If you’ve not been following me on Facebook, you might not know that Peony Yuki passed away a week ago. She had been struggling with some chronic issues for quite some time, but what was hidden from us was an underlying heart disease that finally, and thoroughly, showed itself. To say we are devastated is an understatement.
My life is changed, as always happens with death, but this time, I am able to feel the devastation and to navigate the crashing waves of grief with a level of awareness and self-compassion that I have never known.
Part of this is, of course, the result of a stable love in my life. In the past, I have lost myself when I lost dear animals because their loss exacerbated my own, very real aloneness in the world. Not this time. Thank the Big Cat in the Sky for Craig. And thanks for spiritual practices that over time have, well, worked.
As most of you know, Peony has been around for most of the 12 years during which I’ve been developing and refining and reimagining and adding to my movement art/dance based therapeutic practice.
I’ve named it here and there but no name has ever stuck.
Over a month ago, the right name hit me and then I let it go, second guessing myself as usual, and then Peony passed away and I knew it was beyond right.
Peony blooms are delicate and vulnerable, and thanks to ants, which seem quite agitating, they are protected (from other petal eating insects) and then they are able to bloom into their fullness.
Much like our practices and their effects on our hearts.
And so I introduce to you, in her memory…
