Ever since my childhood massage has provided me with healing. When I had flu at five; I had fever, joint pains, and I couldn’t even stand and walk. My aunt and godmother thought we had to go to Consolacion to have a massage from Aurelio. He had many clients and we had to line up and wait. It was evening when we returned home and I had gotten well; the fever was gone and I could stand and walk. As a sickly teenager often prone to headaches and vomiting, I always looked forward to Tiya Presing’s massage. She really had a special touch that would do wonders for my circulation and end the coldness of my hands and feet. Soon, I would feel better, then a sense of relief.Although Na Presing (one of our aunts) did not finish a course in nursing, midwifery, or care-giving, when someone in the family got sick, we all relied on her presence and affectionate ministrations. She was very cheerful at the same time serious. Fortunately for all of us Tiya Presing was not married and therefore, could be available for all of us most of the time.
More recently, a friend told me that she knew of someone who had a massage on a regular basis and this resulted in less and less asthma episodes. Since Violy had been massaging my aunt weekly, I decided to have a whole body massage from Violy regularly. She always prays before actually starting. She is familiar with acupuncture points and acquaints me with vulnerable points in my body. She has a whole array of ointments most with a special fragrance. Two days after her massage, I feel a very special kind of wellness. Because of the good feeling from the massage, I have learned to soothe others with gentle touch.
Another source of comfort which I have observed is gardening. My sister-in-law, whenever she cannot do her regular walk with my brother, goes into gardening — watering herbs and replanting new seedlings. My sister also finds joy selecting plants both for her room and her office. She arranges them as a frame for her bedroom window. After an entire day at the office, she waters these flowering and ornamental plants. Both of them bring in plants into the house and declare that these are good for our health. Most will say that, yes, this is so because of the oxygen from these green friends. But its more than the oxygen; its also the healthful process of nurturing.
This reminds of a time when a session with an alternative healer resulted in a prescription of taking care of child for some time each day for a period of time. And it worked!
Comfort can also be found in a group of faithful friends. They provide a good dose of listening. They also share lots of humorous anecdotes that make us heartily laugh even to the point of tears.
But then the opposite — solitude and silence can also lead to serenity and joy. These provide rest, especially to the mind which often wants to keep busy with thoughts competing with each other. Conscious sensation is one way I go about this. At times I drop everything behind to just look, and look, and look without letting thoughts intervene. I simply plunge into a variety of visual delights, as I keep breathing deeply.
On other times I go into listening instead. As I walk home from church I listen intently to mostly animal sounds of the morning as again I breathe deeply.
Then there is the absolute surrender of sitting quietly, breathing deeply, being open to the Divine Spirit. We need this kind of rest for the health of our mind, heart, our entire self.