I’ve been in bed sick with a nasty throat infection for the whole past week.

Initially, I was anxious that I had contracted the dreaded Coronavirus that has triggered global alarm. Only last Friday, the first official case was reported just outside of Portland, Oregon where I live. Then I read more and discovered that I had none of the respiratory challenges that are described in the onset symptoms. With that fear relieved, I settled down to deal with whatever it was that I did have.

Praise the Lord and Chinese medicine that I am on the mend. It was pure divine timing that I already had an appointment with my naturopathic doctor and acupuncturist first thing Wednesday morning. It’s Saturday now, and my throat feels 75% less swollen and painful. I’m imagining my immune system having gone through an upgrade as a result of successfully transiting this illness without the use of antibiotics. My body has just received a DNA update from the outside world in the form of whatever bacteria or virus was infecting me. Now I am better equipped to face the outside world and its sophisticated hosts of viruses, parasites, and bacteria.

My energy is still very low. I’m still in bed. My latest victory is that I had the appetite to eat my first real breakfast since Monday. My big goals for today are to change these sheets on my bed and to take a shower. If I feel frisky later, I might even take a walk.

The mix that I’m sharing in this post very much has the flavor of this most recent journey to wellness for me. At this moment, I am enjoying the section that starts at 31:37 minutes. It’s based on a male Andean voice singing in Spanish. The music feels very much like going a long arduous journey with determination and gratitude. It’s hard work getting anywhere in the Andes, especially by foot. The people of this region have grown strong, patient, and tenacious.

I hear this voice, and I’m reminded of the strength of my ancestors who come through Mexico. I don’t know much about them except most of them were indigenous to the Americas. When I hear indigenous voices like the ones featured on this sound mix, I feel something powerful rising in my DNA. I receive messages of strength and the tenacious will to persevere against whatever seems to be standing in my way.

What stands in my way the most?

Feelings of disconnection, self-criticism that I don’t do enough, and thoughts that this life is meaningless without relentless achievement. When I feel weak, nefarious thoughts take the opportunity to prey on my mind. In bright contrast, when I hear these melodies and voices of indigenous people, something ancient and primal gets released from deep within me.

I have the power to outlast insidious and destructive thoughts.

I can feel the earth beneath my feet, and there is great power in the earth. The earth is alive. She holds me in her own body as one of her own. My ancestors knew this.

I am connected to all of creation through the earth. What a rare privilege to be alive and to breath in the air. If I did nothing else but breath and take care of this precious body all my life, that would be enough. Everything else is a plus.

When I take care of my body, I begin to think better feeling thoughts. I feel like someone important is home, because I am at home in my body. Yesterday, it was a joy to realize that even though I was still sick, I felt grateful for the ability to hang out with myself some more. I also love others more. I get more selective about who I spend my time with, and I really look forward to seeing whoever I am honored to receive. The people I love, I truly love, and I hold them in my heart everywhere I roam. I consider their lives; I feel their challenges, and I learn from their strengths.

There is no end to how good this life can be when I take care of my body. I discover that it doesn’t take much to be happy. An hour ago, one of my best friends sent me a picture of a cherry blossom tree beginning to bud in our favorite sacred spot, and I felt the highest privilege of what it feels like to sit in the sanctum of someone else’s heart. Another friend brought me bone broth that she had just made herself. My mom has called throughout my illness to get updates on how I am doing. Two sweet friends visited me at the height of my illness just to let me know I was loved. I do not take my belonging for granted.

I open the blinds and marvel at the clouds- moisture comes from afar to greet me. I will have my hands in the dirt of my garden soon. I will walk and speak my thoughts aloud to the trees again, and they will answer me that this life is its own precious reward. Nothing more is needed than to live with gratitude.

When the heart is grateful, it opens and feeds all those around it with beauty just as the beautiful voices of this featured mix feeds me. There are few parts of this music mix that I am not so fond of, but isn’t that like life? I’m not so fond of being sick either, but being sick serves its purpose. It releases the strength of my ancestors from my blood and bones into my waking consciousness.

Today is a day of healing for my throat and body and for so many of the bodies of this beautiful world. I hear the voice of my ancestors calling across time and space. I am held in the arms of their constant vigilance. Through my DNA and through music, their voices have the power to reach me. I am the living echo of all their most cherished hopes and dreams.

May my life be the manifestation of peace they paid for with limb, sweat, and blood.
So may it be for you, for me, and for us, my friend.