cardinal call

 

I was pleased to make my debut in Wales Haiku Journal with this cardinal ku. This one came to me during the winter of 2022. For the season of Advent I went outside each morning to see the sunrise and practice Zhan Zhuang "standing like a tree," a traditional qigong stance. You stand with your feet hips distance apart facing forward and your knees slightly bent as you hold your arms in a relaxed circle as if you are holding a beach ball or hugging a tree. Then you relax your shoulders and let your elbows be lower than your wrists. The point of the exercise is to relax into the stance and allow the qi to circulate smoothly and freely through your body and to allow the qi to hold you, rather than relying on muscle strength. Easier said than done! In the picture below you may be able to see the small spruce tree I am standing in front of and the larger spruce a little further away in the woods. As I stood and breathed, I imagined exchanging qi, oxygen, and carbon dioxide with these trees who are both former Christmas trees. 

One morning as I was standing with my granddog Gus, breathing and communing, (and, on Gus's part, waiting patiently for the walk that would follow) the red pin prick of the sun came up on the horizon just as a cardinal called nearby. It was as if the cardinal summoned the sun or the sun summoned the cardinal. Either way, I was there to witness it and to respond to the summons by capturing this sacred moment with a few humble syllables. 🌲🌄♥️❄️

Photo by Kevin from the kitchen window