About Glaciers and Counseling

I have been asked to deliberate about why my home page for my blogs shows the inside of a glacier.  Well, here it is: I like the image.  I like the colors, the wavy depth of the cave, and the winding path.  More than anything though, I like the memory I have from visiting a glacier.   

Friends, the opportunity, and sheer curiosity drew me towards the experience. 

There was only one path into and out of the glacier.  The path was well lit, and I was left to myself to explore the cave.  This was exciting and liberating.  My inner curious and unsupervised child was making an appearance. It was exquisite. While exploring several carved rooms, I discovered ice sofas, ice chairs, and ice tables. Other people seemed to disappear in the many side caves. It was quiet, I was calm, warm, felt safe, and safely enveloped by the ice. Eventually, I laid down on an ice bed and let my imagination flow.  What games one could play in here! What additional ice carvings one could add! Maybe paintings? Would they survive? Ah, the adult in me had returned. I started to contemplate the age of the glacier, its thickness, its speed in moving down the mountain.  How long did it take nature to build this glacier? How much storm and cold, sunshine and melting, how much quiet, gentle pressure had this glacier seen? How long did it take mankind to carve the path and the rooms?  Had it been fun?  Did the ice yield easily? 

Was there anything else to see?  I could discern small shadows outlined and enclosed in the ice.  I was able to thaw some out and found twigs and moss.  Structures in the structure.  I felt the glacier’s calm strength.  I knew it was moving but I could not feel the movement.  I found a deserted corner and let my body and mind sense the profound quietness.  It was reassuring and comforting.  I felt humble.  I felt safe. 

When I left the glacier, I was excited and calm.  I felt happy and content.  Something had changed in me and I knew that the memory was precious.  I have made sure it has stayed with me.

The picture above does not show the actual glacier I visited but I realize now that my visit then reflects on how I wish for you to experience counseling.