More post-election: taking care of ourselves and others…

Brad LarsonShintaidoLeave a Comment

I won’t mince words, Donald Trump won by appealing to fear and anger, and that doesn’t bode well for our path forward. I just returned from the NEMA museum conference, where we watched the election unfold in shock and disbelief. A friend reported someone felt this negated her life’s work in the museum field. But if anything, it’s a call to burn more … Read More

“Jewel words shining in the world”

Brad LarsonFeatured Posts, Gallery, Haiku, Nature3 Comments

When you get most of your exercise running around through the woods with a stick, you start to notice changes over time. And now, here in New England in the Fall, I’m aware of leaves…the way sunlight can fall on them through the trees and light them like jewels — golden, red, brown, green — shining beyond me as I as … Read More

Barefoot and rolling around in the grass

Brad LarsonFeatured Posts, Shintaido, UncategorizedLeave a Comment

It’s one of those sunny October days that feels like an early September day, doing keiko (Shintaido practice) outside, barefoot under a blue sky. It’s an old-timey practice, without sticks, doing some of the roots movements, going down on our knees, cutting our partner, rolling. To be honest, knee walking and rolling are not my favorites. More of a shorter, Japanese body … Read More

Playing with a weak little love beam…

Brad LarsonUncategorizedLeave a Comment

When I feel out of sorts, I take it to the stick. Run around the lake trails with the jo staff…practicing sword movement, sometimes till I’m exhausted, alternating with relaxation and breathing near the pond. That combination of active/relaxed makes an impression on my body that I can feel long after. I’ve been trying something new the last few days. After … Read More

Standing in the new world

Brad LarsonFeatured Posts, ShintaidoLeave a Comment

cumulous cloud and bird in Tampa

  I’ve been practicing the Diamond Eight Cut in the mornings pretty regularly now. With wooden sword, slowly cutting across, up, down, across. Not just waving the stick around, but feeling the cut with my body as I draw the blade across the space. Cutting the space around me — cutting through things I’ve gotten stuck on. Opening the space around … Read More