In the Buddhist tradition “Phansa” is the rainy season—typically July, August, and September. During this window of time, monks stay indoors to study, meditate, and teach. This practice stems from when Buddha stayed inside to avoid stepping on and killing insects and seedlings.
I’m fascinated by this tradition. However, with owning a healing practice and teaching, taking a three month hiatus simply isn’t prudent.
Last fall Terrill Welch over at Creative Potager posed the sprout question, “Where are you finding sublime bliss today?”
Shorty thereafter, Catie Manning over at As Told by CatMan – The Rose Bandit asked, “How do you get rid of stress?”
My answer to both was the same—in the shower.
It’s here that I take a mini Rain Retreat. Pulling in a Rubbermaid footstool, I sit with my back to the shower-head, and wholly relax as the hot water pelts my neck and shoulders, washing any physical tension right down the drain. The emotional tension melts away as I practice my personal version of metta:
I visualize myself as a smooth pebble that’s been tossed into a still pond. The pebble—me—produces a gentle ripple effect on the calm surface. The first time I say the metta, I start with myself. Then each consecutive time I replace “I” with the next person in my life—the next ring out—and so on.
It looks something like this: me, Len, our son, Kayley, individual family members, individual friends, neighbors, clients—you get the idea—until I end with,
“May all beings…”
May I live in safety
May I be healthy—body, mind, and spirit
May I live with ease
May I listen more than I speak
May my motivation be positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing
May I interact with kindness and respect
May my constant companions be peace of mind and joy
May laughter reside in my heart
Where do you go to retreat?
“Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing.”
— Laurie Buchanan
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© 2012 Laurie Buchanan– All Rights Reserved
Tuesdays with Laurie 
Sorry the photo distracted me, I was waiting for scary music, via Alfred Hictcock !
Great idea, we don’t have a shower per se, but running water of our self is a good way to cleanse…
I was just watching a video on clearing the energy in your house or room which suggested first to clean the clutter, fluff the pillows, wash your cloths, place salt around the room for 6 hours, of course then you have to clean that up too…
You know I retreat on my walks with my doggies and my camera…
Jeff – Your comment made me laugh. I think the scary movie that you’re referring to had a shower curtain (as opposed to a glass door). That’s what made it even scarier. The audience knew that something bad was going to happen, it was the woman in the shower who was unaware. And yes, I’ve been on the receiving end of many wonderful photograph viewings after you, Riley, and Muffin have returned from a walk 🙂
Of course laughter is a form of cleansing too!
Jeff – I couldn’t agree with you more 🙂
Laurie one of the most favorite things in my life now is my shower!!! After living without a bathroom for such a long period of time, I truly LOVE my shower and send out appreciative thoughts to the universe each day when I lather up.
Ok time to get going. I’m taking a vacation day today to go to doctors. My feet are not cooperating at all. Time for a cortisone shot have a nice day!
Beth – I can well imagine that you’re in love with your shower after such a long hiatus. I sure hope your foot feels better soon!
Thank you for this! Lovely. I, too, use the shower to cleanse body and mind! During a particularly difficult time in my life, I was taking five showers a day. 🙂
Celeste – I just knew there had to be other people out there who were aware of this beneficial practice 🙂
Hi Laurie,
Showers are a great place to de-stress. Years ago I was in the musical “South Pacific” and Nellie (a female lead) sings a song “Gonna Wash that Man Right Outta My Hair” – I have often done that in real life – it’s not always a MAN, but anyone who has caused me stress, or any situation – I just wash it outta my hair! I love symbolism! 🙂
I like to have my “phansa” now, in winter, hunkered down with study, reading, writing etc. Don’t need all that many showers! 🙂
Hugs
suZen
SuZen – I remember the musical, the song, and the great symbolism! Thank you for your visit today, I always appreciate it when you swing by 🙂
i LOVE this!
Anaturalfire – Welcome to Speaking from the Heart. I’m glad you enjoyed this post, thank you for letting me know.
Laurie you and I must have been standing under the same universal water drop the past 24 hours! I have done a call-and-answer reply post to your contribution here today. Thank you kindly for your mention and in a pinch I have used the shower for this same purpose. In desperation I have used a bathroom or kitchen sink or a creek to put my hands under and release tension back into the earth. All the best of today to you my friend!
Terrill – I’m heading over to Creative Potager oh-so-shortly to see your call-and-answer Thank You in advance 🙂
Water is nourishing for me too……shower, bath, pool. Love your personal version of metta. Thank you, Laurie.
Winsomebella – I’m glad you resonate with my personal version of metta, thank you for letting me know. And as always, thank you for dropping by.
I never thought of this before, but realize I do that, but with a hot bath which also eases out the tension and stress in my body. It is a special time when I thank God for his many blessings. It is my Gratitude Retreat.
Also, I have a fasting retreat where I have quiet time here at home, as I fast, pray, read, and listen for inspiration and guidance. It truly refreshes and makes my day better.
Ann – Your bathtub Gratitude Retreat sounds just as effective as a Rain Retreat. As always, I’m glad for your visit 🙂
Hi,
I live in the tropics so I love going to the countryside where there is a slow running creek and I dangle my feet in and let the water flow over, so cold, so refreshing, so peaceful. 🙂
Magsx2 – Feet dangling in a slow running creek in the tropics…oh, that sounds absolutely delicious! If I were “I Dream of Jeannie” I think I’d blink myself out of the snow and there right now 🙂
oh yes Laurie,
water is the best way to de stress and relax.
I have become some what of a fancy soap collector now, now that I shop at Tuesday Mornings and have found all these great soaps from Italy and France. My favorite in the one made with Olive Oil.
Deep breathe and splashes at you,
~Jean
http://jeansheartbeat.blogspot.com/
Jean – Splashes right back atcha 🙂 I believe I’ve seen a “Tuesday Mornings” here in town and I’ve never been in. But now that you tell me they have great soaps from Italy and France, you can be sure I’ll stop by there soon.
I live with an architect and when we moved into this house with a big claw foot bathtub he let me decorate that little bathroom. I took a Renoir painting of flowers and had wall paper made, then wainscoting white on the bottom half of the walls and around the tub. I had a friend make a potters table to hold the sink, which is a glass meditation bowl and put in contemporary hand pumps for the faucets. Tile floor in a barn brown and rough. Then my eldest daughter made a chair for a school project as the pilgrims would have made do…
I fill the tub full and just soak and de stress….sometimes with music, sometimes with essential oils ….
I will say after this storm and the scary tree falling almost on my house…I can feel all the fear and tension in my muscles still….I think I would need a meditative walk first before the bath….but reading is helping until the ice gives up a path…
Nice post…thank you for sharing
Patricia – I love the word picture you painted of your bathroom — it sounds fantastic! Many years (more than three decades) ago when I lived in Washington state I had a claw foot tub — it was ginormous (you could practically swim in it). I loved soaking in it. I’m so glad to know that you and yours are okay after this last storm.
Oh
I think you know a few of mine
Love this idea
Prayer in the rain!!!!
I will try it…….smile
Kim – Give it a go, you’ll be glad you did 🙂
Oh my goodness Laurie you showed a picture of yourself in the shower! *grin* Love this!
Kathy – I just knew I’d get a *grin* from the woman who doesn’t hesitate taking photos in public restrooms 🙂 I’m glad you arrived safe and sound in Florida. Soak up the sun!
Laurie, I can retreat almost anywhere and shut out the world . Since I travel a lot on buses and trains I gradually imagine there are lots of copies of me sitting on the spare seats, or sitting on the roof, or sometimes flying along outside – they are like my “meditation army” that amplify my thoughts, normally sending them to my friends – I stole that idea from Jimmy Page who overdubbed songs many times to produce his “guitar army”.
My positive thoughts seem to look after my friends, that is the most important thing.
Kevin – I love the idea of a meditation army, cool!
Sounds very nice!
Fergiemoto – I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment.
I can almost FEEL that hot shower drizzling down MY back Laurie, washing away alllllllllllll the stuck energy, stopped emotion and revitalizing my very essence. Thank you for reminding me that I too can do this. . . every day!!
Alison – You’re very welcome for the reminder 🙂
I love my shower… It is the place where I talk to myself….
Savira – I’m glad you resonate with this post 🙂
When it’s not raining–boy can I relate to the monks–I walk down to my park bench. Okay, it’s not really “mine”. In fact, the plaque has someone else’s name on it. But each day at … o’clock it becomes mine. I sit there and write, mediate, enjoy the view, and… I return to the world with a heart full of wonder.
Leanne – Your retreat bench sounds very therapeutic.
I’m fortunate to live less than five minutes away from The Grotto, a Servite monastery built on a natural rock grotto. When I’m stressed, I go and wander the grounds, among the firs and ferns and flowers. Never ceases to ease my mind. Also, I live in Portland, so I’m all about water as a relaxer–why, I believe there’s some falling from the sky at this very minute!
Charlotte – Years ago I lived in Washougal, Washington, just a hop-skip-and-a-jump across the Columbia River from Portland and The Grotto. Gosh, but it’s a small world. I’m glad you visited Speaking from the Heart from the beautiful land of liquid sunshine 🙂
I find my showers invigorating – all my best ideas pop into my head in the shower. For stress relief I give myself Reiki, and repeat affirmations similar to the ones you use in the shower. Bliss…
Barbara – I agree that showers can be invigoratingly relaxing — a great way to start and/or end a day 🙂
Oh, if only some recording mogul could hear my singing in the shower….mmm… maybe not.
January and February are the months that I let it out and just chill. March begins the winding up process and it culminates at Christmas. With the new Grandson arriving this week and the drama that goes with that maybe I’ll just sleep through February, a nice hibernation.
Sandi – I’m so excited for the birth of Jordan, whoohoo! And with all the anxious waiting that surrounded his arrival, I think you would do well to hibernate through February and then hit the ground running in March 🙂
The idea of retreat no longer really applies to me.
It is more the idea of balance.
I love being with my family, in my home.
I love to play golf.
I love to go for a walk in the mountains.
I love to stand at the kitchen window and watch the ocean and the ocean life.
So I attempt to balance my life with all of these things.
Ted – Your balanced lifestyle description sounds blissful 🙂
I also though of that (in) famous Hitchcock movie Laurie! But love the photo! There’s little to match a hot shower for meditative reflextion and just plain old recharging those batteries. I will say that the shower is the place I often go to as well, though I also lean back on my PC recliner, close my eyes and take a break!
Sam – You and Len are similar in that you can catch some Z’s in a recliner. I haven’t yet discovered how to accomplish that trick, but I’m working on it 🙂
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