The Dojo

Late Summer Haiku

2007-09-04T16:47:00-08:00

A fall breeze leaves blowing across the gravel ~ lao xian Enjoying sitting between clumps of bamboo. ~ ronin

Aikido Man

2007-01-12T00:48:00-08:00

Kneeling in solitude, ceremoniously bent
serenity and harmony, these be his intent.
Facing the master he looks for himself,
attaining enlightenment first above else.

Preliminaries done, training’s begun
Uke* and Nage* learning as one.
The crisp execution, the challenge, the thrill,
repetition and training develop the skill.

A man of loyalty, honor, respect,
through love of his Art these he’ll never reject.
Respecting all life, and all that is blessed,
doing what’s proper, calmly awaiting the death.

His is a legacy, one that tradition unfolds,
techniques and wisdom from the Fathers of Old
Steeped in Knowledge of the arts and the letters,
training the Self unloosens the fetters,

His way is ageless, timeless and now,
always unfolding, always asks how?
Those who know him, love him as such,
who’s not attracted to the mysterious?

- Ronin (1981)

Thanksgiving with Joseph Campbell

2006-11-23T16:12:00-08:00

And between the Harvest and Returning Light is Thanksgiving: a time to appreciate the cornucopia of Life — which also brings into awareness suffering. And without knowing how to balance the two, too easily does joy get swept away by fear and sadness.

When I feel this way, I like to ‘check-in’ with Joseph Campbell, and the wise professor usually has some helpful hints. He reminds me that ...

“When we talk about settling the world’s problems
we’re barking up the wrong tree.
the world is perfect. It’s a mess.
It has always been a mess.
We are not going to change it.
Our job is to straighten out
our own lives.”

And with that reminder, I remember to breath slowly and deeply ... letting my attention shift inward ... where I can listen to the soft voice, saying: ‘Feel your existence ... enjoy your existence ...’

Then ... the harvest begins ... saying “thank you” ... I enjoy the return of the light.

(Quotations excerpted from A Joseph Campbell Companion by Diane Osbon)

Autumn Beach Retreat

2006-11-14T21:16:00-08:00

“Tai Chi by the Sea” was the theme of our Autumn Beach Retreat. We came together on a Long Beach along Washington’s beautiful and inspiring Pacific coast. For three days and nights we encamped in comfortably quaint surf side cottages, a short stroll to the ocean’s edge, where we danced the dance of Tai Chi, conducted by waves of surf, wind, and sunshine.

Later we retreated back into the cottage for some Chi Kung, conversation, Insight Journaling, and some much needed ‘downtime.’ In balance, we cultivated camaraderie and enjoyed the feeling of Self reliance.

Staying Healthy in Autumn
In this episode of Seasonal Health Tips, Kitty talks about how the Metal element of Autumn affects your health, and how to stay healthy during this season of cooler days and longer nights.

A BIOM seasonal getaway is a ‘treat’ that lasts from season to season. Because by practicing what you learn and experience at a BIOM retreat you can continue to ‘re-treat’ yourself at home, until the next seasonal getaway comes around.

So plan to treat yourself to BIOM’s upcoming Winter Retreat, where we’ll be focusing on: The Way In ...

And as always ...
Wishing you health and well being,
Kitty and Michael

Contact Kitty to find out how you can participate in a BIOM retreat: email ~ (206) 842-6936

The Summer Dojo

2006-09-04T19:59:00-08:00

It’s been very dry this summer in the west, fires raging far and wide; not to bad at BIOM though where wise trees know how to survive summer drought and winter wind.

A hoe
standing without a farmer
the heat!
– Shiki

But there have been hot days and the dojo has moved outside beneath giant maple, cedar, and fir — hot in the spaces where the sun streams down and heats the gravel mat. And the summer forest dojo sweat recalls memories of the summer city dojo, two stories above the boulevard traffic and its wafting exhaust filling the stagnant summer city air - many young years ago.

Spend enough time in the dojo and you’re transformed, and transported, like a seed, floating, until it arrives at a place to root ...

A dojo in the woods, beneath giant maple, cedar, and fir; a well ‘en-Tao-ed’ place.

Enlightenment in the Tai Chi Garden

2006-08-14T18:23:01-08:00

Cramped up and entangled with project timelines, my garden began to wither from lack of attention during these hot months of August. Remembering, then stepping back, into my ‘sacred space’ I tended my garden with conscious attention for a couple of days. Refreshed, my creativity is ripe for the picking. And once again, I’m reminded that “Enlightenment” is like a light switch: I have to turn it on to see the Light.

The Passing of Floyd Patterson

2006-05-11T17:03:00-08:00

I was enjoying summer in the Hudson River Valley, living and working at the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. The day I met Mr. Patterson I was running some errands, and lost sight of the main road as I explored some of the neighborhoods in Kingston.

Meeting a Remarkable Man
As I decided to find my way back to the main road I saw a man up ahead, walking around in front of his house. I pulled up slowly and asked him for directions back to the highway. Then spontaneously I heard myself blurt out with astonishment: “You’re Floyd Patterson!” I felt my head bow slightly as I offered my hand to him in friendship and recognition — but on the inside, my ‘Being’ was focused on making physical contact with this man.

When I’m open I can receive.

I was completely surprised that I recognized him because I didn’t really know what Floyd Patterson looked like, nor did I know anything other than he was a ‘king’ in the pantheon of champion boxers, though one that had come and gone before my time. (I didn’t come of age until Cassius Clay – soon to become Mohammed Ali – fought Sonny Liston).

‘Chi’ is a concept only understood as a feeling.

The Transmission
With the slightly regal look of someone who at one time was recognized the world over, combined with a humble appreciation of being so well received decades past his prime, Mr. Patterson graciously wrapped his hand around mine. I felt my average-sized hand ensconced in his warm, soft grip. It felt like a mother’s hand, gently pulsing with tenderness; ironically, a hand that had battered and pummeled many an adversary into submission as he plied his warrior craft in the boxing ring. And then he pointed me in the right direction and I drove off, feeling exhilarated, calm, and fulfilled. I’ve recalled this meeting several times over the years, and each time I do, I re-feel the transmission of ‘Chi’ I ‘received’ from him.

Open To Receive
This meeting/feeling was a milestone experience for me in that I felt ‘first hand’ the Chi or ‘Life Force’ of this Master of the Warrior Tradition. After many years of my own practice of Aikido and Tai Chi, I now know that this transfer of Chi was able to happen because I was open to receiving it; not that I decided at that moment that there was something for me to ‘take’; rather I was ready, able, and willing through an ongoing commitment I made to this ‘growth process.’ So, like a wireless computer that recognizes any ‘transmitter’ in its range, the Chi that Mr. Patterson emitted naturally passed into me, and because I cherish that feeling it nourishes and guides me to this day.

Tai Chi Garden High

2006-05-10T16:49:01-08:00

Now, at the ‘mid-century mark of my life, I marvel at the evolutionary flow that carried me along the continuum from body-centered, to body-mind awareness, to a consciousness of body-mind-spirit. And as a Master Gardener friend keeps reminding, “It just keeps getting better”: For me it’s the personal discovery of a more expansive body-mind-spirit experience that I call ‘Tai Ch for Gardeners.”

A Unique Way to Relieve Stress & Tension
When I used to run, swim, and cycle, I always felt calm and relaxed when I was done, but as I waded back into the ‘daily grind,’ stress and tension muscled their way back into my body and mind, which over time had a dis-spiriting effect. And as new stress and tension began to replace the batch I had just ‘worked out,’ all I had was the memory of knowing that I could get relief by ‘working it out’ it again.

Feel The Chi

Tai Chi for Gardeners is unique in that after the euphoric feeling that comes from grounding excess mental activity, and loosening tension-wound knots in my body, I have so much more than what the conventional ‘work out’ offers: I have a beautiful garden that continues to lift my spirit and inspires me to come back for more.

Contact Michael — (206) 842-6936 or — to find out how Tai Chi for Gardeners can benefit you.

Good Morning Garden

2006-04-26T17:01:00-08:00

Several hours of Tai Chi gardening later I felt that soothing, ‘worked-out’ feeling that comes after culling and composting the work-week’s stress from body and mind. And that night, pleasantly fatigued, I went to sleep. But just as freshly loosened soil is good for the plants growing in it, it may not be so good for the creatures who are now more easily gotten to by birds looking for an easy meal. Sometimes my unintentional thoughts behave like those birds.

Good Morning Garden

Before drifting into sleep I thought I’d have pleasant dreams, but that wasn’t the case; I woke up the next morning feeling uneasy. “Oh well ...” I said to myself with resignation as I stepped outside on my way to work, but then ... in an instant! I felt it: the freshness of the garden air on my face, the coolness of its ‘Chi’ in my lungs, and the mellifluous chirping of the birds ... and all of a sudden! I felt good: It was a ‘good morning’ after all, thanks to my ‘good morning’ garden.

Gathering in the Chi is a refreshing Chi Kung exercise that connects the body, mind, and breath in way that let’s you feel the subtle energy that keeps you alive.

Cultivated Appreciation

2006-04-21T01:35:00-08:00

My garden cultivates appreciation
It calls me to return
Over and over again
Appreciation
To be enjoyed
Anytime
Anywhere