A Gong Bath To Remember

A Happy Sparrow, Serenading Us Every Morning

6:39

 

7:00

7:00

7:02

It's 7:30 and the brilliant sunrise of a half hour ago has disappeared and the clouds have taken over, graying the lake and sky.  We received another dusting of snow last night, so the lawn is once again white.  I had hoped to do some kayaking this morning but the lake has developed a skin of ice overnight so I doubt if I will be out there paddling.  It's still chilly, too, a 24º spring morning. 

7:57

This Morning's Moon

Our Saturday mornings don't often change and yesterday was no exception.  We both got busy straightening up the house, the kitchen, getting trash ready to be taken to the Transfer Station, always a satisfying chore.  I was on my way by 10:00, dropped off the trash, returned home, grabbed the shopping bags and took off for Wegman's, stopping at Ryders Cup.  It was crowded enough so that I bagged a coffee and went to Wegman's.  It was a busy Saturday, as I had to park a good distance from the store.  Evie had put together a small list on her Wegman's app so I was able to glide through the aisles and check out fairly quickly. 

Our Neighbors, Betsy And Joe

We put away the groceries and I was then ready for lunch, the leftover chicken and vegetable curry with naan and I watched my show.  We then took it easy, and I  read and napped before we both got cleaned up (showered) because we were going to our neighbors,  Betsy and Joes' house for a Gong experience at 3:30.  A couple of neighbors and my yoga teacher, Julie, were there as well. 

Gong Master Mary

Mary, Joe's sister, is an accomplished Gong Master and performs in various venues.  This time it was Joe and Betsy's living room on the lake.  Mary set up three large gongs and had a table of small brass bowls as well.  The sounds, the vibrations from the gong is a way of reducing stress, a method of deep relaxation and healing.  So we spread out our yoga mats, put on masks, and bathed in the sounds of not only the various gongs but other much higher pitched instruments as well (like bells and a xylophone).  We bathed in vibrations for about an hour, and the session ended with a fan bath as if the vibrations were to be whisked away.  It was a unique and interesting experience, best described as a "mind-altering dynamic meditation experience designed to soothe, inspire, heal and awaken the spirit." 

The Gong Gang

Besty And  Friends

Afterwards, Joe and Betsy got out the wine and beer and appetizers and we enjoyed a good hour of sipping wine or beer, nibbling on the appetizers and talking about our experience.  We did not realize we were having dinner as well as appetizers which was great.  We had a tasty vegetable soup with turkey sausage, muffuletta sandwiches, French bread, and of course more wine and beer.  It was necessary to stay hydrated after a gong bath!  We did it well.  We ended the evening around 9:30, and thanked everyone for the gong bath, appetizers, dinner, wine and a great conversation.  It was another great night on the lake. 

Fishing Around The Ice:

Bundled Up

Cruising The Lake, Avoiding The Ice

No Luck