This ancient wood statue of Guanyin, in a unique pose, could give us the idea that she’s wondering, “what’s next”? Many of us can certainly relate to this as we may feel perplexed about the mercurial nature of life. Alternating between experiencing resistance to the unknown while at other times embracing and resting in the liberation of not having to know.
It is natural to have the desire to orchestrate the unfolding of our lives. However, if we have learned anything these past several months, it is that we do not have the ability to know what’s next or how we will navigate forward.
With the help of our qigong practice we are becoming more proficient at adapting to frequent changes, small and large. Our practices hone our abilities to stay grounded, centered and kind for the best benefit of all, including ourselves. It is in this arena that Guanyin, the goddess of mercy and compassion, can be a supportive symbol.
Guanyin is revered as a giver of comfort to all who suffer. She is often depicted as a graceful being, dressed in fine, white flowing robes, with a small vase of holy dew in one hand. Her features convey sublime femininity along with selflessness and compassion. You may like to visualize an image of Guanyin during your qigong practice or anytime you would like the internal experience of comfort and compassion.
These days we may sense a nudge to get back to how things were. We may also sense resistance to resuming our previous life schedule. Creating a new way of life or even just nurturing this inbetween time for a while longer may have a stronger pull. My husband saw the image of Guanyin and commented that it looked to him as though she was waiting for something. Could this be a precious opportunity to stay inward and simply wait?
During this continued time of change we can connect with Guanyin’s mercy, compassion and kindness during qigong or anytime to reduce anxiety and strengthen our immune system. Deeper gratitude and creativity will also be awakened. Guanyin is an early promoter of self-care! Just like we put our intentions in the qi field we can hold Guanyin there for us as well.
What message do you receive from this image of Guanyin?
