Path of the Warrior (ess), Natural Healer & Priestess

The spiritual path I walk is the path of the warrior (add the `ess' .... if you like ... to represent the feminine version), Natural Healer/Physician and Priestess. What does this all mean, really? As this is a topic with much depth, we will visit it briefly and look at each aspect as an introduction to the three aspects.

THE WARRIOR

What does it mean to be a Warrior? One may see images of a person doing battle with weapons and fancy movements ... vanquishing the forces intending to do harm to the innocent. While this is true in a simplistic view of the word, Warrior training involves so much more than combat skills, and fighting. However, in a metaphorical sense, we are certainly doing battle on some level ... with ignorance ... with the darkness - within.... always within first. As a warrior we work to bring more light into our own life in order to be a brighter light in the world. This isn't always a pretty picture or an experience of ease and bliss for many.

Growth and evolution can often be an experience with periods similar to that known as the dark night of the soul. While we certainly experience fun, bliss, and pleasure on our path, it would be an illusion to imagine we can walk in this way always - life is simply not like that right here and now ... where we are at (externally and internally ... and this is different for everyone). We can enter ... connect with ... experience blissful states, yes. For the majority of us, there is much to face and transform/transmutate and until we reach a certain place in our Work, it is certainly not always blissful! There is a saying that ignorance is bliss!!! True - if one takes that to mean the bliss of ignorance ... when we do not know something (for example, the darker aspect of ourself .... it is far easier to be blissful) ... want to be ignorant?

A warrior is prepared to See, Feel and Look inside and out ... and if one embarks on the path and realizes that one does not possess this quality, one is able to Work to attain it. Without first seeing oneself as one really is, there is no room to Work.


I recall speaking with a woman once who had tumours removed, an eye surgery, joint issues, eczema and was obese. When I asked her how she felt inside her body, she said, in a huff, "Oh, I feel just great ... why? There is nothing wrong with me." This is an example of ignorance is bliss: she was so insensitive to herself inside and out that she could not feel her body crying for help and change - though it was plain to see. She was the type to work to keep herself in a positive mental state ... by not Feeling ... very dangerous. She also had other issues which she was unwilling/unable to acknowledge or see and was therefore stuck mentally and emotionally in her relationships as well. Years later, she had hip surgery and bowel impactation which also required surgery. Working to keep ourselves in a positive mental state is useful; however, not at the expense of the other aspects of ourself working together.

A Warrior is prepared to See what IS - to truly KNOW and is prepared to Work in order to See and KNOW. To see what IS means we give up illusions - some of those illusions trick us into adopting a belief that if `I do not go there, then all is well '- baloney ... one does not go there and so `There' is never brought to light ... and lies covered up in whatever one does to protect one self from feeling these places and moving beyond them ... most of this can be read in people's bodies quite easily. So the work of the Warrior is to face all, transform and transmutate ... and overlook nothing. This takes bravery, determination, impeccability and consistent effort over time (remember?).

In times of peace, the Warrior returns within and continues in her/his spiritual refinement and development - the focus within. If war is brought to one's homeland and the peace and well being of one's people and one's family is threatened, the Warrior may decide to do a different type of battle. What type and how/when is very relative to the situation. Even Warriors run and hide if that is the best option in the moment - there is no glory in death that is avoidable. Many warriors in the past ran from danger and so the arts survived and were able to be passed on - even though there were deliberate measures taken to try to wipe out these teachings over the centuries - all ancient teachings hold stories of this tragic truth, as many cultures rich with spiritual truths and gems were persecuted in our history.

For our ancestors, battle and warrior training was certainly applied in combat situations as the world they lived in was different than the one we experience in the Western world today. For these people, combat skills were a matter of life and death - often, peaceful agricultural communities would be ransacked by travelling bands of thieves and murderous individuals. The training these people had was skillfully disguised in regular farming tools - as well as in their full body movements (their body was a weapon). Having warriors trained in these ways was often the determining factor of survival of a village in difficult times.

Some of the movements we have learned have their roots in these times. Some of the same movements were used to cultivate spiritual awareness and meditative states ... purifying the meridians of the body and leading to higher states of awareness and consciousness.

In fact, the art we teach does have combative elements, but we do not currently engage in tournaments - nor have I ever personally done so. To me, the art has always been very personal and spiritual in focus - with additional healing and practical philosophical aspects.

I have never felt the need or desire to perform and/or compete in a formal tournament. My arena is in the real world and in my day to day life. The opponent I have to face with all I have learned and experienced is usually myself. Though we all face experiences in life where another person feels like an opponent, in one way or another, our own inner challenges are definitely there along the Way. Many students of Kung fu (as well as various other arts) find an interest in tournaments; this is neither good or bad ... simply something they may feel to do at some point in their training and path of study.

We were trained to always be prepared as though we were going to a tournament in every class. In every class, I felt an internal element of working towards my own personal best. This has become a lifestyle now. Life is a tournament - every day we are performing ... there is no preparation ... only NOW, and so we are always in training and always ready to do our best. This is impeccability. This is the path of a warrior.

In everyday life we encounter situations in which we can utilize the skills and attributes of a warrior. What might some of these be? Start up a list ... write them down in your journal.


SPIRIT ... not enough can be said about the cultivation of SPIRIT in an individual - a true requirement, actually! Flexibility and fluidity, strength (inner and outer), power, control (remember that power and control are not over others, but over ourselves and our own life ... in our use of these words ... and our use of the word Spirit in the above sense is imparting a zestfulness where one's Spirit is shining through in all one does), discrimination, determination, mental/emotional balance, transformation and transmutation, extra-ordinary abilities, intuition, clarity of mind, sobriety, peace, calm, contentedness, sharp wit, higher intellect, personal brilliance, stick-to-it-iveness, commitment, greater will to do things ... and more...! What qualities have you come up with in your list?

As you Work in this Path, you have ample opportunities to see and feel for yourself where your own Work lies. You also have the time and space in which to cultivate that which you can further develop.

Notice perfection was not on the list? We will make mistakes ... even at higher levels ... there is always room to learn more and to better ourselves; perfection is not required! Doing your best (impeccability) is.

And we can really develop these qualities through the arts of Kung fu, Chi Kung and Yoga? Most definitely.

So Warrior training is more than mere physical training, ... this is the part that is often misunderstood and not applied. We all know that physical training is not to be overlooked! At higher levels of training we finally not only realize that all of life is our training ground - we are actually living this. We are not merely filled up with concepts, information and knowledge; we are a living example of the benefits of a spiritual practice and its practical application to life here and now. We are extra-ordinary due to the extra-ordinary things we have done in our training and Work. No one can give this to us and so we all develop these things according to our own consistent personal efforts over time. In this Way, a most serious mind and commitment is required ... while being able to have fun!

Every day we are presented with various challenges and perhaps difficulties (as we view them). Walking as a warrior, we have tools we can use in any given moment to deal and cope with what is presented to us in a balanced way; this is how we maintain high levels of energy and harmony in our life. We are not only able to manifest and maintain abundance on the physical level, but continue to progress spiritually. This is the Walk of the Warrior in balance and control of him/her self. This, we can call Mastery.


THE NATURAL HEALER/PHYSICIAN

The aspect of the Path that we call Natural Healer/Physician refers to the training which involves both technique in the Healing Arts and higher level healing which moves beyond technique and operates on the level of energy itself. Over the years of our journey along this Path, we learn and can apply both ... eventually also attaining mastery in the Healing Arts.

Today, on our path, Healers/Natural Physicians specialize in certain things like Herbs and Flowers or Traditional Chinese Medicine or acupressure, Arts such as Jin Shin Jyutsu, Naturopathy, Aromatherapy, Massage, shamanism and so on. All healing work involves a deep understanding of the mental/emotional aspect. Most begin with technique or pick up techniques later (and there is nothing wrong with technique; however, the physical manifestation is not the level at which disharmony originates) - eventually all must come to KNOW and experience that all disorders, dis-eases, illness etc. are energy related first. Mastery in the art of Healing requires working at the level of Energy ... which is what we are.

We still seek out medical attention for emergencies like broken limbs, serious misalignments, accidents or other similar situations; however, we do not require medical attention when we are at higher levels of health and wellness: spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.

We realize that we can experience challenges either metabolically, structurally or mentally/emotionally. The modalities we learn assists us in learning how to address these issues we may experience as they arise. We seek out natural interventions first and give ourselves the space and time to heal ... rather than looking for a quick fix or a pharmaceutical option which often treats symptoms only ... leaving the individual with the root of the problem unaddressed as well as having to deal with the many side effects that often come with the pharmaceutical route.

We look at all factors when faced with health and healing: spiritual, emotional/mental, physical, environmental, familial/ancestral etc. An individual must be prepared to do their part in the healing process. It has taken many years of sustained imbalances of various sorts for someone to manifest an illness ... being prepared to walk the road to vibrant health and well-being is a requirement for sucess!

On this path, we Work to be a living example of health. Prevention is key. Mastery (in this Way), includes the ability to heal one self and be the living example of a level of health and well-being others can attain with Work. Thus, it is vital to study health and healing principles on this path in order to be able to assist one self and others to regain inner balance and control of vitality, health, energy and well-being.


MONKS, PRIESTS AND PRIESTESSES

As a Monk or Priestess in this Art, one is first a Monk or Priestess in one's own life. This requires dedication in the practice and experience of developing a connection with what is referred to as the Divine ... within one's self, in and around all things. This individual no longer requires an intermediary between themselves and what they view as Divine, Spirit, God, Universal Energy, The Source, the All That Is....however one views it. They now embody it and impeccably bring this into their everyday life .. sharing this with others and assisting them to learn how to do the same.

As is seen in many religions - with their altars and rituals, prayers, blessings, sacred rites/ceremony and divine connection, anyone can learn to be a monk, priest/priestess in their own right and in their own life ... applying these principles into their own life and later offering service to assist others with theirs ... later teaching and mentoring (if called to do so) to those who also wish to do the same.

Throughout time, the Shaman, Monk, Priest, Medicine Man/Woman etc. were the intermediaries between man and Spirit or God. As priests/priestesses, individuals were skilled in the handling of a troubled individual - Knowing and having a deep understanding of the delicate workings of the human psyche/soul. These people were able to assist others in many ways: making their way through delicate transitions in life; they offered comfort, guidance or a swift kick in the butt during difficult times (and having the wisdom,experience and skill in determining which is called for in every situation); they provided assistance in the interpretation of dreams; guidance in finding their own unique place and fulfilling their personal destiny in life; heal from troubling ailments and understand the nature of their suffering ... and so on.

As a Monk or Priestess, you become this intermediary. Not only do you attend to the service of others who come to you for assistance - you first have developed the ability to assist yourself. Once again, the importance of walking your talk is vital.

One can see how this is a personal journey which lasts a lifetime - there is always room to grow and learn in Wisdom. We do not break down this path into three distinct phases of training - they are really interwoven and developed simultaneously over time ... though there are periods when one aspect may be focused on more than the other two. This is a path we walk our whole life - we are dedicated to this path and commit to continue to grow and learn ... Working through difficult times ...celebrating the breakthroughs and times of peace and joy ... and grinning and bearing the many inescapable challenges that one is bound to face on such a journey.

The Art of Reflection and the Many Faces of Negativity

There are many aspects to the Work we do.  (By now, we know that Work with a big `w` refers to the path we walk).  We will discuss a bit about the Art of Reflection.   We will also take a look at negativity and its effects on us and our energy reserves today. 

ENERGY STORES

Part of our Work is the taking in and storing of energy(ies) which is vital to our well-being and necessary for us to use in furthering our growth spiritually.  It is like a feedback loop ... we Work to gain energy which we can now use to continue to progress in our Work ... of course we also require and use energy for other things.   We gain and store energy by applying practical tools -  in both a formal practice, where we set a specific time aside to do certain movements and breathwork, and the informal setting of our everyday life ... this is what is meant by the saying that life is our dojo. 

In this path of study, you can be a householder ... with children ... a job ... etc. and benefit from Walking in this Way.  We are fortunate that doors have been opened and we have the possibility to benefit from this Work and attain whatever we are willing and able to attain given our unique situations and personal efforts.   Of course, given our vast differences in health, lifestyle, time and effort into the Work, we will get different results. 

If we are too tired to do our practices and/or are too stressed and have no energy reserves left, we can lose our ability to respond to things in a balanced way ... we may find practices challenging to do when we are tired or stressed out from how we are responding to our various life experiences and situations.  So we can say that we also Work in order to be energy efficient.  We then use our energy to continue in our Work and in our Life ... with as much balance and harmony as we are willing and able to create and sustain - given our own acquired abilities.

WAKING UP

Surely, the Work is in the Now ... in every moment ... wherever we are and whatever we are doing.  We are always in the Now ... what we mean when we say that the Work is in the Now, is that we are aware and conscious to all that is to various degrees - some of us are walking asleep ... in the Now ...  and not present with and in it.   There is so much talk of this these days ... yes, and for the most part, mostly talk.  We can offer you tools to check how awake you really are ... how willing are you to see?

When we are not fully present, we are more likely to respond out of a negative pattern and unconscious behaviour (thought, word or action); this, in turn, triggers others to do the same if they are equally not present (I also use the word unconscious ... unaware) ... and this, of course, leads to suffering and is fuel for further negative internal/external dialogue and so on.
  
There are also those who are conditioned to be 'nice' ... and this has nothing to do with being awake, aware and fully present to what is ... so it is a tricky thing ... this state of being awake.  All of our practices have to do with waking up more fully ... you only KNOW what this REALLY means when you are there yourself ...

THE ART OF REFLECTION


Reflection does not get in the way of the Now ... we gain from reflection and then we take this insight into our daily life.  Stopping to reflect often presents us with insight and aha's about things we did that we were previously unaware of.   When we stop to consciously reflect, it is quite different from allowing the mind to run rampant with mental movies and incessant internal dialogue on its own (unconsciously... not under our direct instruction).  So we choose when and how long to reflect and then we move on.

We can stop to reflect at any time during the day ... right before bed ... at various times of the year ... we can reflect about the day ... the week ... the month ... a year ... 

By the way, how HAS this last year been for you (2011?) ... were you at ease and in the flow with your life?  What situations came up which gave you big mirrors about yourself and what will you do differently now?  What did you learn about yourself? ... What are you doing now based on this reflection? ... How about your lifetime? ...

Have you ever had a tremendous shock in your life?  How did this impact you and your life afterwards?   Many people speak of having their life flash before their eyes right before death, a near death experience, an illness or a tremendous shock.  I experienced this when I was very ill ... and near death.  It was an amazing experience (I did not say fun) ... full of all the dark and light of how I was and the things I had experienced up to that point in my life.  Revealing, indeed.  

I now KNOW why certain monks have practices whereby they live as though they might die at any moment ... it is not a morbid practice ... it is reflection and presence to a high degree.  I have had other near death experiences and they have enriched my life - shocks have always made me see things with fresh eyes ... like being reborn without the garbage, conditioning and traumas we pick up along our journey.  These shocks provided me with opportunities to wake up more fully and to move in life in directions I may never have travelled.  But those are other stories ...

Bring the Art of Reflection consciously into your life as a practical tool.  In your formal practice, you are doing this reflection in the moment as you are moving ... but it is not a purely mental reflection ... it is all of you at once ... in keen observation, sensing, feeling, hearing, seeing, being inside and out all at once ... if you do, you will move without thinking about dinner or what someone said to you ... you will move freely.   We do formal practice in such a way that the mind finds it very difficult to take over!  We then Work to carry this forward with us throughout the day ... the formal practice being a big boost.

This way of reflecting is not the same as unconsciously daydreaming about the future and rehashing the past in daydreams and fantasies at any random time of the day.  This is what is unconscious and what we Work to stop.  

REFLECTION AND NEGATIVITY

Reflection is a tool we use.  As we reflect about the negativity we can see in our thoughts, words, actions, in and around us, we do so with awareness and then we move on with our day, applying what we have learned.  Negativity is a huge energy drain and so we are very interested in finding how it shows up in our lives in order to do something about it.  

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What are some of the Faces of Negativity?

There is a lot of misconception around negativity.  I once heard/read the story below and it stuck with me ever since.  It has become a reminder to me that when responses are genuine and are appropriate to the moment and the situation, they may come across to someone else as harsh or negative, when they are simply genuine responses to something in the moment and can be taken as a mirror of behaviour if dished out in the balanced measure to what is given. 

This is one of the big traps regarding negativity: people often justify true negativity as being a genuine response and a genuine response as being negative ... this is due to a lack of inner clarity and ability to see one's self and others as they really are.  Here is one story for clarification:

A woman priestess was studying under her master teacher when she came across a challenge in her understanding.  She was learning about the practice of loving kindness towards all beings and found herself unable to apply it in one situation.  She went before her teacher and explained:  '' I have been applying loving kindness to all whom I meet as my meditative practice.  Every week when I go to the market there is a gentleman there who pinches me and accosts me with rude comments and gestures.  It seems to be getting worse each time I go.   Work, as I do every time I see him there, I have so far been unable to feel this loving kindness towards him.''  The teacher smiled and told her, ''The next time you go to the market, bring your umbrella and when he touches you and speaks rudely, give him a sharp slap with your umbrella.   Then bless him with loving kindness in your heart,  walk away, and continue with your practices.''  She was never accosted by this person again.

This is a useful story in that many of us put up with inappropriate behaviours under the guise of being a spiritual and loving person.  We have the right to place boundaries up - and we can offer love and forgiveness to those who behave in this way ... in our hearts.   Others have no issues with placing up boundaries, but they do so aggressively and then gossip about it and carry on about it long after it is over ... this is also negative, and wastes energy.

So as we contemplate negativity, we must consider that it also involves having developed enough awareness, wisdom and discernment to respond to what is with a balanced approach. 

Subtle or obvious sarcasm:  We have a funny pattern in our communication style: its called humorous sarcasm... we can see it in the popular sitcoms on TV, in our friends, family etc ... perhaps we have picked this pattern up ... this form of sarcasm hides the subtle aggressive tendency we have towards each other - in other words, it is so easy to hide our true feelings and intentions and mask it as just a joke - just humorous sarcasm.... We hear things like:  "I did not mean it seriously - if you want to take it that way, it's about you!"   OK, so how about saying what we REALLY mean then?  Where is the heart and soul in our communication?


Judgment:   When I was growing up, I was taught the way of the Catholic Church and religion.   Of course, judgment was something spoken of and quoted all the time.  'Judge not lest ye too be judged', I was taught.

Hypocrisy abounded all around me as I saw that words did not make the individual able to do what was taught.  I was judged all the time by the very people who taught me not to and who attended the same church as I did.  Does this occur only in the Catholic Church?  Obviously not. 

My point, here, is that a teaching is only useful when applied and it requires a certain level of awareness and self-reflection to be able to see that one is or is not applying things ... with wisdom.  Many devout religious and otherwise spiritual people are hypocrites ... which has nothing to do with the path they are on ... only to do with their own level of being and ability to look into mirrors of self-reflection ... are they AWAKE or not?   Some paths do not lead people towards true awakening ... other paths do ... this is also true and has nothing to do with judgment ... it simply is what it is.

Also, to call it like it is, is not judgment ... it simply is what it is ... as long as it is not a projection of our own ...

People make judgments all the time ... including most of us who imagine we do not!   Work at catching the subtle ways that you may judge ... another's path ... another's way of dress ... someone's beliefs ... whatever .... simply catch yourself doing so in the moment ...

We judge and label our children and other people without truly understanding them.  This is now a norm in our society.   Judgment is a big part of the negativity in our world and inside us. 




Gossip:

Gossip creates drama and drama is a waste of energy.  We talk about others' lives and share our judgments, opinions, and often twisted views about what is going on with anyone who is interested.  Though we sometimes view this as a childish behaviour found in the public, high school, or college environments, we as adults, do this ourselves. 

Gossip is a common behaviour ... we are not speaking about sharing important information for awareness ... we are speaking of the kind of gossip which is hurtful - such as the spreading of rumours... or our own negative views and judgments about something or someone.  

We will sometimes speak of others in negative ways and this can taint the view about someone in a way that is not even accurate.   We see this happening in families and social environments all the time.  What a surprise we get sometimes to find out that people have believed things for years ... things about us that are not even true ... or at least, if partially true,  tainted with the warped perception of others!  

It is best to avoid gossip.  Sharing useful information or talking about things in order to learn from them is one thing, gossip is another... learn to distinguish the difference.



Unconscious and Mechanical Responses and Attacks:

This is something we see as a part of the conditioning we all experience.  We learn to respond (re-act) in specific ways and patterns as we grow up and throughout our lives.   If we Work to Wake Up, we come to see ourselves as programmed with responses, dramas, patterns ....most of which are unconscious to us. 

The more we awaken, the clearer we see ourselves... and into the mirrors that life presents us with via people, places, situations, energies, etc.   The more we awaken, the less likely we are to react with an unconscious and mechanical response and attack ... towards others or ourself.

The negativity we are faced with every single day of our life is either an unconscious internal pattern of our own (mental/emotional ... postural ... energetic etc.) or it's in our daily environment  - coming from others and from various energies all around us.

We say that patterns of responses which we may find negative and even hostile are mechanical ... this means they are not conscious and coming from a chosen place.   They are unconscious reactions to whatever.

 We often feel attacked either by the thoughts, words or actions of others or even ourself (like when we rehash negative experiences or unconsciously berate ourselves ... our own negative internal dialogue can be enough to drain us!). 

What can we do about this?  One thing we can do is to work on Waking up.  This will alter us and our perception of these things.   As we alter ourselves and raise our level of being, we no longer react to things the same way.  

Another thing we can do is use our minds in a practical way... when we are met with this in our environment, we simply learn to avoid reacting to it and see it for what it is ... look at the reality of where it is coming from.   From a place of mental/emotional balance, we can make a decision that will assist us in the way that is best for our particular situation.


Mental/emotional balance and control

This is, perhaps, one of our greatest challenges. 

As humans, we mainly have one of the following two patterns:

1.   We leak so much vital energy engaging in mental and emotional outbursts ... we are the one who have the main pattern of expressing our negativity outwards towards others and also towards ourselves at times

2.  We waste incredible amounts of energy stuffing these things inside us in order to appear already balanced ... or to avoid feeling these negative things ... or to avoid expressing them outwards towards others. 


BOTH OF THESE HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS

When we outwardly express negativity in an unbalanced way, we impact not only our own energy system, but those of others who may not be able to deal with this negativity well ... in which case they will also be affected.  It is vital for us to really feel the impact this has on us in so many ways (including how this can lead to illness ... and how it drains us of our energies) ... and to then apply consistent effort over time to alter this pattern.

When we suppress these negative states or unconsciously hold these negative energies inside (because we are `good' people or 'nice' people ... or trying to be this way ... or whatever other belief that may cause us to hold these tensions and negativities inside) ... we create chronic patterns of tension and energy blockages in our system and this also wastes incredible amounts of precious energy and can contribute to illness.


How many other faces of negativity do you know of? ... we mentioned a few of the big ones above.   Deal with these with balance and wisdom and you will find you have a great deal more energy to apply to your Work.   Use the Art of Reflection in your daily life to assist you with this.   Put your gained energy into the positive aspects of your Work and yourself ... cultivate Beauty, Love, Compassion, Wisdom, Tolerance, Clarity, Balance and the other traits of a Warrior/ess into your daily life with conscious presence.  


Search out assistance with the areas you may get stuck in and keep Working!   Play and have fun too ... this helps release tensions ... hug those you feel to hug ... smile when it is genuine ... put your feet on the earth ... let the air caress your skin  ... the sun embrace you and feed you ... MOVE YOUR BODY and LIVE!

Words and Concepts: Mental and Rational Traps

 When you look at the picture on the left, what happens?   Perhaps some of you simply view the picture and have a feeling or a body response to it; others may find words and concepts appearing in their minds: thunderstorm, dark, night, lightning and so on.

What if I then drew your attention to a metaphor that a storm is like our mental/emotional inner states and that lightning can represent our nervous system?    Doesn't lightning also look somewhat like our veins and capillaries?

What if I then said that this picture is used by me to represent what goes on inside of us metaphorically and that there are many symbols and realities in nature and the universe that are exactly like we are on in the inside ... if we but stretch our perceptions and paradigms?   Now you may find that your mind wanders in different directions ... or struggles with the concept ... or has already contemplated such things and can shift easily to this view.

In other words, depending on how we think about things, we can view the same thing and experience something entirely different.   This is similar to the meaning in the old saying that a Master (a Master of what? ... there are many things we can Master ... we even have preconceived ideas about what a Master is), can walk into a room and someone may not even see the Master for who they are ... their own judgments, perceptions, views, patterns and thinking gets in the way of seeing what is right before them -- or seeing something in a different or new way.

How about the image to the right?  If we simply look at it,we will receive impressions.  These impressions may be tainted with our previous conditioning and experiences in life.

To a very young child new to the world, this will be a pure experience and feeling ... without judgment, words or labels.   If someone says ... 'Oh, I see you have made a scale.  We use scales to measure things.  See how it balances on each side?'  Now it is becoming a mental concept.  If one has an open mind, it can still hold room for other ways that this symbol can hold meaning, and so there is less rigidity.  This is one way of viewing the saying: "having a child-like mind".  If one tends to be close minded and is more rational, this image may now become an inflexible concept in their mind.  Rigid beliefs are also created this way. 

After many years of seeing this image as a scale or balancing tool, and someone begins to speak of this image in a way we haven't heard before, we can either remain open and 'weigh' out the new info for ourselves without judgment, swallow this new way of viewing it without any contemplation of our own, or reject it entirely.   The question is: Are we aware of what we are doing with this (mentally)?

Here is another image.   This one holds a lot of historical, political, social, and religious significance to us ... depending on our background and culture.  Even so, it is an image that has spread worldwide.   I can say, surely, that if we asked various people all over the world, we would find many ways of talking about the significance of this picture ... depending on whom we ask, of course.   Regardless of what we might believe, there is a true story to this painting ... amidst the many interpretations, stories and histories that are passed around.

Many people asked about this picture above, would say similar things ... due to their exposure to certain religions, experiences and upbringing.  We would also find others that could talk about this image in ways we have never heard.   Concepts, words, beliefs and stories are dependent on many factors.

So the saying goes: A picture speaks a thousand words.   I wonder ... which ones do you entertain?

So what do our words really mean?   Look them up in a really good dictionary.  In there, you will even find root meanings of words going back to the times when we were forming more and more concepts and labels and identifications and classifications of things.   At least you will find a bit more information about the word and can find deeper meanings to some of the things we say every day.  With many words, these deeper meanings stem from a time that held other ways of viewing things.

The words we use attempt to clearly reflect that which we wish to communicate - often at the expense of losing something vital .... something which requires direct experience ... and which often lies more in the realm of the subjective world of the observer.   Read this blog with this in mind too ... these are only words ... attempting to point in certain directions ... the real Work is in the doing.   Everyone who reads this is coming in with their own filters, views, paradigms, mental patterns and histories ... and will go away with different levels of understanding and Knowing about what is discussed here today.


There is still a whole lot more to this; however, as we find that we frequently misunderstand one another and read things without absorbing the essence of what someone is saying ... or what a writer is truly working to express.  How could this not be so ..... we are not that person writing or speaking and there are many things in direct experience that are impossible or challenging to relay with words and concepts.   People reading the same material will also absorb different levels of that material depending on their education, world experience and level of Being.   This is why we can go back to something years later and grasp an entirely new level of understanding due to our own inner changes over time.

Growing up with words and concepts has contributed, in some part, to the deadening of the other ways in which we can innately experience and KNOW things.  Our words and concepts have become rational traps.  This is how people also misunderstand one another -  their words and concepts ... mental and rational traps, interfere with the heart of the matter ... the essence of the matter ... seeing, feeling and sensing the real message.   Communication and Knowing is far more than words.

For a simple example:  We can say things like "Have more confidence in yourself, my dear" ... that sounds fine, superficially.   Now, how are we going to do it?  It is merely a mental concept unless we are able to demonstrate it ourselves ... many people sit in seminars trying to learn how to be more confident!   Surely, the knowledge we can gain from the spoken and written word can lead to a level of understanding and open doors ... it does not mean we have integrated this knowledge into our Being ...

We sometimes read books about how to be more confident (or whatever we have read or taken a course on),  and then walk around repeating the words we have just read - as though we have integrated these things into our being ... when what we really require is direct experience in situations which require us to develop confidence.   This is another example of what I mean when I say that words and concepts can become mental and rational traps.   We also often mistake knowledge for Knowing.  Words and concepts can lead us to misunderstanding, and illusion when not used with wisdom.  Though the example of confidence is a simple one, we can find many more ways in which this is a common occurrence in our world today.

For the most part, our knowledge has outstripped our level of Being.  We can learn to develop both and require the willingness and ability to see ourselves as we really are in order to Work in balance.

We live in a world where words are very important.  We record knowledge in books.  I am not suggesting that it is all meaningless.  Books, seminars and schools have their place ... particularly when they are aware of and stress the various other modalities of learning - like hands on, direct experience and practical application.

For example, one can learn in a seminar, about all the chakras, their colours, their representations etc ... until this knowledge become Knowing through direct experience of Seeing them, feeling the energies in and around them and so on ... this knowledge is superficial ... a mental and rational concept only.   Some people will say that chakras are illusions ... because they never saw one.  Others will go to a course and learn about them and then believe they exist without ever discovering for themselves whether this is really true.  Both are in an illusion ... of different sorts.  This is dangerous ground: for example (one of my favourites):  when people grew up centuries ago, they learned through books and lessons that the world was flat.  Then they went forward in their lives speaking of this as a fact when there was no direct Knowing of whether this was true ... and in that case, it wasn't. 

Who is doing the writing ... who is defining a word?   What is really meant by that word?   Early in my training, I was studying under three different teachers.  I felt confused over certain words that they used.  One teacher said "Take the word 'Need' out of your vocabulary" ... another teacher advised us to use the word Need to express that we have core needs coming the essence of who we really are.  A third teacher divided these expressions into needs, wants and desires ... and used these words in different ways once again.   At first this seemed very contradictory to me.  Then, some time later, I came to see that all three were correct and that they each held a truth expressed in a different way and they were not contradictory to one another at all.   It was all just a word and concept trap.   I had to experience, contemplate and open up to grasp the entire way of viewing these things.  In the end, I was able to apply all three ways with clarity.  


So, who is doing the writing or saying the word?   This is also another useful question.  When we read about something - especially historical, religious and political materials, it is very useful to keep an open mind and remember that we are always reading from a person's adopted viewpoint, paradigm and belief system.   These things define the world we live in ... the way we see it.   It is often necessary to come to understand a person or a system's vocabulary and inner culture before one can truly be closer to understanding what is being communicated.

I am definitely saying that we would benefit from developing awareness about these traps and see the many ways we misinterpret what is seen, written and said.  Knowing that we distort, misunderstand and carry the baggage of our own projections onto words and concepts, we will use them anyway ...  with a greater understanding and openness ... sensing and intuiting ... allowing pictures to form ... and remaining open to direct experience.   In this way, we will not cling to concepts and words alone, but use them alongside our other inherent faculties.

We are more complete when we use all of our ways of knowing: we find much material on the integration of the person ... using both sides of our brain ... left and right side integration: the rational and the creative/intuitive ... yin/yang ... dark and light ... integration allows for the words and concepts without the mental and rational traps which come from an imbalanced way of perception.

This is something you  have the opportunity to experience directly in the Work we do - especially in the movement Arts we teach.  The body does not lie, as we can easily find how we are split and/or out of balance within ourselves as we move ... see ... feel ... reflect on what we are doing ... and how we are in the world in our everyday life too.  There are no words or concepts in certain aspects of the Work we do.  In this way, we learn there is a way to Be without them ... and things can be seen and experienced directly and in new ways (or old ways, really ... which have been forgotten ... not applied).

So ... are we to abandon our words and concepts?  We live in a world where these things exist all around us now ... we are suggesting that developing the awareness of these traps is is both a necessary and useful skill in order to live a fuller life.   Once we do so, we Work to discover what we can Know and Be alongside and beyond them. 

BALANCE AND HARMONY

When you come across the word BALANCE and HARMONY in this Work, remember that they are only words.  We are conditioned to view words in certain ways and are often not clear about what we are talking about - mostly due to a lack that our words and concepts really have in expressing what can only be directly felt, seen, heard, and experienced.


So - avoid getting hung up on the words.  To get a deeper understanding .... about how words and concepts trip people up, please read our text on WORDS AND CONCEPTS ... mental and rational traps (subject of our next blog and an insert on our various pages on the website  ... soon to come).


Use your feelings, intuition and allow pictures to form about what you are reading in order to gain a deeper insight.  Words alone will keep you in your head rationalizing ... remember, that our Work is experiential and direct ... Philosophy and knowledge are keys - and only a small part of the Work itself.  if you engage in the Work and DO it, you then have an opportunity to KNOW it ... there are no
guarantees in true Work of this sort - you WILL, however, get what you will attain through your own efforts and according to your own level of BEING.  This is different for everyone; how can it not be?   We show you the tools; you Work them!


Healing is very much like this too.  This is why people will get various results ... a key part in the healing process is you ... your approach ... your openness ... your level of being ... what you are ready for ... and so on.  Engage in the process and take it as far as you possibly can.   Make it your lifestyle and priority to see how far you can evolve in this lifetime.


As we Work in this Art, we are taught various principles and philosophical tools - tools which are and have been used by us ... and by others who have walked a similar path before us.  While much of what we apply in our lives (and in the Art today) comes from older teachings passed on by others, we also embrace
new discoveries with discernment and wisdom.


This is the way in which arts have grown over many generations.  It is vital to hold dearly to what works and continues to work, without discounting growth and evolution within the art and our selves. Having said this, it is clear to me, having walked this path in life for many  years, that we have much to learn about applying some very simple things ...  not in knowledge, but in true application.
                             
          
            Balance and Harmony are two of these simple things.


 In Jin Shin Jyutsu, I've heard it said that some of us are in harmony with our disharmonies.  Perhaps others have said this as well.  I have certainly SEEN it in real life.  This is one of the core practices of the Way of the Art of Kung fu Chi Kung Life System we teach ... a practice of seeing clearly in the mirrors of self-reflection ... how we really are, instead of how we imagine ourselves to be.  We can be in harmony with our disharmonies by not being inside of ourselves (when we imagine we are, and think we know what is going on) ... we can be a part of creating havoc in relationships due to our unconscious patterns of reactions, attitudes and behaviours or we may be unaware or ignore the signs that an illness is settling in due to our inability to feel subtle shifts in the various workings of our inner systems ... we have a part in creating imbalance and disharmony inside and out. 

Avoid judging yourself or another for these things ... if you were not taught how to do things differently, then embark on a journey to discover how  ...


I recall working with a young man in a self-development portion of a program I was working in.  I had to call him in to speak with him about his inappropriate behaviour and the effect it was having on the others in the group.  He denied his behaviour in the group setting when I attempted to bring it to his attention.  I remained firm yet fair in my attempt to have him own up to his behaviour,
as he was in danger of being dismissed from the program.  When I told him that it appeared to me that he was carrying a load of baggage and that a core emotional response of his was anger, he tensed up in front of my desk, clenched his fists, banged them on the table and yelled,  "I'm NOT angry,'' looking at me in a huff and face turning red.  I looked at him in amazement and asked,   "Well, what would you call that?"


I remained calm, and spoke to him briefly ... ignoring his anger and focusing on the fact that I knew there were other higher ways of being within him - underlying the outer shell of his anger and inappropriate behaviours.  He was later dismissed from the program due to an outburst.   After a week or so, he called me to say that he reflected on our discussion.  He said I was the first person to ever hold my ground with him.  He went on to apologize for his behaviour and owned up to it.  He also added that I was correct about the family baggage he had to face if he was to be free from his underlying anger.  He finally had an opportunity to do something new.

The point, here, is that since others had not held their ground with him and likely always focused on the anger and not the underlying issue, he had developed a way of harmony with his inner disharmony and emotional/mental imbalance in his approach to everyone.  He went unconscious about his anger and his habitual responses to people and his life situation ... no longer feeling it or seeing it until it was reflected to him directly.  He suffered immensely as a result ... so obvious to see by most everyone but himself.


We are all like this to various degrees - the 'stuff' within us which we really could Work on to alter our level of Being are rarely things we embrace when they are drawn to our attention.  We are in harmony with our various disharmonies and imbalances.  We no  longer see them, feel them or Know of them ... until something major happens ... like a big shock or illness .... even then, we are lucky if we sustain the awareness of the root of it all.   


BALANCE

In  the world today, due mostly to our mental/rational conditioning and experiences in school, the word balance might bring up an image of a scale or a measuring tool of some sort.  If one Works on oneself and has personally experienced the ebbs and flows of balance in one's life and being, this word would conjure up a different feeling/picture.

In one of our uses of the word in this Art we teach, we use the word balance similar to the definition in the Oxford Dictionary (2005) as a noun meaning mental and emotional stability: the way to some kind of peace and personal balance.  Is this attainable?  It is, indeed - it is an inner condition with outer benefits and is attainable to all who wish to experience it for themselves.  Is this balance a rigid state?  Of coarse not!  Nothing in life is static - all is dynamic and changing ... moving all the time ... altering even as we speak.  This balance we refer to is the Art of Being and moving with what is and moving in balance inside/out while doing so.


The Oxford also mentions a balanced approach as meaning an adjective which describes something that takes everything into account.   This is what our holistic and spiritual perspective does, as we are multi-faceted beings.

In an electric circuit, the Oxford also describes balance as showing symmetry with respect to a reference point - usually ground.  We apply this principle to ourselves in a similar way.  Our practices assist us in working to gain symmetry between our upper and lower, front and back, left and right sides and parts of our body/being on all levels.  These symmetries, or lack of, relate to energetic imbalances ... remembering that we are energy first and that our physical form is but a reflection of energies moving.  There are many considerations in root causes of imbalance of energies:  physical accidents/traumas, environment and conditioning, improper diet, our lifestyle ... mental/emotional patterns ... many things can impact our energy and form.


 In Art, the Oxford goes on, balance refers to the harmony of design and proportion.  I like to refer to the work of Masaro Emoto and his crystals when I speak of this and how it relates to our Art.  When we Work to gain balance, we become aware of subtle shifts of energy over time ...  differences in feeling
and texture inside of ourselves.  This leaks out to the outer, and we sparkle in our own unique way when balanced.  Every one of us has a natural beauty and vitality that emanates when we are feeling balanced and in harmony inside and out.   We can also read imbalances in the eyes, skin, posture, tone of voice and other outward manifestations. 


In Masaro's work with crystals, he would notice that certain words, tones and music affected crystal structures ... the ones considered the most beautiful were crystals with balance and symmetry to them ... clarity of form and structure.  This is a great analogy for us when we consider our Work and how we too can and do create ourselves by what we are exposed to on the inside and out ... by what we allow inside and around us.  Masaro's crystals, exposed to harsh tones, certain types of music and negative words, lacked symmetry, clarity and balance.


To assist you with a picture, hold the image of a crystal in mind ... How might we be like a crystal?  After all, we are made up of mostly water.  Water forms crystals.  Water has been shown to have memory and the capacity to hold information - like crystals - which is why they are used in computer technology ... among other applications we have found for them.  Imagine what you feel like when you are in a state of balance ... imagine what you feel like when you have what you may call one of your `off days' ... this gives you an idea of the ebb and flow of balance within you.  You have the ability to develop the sensitivity, observation and reflection skills necessary to determine what throws you off.  You can also learn tools which can assist you to regain balance when you are impacted/affected by various things which do cause a disturbance in your inner/outer flows of energy.



HARMONY


The Oxford definition of this word as a noun, means the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.  It also refers to being in agreement or concord.


In our Work, we mean the unification of the Body, Mind and Spirit as One unit and in agreement within the person so as not to create disharmony or fragmentation ... division between the parts of us that pull us in different directions ... us wanting different things in different moments as opposing parts of us come forward ... flip-flopping in decisions... regrets, disappointments... unsatisfied and unhappy states... mental and emotional upheavals caused by unconsciously prolonged negative inner states.  When we are in harmony, all the parts of our physical body work together as a unit and we are well ... symptom-free, have energy and are vibrant.


I like the analogy of music, which states that harmony is produced when notes are played at the same time and have a pleasing effect on our system as a whole.  We can learn to create this inner harmony.  

Musical harmony is a great analogy to our inner harmony as a person (our energetics) ... when all of us works in sync, a beautiful sound unique to who we really are is heard, seen and felt ... like a truly harmonious symphony of players of various instruments. Harmonious music is healing - music ... sound ... rhythm ... vibration ... light ... energy .... like you ... like me.




HARMONY AND BALANCE IS ATTAINABLE

In summary, though Harmony and Balance are not permanent rigid states, they are none-the-less true attainable inner states which when mastered lead us to living life without getting stuck for long periods of time in the negativity; strain; harmful stress; striving; illness; mental/emotional labels and ups and downs; dramas involving energy loss; chaos; confusion etc. etc.

When mastered, harmony and balance are states we attain quite easily if/when we are temporarily affected by something.  Our tools are refined to the point that the extreme fluctuations experienced by most people are no longer part of our experience. 


These are just words.  Once experienced, you will KNOW this and BE this yourself ... regardless of what anyone says.   So remember that the philosophy and knowledge we share is only a small part of this Path of Study ... the real Work is in the doing of it.

Yoda Wisdom

Movies and stories, throughout time, have inspired us, entertained us and provided us with gems of wisdom from those who have walked various paths in Life.  When you read stories or watch movies (of course, be selective!), look for the gems - even if there are only a few phrases here and there, you will find these gems to hold deeper things.

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Yoda, in Star Wars (various episodes):

 Yoda:   A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind.
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Yoda: That place ... is strong with the dark side of the Force.  A domain of evil it is.  In you must go.

Luke: What's in there?

Yoda:  Only what you take with you.   Your weapons ... you will not need them.       
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Wars not make one great.

Use your feelings, you must.

A Jedi uses the force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.

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Luke:  Is the dark side stronger?

Yoda:  No ... no ... no ...  Quicker, easier, more seductive.
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Attachment leads to jealousy.  The shadow of greed that is.

Size matters not.  Look at me.  Judge me by my size, do you?

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Luke:  I don't believe it.

Yoda:  That is why you fail.

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Control, control.  You must learn control.

Fear is the path to the dark side ... fear leads to anger ... anger leads to hate ... hate leads to suffering.

Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.

Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.

Try not.   Do.   Or do not.  There is no try.

You must feel the Force around you.  Here between you ... me ... the tree ... the rock ... everywhere!

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Hard to see the dark side is.  

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A Jedi's strength flows from the Force.  But beware of the dark side.  Anger ... fear ... aggression.  The dark side of the Force are they.  Easily they flow, quick to join you in a fight.

A little more knowledge might light our way.

Death is a natural part of Life.

Reach out and sense the Force around you.

Through the Force, things you will see.  Other places.  The future .. the past.   Old friends long gone.

The fear of loss is the path to the dark side.

My ally is the Force.  And a powerful ally it is.  Life creates it; makes it grow.  Its energy surrounds us and binds us.

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Luminous beings are we ... not this crude matter.

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Always in motion is the future.

Pass on what you have learned.

May the Force be with you.
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Yoda Wisdom .... Stories? Myth?

Ah the stuff of stories... the very stuff we are made of ... As this Year closes off ... and the Winter Solstice brings the Return of the Light ... The days are getting slowly longer now ... Dream on ... dream big if you wish ... May 2012 be a Year full of Light  ... the very light of which you are.

What is Normal?

Some of you will have already walked down this road before.  This blog will then simply be a reminder to you.  The reminder is to avoid judgment, labelling others, gossip, comparison and work to be extra-ordinary ... and to look closer at what normal really is.  It is also a reminder to practice a larger scope of acceptance for the differences, gifts, talents and Way of viewing things.  We are richer due to our diversity; working together, we can create wondrous things.

In these times, we have a labelling disorder!!!!  Perhaps we can come up with a label for this and place it on those who tend to label others excessively and even inappropriately.  Then we can place this into the big book of labels!  By the way, this book is getting to the point where any one of us having a difficult time could be found in its pages ... with an appropriate medication (often prescribed by psychiatrists and doctors) to go with it.   Have you ever seen this book?  The DSM ... Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Published by the American Psychiatric Association ... APA.  There is much written about the pros and cons of this book and its use, so you will still find many people using it (incorrectly and unnecessarily at times) and others who claim it is creating much havoc in the arena of counselling, psychiatry and the general public (school system too).  It is not the purpose of this blog to focus on this ... just for your general awareness ... look into it more deeply if you wish ... we are here today to go over the basics about what we consider normal and how this can create unintended consequences ... specifically in the way we view things and people. 

As we could write a book about this topic, this blog can only a peek into this area to bring some light into it.  I like to encourage people to look more deeply in any areas they find interesting or necessary to explore deeper for any reason ... especially if they have been labelled or someone they know has ... really do your work ... explore all options and all possible sources of information and ways of looking at things ... finally, trust in your inner sense.

My heart especially goes out to the children; many truly gifted (albeit in their own way) children are labelled due to the fact that their talents and interests lie in areas not valued as equally important in a society and school system still mostly ruled by logic and linguistic aspects.  There are other talents many of these children have that often go unnoticed.  There are many examples of this in the stories of adults who were once labelled in various ways and who are very successful today.

Ever consider what normal really means?  In statistics, a normal distribution is a bell-shaped curve .... once calculated, when one looks at this curve, the majority of the people studied fall in the center of this curve.  Let's say it is IQ or the intelligence quotient that is studied.  If you were to look at the normal distribution of this, most people would fall into the center of this curve and so, being taught this, the average person now says that it is normal to be a person who falls into this category.  Well, according to the numbers, and their definition ... it is.

Ok, but what does all this really mean?   Are we to strive to be normal?  Did you know that it is getting to the point that it is normal to see an obese person ... child?  Is this what we should strive to be?  It is normal to find fast food restaurants in every city.  Is it healthy for us to be eating there?  In some countries it is normal for a husband to beat and abuse his wife - even to kill her if she commits adultery.  In certain areas (and you might be surprised at the illiteracy rate in North America!) it is normal to be illiterate.  Check out the numbers yourself!

It is normal to find highly unconscious people in every neighborhood - people who think they are awake just because they are out of bed ... while they feel, see and experience very little of reality ... living from their necks up ... shallow chest breathers ... armoured with tension bands all over their body which can be easily read by a trained eye..... and over-loaded by stressors which they find unable to cope with (how many people feel this is just normal and part of life, as they go on pretending all is well in their world? ... you might be surprised ... or not!) ... loaded with caffeine, sugar, alcohol, overall unhealthy diets, lack of exercise, and other stimulants ... did you know this is normal?  Are you one of these normal people?  We don't have a label for these people, because it is normal!!!  Yet they are ill in a different way ... a way we do not label yet.  Does this sound harsh?  It is what it is.  These things would easily fall into a beautiful standard normal bell curve, and we can all go on in this way feeling very good that we are normal!

Did you know it could be considered normal to be anxious, depressed ... neurotic in some way and on some sort of medication these days?  Ask any counsellor working in the community how many of their clients are or have been on some sort of mood altering prescription.  The percentage is very high in many communities all over the world ... so high that it is common to find people coming in asking for these mood altering medications since they have heard so much about them.  I am one of these counsellors and have experienced these things.  Will this be the new norm?  Isn't it already so?

How the statistics are arranged in order to determine this is one thing (how the standard curve came to mean what it does to us...not the subject here)...  IQ tests have had their share of debates to contend with -  in terms of what it is we are really testing with them and whether the Intelligence we are measuring really should be given the measure of attention we have given it - particularly in the school systems.   Other researchers have asked ... Do these IQ results always relate to success in life? (which is another subjective area)  ... How I define my successfulness in life may be different than the way you define yours... who is to say which is better or correct ... or the proper measure for success in general?  Yet look around us and see that it is so. 

We are told what intelligence is - based on scientific and statistical mathematical results based on tests.  Who designed these tests?  What measure of intelligence is used?  Who determines that this is the standard by which we should be governing ourselves and our schools and the future of our planet? ... which one can see by analyzing the specific questions on these tests ... is this what we consider intelligence?  Research alternative philosophies on education and fringe science ... many other ways of looking at education and the developing human exist - one with much more wisdom and given very little credibility in mainstream thought in most places.

Are there other forms of intelligence and ways of being in this world which we overlook and lack appreciating?  Are tests used to place labels on people set up to consider these other (and also extremely useful) forms of intelligence?  If not, are these other forms of intelligence de-valued?  Look around you for the result of the answer to that question; avoid accepting status quo without understanding that which so much value has been placed on.   Know and understand deeply what you value... or be honest and say `I do not really Know; however, I am learning more about that now'. 

Rather than accept labels, look beyond things and stand on the edge of new discovery ... say to yourself .. there is more we have yet to learn ...  We do not know it all - at one point in history, people were killed for professing that the world was round ... NO - IT IS FLAT,  they yelled.   But they were wrong ... I tell you now .... we do the same today but in different arenas!!!

If we look at what is valued... first on an individual level, then on a family level, then on a community level, then on a global level, we will see where we are at, really.  Are we really civilized .... a peaceful species at ease and in harmony with each other and the planet on which we live?  What if we totalled all the people on the planet and certain characteristics ... what would be normal then?   Would you want to be considered normal?

Consider less about being normal and accepted by the general population.  The general population is normal.   Consider more about being YOUR potential ... working to improve yourself always ... working to be extra-ordinary.  Set your own standards, using wisdom.  Be your own person.  If someone wants to place a label on you, instead of taking it on, notice that they likely have a label or two of their own to contend with (which they may not even be aware of ... they may be too busy seeing what is wrong in others).

Everyone has areas in which they can improve ... whether spiritual, physical, emotional or mental etc!  Walk away, label-less ... if you have areas to work on, take on the Work ... not the label.

 

Kung fu and Chi Kung as a Healing Art

Though many have heard of Kung fu, I am always surprised at how few people know that this is a spiritual and healing art as well.  During casual conversations, the ideas people have continue to surprise me.  Yes, it is better known, perhaps, as a combative art and many enter into tournaments in order to demonstrate physical skill and technique, but this is a surface view.  To be fair, it also does depend on the teacher.  If a teacher only knows the combat and fitness aspects, then that is what he/she will teach and present.  Perhaps a teacher is not willing or interested in sharing other aspects of this art; this can be true as well.  While there are those who do present the healing and spiritual aspects of this art, it is not yet mainstream.  Nevertheless, Kung fu and Chi Kung are definitely healing arts as well as paths one can walk to enlightenment.  In today's blog we will introduce some basic points about how Kung fu and Chi Kung focus on healing.

Spine: Central Axis

The spine is one key of focus in the art of Kung fu and Chi Kung as I was taught it.   This would not be surprising, as Kung fu was influenced by Yoga ... certainly, in all true spiritual arts which contain fundamentals of healing and energy work, it would be vital for the spine to be part of the Work.  It is, after all, the denser manifested form of the major main flow of energy called the Central Axis ... or Main Central channel ... among other names found in Yogic and Oriental Traditional Medicine.  Working this major vertical flow in our system contributes to the balance and harmony of all other energy flows in the body and their subsequent organ manifestations.  Maintaining the balance and harmony of the flows of energy in our system contributes to health, mental/emotional balance, vitality, peak performance in all the arenas of our life, and the ability to progress spiritually.

We have heard much about the spine in terms of our physical health.  In some chiropractic offices you will find a spinal chart with references to the organs and systems in the body that the vertebrae refer to.  This is due to the fact that chiropractors understand that spinal alignment contributes to overall body health.  Osteopaths are also aware of the importance of the spine to overall health and well-being.


When experiencing various physical ailments, movement arts are extremely beneficial and there is a real science behind them - we benefit from generations of refinement and deep understanding of the energetic aspect of our being.  The plow and shoulderstand asanas are a useful example from Yoga, here.   When someone is experiencing tightness in the chest, as with those who suffer with asthma, they will find a lot of congestion in the upper region of the back and will find it challenging to do those asanas (postures).  If one is even a little experienced in Yoga and/or other movement arts and also suffers from asthma, one can develop sensitivity to the point where one easily recognizes build up of blockage in this upper thoracic area of the spine and when one attempts to do the plow or shoulderstand one may find that it is particularly difficult on days when one's energy has more blockage than usual in this specific area.  Spending time doing these asanas on those days brings amazing relief, releasing the blockage in this area and bringing relief from related symptoms ... all medication free and natural!!

In Kung fu we also do the plow and other postures which work the lung meridian and open up the chest and back areas: the crane and air (out of the five animals and elements we work with), is the animal and element most associated with the lungs in our movements.   I say most due to the fact that all systems and organs are interrelated and determining root causes is not always black and white.  For example, it is important to have a healthy intestinal life for more than one reason ... it is very likely that if there are asthmatic/allergy issues in the body that the intestines (and one's diet) require attention ... or that if one has skin issues that the lungs/large intestines are somehow being affected.  We also must not overlook the impact of family issues and mental/emotional stress.  Environmental influences are also vital: quality of air and water one is ingesting as well as pollutants to name but a few.  The art of Kung fu and Chi Kung is holistic - the whole person is considered: body, mind/emotions and spirit ... and the whole system is looked at as a cooperating unit which is interdependent upon its many infrastructures working together in harmony.

Other than working the central axis, we work with other keys as well: flexibility; meditative Chi Kung movements (though movement in general can be meditative even if done fast if that is where one's attention is); working with acupressure points on the body via movement; deep stances; working with the hands and limbs to free up the flows of energies via particular movements and to strengthen muscles, ligaments and tendons (also relating to the meridians and health). Kung fu and Chi Kung can be static or dynamic in movement - both equally effective and used at different times for different purposes.

Doing Kung fu and Chi Kung is so useful in recovering from illness, maintaining health and as a preventative maintenance program. It is also an incredible art for the inspired athletic type who is already healthy and wishes to remain so. Many athletic individuals enjoy exploring the more physical side of the art; within it lie wonderful practices which can bring the body to peak condition.

Those interested in a spiritual path also find this art to be a lifelong path of development spiritually. There are so many benefits of this art on all levels of Being. This is why I am so passionate about it ... one can walk the path through life with its many benefits and explore its different aspects and still not be able to master it in this lifetime - that is the richness it holds.


In the system of Kung fu and Chi Kung that we were taught, there are five animals and five elements studied.  Tiger, crane, leopard, snake and dragon are the animals; earth, air, wood, water and fire are the respective elements.  With consistent Work over time, we study these animals and elements in our movements and as energies which are applicable to our lives mentally/emotionally, physically and spiritually.

Some basic points about the art:

-- There is a heavy focus on breath work and energy movement which is a major key in healing and growth on other levels

-- The art is circular in nature ... also holding significant reference in the natural world as well as spiritually

-- The movements work all parts of the body ... and target all major meridians, flows of energy and organs in our system ... bringing the mind/emotions, body and spirit into balance and harmony

-- Over time, one can free one's body from tensions and obstructions to energy flows and one feels freer and has more energy as one moves about in daily life ... the body is fit, strong, fluid, flexible and healthy.  

-- When one progresses and Works on the path, studying and applying its deeper aspects, one releases many non-essential layers covering up the essence of who and what one really is ... this is an important part of healing

-- One has the opportunity to break unhealthy conditioning and other patterns which prevent one from reaching one's potential in life.  Mentally and emotionally one can attain harmony, balance and control over the Self. 

-- One can work the art according to what one wishes to focus on

-- Mirrors of self-reflection are ever present if one is willing to look ... this is a major key to healing and wellness - often overlooked.  

Our organs and various systems are interrelated

  

Holistic approaches search for the root cause of the issue which can rid the system of the illness and symptoms entirely ... these approaches realize that the root cause may originate in a completely different area of the body (as well as  considering mind/emotions or spirit).  They also employ natural substances found in nature and not fabricated in a laboratory; for example,  many practitioners seek out training in the use of herbs, proper diet and essential oils in order to provide professional care and quality advice in the holistic arts.


Our mental/emotional states also directly affect the physiology of our bodies and our subsequent health and wellness ... even leading to and contributing to major diseases and illness; this point is often overlooked, but must be understood and applied in order for healing to be complete and sustained.


A traditional approach may take a while to reverse and heal completely if one has suffered with a condition which is now chronic; however, this approach is wiser as the entire person is brought to higher levels of wellness and is not further burdening their system with the additional well known effects of prescription medications (which are often suppressive of symptoms and not dealing with the root cause),  and sometimes unnecessary surgeries ... when it may not be required.   We are not saying that modern medicine is never useful ... please do not misinterpret.  It would be wonderful to see the two methods converge ... taking the best practices from both ... but this is not where we're at globally yet (though there are signs that there is movement in this direction in different places), so we must develop wisdom and discernment and Know for ourselves which approach is best and when.   

Transform

Kung fu and Chi Kung use the body and the breath as tools in moving the energies in the body in ways which bring about harmony and balance and thus can be called self-healing arts.

Transformation through walking the path of the Art of Kung fu and Chi Kung Life is possible.  Engage in the journey and discover this and so much more for yourself.