Antarctica-Part IV. Primordial Paradise

Have you ever imagined what the earth looked like in the beginning, before humans tinkered around with it? Antarctica offers us a glimpse into this primordial world. It is the last remaining truly wild place left on our planet. I can see why Sir Robert Swan, after skiing 900 miles across Antarctica over thirty years ago, vowed that he would devote his life to “saving” this majestic and wondrous place.

If you sit long enough, you can watch the ice melt and pieces of the glacier fall into the water and float away as icebergs. I wonder what the penguins think about what’s going on in their world with the rising temperatures. The ornithologist said that the penguins somehow know when a big chunk of ice will fall into the water. They dash up the slopes to higher ground to avoid being swept away by the huge waves that occur when the water is displaced by the massive chunks of ice.

“Lieutenant, did you see the strange aliens that have landed on our island? They walk on two legs like us. Let’s check them out.”

 

I could have watched the big penguin colonies like this one for hours. The penguins like to walk up steep slopes then race down—or toboggan with their bodies. Most likely this behavior has some sort of meaning, but to me it looks like they do it for fun.

A mother whale and her baby are resting—or “logging” as the whalers called it. From a distance, these whales did indeed look like enormous logs floating in the water.

The forces of nature create stunning shapes in the many icebergs that float in the sea.

This leopard seal has his eye on us. They can be aggressive. When we saw a leopard seal while kayaking, we moved our kayaks close together so that we would look more formidable to him.

A former science station owned by Argentina, now abandoned.

The remains of a boat used by whalers, surrounded by whale bones.

We frequently sighted humpback whales. What a treat we had when they came close to us to check us out. Their main activity this time of year is eating hundreds of pounds of krill to fatten up for their long voyage to the north when winter comes to the southern hemisphere. The ship’s marine biologist expressed dismay about the amount of krill that is being taken by companies to sell in health food stores. I won’t be recommending krill oil to any of my patients.

The penguins seemed to prefer to have their colonies in high places. While kayaking, we saw a small colony on a floating ice berg. I saw one of the penguins toboggan down a steep slope and into the water. I don’t know how they are able to walk up steep slopes without crampons and an ice axe.

The seals and whales spend a lot of time resting between meals. No blogs or FB to to deal with because there is no internet service down here,

Being in this primordial paradise has profoundly affected me. To think about the possibility of the international treaty expiring in 2041—opening Antarctica up to the highest bidder for drilling and mining—makes me feel physically sick. It would be like watching a beloved friend or family member become dismembered and slowly tortured to death. I’m going to let go of this miserable thought and return to the present moment,

If you look closely, you will see in the center of the photograph two black objects, They are whales. I sat in my kayak stunned by the majesty of the surroundings. I felt the silence envelope me in profound peace. I have never breathed such pure air—except for the air around the penguin poop which can be quite acrid from all the krill that they eat.

Antarctica has many moods. We know how fortunate we have been with the weather.

I’m in the zodiac on a special mission that will be carried out on land. Before I left Santa Fe, one of my patients—a teacher of qigong at the Chi Center in Galisteo—asked me to teach qigong to a group of passengers. The founder of the Chi Center, Master Mingtong Gu, has teachers and students of qigong on every continent except Antarctica. My assignment is to teach three specific poses. I managed to round up seven people to participate in this qigong-on-every-continent project.

The little adelie penguins greeted us at the edge of the water, curious to see what was going on. I could have rounded some of them up to be in my qigong class so that people back home would be convinced that the class really did take place in Antarctica. But, as it turns out, one of the poses, Chen Chi, is a pose that the penguins do all day, every day. In fact, Chen Chi needs to be renamed “the penguin pose.”

What you’re seeing is Chen Chi, renamed “the penguin pose.” The arms are out by the sides at the level of the belly button. The hands are flexed. The scapulae (wing bones in the back) are squeezed together and then released, sending the stagnant qi (energy) down through the arms and out the center of the palms. We did each pose three times.

Lift qi up….

And pour qi down.

The third and last pose is “Holding the qi ball” and then slowly turning with the qi ball all the way to the right three times and then all the way to the left three times.

To my surprise, a group of eight young people from India stood watching the little six-minute class and then approached me and asked if I would teach qigong to them as well.

Namaste. I salute the god within you.

If the people back home aren’t convinced about the location of the qigong class, well here’s the flag to prove it. Just to be totally transparent, I’m not a trained teacher of qigong, but since I taught these two classes, the Chi Center in New Mexico can truthfully say that there has been a teacher and students of qigong on Antarctica, the missing continent.

 

A short walk up the snow slope—green with penguin poop—I saw an impromptu yoga class in the snow. It looks like the healing arts are trending in Antarctica. On that note, I will say good night. Stay tuned. There are even more wonders to behold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Comments

Antarctica-Part IV. Primordial Paradise — 40 Comments

  1. Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

  2. This is incredible Erica. Thank you for taking all of us along with you and opening our eyes to this enigmatic place. You just appeared in a visualisation in yoga class where I had to imagine someone I’m grateful for. We hung out on radically different continents <3 Bless you and your expedition (and hugs from a relieved Netherlands)

    • I’m so touched that you thought of me in your gratitude visualization. I’m grateful for you, too, Geertje. Thank you for coming on the trip with me—virtually speaking. Big hugs and love, Erica.

  3. Amazing photos, Erica! Such a pristine world!!! I love you doing qigong there, especially renaming it Pinguin pose……Love and hugs, Traude

    • Dear Traude, Antarctica is your kind of place. If you ever win the lottery, I suggest you go on Sir Robert Swan’s trip next year. It will utterly blow your mind. With much love, Erica

  4. I love seeing everyone of these photos and reading your words dearest Erica. What an incredible experience you are having! You look gorgeous and joyful and vital! Thank you for sharing this with all of your fans. We love you. ❤️❤️???

    • Thank you so much, dear Erik and Di. You know me so well and know when I’m relaxed and when I’m not. There is something very comforting about being “known” and “seen.” Much love always, Erica

  5. How amazingly wonderful to see these photos and vicariously share in this journey. I am impressed you are not wearing gloves. what is the temperature out there? I wonder. Thanks for sharing. .
    Namaste

    • The temperature that day was 40 degrees Fahrenheit—unfortunately. It made it pleasant for us but meant that the ice is melting very fast. Thank you for your comments, Joalie.Love, Erica

  6. Hi Erica! this is Diana, from Buenos Aires! such a wonderful photographer you are indeed! loved them all! It was wonderful meeting you. Waiting for your next journey to Buenos Aires, only to dance Tango! Very warm regards

    • How lovely to hear from my Tango friend! Yes, I will certainly go with you to Tango class if I ever go back to Buenos Aires!! I will first need to learn how to dance in high heels. Haha. Abrazos grandes, Erica

    • Hi Erica! Diana from Buenos Aires one more time! A MA ZING your potos! thanx for share them with us, we will waiting you for more Tango Classes, here in Buenos Aires, such a nice and kind person you are!

      • Hi Diana, I love getting your comments. There is one more post to go, the last one in the series. I think you will like those photos. This has been the most amazing trip I have ever made in my lifetime. I hope can go there someday. It’s not that far away for you. Maybe I’ll take some tango classes here in the States so that when I return to Buenos Aires, I can do a better job of dancing. Warm hugs, Erica

  7. “trending in Antarctica” – that’s my favorite line! Before your travel photos and story, I didn’t understand why anyone would want to go to Antarctica, now I know. Thank you.
    Love, L

    • Maybe someday you’ll go to Antarctica, Susan, and teach your wonderful restorative yoga!!! What an exciting thought!! Much love, Erica

  8. Fabulous photos and narrative. Wonderful that Antarctica is still preserved and I hope this will continue forever. How fun to have a qigong class taught there by a representative from NM! I am so happy for you that you fulfilled a lifelong wish to visit Antarctica. Thank you again and again for sharing your amazing journeys with all of us! Sending love!

    • Thank you, Patty. I love your supportive and enthusiastic comments. Knowing how much you appreciate the posts makes it worth the effort. Much love, Erica

  9. More incredible photos! And how wonderful that you got to spread Wisdom Healing Qigong to Antarctica! I’ll share these images with the ongoing month long Healing Intensive Retreat happening now. We look forward to your return, and perhaps a slide show? 🙂

    • I’m glad you liked the qigong photos. I completed my mission, as requested. As far as a slide show, I might be able to do that, but right now I’m deeply exhausted from the long journey home and can’t think of much beyond posting the next and last blog on Antarctica.

    • The experience in Antartica made me cry too, Dorothy. I cry tears from being so deeply moved by what I saw and tears for what we have lost. Love, Erica

    • That’s a good question, Bob. I do know that the marine life in the colder, more pristine waters have a symbiotic relationship with the krill. After the whales, for example, eat the krill, their poop falls through the ocean and then fertilizes the area for the krill to grow and thrive. That cycle doesn’t really answer your question directly, but it does suggest that the marine life in the colder waters support the growth of the krill.

  10. Oh Erica, what a gift you have shared. your life is a magestic stream of remarkable adventures and I feel so blessed to have had a window into your world. xoxoxoox Candy

    • I knew you’d enjoy this virtual trip. Maybe someday you can get funded to bring the Dances of Universal Peace to Antarctica!! Knowing your resourcefulness, I wouldn’t be surprised if you pulled it off. Love to you and your mom, E

    • Thank you, Cindy. I’m so happy that you’re enjoying the trip with me. Maybe your mom would like looking at the photos. Please give her my love. Erica

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *