in the ice bath.
I’ve mentioned before that there is a euphoria I feel at about the 3 minute mark of soaking in the ice bath if I have preceded it with the sweat lodge.
That night was no different.
Somewhere around the 3 minute mark, all sound and time seemed to stop.
So still.
So delightful.
I heard myself chuckling - the kind of warm, heart-full laugh that arises in the company of good friends and family after a day of adventure.
I reveled in the shadows cast by the full moon as I stared up at our 100+ year old giant crabapple tree.
And then, I was no longer in the backyard.
I was taking my last breaths in this life.
Loved ones were with me.
I was smiling and chuckling.
It was all so easy.
I wasn’t resisting.
I was happy.
At ease.
Full of delight and peace.
Fully surrendered.
And then, I saw a petal fall from one of the blossoms on the crabapple tree.
And I was that petal.
Falling gently toward the ground.
Effortlessly.
Easily.
Peacefully.
Fearlessly.
Lovingly.
As the petal met the ground, I saw hands reaching toward me, welcoming me into a circle of friends and teachers and loved ones.
The door of one life closed behind me.
And I stepped into the circle of the life now before me.
Rising from the ice bath, thought arose, saying,
“This is how I would like to die. This is how I would like to live.”
Peace
