Last summer, when I traveled to the Middle East, I was not in the best frame of mind. After several stressful months, I seriously needed to relax—and to let go of some things that were bothering me. I hoped that traveling would help in some way.
Sure enough, it did. And it was the Dead Sea (Jordan side), the lowest elevation on the Earth’s surface (1,388 ft below sea level), where I had a major—and unexpected—breakthrough. Here’s the story…
Black Mud—Preparation Plus Laughter
I arrived at the Amman Beach late in the afternoon, when things were beginning to cool off a bit. I got myself situated and then bought some black mud and covered myself with it. When I saw my photo (taken by someone else since my hands were slimy) a moment later, I laughed and began to relax. This felt great.
Getting into the Water…and the Moment
Then, after the mud dried on my skin, I slowly entered the unique water of the Dead Sea, which is technically 1/3 saline, and thus, feels warm, slimy and comforting. It was what I imagined the womb to be like. It made me feel calm and centered–and without a care in the world.
Floating and Letting Go
Once in the water, I leaned back and began to float. There was no way to resist it, either. If I did, I might have ended up with my face down. So…I surrendered to the water and let it support me, and this was the most incredible feeling of all.
I was now truly in the moment and feeling free. The past didn’t seem to exist anymore. And everything felt OK again somehow.
Removing Impurities—and Negativity
After a while, I rubbed the mud off and watched it float away. I knew I’d done something good for my skin by removing the impurities. Perhaps I’d also, without realizing it, removed negativity that I didn’t need.
Rinsing Off and Relaxing
I floated for a long time—in no rush at all—and watched the sun begin to set. And soon, I felt even more restored. Truly alive again. But also, in need of a shower. Fortunately, the Amman Beach has showers a short walk from the water. I went and rinsed myself off. Once clean again, I felt like a new person.
Not Looking Back
After this great experience, and just as I was leaving, I noticed something on the beach that reminded me of the very thing I’d hoped to forget. Some of the emotions came back. I looked at it several times and then, I walked away. The best part? I didn’t look back.
Your Thoughts/Experiences?
Do you travel just for enjoyment or is there ever a deeper reason for going—eg, clearing your head, moving on, healing yourself, etc? Would you choose/have you ever chosen a destination based on these types of possibilities? If so, where would you go/did you go and what would you like to happen/what happened?
How do you feel when you’re near or in water? What type of water do you prefer (ocean, lake, river, etc.)? And have you ever floated in/on the Dead Sea? If so, what was it like for you?
All photos in this post are (c) L Egle, 2011. To see more of my photos from this trip and others, visit my Flickr page.
Can’t Get Enough? Want To Enjoy More ‘Rides’ on the Bus?
I recently completed my travel memoirs–a collection of short stories from around the world. To read a synopsis, click here. To sign up for my monthly newsletter–and to receive a free chapter at some point in the future–click here. You can also hop on board the bus over on Facebook. Meanwhile, if you’d like to enjoy more “rides” on the Chicky Bus–stories, that is–click here.
50 Comments – Leave a comment!
Trackback URL http://www.chickybus.com/2011/10/coming-back-to-life-at-the-dead-sea/trackback/