twilightpony | Breathing Technique

I went to visit Zecora today and I found the Everfree looking especially dreary. I stepped through the edge into a forest cold and misty, where most of the leaves have fallen off the trees and the ferns and forbs are limp and brown. Just beyond the Everfree, in the fields of Ponyville, yesterday's clouds have been cleared and the sunshine is bright and cheery. By the time I reached Zecora's forest home I was wet, chilled and a little bit miserable. Zecora welcomed me in with a rhyme and led me to her table where she pushed something hot and nourishing in front of my nose. I felt much better.

It's harvest time for Zecora too. Although she will collect specific plants in bloom during the summer, or others as they emerge in the spring, many of the plants she selects are best harvested now, when they are at their most potent. I'd dropped in on her while she was in the middle of sorting and preparing extracts and powders from several medicinal plants. I lent a hoof, stirring the tincture, grinding seeds and filling jars. She had me practice gaining focus through controlled breathing while engaged in processing the plants. That's a very useful skill and I need to do that more.

On my way home, I continued to practice concentrating on the rhythm of my breathing. During the moments I got it just right, the muted, cluttered forest appeared clearer, intricate and interconnected. Time slowed down and my hoofsteps became silent but sure in the slippery wet leaf litter. The chill did not bother me anymore.