The Spot...

david · Post by **david** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 12:37 pm

In "The Tales of Don Juan", Carlos Castenada talked of a "personal spot" in the universe which one immediately knows and feels safe. This is my spot:

[This message has been edited by david (edited October 13, 2000).]

crazycat · Post by **crazycat** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 2:30 pm

[QUOTE]Originally posted by david:
In "The Tales of Don Juan", Carlos Castenada talked of a "personal spot" in the universe which one immediately knows and feels safe.

Ahh! another Castenada reader. I've read all his stuff and applying some as I begin to realize what he's talking about.

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 3:26 pm

David,

I have been enjoying your pictures alot!

Is that aborition in the lower left corner a manifestation of "Intent" (I read some Castaneda too!)?

Tony

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 7:50 pm

Since we're sharing.

I often do kata here.

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 10:06 pm

Mary,

Now that looks like a great place to do Kata!!!!

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Fri Oct 13, 2000 10:24 pm

Tony, when the wind whips those waves up onto the rocks and it's grey and drizzly out...that is the place to be. The rush of the wind makes me fight for my stance and the power of nature's forces fuel me on. It's very alive there and my karate feels that way too!

david · Post by **david** » Sat Oct 14, 2000 1:00 am

Mary,

That is a beautiful spot. Does the sun come up over the water? Likely since you're in Halifax. The bench under the tree in my picture is my place to sit at 5:00 AM to watch the sun breaking into a new day. The field is also a great place to train.

Tony, could be a tengu, a mountain spirit, you're seeing.

Really, it's a play of light and shadows and nature's colors. Everything changes constantly. Ephemeral. A dream. The spot allows me to see that. Some are frightened by that. I draw strength and comfort in knowing it.

Crazycat, "Death sits on the left shoulder." He is always there. Don Juan's "impeccable warrior" knows that and welcomes Death as a friend. Death reminds one to try to live fully and with integrity.

david

[This message has been edited by david (edited October 13, 2000).]

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Sat Oct 14, 2000 1:15 am

David, that is a south view..the mouth of Halifax Harbour. Sun comes upon the left (by the ruins) and goes down over a rise in the land on the right. I go to that spot for many reasons - I have a major affinity for water!! It is there when the weather is rough that I do kata...to become one with nature. There is another spot (this is a large park near where I live) which is a deep clearing in the woods. I go there to do kata when I want to bring out the animal forces in my kata. I like your field very much. I would imagine it is beautiful all the time but especially in the fall!

Tony-San · Post by **Tony-San** » Sat Oct 14, 2000 6:01 am

David,

I hear you man....

Van Canna · Post by **Van Canna** » Sat Oct 14, 2000 3:54 pm

"I go there to do kata when I want to bring out the animal forces in my kata."

I like that Mary! Such language will become part of the TC workouts.

Mary and David: Such awe-inspiring places!

Jim Maloney has a log cabin in the wilderness North of Halifax. We used to go there every year for a few days to hunt.

One day he left me alone to go into town for a few hours. I sat on a log next to a rushing stream on a beautiful sunny day bonding with nature.

My mother was then dying of brain cancer and immobile, unable to communicate on her deathbed.

Suddenly it felt as though I was been wrapped in her warm embrace, her words of love caressing my soul, and I broke down into uncontrollable bitter sobs.

It felt so real; I was quite shaken by the event.

As she passed on two weeks later, she drew her last breath as I kissed her gently on the lips!

------------------
Van Canna

crazycat · Post by **crazycat** » Sat Oct 14, 2000 7:49 pm

[QUOTE]Originally posted by david:

Crazycat, "Death sits on the left shoulder." He is always there. Don Juan's "impeccable warrior" knows that and welcomes Death as a friend. Death reminds one to try to live fully and with integrity.

Yup! death is always lurking, sometimes we play.

I still cling to my posessions, I'm not willing to give it all up yet. he heh..

david · Post by **david** » Sun Oct 15, 2000 12:14 pm

Van sensei,

I appreciate your sharing that story.

My father died at 57, after a series of strokes. He passed on alone in a chronic hospital bed. That was the first death of someone close I had to deal with. Being traditional and reserved, he never spoke of his feelings for us. Took me a long time to figure out his actions spoke louder than his words. His spirit lives with me. I am reminded to not take things for granted. We have our time here. As much as we may like to hang on, they are but mere moments in the stream of eternity.

My spot will exist long after I am gone.

david

[This message has been edited by david (edited October 15, 2000).]

Jackie Olsen · Post by **Jackie Olsen** » Mon Oct 16, 2000 12:48 am

Dear David & Mary:
What beautiful power spots. I was thinking the other day how much we live our lives in little boxes ... from the home to the car to work and back again. It is good to have some place to recharge your spirit and reconnect with your natural self.

I keep a picture of the ocean (when I visited Cancun), a rock, plants, a picture of my dog and a picture of my son to remind me of all my relations and connections to Grandmother Earth -- mineral, plant, animal and human worlds.

The full moon has been incredible this month in my neighorhood. Because of my illness, I have been unable to practice kata ... but the dreaming of kata in moon light was awesome.

I have long taught in my classes for the students to "embrace the animal" within. Why else is our style founded on an animal system?

Speaking of making death an ally, I feel that at least one kata out of our mandatory three should be done as if it were the last time we could ever exceute that kata again. One last opportunity to move, to demonstrate with fire the passion and thunder within.

David & Van your understanding and love of your parents speak volumes ... makes me reconsider about actions speaking louder than words. That is difficult sometimes...

Thank you all for risking your creative and emotional natures.

------------------
In Beauty,

Jackie

Mary S · Post by **Mary S** » Mon Oct 16, 2000 1:14 am

Ah Jackie...last night I performed kata for two...out on the deck. For the cat who watched every move with fascinated curiosity, and the moon, who watched with fullness and wisdom. ~smile~ All three of us enjoyed our secret moment, late at night and in the quiet.

david · Post by **david** » Mon Oct 16, 2000 2:12 am

Jackie, sorry to hear. Be well, get well.

Mary, I think you Canadians will take any reason to stay up late.

david