Time dilation - Sensory deprivation - Gravitational deficit - Mind discovery
For someone like me, nothing is worse than being motionless with
no stimuli for sixty minutes in a confined space. Just sitting still at the beauty salon for
the weekly prerequisite grooming; of manicure, pedicure, waxing, hair trimming
sends me to paroxysm of angst.
As a work-force product of this millennium of LCD stimuli,
whether it be a laptop, smart phone, multi-faceted minutia of instant
gratification, I am guilty of all of the above. How is it possible to go through an hour-long
confinement in a tank of Epsom Salt, meditative music and self-introspection?
Allow me to take you through this wondrous moment of time
dilation.
Showered and in my birthday suit, I gingerly lowered my body
into the tub, holding on tight to the stainless steel handle as if the whole
contraption was going to swallow me whole.
Light switched off, soft meditative music piped-in, I float in this 2ft
deep water in total darkness.
Initially a wave of concern washes over me, but hell I’d sky-dived
recently so step off the grid of fear and within seconds of the decision to
trust this place, my neck muscles loosened, my back fell to the cushion of
water and very soon the music stops.
I am alone with my thoughts; it has never been so stark that
I even cannot hide behind my own subconscious.
Brainwaves, in and out, flashes of memories that dart backwards and
forwards and from nowhere I have an image of a French adventure years ago with
my daughter. The images so real, the
happiness welled in my heart. Another
flash of an equally happy time on a rooftop in Rome; Chianti in one hand and gesturing with the
other in my broken Italian under the night sky.
I could hear nothing but my own heartbeat, strong and
rhythmic, gurgles of air, running down the tubes. Aware of one’s own organs functioning is self
assuring that all is in working order.
Breathing regular deep breaths, I am able to see the oxygen passing
through the lungs, exchanging with the blood vessels and slowly in tune with my
body, unafraid of my mortality.
And then the realization of the pulsating heart, the
breathing, the gurgling all resembled the nine months I spent in my mother’s
womb; so loving, so comforting, I could stay in this state of submerged
amphibian life forever. I was annoyed
when the music piped-in again signaling my hour is up – it was only ten minutes
ago, so it seemed …..this is time dilation that Annile conveyed.
Sometimes money spent on watches, an expensive and
satisfying meal, a visiting international concert, or the essential brand
handbag, does wonders for the ego, but surely loving yourself in this way truly
gives the soul the glow it needs that can never be acquired elsewhere.
Thanks to Theta Float Centre and Annile who unknowingly gave
me back my spiritual oneness.
