About Glaciers and Counseling

Why is there a picture of a glacier on my blog page? 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 of walking into a glacier. 

There was only one path into and out. The path was well lit, and I was left to myself to explore the cave.  This was exciting. 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, I was mostly alone. 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 take over. What games one could play in here! What additional ice carvings could one add?! Maybe paintings? Would they survive the movement of the glacier, the cold? 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 and relentless pressure had this glacier produced? How long did it take to carve the path and the rooms? Had it been fun? Did the ice yield easily? What tools were used?

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 humbled. I felt safe. 

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

My wish for you is that the outcome of your therapy is similar to the experience I had spending time inside, with and outside the glacier: excited to face life and calm in the knowledge that you can. Serenity.