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
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…
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
Lake Massapoag
An extra reflective day…swing the stick around and look at the sky and water…do some breathing…
Standing in the new world
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