Triangles mean different things to different people. When we first learn about them we are taught their shape and perhaps a basic color, like “Michael, please point to the red triangle… good, now point to the blue square” etc. Later we learn that triangles have been used throughout time, have various religious or engineering significance, or they are simply a geometric shape made of three points. A triangle can represent a state of mind (the downward pointing pink triangle) or it can represent a significant ideal (the holy trinity). For me, I have a far more personal triangle in mind; no it might not be the first image that pops into my head when the word is spoken (point to the red triangle…) but the triangle I think of the most is on the body. It can be found on the lower back with the base points about two or three inches on either side of the spine (near the kidneys) and the pentacle is on the spine itself. It is approximately where chi starts in a chi flow in Hindu and Buddhist beliefs. In a chi flow, chi starts at the base of the spine and then flows throughout the body passing through 13 “gates” before making a full circulation; rejuvenating the body, mind, and spirit.The most notable triangle I know is on my wife’s back. I know she is going to hate me for writing this, but I love to just look at it. Whether it is in bed, bath, the unexpected moment when her shirt rides up a little while bending down to scoop up a child, or whenever; it’s still perfect. Her triangle was really the first I noticed on a person’s body, and I was captivated from the start. I would trace edge to vertex to edge and back again, constantly annoying her because of the lightly brushing strokes that would tickle. Then I realized the great power this triangle had. While dancing I could hold her tightly to me and direct her movements by gently pressing the small of her back (the triangle) or I could give her encouragement in times of worry by placing a steady hand there, almost as if to say it’s alright to be scared because I’m here with you.
Tonight, like most every night, I held her back as she fell asleep. Most notably, I placed my hand at the top of the triangle and just held it there. I could feel every breath she took, and I could feel the tension ease from her day at work and then coming home to deal with me, 3 children, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and I think we may even have a partridge in a pear tree somewhere around here. Her breathing slowed and I was “willing” her to fall asleep peacefully, for a moment I almost felt like I was making her do exactly that. Almost as soon as I lifted my hand from her back she rolled over and kissed me on the cheek, the connection had been broken. She asked, in a sleepy dreamy voice, what was going on, where was I going? I just kissed the top of her head and told her to go back to sleep, I had something to write about for the first time in ages and I was still awake enough to actually write it, so I knew that I had to get in here and put it down before I forgot it. She mumbled something else and then sort of went back to sleep complaining about being woken up later.
I know we have our fights and I know we have our fun times, but one thing is constant with us, we are there to support each other. We may annoy each other (yes, I can be annoying, who’d a thunk it?) but I’ll always be a steady hand to hold her Muladhara Chakra, the chi found in the small of her back, the triangle I know and love. I’ll help her cultivate it, grow it, expand it, and spread it; just as she helps me even if she does not realize it.
