#chronicpain — Public Fediverse posts

Can anyone spot me a few e-gift cards for groceries? it would help me out a lot.

On my wishlist. https://throne.com/kswriteshere

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Can anyone spot me a few e-gift cards for groceries? it would help me out a lot.

On my wishlist. https://throne.com/kswriteshere

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Can anyone spot me a few e-gift cards for groceries? it would help me out a lot.

On my wishlist. https://throne.com/kswriteshere

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Can anyone spot me a few e-gift cards for groceries? it would help me out a lot.

On my wishlist. https://throne.com/kswriteshere

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Can anyone spot me a few e-gift cards for groceries? it would help me out a lot.

On my wishlist. https://throne.com/kswriteshere

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

You won't believe this. I did 2 minutes of yoga this morning and it completely cured my genetic joint problems and restored my mental health!

Ok. Not really. I'm actually just stuck on the floor and tooting this while I figure out how to get up.

#Exercise #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShitPost

You won't believe this. I did 2 minutes of yoga this morning and it completely cured my genetic joint problems and restored my mental health!

Ok. Not really. I'm actually just stuck on the floor and tooting this while I figure out how to get up.

#Exercise #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShitPost

You won't believe this. I did 2 minutes of yoga this morning and it completely cured my genetic joint problems and restored my mental health!

Ok. Not really. I'm actually just stuck on the floor and tooting this while I figure out how to get up.

#Exercise #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShitPost

You won't believe this. I did 2 minutes of yoga this morning and it completely cured my genetic joint problems and restored my mental health!

Ok. Not really. I'm actually just stuck on the floor and tooting this while I figure out how to get up.

#Exercise #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShitPost

You won't believe this. I did 2 minutes of yoga this morning and it completely cured my genetic joint problems and restored my mental health!

Ok. Not really. I'm actually just stuck on the floor and tooting this while I figure out how to get up.

#Exercise #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ShitPost

Ok, cute tie-in!

Thanks, #TubiThursday friends.

Please uplift my ask for #urgent move?

I appreciate you all.

https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Ok, cute tie-in!

Thanks, #TubiThursday friends.

Please uplift my ask for #urgent move?

I appreciate you all.

https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Ok, cute tie-in!

Thanks, #TubiThursday friends.

Please uplift my ask for #urgent move?

I appreciate you all.

https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Ok, cute tie-in!

Thanks, #TubiThursday friends.

Please uplift my ask for #urgent move?

I appreciate you all.

https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

RE: https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

If I had misspelled kitties as tiddies, I wonder if anyone would've matched this 35 by now... tiddies.

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

RE: https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

If I had misspelled kitties as tiddies, I wonder if anyone would've matched this 35 by now... tiddies.

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

RE: https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

If I had misspelled kitties as tiddies, I wonder if anyone would've matched this 35 by now... tiddies.

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

RE: https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

If I had misspelled kitties as tiddies, I wonder if anyone would've matched this 35 by now... tiddies.

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

RE: https://me.dm/@kshernandez/117205123370324265

If I had misspelled kitties as tiddies, I wonder if anyone would've matched this 35 by now... tiddies.

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

Who can match the 35 received today

A great #WhiskersWednesday shot from a favorite #Twitch stream. #CatsofMastodon

I'm hoping these lovely kitties will inspire folks to help me with my #urgent move goal.

Do they? Can you?
All is appreciated!

Deets and ways to aid: https://linktr.ee/khernandez

#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness @spoonie @queer

$150/$550 September necessities ‼

Food: $50/$200 = $150 remains for food!

Absolutely any help is life saving. I dont have support from family and I am too sick to work unfortunately. Im disabled and queer. Any help means a lot.

V: d_fay | PP: peach77

#mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidSavesLives #disabled #disabledmutualaid #chronicpain #spoonie #queer #lgbtq #artist #poverty #directaid #fediverse @[email protected] @mutualaidspace @[email protected] @disabledvoices @lgbtq #crowdfund

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ellespeaks/117185849880983055

stalled
$50 needed asap + anything for food (almost out)

Im diabetic and do not have family to turn to. I have food allergies so food pantries arent ideal unfortunately

I appreciate any help at all + am v grateful. Thank you!

V: d_fay
P: peach77
Ko: https://ko-fi.com/ellespeaks

#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidSavesLives #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #helpfolkslive2026 #lgbtq #queer @povertyandinequality @disabledvoices @queer @[email protected] @directaid @[email protected] @lgbtq

$0/$50 - co pay due 9/3 ⚠️
$50/$200 - September food

Anything helps! Im disabled, queer and have no support. Living below the poverty line. I appreciate any help at all 💕

V: d_fay
Pp: peach77

#mutualaid #MutualAidSavesLives #MutualAidRequest #helpfolkslive #helpfolkslive2026 #disabled #spoonie #chronicillness #chronicpain #disabledartist #leftist #lgbtq #kofi #helpneeded #crowdfunding #gofundme #directaid #queer #diabetic #hunger #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @lgbtq @queer

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ellespeaks/117163537926818064

Still stalled ⚠️
Desperate for food and pharmacy help

Please, any amount makes a difference. Tysm.

V: d_fay
P: peach77

#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidBoost #MutualAidSavesLives #maboost #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #Kofi #venmo #paypal #crowdfunding #helpneeded #helpfolkslive2026 #lgbtq #lesbian #queer #artist #disabledmutualaid @[email protected] @[email protected] @directaid @lgbtq @queer @spoonie @creativearts

September MA for necessities & Laptop Fundraiser ❣

- Laptop: $25/$400 - please put "laptop" in note!
- September: $150/$550

Please read the flyers below for more detailed info! I truly appreciate any help. Even a few dollars makes a big impact.
Thank you!

Tags:
#mutualaid #directaid #disabled #artist #queer #lgbtq #poverty @[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @[email protected] @[email protected] @creativearts @povertyandinequality #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #catmom @spoonie @queer

RE: https://mastodon.social/@ellespeaks/117153570926297870

stalled day 6‼
A lil worried bc I'm using an old backup that's also broken.it's only a matter of time until that breaks too. Laptops my only form of entertainment/distraction in the house so its important

Also need pharmacy/food ⚠️

V: d_fay
P: peach77

anything helps
Thank you

@[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @lgbtq
#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidBoost #MutualAidSavesLives #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #crowdfunding #helpfolkslive2026 #lgbtq #queer #artist

- $100/$550 - september needs

- $25/$400 - refurbished laptop 💻 ‼
mine broke 1+ week ago. Its a lifeline bc im stuck @ home a lot. in the note pls put "LAPTOP"

Thank you anything is a blessing and truly makes a difference - even $1!

flyers explain the situations 🙏🏻

#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidBoost #MutualAidSavesLives #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #crowdfunding #helpneeded #poverty #artist @spoonie @queer @mutualaid @lgbtq #pisces #disabledartist

@shrugdealer

$100/$550 September needs

and trying to get a refurbished laptop because mine broke 5 days ago
If for laptop in the note please write "LAPTOP"
Thank you anything is a blessing and truly makes a difference - even $1!

Both flyers to explain the situations 🙏🏻

#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidBoost #MutualAidSavesLives #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #crowdfunding #helpneeded #helpfolkslive2026 #lgbtq @mutualaid @disabledvoices

Needing $60 towards Septembers meds.
Anything helps 💕 much appreciated. Even a few dollars goes a long way

$0/$60

V: d_fay
Pp: peach77

#Mutualaid #MutualAidRequest #MutualAidBoost #MutualAidSavesLives #maboost #disabled #spoonie #chronicpain #chronicillness #ptsd #pmdd #bpd #Kofi #venmo #paypal #crowdfunding #helpneeded #helpfolkslive2026 #lgbtq #lesbian #queer #artist #disabledmutualaid
@[email protected] @[email protected] @disabledvoices @queer @povertyandinequality @spoonie @lgbtq

Please share, if you can. I'm so deeply sorry & embarrassed. I'm desperate and not doing well without my medications. 😖
#NEISvoid #hEDS #chronicpain #marfansyndrome #EDS #MECFS #POTS #MCAS #AuDHD #actuallyautistic #ADHD #disabled #longcovid #mutualaid #spooniechat #chronicillness #crowdfund #emergencycrowdfund

RE: https://plasmatrap.com/notes/aoctlai1vp

Migraine, Perception, and Creative Flow

Living Inside A Migraine

When pain, perception, and medication reshape daily life

I’ve been dealing with a migraine for nine days. This isn’t just a headache—it comes with aura, Alice in Wonderland syndrome, and persistent vertigo with nausea. My perception gets distorted, my thinking slows down, and basic tasks become difficult. The medication helps with the pain, but it brings its own side effects, and overall, it’s been hard to function.

In the middle of this, something unexpected happened.

A Brief Shift in State

Unexpected focus and creative flow during disruption

While I was heavily medicated, I had a period of intense creative focus. For a few hours, I was able to paint with a level of freedom that I don’t usually reach. It felt like my usual mental filters were lowered. I wasn’t second‑guessing decisions or holding back. I just worked.

The result was different from my normal work—more direct, less controlled, but also more expressive.

This raised a question for me: what actually changed in that moment?

Changes in Perception

How migraine and medication alter access, not ability

Triptans, the medication I use for acute migraine attacks, act on serotonin receptors. They’re not psychedelics, but they do affect how the brain processes signals. Combined with the migraine itself—especially aura, which already alters perception—the overall effect is a shift in how I experience space, color, and thought.

That shift isn’t comfortable. Most of it is disorienting and unpleasant. But within it, there was a brief window where my usual patterns loosened. And in that space, creative work felt easier.

Access, Not Creation

The work was already there—the conditions just changed

It’s important to be clear: the migraine didn’t “create” anything. The creativity was already there. What changed was how accessible it felt. The conditions removed some of the internal constraints I usually work within—habits, expectations, and self‑editing.

That’s not something I want to rely on. The cost is too high. But it does point to something useful.

If a change in mental state can affect how I access creativity, then there may be other ways to reach similar openness without the physical toll. It suggests that part of my creative process is limited not by ability, but by structure—how tightly I control the outcome, how much I filter while working.

There’s also a broader connection here. Decades ago, I had experiences with psychedelics that shifted how I saw the world and myself. Those experiences helped me let go of a lot of fear and rigidity. I don’t return to them now, but the perspective they opened up has stayed with me.

That perspective has been important in dealing with chronic migraine. The pain itself isn’t optional, but my response to it isn’t fixed. Over time, I’ve learned to manage the mental side of it—how much resistance I bring to it, how I interpret it, and how I move through it. That doesn’t eliminate suffering, but it changes its intensity and impact.

The recent experience fits into that same pattern. Even in a difficult state, there was a moment where something shifted—not into relief exactly, but into clarity of a different kind.

For me, the takeaway isn’t about the medication or the migraine. It’s about access.

The kind of creative flow I felt isn’t something external that I need to recreate through extreme conditions. It’s something internal that I was briefly able to reach under unusual circumstances.

Openness and Letting Go

When the boundary between experience and experiencer softens

There’s also a quality in that state that’s familiar from meditation. It’s a kind of openness where the usual sense of separation starts to fade. Instead of feeling like an observer acting on an experience, there’s just the experience itself—no clear boundary between the one perceiving and what’s being perceived. In that space, the need to control or interpret loosens, and the work unfolds more directly, without the usual distance between intention and action.

Working with Pain

Perspective, resistance, and what can shift

Another layer to this is perspective. The difference between being overwhelmed by the experience and moving through it often comes down to how it’s held. I wrote previously about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a framework for navigating chronic pain from migraine and lupus. What stands out to me now is how practical that framework is—not as philosophy, but as a way of adjusting perspective in real time.

When The Pain Takes Over

A reminder that practice isn’t always accessible

Pain is present. That part isn’t optional. But the added weight—resistance, fear, frustration—can shift depending on how tightly I hold the experience. That said, this isn’t always accessible. There are moments when the pain takes over completely. Last night was one of those times. I woke up in the middle of the night in severe pain after my first medication didn’t work. I couldn’t find my stronger medication, didn’t have my glasses, and ended up searching through cabinets, drawers, and bags in a panic. I knew that without it, I might end up in the ER—where the treatment helps, but comes with hours of discomfort and side effects. I was overwhelmed, in tears, and scared.

In moments like that, there isn’t much space for perspective or practice. But experiences like this also make something clear to me: without meditation, without the framework I’ve built from Buddhist practice, I would likely be living in that state of panic much more often. My commotion woke up my husband, who came in—calm, steady, not caught in the panic I was in. He found the medication, and he cleaned up the mess I had made searching as I went back to bed. That contrast stood out. It reminded me that while I can’t always access those tools in the moment, they still shape how I move through these experiences over time.

Returning to Openness

Creative flow, meditation, and another way of relating to experience

It’s not easy to stay open in the middle of persistent pain. In those moments, it’s hard to remember that the pain will pass—that it isn’t permanent. Pain forces attention into the present, but not calmly or intentionally. It can narrow everything down to urgency and survival. At the same time, it can act as a kind of teacher. It shows where resistance builds, where fear takes hold, and how quickly the mind tries to escape what’s happening. When I’m able to step back, even slightly, I can see it less as something to fight and more as something that reveals how I relate to experience.

What I keep coming back to is this: the experience changes depending on how I meet it. Not completely, not all at once, but enough to matter. And in those moments of openness, there is less separation—and a little more space for things to be as they are.

I painted this over six hours while medicated for a migraine, drifting in and out of focus. The haze loosened my usual self‑judgment, and the work shifted into something more fluid and intuitive. It’s not complete, but the evolution itself tells the story.

Migraine, Perception, and Creative Flow

Living Inside A Migraine

When pain, perception, and medication reshape daily life

I’ve been dealing with a migraine for nine days. This isn’t just a headache—it comes with aura, Alice in Wonderland syndrome, and persistent vertigo with nausea. My perception gets distorted, my thinking slows down, and basic tasks become difficult. The medication helps with the pain, but it brings its own side effects, and overall, it’s been hard to function.

In the middle of this, something unexpected happened.

A Brief Shift in State

Unexpected focus and creative flow during disruption

While I was heavily medicated, I had a period of intense creative focus. For a few hours, I was able to paint with a level of freedom that I don’t usually reach. It felt like my usual mental filters were lowered. I wasn’t second‑guessing decisions or holding back. I just worked.

The result was different from my normal work—more direct, less controlled, but also more expressive.

This raised a question for me: what actually changed in that moment?

Changes in Perception

How migraine and medication alter access, not ability

Triptans, the medication I use for acute migraine attacks, act on serotonin receptors. They’re not psychedelics, but they do affect how the brain processes signals. Combined with the migraine itself—especially aura, which already alters perception—the overall effect is a shift in how I experience space, color, and thought.

That shift isn’t comfortable. Most of it is disorienting and unpleasant. But within it, there was a brief window where my usual patterns loosened. And in that space, creative work felt easier.

Access, Not Creation

The work was already there—the conditions just changed

It’s important to be clear: the migraine didn’t “create” anything. The creativity was already there. What changed was how accessible it felt. The conditions removed some of the internal constraints I usually work within—habits, expectations, and self‑editing.

That’s not something I want to rely on. The cost is too high. But it does point to something useful.

If a change in mental state can affect how I access creativity, then there may be other ways to reach similar openness without the physical toll. It suggests that part of my creative process is limited not by ability, but by structure—how tightly I control the outcome, how much I filter while working.

There’s also a broader connection here. Decades ago, I had experiences with psychedelics that shifted how I saw the world and myself. Those experiences helped me let go of a lot of fear and rigidity. I don’t return to them now, but the perspective they opened up has stayed with me.

That perspective has been important in dealing with chronic migraine. The pain itself isn’t optional, but my response to it isn’t fixed. Over time, I’ve learned to manage the mental side of it—how much resistance I bring to it, how I interpret it, and how I move through it. That doesn’t eliminate suffering, but it changes its intensity and impact.

The recent experience fits into that same pattern. Even in a difficult state, there was a moment where something shifted—not into relief exactly, but into clarity of a different kind.

For me, the takeaway isn’t about the medication or the migraine. It’s about access.

The kind of creative flow I felt isn’t something external that I need to recreate through extreme conditions. It’s something internal that I was briefly able to reach under unusual circumstances.

Openness and Letting Go

When the boundary between experience and experiencer softens

There’s also a quality in that state that’s familiar from meditation. It’s a kind of openness where the usual sense of separation starts to fade. Instead of feeling like an observer acting on an experience, there’s just the experience itself—no clear boundary between the one perceiving and what’s being perceived. In that space, the need to control or interpret loosens, and the work unfolds more directly, without the usual distance between intention and action.

Working with Pain

Perspective, resistance, and what can shift

Another layer to this is perspective. The difference between being overwhelmed by the experience and moving through it often comes down to how it’s held. I wrote previously about the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path as a framework for navigating chronic pain from migraine and lupus. What stands out to me now is how practical that framework is—not as philosophy, but as a way of adjusting perspective in real time.

When The Pain Takes Over

A reminder that practice isn’t always accessible

Pain is present. That part isn’t optional. But the added weight—resistance, fear, frustration—can shift depending on how tightly I hold the experience. That said, this isn’t always accessible. There are moments when the pain takes over completely. Last night was one of those times. I woke up in the middle of the night in severe pain after my first medication didn’t work. I couldn’t find my stronger medication, didn’t have my glasses, and ended up searching through cabinets, drawers, and bags in a panic. I knew that without it, I might end up in the ER—where the treatment helps, but comes with hours of discomfort and side effects. I was overwhelmed, in tears, and scared.

In moments like that, there isn’t much space for perspective or practice. But experiences like this also make something clear to me: without meditation, without the framework I’ve built from Buddhist practice, I would likely be living in that state of panic much more often. My commotion woke up my husband, who came in—calm, steady, not caught in the panic I was in. He found the medication, and he cleaned up the mess I had made searching as I went back to bed. That contrast stood out. It reminded me that while I can’t always access those tools in the moment, they still shape how I move through these experiences over time.

Returning to Openness

Creative flow, meditation, and another way of relating to experience

It’s not easy to stay open in the middle of persistent pain. In those moments, it’s hard to remember that the pain will pass—that it isn’t permanent. Pain forces attention into the present, but not calmly or intentionally. It can narrow everything down to urgency and survival. At the same time, it can act as a kind of teacher. It shows where resistance builds, where fear takes hold, and how quickly the mind tries to escape what’s happening. When I’m able to step back, even slightly, I can see it less as something to fight and more as something that reveals how I relate to experience.

What I keep coming back to is this: the experience changes depending on how I meet it. Not completely, not all at once, but enough to matter. And in those moments of openness, there is less separation—and a little more space for things to be as they are.

I painted this over six hours while medicated for a migraine, drifting in and out of focus. The haze loosened my usual self‑judgment, and the work shifted into something more fluid and intuitive. It’s not complete, but the evolution itself tells the story.

The One-Handed Bow and Shaolin Salute

A Symbolic Gesture Bridging Buddhism, Martial Arts, and Philosophy

Among the many ritual gestures in martial arts and Buddhist practice, few are as rich in symbolism as the one-handed bow and the Shaolin salute. These simple movements embody centuries of cultural synthesis, spanning Buddhist devotion, Confucian ethics, and Taoist philosophy. Though often performed without conscious reflection, these gestures are living links to profound stories of sacrifice, humility, and moral discipline.

It is also important to distinguish between “bowing toward” someone and “bowing down to” them. In Buddhist and martial traditions, a bow is not a sign of subjugation or inferiority, but rather a gesture of mutual respect, recognition, and presence. To bow toward someone is to acknowledge their humanity, their role as teacher or peer, or their shared path. In contrast, bowing down to someone implies surrender, hierarchy, or submission, a dynamic not typically encouraged in authentic Chan or martial teachings, which emphasize non-attachment, humility, and equality of spirit (Suzuki, 1956; Shahar, 2008). The gesture is not about worship, but about mindful reverence for the moment and the relationship.

The Story of Huike and the One-Handed Bow

The origins of the one-handed bow can be traced to a pivotal moment in Chan (Zen)Buddhist history. In the 5th or 6th century CE, the Indian monk Bodhidharma (Damo) traveled to China, bringing the profound teachings of Dhyana (meditation) Buddhism. According to legend, Bodhidharma secluded himself in a cave near the Shaolin Temple, meditating in silence for nine years (Suzuki, 1959).

During this time, a Chinese monk named Huike sought to become his disciple. Initially rejected, Huike demonstrated his unwavering determination by standing outside Bodhidharma’s cave through a snowstorm. To further prove his sincerity, Huike cut off his own hand and presented it to Bodhidharma. Moved by this act of sacrifice, Bodhidharma finally accepted him as a student (Cleary, 1999).

The one-handed bow evolved partly from this story. In Chan circles, bowing with one hand came to symbolize total devotion, humility, and the willingness to transcend ego and attachment. The gesture visually echoes Huike’s sacrifice, representing a commitment to the Dharma that goes beyond the physical form.

Practical Monastic Roots

Beyond its symbolic meaning, the one-handed bow also has practical origins. Buddhist monks traditionally carried alms bowls or staffs, often leaving one hand occupied. The gesture of bowing with the free hand thus became a mindful adaptation, embodying presence and respect even in simple actions (Strong, 2001).

In Shaolin monastic life, where martial training intertwined with Buddhist practice, this gesture naturally merged with martial etiquette. Over time, it evolved into the more formalized Shaolin salute, now widely recognized across martial arts traditions.

The Shaolin Salute (Fist Wrapped in Palm)

The Shaolin salute, performed with the left open palm wrapping over the right closed fist encapsulates a deep philosophical message:

• The left palm symbolizes wisdom, virtue, and restraint.
• The right fist represents martial strength and discipline.
• Together, they convey the ideal that strength must serve wisdom, and that martial power should always be governed by moral integrity (Henning, 1999).

The gesture is performed at the start and end of training, as a sign of respect toward teachers, fellow practitioners, and the lineage itself.

Northern vs. Southern Shaolin Variations

Northern Shaolin

• Gesture held closer to the chest, with a more upright posture.
• Strong emphasis on Chan Buddhist origins, honoring the story of Huike and Bodhidharma.
• Used as a reminder that martial arts is a spiritual path, not merely a physical practice.

Southern Shaolin

• Gesture held lower, sometimes with a deeper bow.
• Greater incorporation of Confucian and Taoist elements:
  • The left palm represents civil virtue (wen).
  • The right fist represents martial courage (wu).
• Symbolizes the ideal of the “complete person” where one who balances civil ethics with martial prowess.

Across both traditions, the salute serves as a bridge between physical mastery and spiritual cultivation, reminding practitioners to walk the martial path with awareness, humility, and virtue.

Philosophical Layers of the Salute

These layers reflect the syncretic nature of Chinese culture, where Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism enriched one another and deeply influenced the martial arts (Shahar, 2008).

The Gesture Today

In modern martial arts, the Shaolin salute is used worldwide. Yet, many practitioners are unaware of its spiritual and historical dimensions. The story of Huike’s sacrifice, the practicality of the one-handed bow, and the layered meaning of the salute all remind us that external movements can carry profound internal significance.

Every time a martial artist performs this gesture, they are participating in a lineage that spans centuries of wisdom, discipline, and moral cultivation. In a world often dominated by superficial strength, the Shaolin salute offers a timeless reminder:
True power lies in restraint, and the greatest warrior is one whose actions serve a higher wisdom.

Conclusion

The evolution of the one-handed bow and Shaolin salute exemplifies the essence of holistic practice, integrating the body, mind, and spirit. These gestures are not mere formalities; they are expressions of a worldview where humility tempers strength, and discipline serves compassion.

As we move through modern life, whether in the dojo, temple, or daily interactions, this simple bow invites us to embody presence, respect, and the pursuit of wisdom in every action.

References:

Cleary, T. (1999). Zen Dawn: Early Zen Texts from Tun Huang. Shambhala Publications.

Henning, S. E. (1981). The Chinese martial arts in historical perspective. In Military Affairs (Issue 4, pp. 173–179). Society for Military History. https://themartialscholar.yolasite.com/resources/henning.pdf

Shahar, M. (2008). The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts. University of Hawaii Press. The Shaolin Monastery: History, Religion, and the Chinese Martial Arts on JSTOR

Strong, J. S. (2001). The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations (2nd ed.). Wadsworth/Thomson Learning. https://openlibrary.org/books/OL7785420M/The_Experience_of_Buddhism

Suzuki, D. T. (1959). Zen Buddhism and Its Influence on Japanese Culture. Princeton University Press. https://archive.org/details/in.gov.ignca.16794

Have you ever wondered about rheumatoid arthritis but were afraid to ask? Do you want to know my story? #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain

First: RA is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks healthy joint tissue. It’s debilitatingly painful, causes joint deformation, and is difficult to treat in some (lucky me). It can affect organs, too.

Second: Osteoarthritis is common, age related, and happens gradually over time to most who live long enough or have had joint injuries. It’s not autoimmune, it occurs naturally.

Let me show you with these two photos of my hands:

The first one was taken in 2017 when I *first* had symptoms but was dismissed for the next 6 years. At that time, I was diagnosed with #hEDS connective tissue disorder (correct) and it wasn’t further investigated as autoimmune pain (wrong). I finally got diagnosed with #RA in 2023.

The second one was taken this morning. This hand now has constant pain and stiffness. I’m on 3 different medications trying to keep my disease under control.

I’ve used my hands my whole life to enjoy many different hobbies (sports, music, photography). It’s been devastating to lose, but I’m doing my best.

🫶🏻 TY for reading.

Invisible Illness Club Badges! 75p each https://www.koolbadges.co.uk/invisible-illness-club-p-11069.html #invisibleillnessclub #invisibleillness #badges #koolbadges #25mm #youarestrong #kindness #smallbiz #ChronicIllness #SpoonieLife #HiddenDisability #ChronicPain #Fibromyalgia #ChronicFatigue #Endometriosis

A topic of interest to some in #chronicillness community who could benefit from home visits

News Release
Primary care home visits for older adults declined after payment policy changes & COVID-19 in Ontario
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1114111

https://www.annfammed.org/content/24/1/44

#Homebound #Housebound #SevereME #MEcfs #CFS #PwME #MyalgicEncephalomyelitis #ChronicFatigueSyndrome
@mecfs #chronicillness
#chroniclife
#ChronicPain
#Spoonielife
#ChronicIllnesses
#Spoonies
#Spoonie
#ChronicallyIll
#Disabled
#Disability

One (1) cripplepunk baked potato, reporting for duty.

Both eyes were meant to be closed in this picture. 🤣

I have been bribed with sushi and caffeine to make this trip, but I wanted to go anyway.

-Allēna

#stoner #NEISvoid #chronicpain #chronicillness #selfie #queerselfie #nonbinary

#chronicillness #ChronicPain #NEISvoid #nonbinary #queerselfie #selfie #stoner

BLOG | Time Has No Meaning... Neither Does Life

Everything is too much and too little...

https://delphinemusic.wordpress.com/2024/12/05/time-has-no-meaning/ #Abscess, #Anguish, #autism #Autistc , #AutisticBurnout, #ChronicConditions, #ChronicIllness #chronicpain #Degrading #Depression #Despair #Destroyed, #Devastated, #Disabilities, #Disability #Disabled, #Distraught, #Distress, #Distressed, #Fibromyalgia, #Fibroplegia, #FND, #Health, #Healthcare, #Incontinence, #livingwithdisability #MentalHealth, #neuropathicpain #Shame

Struggling with #ChronicPain or Stress? Experience Relief with This Ancient Solution https://ko-fi.com/post/Struggling-with-Chronic-Pain-or-Stress-W7W51AN1DO

#painrelief, #therapy, #bettersleep, #stressrelief, #wellness, #antistress, #chakrahealing, #backpain #relief, #selfcare, #naturalhealth

I’ve been silent for awhile, the extreme isolation, struggling to keep myself afloat and my child alive has literally broke me. My child recently turned 9. I’d like to say there was a celebration. Yet, it was just us at home struggling to get through the day.

There is no support system for chronically ill, disabled parents caring for disabled children who have chronic, complex medical conditions. We are either forced to tough it out while living in eternal isolation, or fear death by allowing caregivers in our home who couldn’t give a shit that their Covid exposure risk could literally kill us.

The ongoing abuse I’ve witnessed my child experience from structural ableism and medical providers. The weight of it all is crushing us, and there’s no one to hold unto, there’s no support network. It’s obvious abled folx and society would rather we just rot isolated indefinitely, ostracized, alone.
#disabled #DisabledParenting #ableism #chronicpain #covid #n95 #pandemic #pandemicparenting #isolation #exclusion #gaslighting #medicalgaslighting #Care #collective #CovidIsntOver #WearAMask #savedisabledlives

fluffy rambles: The cycle https://beesbuzz.biz/blog/4050-The-cycle #FluffyRambles #Fibromyalgia #ChronicPain #JobStuff

Let's try to connect with some more folks!

Me: #Disabled #ChronicallyIll #ChronicPain #MS #MultipleSclerosis #Bipolar #Autistic #ADHD #Queer #Genderqueer #Neurodivergent #AmbulatoryWheelchairUser

Interests: #Crafting #Crochet #Embroidery #Art #TTRPG #Witchy #Spooky #VideoGames #Gaming #Cooking #DisabledCommunity #Activism #Advocacy #Reading #Tea #Goth #GothVibes #CreepyCute #Animals #Streaming #MutualAid #Leftist

I'm bad at hashtags and also have forgotten everything I like but HELLO😂

I’m new here and I like to talk about #mentalhealth #mentalillness #chronicillness #fibromyalgia #chronicpain #chronicfatigue #jointhypermobilitysyndrome #eds #traineetherapist #therapist #MentalHealthSupport #mentalhealthawareness #wellbeing #selfcare #student #CognitiveBehaviouralTherapy #therapy #publicsector #keyworker #healthcare #health #NEISvoid #advocates #currentevents #lgbt #twittermigration #millennial #millennialmh #mill3nnialmh #keeptalkingmh #itsoknottobeok #spoonie #spoonies 💓

fluffy rambles: Exit stage left https://beesbuzz.biz/blog/11693-Exit-stage-left #FluffyRambles #Fibromyalgia #ChronicPain #Employment #JobStuff #Burnout