Floating

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We spent 3 nights 4 days very recently at a privately owned non-commercial game farm in the eastern part of our country (a 6 hour drive) at the invitation of a girlfriend who turned 70 the other day. It borders on the Kruger National Park and fancy lodges like Londolozi & Mala Mala, 

We’ve been many times over the years at the family’s kind invitation, from when my boys were small …

Although the drought is severe, the animals looked well and strong. I took photos and even a video with my cell phone. This was on our first landrover drive, in the coolth of the evening –elle_alicecot

On our 2nd evening, I took this photo of the sunset out on the plains – the clouds seemed to be floating –

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I spent 10 years travelling between Johannesburg and The Midlands, Natal, to the boarding school my boys attended. A 41/2 drive there and same back. Most times on my own, sometimes with my husband. Beautiful countryside, and those mountains! As my elder son left, so my younger one began high school the following year.

Close to the school is a spa – in my younger son’s last year, about 12 years ago, I thought it was about time to treat myself. 10 years and never going? So I did. Checked in on a Wednesday out on Friday and the weekend to attend son’s sporting activities at the school and to take him out on a one night ‘leave’ i.e. the Sat night after sports.

I was on my own at the spa, knew no-one, didn’t really strike up conversations, read a lot, wrote a lot, ate half a banana for breakfast, a carrot for lunch, a piece of cucumber, half an avocado for supper, maybe with a lettuce leaf, drank water or herbal tea* (I brought my own coffee to make in my private room), did a bit of exercise – a walk or two in the mists, a group meditation I recall, I don’t remember if I had a beauty treatment, I don’t think so but maybe I had a reflexology treatment or a 20 min shoulder massage if it was on offer and included in the price.

I saw the advertisement within the gilded chambers for the flotation tank … I was intrigued. It was not included in the cost. It was fairly costly to spend an hour in total darkness, on one’s own, with the lid closed over one – naked as the day being born –

I’m going to have to find what I wrote about it – it’s in one of my ridiculously many notebooks and journals. It would take a great search, but I will when time permits.

If I cast my mind back, it was a profound experience. I think I was skeptical at the beginning – nothing happened. 

All I remember now is a feeling of timelessness and weightlessness, I can’t even say suspended – just weightless. In that weightless state thoughts passed my mind – I remember becoming more and more light, perhaps a sense of suspension, and floating – while traversing – at peace –

I’ll have to find my journal writing – I’m intriguing myself –

As I write the clouds are gathering. I looked out while drafting this post earlier and took the picture below from just outside my study. Five seconds later the heart wasn’t there …

heart_in_cloudsWe’ve had good and much needed rains the last few days. A blessing.

All is still in turmoil – ‘still in turmoil’, a contradiction if ever i heard one but maybe it’s a paradox. Stillness in turmoil. May we all find that quiet place in amongst it all – 

Thank you for listening and may the Force be with us all

*not as severe as I say but almost

29 Comments on Floating

  1. BTW–good article from Janet on Reddit. I have ventured into that group with my tech books, but they are not typically educators so it didn’t work. I still have a membership so think I’ll browse around for a thriller writer community.

  2. “Still in Turmoil” grabbed my attention. I’m trying without much success to hold stillness in a country that loves turmoil. It’s a testing time. A flotation tank intrigues me. I did some water therapy (in the sixties when I tried so many things) but it involved floating in silence with someone (was it my husband?) with their hands gently touching my back. If I were to float in darkness now, I would be in a silent space without earplugs because of deafness.

    The photos are a knockout, Susan. It’s thrilling to see elephants. I’m so glad you’ve had rain. We have, too. I abstain from unhealthy food, but a request to the spa: Please bring me healthy delicious meals.

    • Thanks for coming by Elaine! Oh boy, I certainly know about the turmoil in the US and the latest with the FBI coming out. It’s extraordinary how much erupts at these crucial times. We’re continuing our rough ride here in South Africa … who knows what this upcoming week will bring. I’m wondering whether to join in a protest/support march in Pretoria on Wednesday for our Finance Minister who has to appear in court on trumped up charges …

      Some of our president’s erstwhile cabal is standing out against the president. One of them is Vytjie Mentor. I like the name Mentor and Vytjie means ‘flower’ in Afrikaans. Flower Power will be the placard I will bear … the 60’s link 🙂

  3. I hope you enjoyed your visit, and thanks for sharing the memories it evoked.
    The photos are lovely.
    I’ve never had any desire to be in a flotation tank. I think I’d feel “trapped” inside and all the horror movies I’ve ever seen would be in my mind! 🙂 But I do hope you find your journal.

    • Thanks Merril for coming by. I wouldn’t call it a desire – more of a challenge maybe to see if I could do it, be cut off from all distractions, just me and my body and some sort of bloodymindedness I guess …. Ya, I’m gong to find that journal 🙂
      Hope you’re having a great weekend!

  4. Thanks for sharing your ideas on floating. It is a good place to be when we can float through storms. It signifies an inner peace.
    Shalom aleichem,
    Patricia

    • Thanks Patricia for coming by. It’s so hot here in Johannesburg – when I’m home from work, I may float in the pool for a while …
      Have a lovely weekend! Shalom to you, Susan

  5. Hi Susan – I too am not sure I’d like to be closed in without being able to see … but your photos and descriptions brought back memories … and the Drakensburg and the Kruger area … I can dream and I remember the rains – that’s good news, with your mention of water restrictions … though I know you’ll need loads more.

    Wonderful to have a few days away … and then the memories to revive and search through the journals … cheers Hilary

    • Thanks so much Hilary! Am online as we speak so it is great to answer immediately. Glad it brought back memories. Re rain – more expected here on the highveld over the weekend. I’ve just spoken to my sister in Cape Town – it’s her birthday, and a gorgeous sunny day, no wind.

      Have a lovely weekend and I hope this finds you well. Any signs of winter?

  6. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful landscape of your home, Susan. I’ve only been to the Johannesburg Airport on my way to Capetown, so I haven’t been to Kruger National Park — or treated myself to a spa. The experience of weightlessness sounds wonderful.

    Hope you find the journal! I’d happily read more.

    • Thanks for coming by Shirley! I hope your Cape Town visit was wonderful and that you had time to explore the surrounds. So different to Johannesburg up here on the highveld (6000ft).

      Thanks for saying about the journal – I’ll be hunting –

      Have a lovely blessed weekend.

  7. You live in such an intriguing area, so beautiful and wild. I have never gone to a spa, but it did sound like a very enjoyable and relaxing experience. Where I LOVE floating in the water, being closed in would absolutely freak me out. I’m sure you will have some soulful dreams! Beautiful pictures!

    • Thanks dear Gwynn. The experience was from 12 years or so ago – I too love floating in the sea, keeping an eye out for waves that may crash on me.

      Have a lovely weekend!

  8. Amazing. It’s been a long time since I had a spa day. When I was in my 30’s, I had a girlfriend who couldn’t look at herself in the mirror–it seemed too vain. She was a former nun so I wrote it off to that. The older I get, the more like her I become. A spa day–I couldn’t stand to pay that much attention to myself! Very odd, innit.

    • Ha ha Jacqui! A gal has to do it once in a life time I reckon. Maybe even the flotation tank? Which reminds me of tanks and subs – I’m reading your book as we speak, and MUCH enjoying it, also all the references to the Great Rift Valley, the Masai –

      Have a great weekend 🙂

  10. Sweet adventure. Quite a calming excursion you have shared with those of us who enjoy your many trips, through your lovely country. I wonder how I would have handled floating in the darkness. Meditative? Soothing, I’m sure.

    • Thanks Marsha, a sweet adventure it was being in the flotation tank! It really was quite something and the effects of it lasted some days. I’m keen to find the note book or journal I wrote in at that time – surprise myself! I could always have lifted the lid if i wanted, but I didn’t want to …It was those things, meditative & soothing –

    • The lid was fine though once I was in. And could easily push it up a little though some light would have got in.The purple trees are jacarandas, prolific in Johannesburg in Oct and Nov and a wondrous sight to see their glowing at different times of the day. Thanks for coming by Ashen.

  13. Still in turmoil. Trying to stay with that and .be Still in the midst of turmoil. Election. Daughter’s hospitalization. Partner’s misaligned efforts to help. Trying to Be Still. I have a day-long silent retreat scheduled for Saturday and hope I can make it until then!!! Thank you

    • May the Saturday silent retreat bring you calm and stillness Beth. A few days to go. Wishing you well, and for your daughter. From chaos comes order –

  14. Floating . . . stillness . . . all words that elude me now except for a brief respite here and there. It sounds as though the treatment was physically cleansing too with the mini-fast you observed at the spa.

    You write with heart and soul. Thank you, Susan.

    • Thank you Marian very much. That’s a great word ‘cleansing’ – it describes my experience exactly, so thank you for that too. And for your lovely compliment 🙂

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