Photo courtesy of
Roberto Duse
I woke at 3:45 am but allowed myself to return to sleep until 4:15 am. Rose and began Qi Gong session. Energy was flowing gently and I found myself wanting to rush through the exercises so that I could sit and get to my guitar. Interesting how this rushing energy shows up during such a gentle activity. Where does this come from? Is it my mind seeing another task added to my morning list just wanting to check things off? Or is it my emotions that were so nourished by yesterdays work wanting to quickly arrive at some destination, neglecting the fact that the journey is the path?
Fortunately since I have been practicing Qi Gong before my sitting for enough years now, I did not cave in and rush. At one point during my sitting I found my neck was pretty locked up. Gently loosening, I recalled
Frank’s instruction during our recent Alexander Technique classes at the course in Sassoferrato, and brought my attention to my rib cage. Following my breath while sensing the movement of my rib cage I noticed that my neck was now relaxed. I just paused now for a minute to check in with this, ironically after gently following my breath for a minute I found myself sucking in a big in breath as I began to type again. I saw this when getting to perform one day last week when
Sandra had been working with me. I was so relaxed and then this habit of gulping in lots of air in anticipation of a task asserts itself.
6:15 am
Into the basement and I picked up my guitar. Standing I gently played through Gathered Hearts as I was not warmed up. Noticing how the guitar felt on my body as I am testing my most recent strap change. The Godin is a heavy instrument and its weight has been bothering my left shoulder. Having used the Ovation for two weeks prior to the course and then during the course, I prefer the playability of the Godin and just need to find a way to distribute this on my body without injury or to find another instrument.
After the first play through I sat on my stool, looking at how the strap change impacts this my preferred playing position. A bit problematic with how the guitar comes to my body here, so another slight adjustment is needed, may be to change the height of the stool. I knew I needed to focus my listening so I found a note, an Eb, and played this gently, allowing it to ring until I could not hear the note anymore. I repeated this eleven times, slowly increasing the volume each time. I then began Gathered Hearts again, this time my tone was richer. A run through of Kinnara and then back to work on a chord change that has been bothering me in Gathered. I noticed that in anticipating this chord change, I am tensing my left shoulder prior to the move. How often do I do this? Could be part or all of the shoulder issues I have recently had.
I decided to do an AT lie down even though I was still relaxed from my morning sitting. As soon as my back hit the floor I noticed the tension in the middle part of my spine. Lying on the floor, releasing and allowing my back to lengthen and widen. My mind wandered to the photo of St. Francis that Roberto Duse took at the monastery last week (above.) I thought of the St. Francis Prayer which begins “ Make me an instrument of your peace,” a worthy aim for a musician I suppose.
Off the floor to run through Livin’ the Dream, while working with standing and taking in the whole room. Again recalling the photo I had a gentle reminder of what is my instrument projecting – be it peace, love, or joy? Much work lies ahead, but all is possible.
7:50 pm
Ready to begin my evening practice. Last night there was a lightness to my practice, certainly influenced by my early morning session. This mornings session again positively impacted my professional work. Seems to be forming a bridge in my musical pursuit and may be taking pressure off what I wish to accomplish in the evening. Will continue the adventure in the morning. Stay tuned.
