The Gentle Bamboo

Being the Gentle Kind, I’ve had heaps of experiences being misunderstood that gentle is seen as weak. I’ve tried to toughen up my appearance (albeit haven’t done the tattoo) but that hasn’t worked out

Photo by Vicky T on Unsplash

Nowadays, I am better able to convey strength within the gentle. On days that I am not feeling like an energetic gentle ninja, I stay at home quietly watering my bamboo. Well not entirely true, I don’t have a bamboo plant……yet 🎋.

Bamboo has extra-ordinarily properties of flexiblity, multipurpose, eco-friendliness and strength. I clearly remember scrambling through a bamboo forest in China’s Datian Mountains. It was an exhilarating slope gripping onto the bamboo to lift myself up and not slip. It was amazing even after finding out that green snakes like bamboo forests too - but don’t let that stop you. I love how it sounds in the wind and the leaves lightly crisped on the ground. It’s got so many parts you can use. Furniture, soft and breatheable clothes, food and serious scaffolding - have you seen this in Hong Kong?!

Photo by Peter Berko on Unsplash

Bamboo has a hidden strength that is not obvious from first glance. I mean look at that scaffolding! Getting back to the idea of going gently in caring for health, I have a image of lush bamboo that bends with the forces of the wind, has lot’s to offer and regenerates fast while being kind to the everything/one around.

Gentle silence can have great presence

Don’t forget this when unwell and so fatigued that speaking is not an option. Stay connected in what you intend to say and project and this will be conveyed non-verbally. Specially to those that are good at listening with all their senses and have time to do so.

Often I don’t feel a need to talk about too much. I spend alot of time cultivating peace and serenity in my days at home now. People visiting often feel this and either comment or yawn…alot. I initially thought they were bored in my presence, but then realised that the sense to relax and wind down is a strong and a large shift from their world outside my door. Their bodies are telling them that deep rest is needed. Once deep rest has been met, then a lighter more relaxed and clear awakened presence happens. Here’s a little message to those that come visit me. Come more often and the yawns will shift into a gentle silence and good chatter with much joy and love.

Finely tuned souls

You know who you are. It’s an ability to tune into the subtleties within ourselves and surrounds. Continue to radiate your beauty and it will be seen. While I was in hospital I would walk in this lovely garden next to the road. The road and beyond represented the world outside my hospital bubble. It wasn’t too busy, but I could smell the fumes and the zooming of cars. I saw people walk past in doing mode. It wasn’t long before I shifted my attention back to the beautiful trees and green green grass and gazebo. There’s something about a Gazebo. Those octaganol pavillions in China with bamboo around, now that’s the schizz. Nature is my finely tuned soul. It resets any external overload that takes me away from my essential part.

I live in the heart of Fremantle Town in Western Australia. I like walking to the park to see the big fig tree with abundance of fruit. The last few visits there has been signs of a homeless man under the fig tree with his sleeping bag and a couple of bags. My last visit with a friend to pick some fruit was different. This man sleeping under the tree was sitting up with a couple of friends drinking cask wine. They were saying they were not too keen on me and my friend picking fruit. I smiled and started to pick some fruit. One of the men yelled out, “hey you come over here, I want to talk to you” which I replied “what do you want to say? I can hear you from here”. At this stage, I’m feeling apprehensive and on guard. He then yells out “do you have what I think you have?” I then realise I don’t have a hat on and my shaved head is out. I reply freely “Yes, I am dealing with cancer but I am doing ok”. He shifts his gaze and softens his whole being into a gentle-man. “You know that I am a healer, I can heal you”. I take a closer look at him as he stands up. Under this scruffy shirt is a cleaner white scarf with thick gold trim. He moves to the tree and rests his hand on my friends shoulder and helps pick some fruit and puts some in our bag. My friend asks where his mob are from and finds out he is indigenous to the area. He stands next to me and takes his scarf off and opens it out. There is a light, freshness and special presence that happens. I comment on how I can see how he is a healer and say that I am one too. We look into each other's eyes softly and the healing was exchanged. He let me look into his beautiful gentle soul. It was truly a healing gift.

Resistance dissolves

Resistance in my body arises as swelling, tension and heat. The mind gets cloudy, fixed and on repeat contraction. Often the loud chatter that I haven’t tuned into is saying '“don’t disturb me I’m busy”, “Go away!”, “I can’t handle this right now this is too much”, “hurry up and sort yourself out”. Being aware of this chatter can be hard to face, but a step towards dissolving unwanted thoughts. To resist the resistance or come up to it with equal gusto consistently makes it worse. An awareness of this, is again, moving closer to resolution.

Gentle strength can meet resistance well. The resistance to let go of anything. To meet the resistance in the mind or body with gentle kindness as a good friend would. When I realise my subconscious thoughts, it’s much easier to switch to “I see this is uncomfortable and I am here for you”, “I understand what you are going through, it’s ok you are safe”, “take your time”

When I have pain in the body, the muscles tense up. Sometimes my muscles want to tense up more in response to the pain. I respond much better when I switch to a mode of softly, patiently, assurance, nurturing and understanding. The body gives signals to my system that it is safe to let go, relax and be vulnerable comfortable with how it’s being looked after.

Life seems much easier with less resistance to what comes my way. Even when there is so much happening, it all seems so much easier.

So as the Gentle Bamboo bends effortlessly with the wind, so too can we move effortlessly with whatever comes our way.

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