Keywords:
energy,ki,aikido,center,acknowledge,conflict,embrace,acknowlege conflict,power,gift
Article Body:
That sounds fantastic, doesn't it?
Couldn't we all use a little more energy now and then? I'm sure I could. I could use a gift of energy right now, as I sit with a blanket over my shoulders, sipping lemon tea and hoping that the next coughing spasm isn't as severe as the last two. The tickle in my nose and chest that began a few days ago has developed into a full-fledged, body-wracking cold, complete with chills and fever.
Aikido (The Way of Harmony) is a martial art that teaches us to see everything that comes our way as energy to be danced with. By centering and extending our ki (life energy), we connect and blend with the energy of attack, absorbing it and assimilating it into ourselves. We redirect it from the centre, protecting both ourselves and our attacker.
For me, the application of this elegant metaphor to situations in our personal and professional lives is an ongoing source of study and fascination. Sharing the philosophy with others is one of the ways I work on incorporating Aiki principles into my life. In my workshops, I use physical exercises to help our bodies remember how to centre, extend, acknowledge, and blend. We start to
So I'm sitting here, wondering how I'm going to dance with this attack. Even centering does not stop the coughing. I don't have any ki to extend (it seems to have retreated to the innermost recesses of my system). The only thing that comes to mind is to acknowledge and embrace.
But, at the very least, it's a start. In the past, I would not admit to being sick. Even when I was sick, I would frequently go to work. I ploughed through what needed to be done with half a spirit and exhausted myself. In the process, I probably infected a half-dozen others. If I can't recognise what's going on, whether it's a cold or a problem at home, I'll get sick.
Most of our conflicts, whether internal or external, would resolve themselves if we just took the first step - acknowledge them! However, because we perceive them to be negative, we immediately respond by fighting or fleeing. I can be more curious about what comes my way if I see it as energy with no positive or negative charge other than what I give it. As unappealing as it may be, dancing with it has far more power than resisting it.
In terms of my cold, I'm still trying to figure out if there's a gift here somewhere. Let's see, I've already finished a book I'd been putting off for months, begun another, and gotten some much-needed rest (in between coughs!). I may not always be aware.