Hi all,
I thought I would touch base with you all as we begin a new year.
In the west, it has become a sort of tradition to start new beginnings on the first day of the new year, but for me it is just another passing day like all the others. I personally feel that my first ‘conscious’ breath in the morning is my first opportunity to be grateful for what I have and for the people in my life. It is also the first opportunity to advance my practice which will inevitably enhance my life in some small way.
Although I mostly succeed and recognise the possibilities, I sometimes waste this precious opportunity and get caught up in all the noise and nonsense of life. However, this is also ok, it is just that I have let my guard down for a moment and it may take a jab or a right cross to remind me to bring my guard back up.
What at first may seem negative can be a powerful driving force for future motivation. I use the jab as an awakening to guard my mind from my emotions, and all the nonsensical thoughts that sometimes enter my head. If the jab hasn’t done it’s job then I can always rely on the following and more painful right cross to do the task for me. Just try not to be the person who gets constantly hit the face and never wakes up.
From a Daoist perspective we generally use the natural flow of the seasons to guide and encourage us on what type of practice to focus on. In winter the trees have shed their leaves and certain animals have gone into hibernation, and humans tend to naturally be less active as the days are short and the nights are drawn out.
It is a time to slow down the physical and lessen the intensity of mental activity. A time to learn, process and let go of the lessons of old, whether it is looked upon as good or bad so we can make space for the on coming new energy to arrive.
As the universal yang energy builds in the coming weeks with the arrival of spring, we can watch the natural cycles of nature and it’s activities as life starts to gain momentum.
We must recognise that although the winter season is when the yang energy is weak and the yin energy is at it’s peak, it certainly does not mean that we become totally passive. It is just that we focus more on the mental qualities of training rather than the physical, at a ratio of maybe 60% yin (mental) and 40% yang (physical) or even 70/30.
Nevertheless, in the western world we can use the new year to our advantage, as starting new beginnings has been embedded in our belief system for years. We can use this power to help motivate us in releasing or developing some characteristic or aspect of our lives.
In the coming weeks, I certainly hope we will be able to enjoy and experience the class environment sooner rather than later, but in the meantime lets not be too passive, because if we do nothing then the opportunity is lost and stagnation fortifies. Take advantage of this period to evaluate and ameliorate our skills, characteristic’s and behaviour’s.
Wishing you all a fruitful 2021
Barry ‘Fuso’ Sant
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