Sweat Lodge Confessions: If you Need a Moment, Steal It

art journal entry

Hello Muffins!* Last week I was scared shitless. My band was supposed to perform at a well publicized show in less than 48 hours and it was a Worst Case Scenario: Laryngitis. Full blown loss of voice. All I could do was make mousy wheezy sounds. I panicked. At least if I had broken both of my legs I could still get up and sing. We had been boot camp rehearsing for weeks night after night--I felt helpless.

So now what?

After a little research I discovered that Laryngitis can't be cured with drugs. It requires rest. So I took a Vow of Quiet. I turned my apartment into a sweat lodge--boiling lavender water until the windows fogged, letting the steam relax my throat while gargling gallons of saline solution and zinc lozenges. I spoke as little as possible to rest my voice.

For those two days I remained quiet and I began to notice an interesting transformation: the sounds in my building became more acute, the tension in my shoulders dropped, sleep came easily, my steps became lighter and was suddenly more aware and relaxed than I had been in weeks.

There was medicine in the quiet.

So I write this for all of you who need a moment to recharge, a moment to heal.
Steal a moment to be still. :)
Where do you go or what do you do to find the quiet?