A year of maturing

Another year is wrapped up at North Valley Aikikai.
Last night we did 108 repetitions of Aikido's most basic technique, Suwariwaza Shomen Uchi Ikkyo. This is a very traditional practice in many Aikido schools. Here is short explanation on the number 108 from Wikipedia: "In Japan, at the end of the year, a bell is chimed 108 times to finish the old year and welcome the new one. Each ring represents one of 108 earthly temptations a person must overcome to achieve nirvana." The number 108 has many other meanings in different cultures and practices.

Afterwords we sat quietly in Zazen, allowing the energy to cycle peacefully and settle. Creating the space for a release and letting go of anything that is not contributing to our practice and our lives.
Cleaning the table, getting ready for another year of Aikido.

I feel that 2010 was a year of a significant shift at our Dojo. The Dojo became more mature. Members jumped in and took care of the Dojo without being asked. Wonderful and compassionate exchange happened within our Dojo community; between members, parents, grandparents and children. Activities and volunteering for the community took place, and presence in the community was shown in public events. The Dojo celebrated its fifth anniversary and we hosted Shibata Sensei for a great seminar. Our first member (who started at North Valley Aikikai), Keri, received a Shodan (First degree black belt), and our community grew and broadened, both in numbers and internally.




I keep reminding myself that every day gives us an opportunity to appreciate, balance and celebrate. We have to find it, to choose it, to practice. Open our hearts and minds and allow the expansion. On special occasions we gather and celebrate together, as we traditionally do for Kagami Biraki, our New Year's kick off ceremony and party that will take place at the Dojo on January 8th.

Welcoming another blessed year in, I look forward to sharing it with many of you.

Kinda like Haiku

One of our 'regulars' at the Dojo is Mr. John Barber, also known as "Grandpa". He brings his granddaughter Gillian to Aikido classes every Wednesday, and sometimes on Saturdays, too.

He is a wise man, who gladly shares his extensive knowledge on the Eastern cultures and life in general.

From time to time he hands me a gift, a handful of poems. He calls them "Kinda like Haiku". They touch and lift my heart.


Here are some of them:

*
Trees in bright white bend
to a wind that is not there.
Calm feeling again

*
Children laugh and play;
incense lingers in the air.
Demons flee away







*
Words are but a screen.
Feet themselves must find signs
to the path of life

*
Dojo kokoro:
quiet empty swift bamboo
In black hakama.








*
Patient tatami
Quietly lies in dojo
for feet to return.







*
Bouncing in the air,
falling on the tatami,
An obi comes loose.

*
Hakama shadows
Quietly spin in soft waves
On the tatami

*
Rise and fall again
Body and mind join as one
Fall and rise again