Back in 2008, my former wife Virginia, bought a Qigong (pronounced chee-gong) DVD in Portland. She was interested in the health benefits of this ancient Chinese practice (like the more popular Tai chi, Qigong is a form of meditation with movement). It was a great video by Francesco Garripoli and his wife Daisy and included a documentary on the history and practice of Qigong in China. We watched it a few times in Portland before we moved Honolulu, but we never really practiced it regularly.
When my Mom got terminal cancer in April 2009, I took her to a Chinese herbalist who suggested she take up Qigong along with the teas and herbs he prescribed. Coincidently, we just happened to have a Qigong DVD, so we practiced the different forms and exercises with my Mom for several months. I'm not sure she fully understood the philosophy behind Qigong, but it was relaxing to her and gave her a sense that she was doing something other than "waiting to die." I do attribute part of my Mom's peaceful passing to the Qigong and the relaxation work Virginia did with her.
A few months later, Virginia returned to Portland and took the DVD with her. I had always intended to continue doing Qiong for the ongoing health benefits but never got around to replacing the DVD.
This past weekend, I decided to attend the Body, Mind & Spirit Expo at the Hawaii Convention Center. While going through the booths of mystics, palm readers, herbalist and chiropractors, I came to the booth of Inspiration Magazine, a wellness journal published in Hawaii. Next to the magazines was a display of Qigong DVD's by Francesco Garripoli. As I picked up one of the DVD's to read the back of it, I felt a chill up my back.
I looked up, and there he was, Francesco Garripoli himself. I told him the story of my mother and how much I thought the Qigong helped her. We hit it off immediately, like long lost brothers reconnecting after decades of separation. I found out he runs a non-profit organization on Kaua'i (www.kahunavalley.org) and is connected to several of my high school classmates. We exchanged cards and I vowed to help him promote his organization and his work, a small repayment for the impact he's had on the end of my Mom's life and my own life. Just from the connection of our energies, I can tell this is a person I will be connected to for a long time.
The experience left me thinking about "coincidences." Why did Virginia choose Francesco's DVD among all the others? Why did I decide to take my Mom to a Chinese herbalist? Why did the herbalist recommend Qigong? The original DVD has been gone for a year and half, why did I decide to replace it now? Why did I decide to go the Expo this weekend when I've never gone to one before? What's the chances Francesco would be in booth at the moment I got there?
The truth (as I see it) is that it was all supposed to happen that way. Most psychics who can connect to "the other side" say we come into this world with a huge cast of characters that are designed to teach us lessons on how to fully appreciate and fully live life. A lot of the lessons are painful and unpleasant. But we gain wisdom and understanding from these characters that are already part of our pre-determined life path. The difficult lessons get repeated over and over until we get them (that's why challenging people keep showing up).
You've heard the phrase, "there are no accidents" and if you don't believe that, take a minute and review the path of your life (if you still see yourself as a victim, you have to put that aside for a minute). Why did you have the parents you did? Why did certain people arrive at certain critical times in your life? What are the lessons your children are trying to teach you? Why did certain circumstances happen when they did? Why did you choose to go through one door and not the other?
We live life to the level in which we understand it and countless people, circumstances and experiences keep pushing us to higher levels of awareness and that's why Francesco arrived in my life right at this time. He has things to teach me if I'm open and willing to learn.
Who's bringing the lessons in your life right now? Are you open and willing?
There are days I feel that I am going backwards but I do keep trying to move forward! I know I have many more lessons to learn and I also know that I may not be worthy of all the love and support I have had recently.
ReplyDeleteI just hope I can recognize a true opportunity when it shows up at my door.
Thank you for the awareness and mindfulness to open our hearts and minds to lessons each and every day. I don't believe in luck, I believe it was meant to be...
ReplyDelete