"Waking Up"
Post #36. Warner's River Report for April, 2022.
Pictured is Kla Ha Ya Park alongside the Snohomish Riverfront Trail where I do 24-form tai chi chuan every morning ever since my wife, Karen, and I moved into our renovated church — the first Catholic church in Snohomish County — at the turn of the Millennium.
The oldest element in our historic town is pretty much ignored most days until it flows free of its boundaries — then we come to watch the Snohomish River.
Over the years, I have adopted Kla Ha Ya Park, a riverfront park below First Street between Avenues B and C in Historic Downtown Snohomish, as a place to practice 24-form tai chi. It’s a place to appreciate the historic beginnings of our town, and I’m not alone these days. Since the flooding began on the winter solstice (pictured above), people have been coming to check out the rising river. Some stand with their toes right up to the edge, others further back to snap a wide shot to share on social media.
A Valentine’s Day snowfall and I had never practiced tai chi in falling snow … amazing how quiet it was and how alone I felt.
[video]
When COVID shut down teaching tai chi at the Monroe Y, I continued alone in the park and over the months developed a warm-up exercise of Cloud Hands for the 24-forms. It was during the times of high water when the river is full and the flow is strong that my warm-up exercise became Cloud Hands Meditation, a stand-alone experience for meditation.
“Meditation” is the subject of “Waking Up” by Sam Harris. I learned of him and the book from Karen, teacher/owner of the Yoga Circle Studio, who also has the online app “Waking Up” and shares with me the one-minute moments that come throughout the day, every day, bite-size thoughts, very easy.
Unlike the book which is thick with weeds. Harris has made intriguing paths through the weeds, and sometimes there is a welcomed clearing — as on page 124:
“The goal of meditation is to uncover a form of well-being that is inherant to the nature of our minds. It must, therefore, be available in the context of ordinary sights, sounds, sensations, and even thoughts. Peak experiences are fine, but real freedom must be coincident with normal waking life.”
[video]
With masks optional for outdoor gatherings and the light getting longer, now is the time to invite you to join me on Saturday mornings, at 8:08, beginning May 7, for a show-and-tell of Cloud Hands Meditation in Kla Ha Ya Park, located next door to Proper Joe Coffeeshop, but just below First Street.
Using the flow of the river as a meditation aid the goal is to reach 15 minutes of meditating. And it’s Free: To Show-up is to Sign-up!
Follow along 24-form tai chi chuan is included if you wish to stay.
See you there, Kla Ha Ya Park, Saturday mornings, 8:08 hours ~w.
[ps: For readers far away, find a river and follow along with future videos.]
Alright Warner, I'm gonna join you. And I think I share your love/hate with Sam Harris: when he's clear, he's very clear, but when he's dense, he's vexing. Or something like that!