Jambo Healthy Peeps! let’s go on a henna journey…
WOW!!! today is my henna day and to that i can most succinctly say “beautiful.” i henna about once a month and each time the experience is more profound. as you probably know there are many ways to meditate and henna is one of my favorite meditation techniques. in fact, i do my best meditation when i’m doing the most mundane things. of course i’m a yogi and most would assume that i meditate all day sitting in lotus, but that is so far from my truth. i see an opportunity to meditate in the most unusual things and experiences.
now let’s go on a henna journey…
so, my henna day has pretty much become a ritual. first i make the henna paste allowing spirit to lead the way so it’s not really the same each time. though today i mix henna with a cup of acv, a cup of distilled water, about 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp conditioner. then stirring until i’m satisfied i let it sit as i sat then when moved to proceed i made my way to the bathroom for the application.
i first removed everything from the counter, dressed the bathroom to shield it from the paste, applied oil to the edges of my hair, draped myself with a towel, let my hair down, put on the plastic gloves then began. now as i’m applying the thick, muddy henna paste onto my hair i’m suddenly obsessively intrigued by the color, texture, scent and sound of the paste. i’m transported somewhere else and so totally in bliss with each strand of hair such that i have a heightened awareness of the love and care that i give to each strand. like a mother, i go the extra mile to make sure that each strand receives an adequate amount of nourishment, feels equally loved, is strong, well-grounded, and ready to face the elements. i feel power in each stroke. i feel a higher sense of knowing. heck it just felt so damn good just to “feel.” lol
then my attention is drawn away from the strands and i look in the mirror and see me. i see myself with this gooey, pastey, muddy… stuff all over my head and specks of it on my face and i see the most beautiful crown. i see the most beautiful me. beyond the mud, beyond the many strands and layers that make up who i am, beyond the dressings and shields.. after removing all of the distractions. i see…me
i learn the most profound lesson from today’s henna journey. i learn to see the strands beyond the mud, beyond the distractions.. i learn to take them in MY hands, love them, do the work to nurture them, then watch them grow. i also learn that i am so many strands and that there is no end as new strands grow everyday. this journey is infinite and right now is absolutely beautiful! i can’t wait for next month’s discovery!
what about you other henna heads out there? have you gone on a henna journey? how was it?
sunflower smooches!
amirah (aka blissfully mindful)
