Just got back from our fall retreat (gasshuku), and some of the powerful elements: the theme “Gratitude and Grace” as we work through with our longtime instructor and friend Joe Z. his experience of chemotherapy and our mutual support…The image of the muntjac deer on the gasshuku brochure with the theme of “encountering” the world and the interdependence that can … Read More
Thich Nhat Hahn Meditation: Three Stones
I was fortunate many years ago to attend a 5 day mindfulness retreat with meditation teacher, peace activist, and poet Thich Nhat Hahn, much admired world wide for his work, including the book Present Moment Wonderful Moment. Our days were spent in walking meditation, sitting meditation, mindful eating, lectures, and small group meetings. One of the powerful techniques I learned … 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
New moves with a wooden sword: cutting and blessing
I enjoyed a special workshop with Shintaido Master Instructor Ito Sensei this last weekend, arriving from France with new movements being developed in Europe. I had already practiced an early version of these movements (part of a new kenjutsu form), but good to see them in their latest evolution. So what were the moves? They both involve use of the … Read More
Experiment: Doing Taimyo Kata Meditation in the aisle at Walmart
There’s a moving meditation developed in Shintaido a decade (or two) ago called “Taimyo Kata”. It involves a ten to fifteen minute sequence of relaxed and deliberate steps, reaching motions, and, my favorite, a section where you hold your hands together over your head and slowly bring them down across your face and chest. In my mind, it’s as if … Read More