Go High or Go Home

"Too bad you're not going on the 28th" —Mom

Classic Mamma Li, starting with disappointment whenever I have exciting news. Over Columbus Day (or Indigenous People's Day) weekend I journeyed to the land of bears and maple syrup—more commonly known as Banff, Canada, to explore the mountains, hunt for larches (it's a tree so PETA don't come after me) and enjoy some fresh air. But Mom bemoaned the date I chose, it's so close to Chung Yeung, "that's when you should have gone."

Chung Yeung Festival or Double Ninth Festival came from a legend that dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). A devil inhabited the Nu River, causing an incurable disease to manifest in the locals that depended on the water source. One such victim was the parent of a young man named Hengjing, who upon the devastation, decided to go on a long and difficult journey to find the immortal master to teach him the swordsmanship required to expel the devil from the water. 

After some time, when the immortal master felt him ready, he told Hengjing that on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month the devil would make an appearance and he must return to the village to vanquish the monster and thusly the disease.

Armed with a bag of dogwood and chrysanthemum wine, Hengjing returned home ready to fight, with the aid of his neighbors. They held up the dogwood and wine so that when the devil made his appearance at noon, his attention immediately turned to the wonderful scent and while distracted, Hengjing used his sword and techniques learned from the immortal master to slay the devil and restore the town. And so every year, on the ninth date of the ninth month, it's customary to climb mountains and drink chrysanthemum wine as a way to ward off the devil and bring good luck into your life. 

Understandably, Mamma Li grew ever more disappointed—if I'm going to go through the danger of climbing mountains, it should at least be with the purpose of bringing good luck into my life. But I still had the most amazing time exploring the natural wonders of Canada—climbing high, making new friends, eating really well, and centering myself before starting a new job—so even if the date wasn't quite right, I think Hengjing was still working his magic and I feel pretty damn lucky. 

If you get a chance, go and climb a mountain today—physical or mental (because getting over a mental mountain is a real thing), and maybe you'll get lucky ;)