Opening the mirror

From Wikipedia:
"Kagami Biraki (鏡開き) is a Japanese phrase which literally translates to "Opening the Mirror" or, also, "Breaking of the Mochi." It traditionally falls on the January 11 (odd numbers are associated with being good luck in Japan). It is generally the first important event of the year after New Years Day. It refers to the opening of a Kagami Mochi, or to the opening of a cask of Sake at a party or ceremony."

The mirror, so it is told, contains our old image. We look at it with old views and memories of who we believed ourselves to be. Yet every cell in our body is different from the cells it contained six months ago. We are renewing in e very moment, and by "opening the mirror" we see the possibility of moving away from the old confines and becoming a new person, a new version of ourselves.

This year, we celebrated Kagami Biraki with our Dojo community, starting with Kyu tests and Dan grades demonstration. We then held a ceremony in which we meditated about our personal prospect for 2009. We all created a symbol, word, letter, calligraphy or picture on small cards - bringing our prospect into manifestation, and placed all of them on our Kamiza. The ceremony ended with "breaking the sake barrel" and drinking for the New Year, following by a delicious Japanese potluck that included some traditional New Year foods.

Pure joy of starting a new year as a community.