09/08/2020
My daily ritual - Orla and I head up to the heath, she swims in the dog ponds and then sits patiently whilst I go into the human ponds. Orla is never short of attention, the lifeguards and swimmers get their therapeutic morning cuddles.
Having my therapy dogs and companions by my side is something super special. The godfather of psychotherapy, Mr Freud was renowned for always having his 2 dogs by his side at work because of the calming effect over people. Freud’s dog Jofi had an internal clock & she would alert Freud when his sessions were up. At exactly 50 mins Jofi would stand up, stretch and head to the door, letting Freud know it was time to wrap things up.
The research shows that people with dogs not only live longer but have lower blood pressure, decreased anxiety and depression. I wholeheartedly concur with Freud who thought that dogs have the ability to read people’s emotional states and are great judges of character.
Swimming in the ponds is a haven of peak experiences, sacred, healing space. I’m a Piscean - emotional, mystical, empathic & imaginative. A peak experience is an altered state of consciousness, characterised by euphoria. Peak experiences (Maslow) are described as “rare, exciting, oceanic, deeply moving, exhilarating, elevating experiences that generate an advanced form of perceiving reality and are mystical and magical in their effect. Peak experiences are not necessarily about what the activity is, but the ecstatic, blissful feeling that is being experienced during it. The emotions involved in peak experiences are, wonder, awe, reverence, humility & surrender.
The truth, beauty, wholeness, aliveness, simplicity, richness in an individual peak experience may include a loss of judgement to time or space, the feeling of being one whole and harmonious self, free of dissociation or inner conflict. Being without inhibition, fear, doubt, and self-criticism.
A naturally flowing behaviour that is not constrained by conformity.
A free mind that is flexible and open to creative thoughts and ideas.
Complete presence and mindfulness.
Despite being immersed in cold water, a physical feeling of warmth, along with a sensation of pleasant vibrations emanating from the heart area outwards.
Swimming alongside the ducks, within the woodland and trees - a feeling of oneness and expansion. Cold water swimming -boosts your immune system, activating endorphins, a natural high. It improves your circulation & reduces stress.
Water - there is nothing else so amazing on this planet as water. No living organism can survive without water. The water has no shape, yet it takes on any shape.
The hidden healing properties of this magic thing called water is that it entangles with human consciousness and emotion.
It has been proven that positive words, positive belief system, beautiful sounds change the shape of water crystals. Our tears are water.
In the words of Justin Timberlake “Cry me a River”
