Karate Dojo Kun

 Looking through old books today, tucked away between the pages was a sheet of paper that I wrote for a grading exam.    Many years ago, actually I was 41, I decided to take up Shotokan Karate (my mother thought line dancing would be safer, probably not).  I actually loved it, I learned a lot about me, how to defend myself, situational awareness, and what a spiritual practice was.   I loved doing Katas,  watching Black Belts do them was shear perfection and grace.   Granted due to all the blocking and kicking, my forearms were usually bruised, and my round house kicks were total rubbish (actually they were better if I didn't think instead of trying to break down the movements)  I only decided to take it as far as green belt, but I am forever grateful for the knowledge that Sensei passed down to all the students, and his patience when I constantly tied my belts the wrong way.  The Dojo then was in an old factory building, two floors being training rooms and weights, Sensei lived in the Penthouse, so a bit like Duncan McCloud of the Clan McCloud out of Highlander the series.  To build character on the really hot steamy days, no air conditioning, all windows and fans switched off, so by the end of class one had turned into a dripping,soggy, tired mess, lots of fun.  

Before grading for green  belt we had write our  own thoughts as to what  the Dojo Kun (training hall rules) meant to us personally, most of these can be applied to everyday life.  

Seek Perfection of Character

Strive to be the best that you can be in all areas.  Seek only to help people, when you do this you can help them obtain their goals.  Learn to look inside yourself to find the power and light you possess, there you will find all the answers to life's questions.  Trust your inner self, not the ego self.  Treat yourself with kindness, be gentle with yourself and treat yourself with respect, many are too hard on themselves, when you are kind to yourself you in turn treat others with kindness, we are all one with the universe, when you hurt others,you also hurt yourself.  Take responsibility for your actions, you alone are responsible for your life, others should not influence how you feel about yourself.  Celebrate your life and your own greatness and give 100% to every little thing you do.

In Karate, like life itself, you learn to tap into your inner strength and take advantage of the power inside which for the most part we choose to ignore.  Follow your bliss.

Be Faithful

Be faithful and true to yourself in all things, when you are faithful and true to yourself this will then carry foward into everything in life that you do.  Always have faith in your own abilities and never be afraid to ask for help when needed.

Endeavour

Live life to the fullest, give 110% to everything you do, never say never, and try everything at least once.  Always finish what you begin.  When life gets tough reach inside and find your inner power to help you through these times, you can always learn something even in the worst situations.  Keep a positive attitude.

Respect Others

When you respect yourself, you respect others, also when you respect yourself you will respect other people and treat them in the manner you would wish to be treated.

Karate classes consist of one big family, we are there to learn and reach our own goals, when you respect yourself and others each obtains their  own goals.

Respect your teachers in class, they have been on the path longer and through their own experiences can pass their knowledge onto you.

Refrain from Violent Behaviour

Always treat people with respect and compassion.   Avoid situations that might endanger, never attack, be in a defensive mode.

HEALING HANDS

 We can all do this, we can all use our hands to heal, to heal ourselves, others, pets.

I use my hands constantly using Reiki.   I also practice Qi Gong and Budha Palm which ramps up the energy pouring through them.   Daily Qi Gong practice increases the Qi (energy) in ones body which helps with healing and health.

In both practices my hands heat up, tingle and throb and I can feel the Qi coursing through not only my hands but the rest of my body.  Every one is different, but we are all made of energy, wonderful healing energy.  Feeling the energy we are made of, and the energy that surrounds  and protects us is gloriously magical, as is holding a Qi ball in your hands. (I recommend HoldenQiGong, so informative)

The first time I experienced this energy was when I was attuned as a Reiki Master, I was the only person taking this  attunement on that particular day, so as well as the attunement my Reiki Master who was a Shaman also fixed parts of me that required work from a previous live (a whole different story).  Anyway,  for 3 weeks after the attunement I felt like my whole body had been plugged into an electrical socket, my whole body vibrated, at the time I found it a bit strange and wondered what the hell was happening, apparently just my body adjusting to a vast amount of energy and upgrades.   Like I said everyone handles the energy differently, I have now learned how to direct the energy where I need it the most, Qi Gong helps with that, it also helps me ground into the energy of Gaia.

So, even if you have no desire to practice Reiki, try Qi Gong, the health benefits are wonderful and you will certainly get a feel for your own energy and power.   Do not forget just how powerful and  magical you are.  Next time you feel drained, tired or even need some self love, don't forget to just place your hands on the area that is causing pain or distress, I tend to put my on my heart centre and solar plexis as I find that comforting especially if stressed out, don't forget to breathe as this helps distribute the Qi.

Namaste

12 DIVINE PRINCIPLES - Paul Dobree Carey

 Not my words but they represent how I feel

LOVE                                   

To embody the eternal flow of conscious energy with no resistance.

GRACE                                 

To apply the nature laws of life in all things.

HARMONY                           

To sustain equilibrium amongst chaos encountered.

MANIFESTATION                 

To create that which is un manifest into being.

POLARITY                             

To balance the movement created by opposites

EVOLUTION                           

To transform from lower into a higher state of being

CORRESPONDENCE            

To find a place within the scheme of all things

NATURE                                

To behave in accordance with the individual uniqueness of being

ATTRACTION                     

To be one that which is desired to be

RHYTHM                               

To move with cyclical ebbs and flow of all things

CHANGE                               

To surrender to the inevitablity of progression.

COMPENSATION                 

To recognize that everything has a reaction.

As Within So With All (What is contained in you can be found in the hearts of all mankind)
As Above So Below (The Principles of Creation are found in All That is manifest from the micro to the macro)
As Behind So Ahead. (Everything that IS has changed from what WAS and will change again. Focus on the present)
As to the Left, So to the Right (Find harmony with polarity along the path no matter which way Life takes you)

PASSION

 Passion!  What is your Passion?

Passion, like love, comes in many forms.   We can be passionate about our families, animals, hobbies, lovers.  All different types of passion.  We were built to be passionate, to have desires, to create on all levels of life

Our families are a passion as we attempt to keep them healthy.   I have been told that when someone needs help healthwise, or otherwise. I have a tendancy to spin around and turn into Superwoman to try and fix things.  I feel passionately about people being healthy, making good choices, researching all types of healing.  I now realize that not everyone feels that way and after the last 4 years have learned to accept that, step back, loose the cape, and watch from the sidelines.

I am an empath so animals and animal welfare is my passion.   I can feel their distress and  their joy.  I believe animals are sent to heal us, to show us all the areas in our lives that can be improved upon, their love, even in the wild is unconditional.   Animals possess loyality, a goodness and passion for life which they show daily to their humans.

Passion and love,  okay, this can be complicated.   Passion for another human can be divine, true passion between two people can be a spiritual divine experience.   But passion isn't always, and doesn't have to be sexual, (although sometimes the passion between two people could light up a city) it can be as simple as showing interest in someone elses interests and life, observing someone who is excited about the work they are doing can bring about a renewed passion in your own life.    Passion, like love comes from the heart centre, so really a vamped up expression of love, anything coming from the heart centre is passion, a passion for life.  The heart centre is where we should aim to live and love.  But when you have a passion for something or someone, your eyes will reflect this, the whole body language changes, words and deeds are enhanced with joy and that's when magic happens, and we all need more of that.

Just my take on passion, everyone will have different point of view,  and their own magical experiences.