You never step into the same river twice...

Recently several of my relationships have undergone massive shifts. This is nothing out of the ordinary, just the normal ebb and flow of life. But in recent months the landscape of my friendships has changed quite dramatically. Most notably, several of my friends have relocated to points foreign and overseas, with one even moving to the conflict-torn mountain kingdom of Nepal, nestled in the Himalayas.

And suddenly those regular (and irregular) get-togethers, those walks along the sea-shore or the movies on the art circuit are no longer there. The in-depth, late-night conversations about conflict, spirituality, raising the kundalini, life, the universe and everything will no longer take place in their customary form.

Every friend raises in us a world within us, possibly undiscovered and dormant, definitely unchartered, until they come along. "Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They are in each other all along", said Rumi.So it is important to treasure the moment of meeting, to cherish the time you spend together and to value the richness each friend brings to your life.

Similarly on the tatami, each person with whom you train offers you something different, a new lesson or a new take on an old lesson. As such, each uke is someone to treasure whether s/he is a high-ranking dan grade or has just stepped onto the mat.

Aikido, as a system, relies on this sense of relationship between uke and tori. Each technique is created in the moment of the coming together. I rely on the presence of uke to perfect my technique, to challenge who I am, to help me develop into a better aikidoka, into a better person. While I may be able to practice my individual boy movements (tai no henko) by myself, I rely on a dynamic, fluid and mutual relationship with uke in order to develop my technique, and to create the beauty inherent in Aikido.

So cherish uke for the time you have to train with him/her. S/he has a special purpose in training with you on this technique. Next time you meet, the circumstances will be different and both of you will hopefully be changed....

See you on the tatami

Sacrifice & Celebration

Today, Tuesday 24/10/2006, is Eid-ul-Fitr, the day marking the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadhan - a month of fasting and sacrifice and now a day of feasting and thanksgiving. All over the world Muslims have been refraining from eating, drinking, sex and generally misbehaviour between the hours of sunrise and sunset for a month. Of course over the last month or so not only Muslims around the world were fasting; Hindus were fasting (Pratassi) in anticipation of of Diwali (or the festival of lights) and Jews fasted for 25 hrs over Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) following their new year celebrations a week or so before. And while all of these religious and cultural practices may have different expression and focuses, there is a common thread of self-development, purification and striving to a higher ideal that runs through all of them

A thread that is present also in our Aikido practice. The notion of misogi (purification) is one that pervades Aikido - not only in the traditional rowing (tori-fune) exercise performed at the beginning of the class, but also in how our practice seeks to cleanse our movements, our energy field, our relations with others of disharmony and impurities.

Misogi practice is part of the Shinto tradition and focuses on purifying the body, the heart and the spirit.

• Purifying the physical body involves the literal washing away of external dirt, purifying the blood stream through diet [the misogi diet is primarily grain based with the addition of seasonal fruits and vegetables] and adjusting daily activity and sleep. Of primary importance is regulating body movement in a way to increase inner and outer harmony.
• Heart Misogi is the releasing of old thought patterns and beliefs that are no longer life enhancing, moving towards a positive mental life and understanding to obtain inner harmony, manifesting kansha (thankfulness) leading to a balanced heart whose attributes are:

Akaki kokoro - purity and cheerfulness of heart/brightness/shining like the sun.
Kiyoki kokoro - a heart of jewel-like clarity and brilliance.
Makoto kokoro - a heart of sincerity
Naoki kokoro - a childlike heart without the desire to decieve.
Tadashiki kokoro - a heart which seeks justice.

Our movements, flowing as they are, clear the space, both outside of ourselves and within, of stagnant vibrations.

O-Sensei saw this as the essence of Aikido:

These movements are the basis of Aiki, moves which unite humankind with great nature, all given by Sarudahiko no O' Kami (gaurdian deity of Aiki). Aiki is misogi, misogi of ourselves. Aiki is the way of Misogi itself, the way to become Sarudahiko no O' Kami and stand on Ame no Ukihashi. In other words, the skills of Misogi are Aiki, the way of uniting Heaven and Earth, the way of world peace, the way to perfect humanity, the way of Kami, the way of the universe.

He also had some further advice for us:

"Rise early in the morning to greet the sun. Inhale and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and let the cosmos inside. Next breathe up the fecundity and vibrance of the earth. Blend the breath of earth with your own and become the breath of life itself. Your mind and body will be gladdened, depression and heartache will dissipate and you will be filled with gratitude (kansha).

So as the season of thanksgiving and celebration continues into Christmas, Hannukah and many other celebrations, let us continue our practice, regularly and mindful of the larger transformation we are engaged in.

See you on the mat soon,

Ghalib