On Whalehead Beach, North Carolina sit the remains of The Metropolis, a ship that wrecked in January of 1878. Originally a Civil War vessel called USS Stars and Stripes, it was recommissioned as the Metropolis in 1871 and was sailing from Philadelphia to Brazil when the storm took it and 85 of its passengers. Much of the ship’s keel and a portion of the hull are intact. The size of the beams and steel rods that hold them together are enormous. It’s a fascinating site that causes all beach combers to stop and reflect on the remains. One thing I learned about this ship is that it first surfaced in a storm in 1997 eventually succumbing to the ebbtide before resurfacing in 2015.
As I looked at this massive artifact, I was struck by the violent churning that must have taken place in the ocean to send this hull to shore. In my reflection, I was reminded of the churning that takes place during a deep pranayama practice when our own “shipwrecks” are brought to the surface at differing degrees of visibility. The first time I experienced such a churning, I was frightened and uncertain that I wanted to see any more of the buried thoughts. While my own personal “shipwrecks” are poor decisions or moments I wish I could rewind, they carry the same weight that I imagine the Metropolis does for the tides. As my container has grown stronger, I have been able to weather these storms and the debris that surface with greater ease.
No doubt the Covid-19 pandemic and quarantine, along with the illuminated social injustices inherent in our country have created a set of churnings in your life – anxiety, fear, confusion, and self-examination. For some, the quarantine has been a blissful opportunity to embrace their introversion. Perhaps it has allowed for planning and organizing for the future. The events preceding and since the death of George Floyd may have left you feeling angry and uncomfortable. I feel a new storm – a stirring – around the painful truths of social injustice and racism in this country combined with people interacting outside of their homes to closely.
We will have to experience the ebb and flow to a new normal around social distancing. We have to face the heavy load that has surfaced on the beach and give it its due examination and attention so that along with us, future generations can learn from our mistakes and we can grow from this churning.

https://www.outerbanksvoice.com/2015/02/13/exposed-wreck-believed-to-be-remains-of-civil-war-steamer/