i’m a dirty, dirty girl. have returned from shifting large mounds of earth around. it was special mud, though. ok, now i do just sound completely insane. i’ve actually been on an archaeological dig.
Scotland somewhat lacking in kilt wearing Archie MacDonald/Hamish Macbeth types, unfortunately. that’s what i get for basing holiday plans on TV programs. admittedly, this wasn’t the only basis for my plans but it was a significant weight in Scotland’s favour. great beer makes up for it.
was super sunny. i have a tan — highly unusual since i don’t normally appear to be on speaking terms with the sun. and by tan i mean my forearms no longer look translucent. it’s all relative. am sporting an impressive array of bruises as well.
my days were spent camping in a damp field where the sun never set, bordered by Port-a-loos that needed 4 levels of bio-hazard containment procedures. spent most of my time moving layers of topsoil and clay from one hole to a neat heap, meanwhile uncovering miscellaneous rather old bits of bone, ceramics, flint, nails etc. and by old i mean occasionally prehistoric, more often mediaeval.
repeated that for 6 hours, got incredibly drunk, passed out in nearest tent. got up, did it all again. i realise i’m a little warped for finding this masses of fun.
i did learn about patience — which, frankly, the universe has been kicking my butt to do for quite some time. i’m hoping it will help me feel less frustrated. does anyone else get that? a near persistent urge to grab yourself and shake the overwhelming, pounding, nonsensical yet strangely nebulous pain/fear/tension out?
it doesn’t go away, is the thing.
sometimes all i want is a rest. the digging was good for that. my brain shuts up when i’m intent upon one single, simple task. and too tired for anything else to get in or out.
it’s a pleasant change, only i’ve to go back to ‘normal’. i’m hoping that i’ll carry a little of that purposefulness with me because i know it better now. it’s more intimate. mental muscle memory?
and maybe it’s a friend, too?
i want to grow into that friendship but i seem to grow sideways most of the time. keeps me on my toes, i suppose but i’m not sure they were designed for it exactly.
I am glad your enjoying yourself and i love that picture…..as far as doing mindless tasks that allow the brain to rest there is a Zen/Buddhist guy ( i wont even try and spell his name) that talks of mindfulness and says that when you are washing the dishes, wash the dishes, don’t think about what you will do afterwards or anything else but washing the dishes….i dont do this well but when i do i realize that when i am not focused on what i am doing i am wasting thoughts on things that usually have little basis in reality
have a safe trip CK
cheers, Jerry!
yeah, ‘chop wood, carry water’, or the modern equivalent thereof.
All I can say is, Watch the back! You only get one of them.
good advice, Doc. i was very grateful for my yoga, and even with that, i felt things need to crack more often than one would like.
That is actually incredibly cool.. I’ve always been fascinated by that stuff!I’m glad your brain shut up for awhile!
What an interesting vacation CK! And I can see how focusing your mind on one thing would be peace creating, along with the manual labour. Love the picture of Scotland too – it looks so cool and green. Ellen
What a great experience! Yes, getting down in the dirt / soil / earth will soothe the monkey-mind like nothing else. My personal fave is a looong walk — just motoring along, lost in the rhythm of moving … It’s heaven to a body and being that are usually frozen …
You’re onto something important by sensing that shaking the body helps to dislodge and release some of the habitual tension … Peter A. Levine, who wrote the book “Taming the Tiger”, writes of the natural shaking mechanism that fires up in an animal who has survived being chased / preyed at … The muscles go into “release mode” –> the entire body trembles, shakes … It’s an inherent release of tension and excess energy … Humans tend to not do this … we tend to supress / repress this natural reaction …
Sometimes I just put on some fabulous music — Lately, Michael Jackson’s “So You Wanna Be Starting Something” — and I shake all over — shake everything just for the joy of being able to do it. My husband laughs his head off watching me — :-D
The shaking is definitely a friend … It makes us feel alive … makes us feel every boundary of our bodies, and shoots vital energy through us …
Shake on, sister! :-)
There is something grounding about the Earth. Dave Matthews has that song “Digging in the Dirt.” I just mowed all the weeds around my pool for the friends we’re having over tomorrow and it had a similar effect. Gratifying.
Dear CK,
Sounds like a wonderful trip. Actually the way you’re describing your dig is the same way I feel when gardening. It’s amazingly therapeutic when you’re digging in the dirt and focusing on doable tasks.
My husband and I were in Scotland about 20 years ago, and just loved it. It is so beautiful!
Susan
I’m glad you had a good time. I’ve been hillwalking in Scotland all my life, yet I still get fulfilment from the weary focus at the end of every long day. It’s a peaceful and sheltered place. But I find it doesn’t last – usually stops at the city walls. (Mental muscle amnesia?) I hope you’re managing to maintain some of that purposefulness anyway. Or does it seem like a lifetime ago already…?
Glad you had fun, luvvie. Sounds like a blast, even with all the dirt and the patience ;)
That sounds incredibly fun to me, too! How exciting! I’m glad you got a chance to do something like that. How cool!
I know what you mean about the quieting effect on the mind. I’ve been enjoying that with a landscaping project I’ve been working on in my back yard. Moving lots of rocks around. Yay! ;)