The Sanctuary of Epidaurus

September 15. I spent the past few days in Epidaurus, sanctuary of Asclepius, superb doctor-cum-god; the ancient Greeks tended to turn their cool people into gods. Epidaurus’ sanctuary, though a sketch in fallen stones and pillars of its former self, has a feeling of openness and possibility, a different place from the area’s other Mycenaean and Greek temples. Perhaps that’s because Epidaurus was akin to ancient Greece’s Mayo Clinic. People came here, stayed in a hostel and were guided on a process of recovery that couldn’t be more relevant today. They were ritually bathed, and participated in a sacred meal prepared from a sacrifice to help them sleep and dream a dream that would show them the solution to their illness. Asclepius clearly understood the mind/body connection.

As I walked around the sanctuary and the ancient theater, site of the production of the original Greek plays and the best preserved ancient theater today, I realized Epidaurus embodies two things that are relevant to me: healing and music. I mustered up the courage, stood on the center stone in the circle, and sang for about 75 tourists, on the same stone where other singers and actors have stood and let their voices be heard for the past 2,300 years! The acoustics in the theater are unearthly. I was hearing myself as though I had sophisticated monitor speakers in a theater that seats 12,000!

The next morning I actually dreamed a dream in which I resolved something that has troubled me for years.
Efharisto (Thank you!) Asclepius!

(Excerpted from an article first published in the Potrero View, “Travels in Italy and Beyond”, 8/09)

Thoughts on Epidaurus: Take time today to check in with yourself a little more deeply.  Practice alternate nostril breathing as a way to sync your brain hemispheres.  Simply by practising a few rounds of alternate nostril breathing (pranayama) for a few minutes each day, you can help restore imbalances in your brain – improve sleep – calm your emotional state – boost your thinking – calm your nervous system.

Step one: Use right thumb to close off right nostril.

Step two: Inhale slowly through left nostril to the count of 5.

Step three:  Hold for a 10 seconds

Step four: Now close left nostril with ring finger and release thumb off right nostril

Step five: Exhale through your right nostril to the count of 5.

Step six: Now, inhale through right nostril to the count of 5.

Step seven: Hold for 10 seconds.

Step eight: Use thumb to close of right nostril

Step nine: Breathe out through left nostril to the count of 5.

Step ten: This is one round.

Start slowly with 1 or 2 rounds and gradually increase.  Never force.  Sit quietly for a few moments after you have finished.