the REN DAO Wellness Center Blog

November 28^th the RDWC hosted demonstrations of Kyudo (Japanese Archery) and Tameshigiri (Test Cutting with a Japanese Sword). Guest instructor Phil Ortiz Sensei from the New York Budokai and Louis Rodriguez Sensei demonstrated Tameshigiri. Guest instructor Mito Morales Sensei of the Traditional Japanese Martial Arts Morales Dojo demonstrated Kyudo techniques. Many of those attending the demonstration got an opportunity to practice their cutting skills too.

Kyudo is the art of Japanese Archery. It has its origins in primitive times as a hunting tool and weapon of tribal warfare. During the period when Japan became heavily influenced by Chinese culture, ceremonial archery was also introduced to Japan. Soon after Japan would close its island borders and become an isolated nation. Japan would nurture and redefine its newly acquired knowledge into its own.

At the start of the Feudal (or Warring) period, an era marked by hundreds of years of civil wars, archery (Kyujutsu) became a major battle field weapon and many schools of Kyujutsu flourished. This period lasted from the early 11^th century until the end of the 16^th century. The use of archery on the battlefield would rapidly decline after the introduction of the gun from Europe around 1543. By the end of the Warring period, archery was no longer primarily used or taught as a battle field weapon. Some schools continued to teach and practice military style archery and others maintained the practice of ceremonial archery. Still others adapted Kyujutsu training (as well as other bujutsu or warrior skills), not only to perfect physical skills, but as a way to higher learning and mental and spiritual development. As many involved in the era of warfare would adopt Zen and Buddhist practices, they integrated these and other ideas (from Confucianism, Daoism and Shintoism) into their martial practices and way of life. As more peaceful times came, this adaptation transformed many warrior schools from a study of martial techniques, leading to success on the battlefield (bujutsu, kyujutsu, kenjutsu, aikijutsu), into paths or ways leading to personal enlightenment (budo, kyudo, kendo, aikido). It is these budo forms, adapted from former battlefield skills, which are primarily taught and practiced today.

In the mid 20^th century the All Japanese Kyudo Federation was formed to help bring Kyudo from obscurity and to help preserve and unify existing schools and the practice of Kyudo. Today Kyudo is practiced primarily in three forms; as a competitive sport, as a contemplative Zen practice, and in original military formats, as a way of preserving the old “Koryu” techniques and teachings.

Tameshigiri, or test cutting, is a method of testing the cutting ability of a sword or the cutting technique of the swordsman. Tameshigiri was originally practiced on targets made to simulate human bodies. Typically targets would be made from bamboo wrapped

with wet straw to duplicate bone covered with flesh. The bodies of executed people or animals would also be used. Today, rolled bamboo mats soaked in water or bamboo poles are used. In modern times, Tameshigiri is mainly practices as a sport, to refine ones swordsmanship technique and as an introspective tool for ones personal development.

A few nights ago, while sleeping with the TV on, I managed to wake long enough to catch a portion of the Charlie Rose Show. Charlie was interviewing a neurologist who was an expert on neural brain imaging and visually viewing brain activity related to thought patterns.  Charlie’s guest gave a simple exercise to help transform the minds endless unproductive chatter into a quieter more productive mind.

The exercise was simply to take an average routine situation in life, lets say your work environment, a relationship, etc., and write down how you would like that situation to be. For example, I would like my work environment to be a place were I am constantly stimulated creatively, where I can effortlessly express my talents and be well compensated. Next analyze your constant thoughts and mental chatter related to this situation. Are they in line with what you wrote? Most likely, if they are not, you are not happy with the situation you choose to examine. According to Charlie’s guest, your brain may be physically suffering too.

Forget about the brain damage for a few seconds. In Deepak Chopra’s book the Seven Laws of Spiritual Success, Deepak describes intent as what we want to transform and organize our future into and awareness as the thing that energizes our intentions. He states, true intention is detached from result and thus can manifest as an infinite array of solutions in line with ones intent. On the other-hand, desire attached to an outcome becomes self-limiting. This attachment leads to a sense of fear and pain towards not receiving or losing what one desires. Attachment pulls our awareness away from the present into an addictive fairyland of mental chatter. The playground of the ‘Monkey Brain Junky’.

The exercise described above is like writing your personal mission statements. It helps check your habitual thoughts and insures they are in line with your intentions. It helps pull your awareness back into the now.

 “As long as your attention is in the present, then your intent for the future will manifest…”

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year.

Events

·        12/7 – Kettlebell Exercise Introduction Class with James Alexander – Sunday 10:30am to 12:00pm.

·        12/7 – Past life regression workshop / Group Hypnosis with Joan Perez – Sunday 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

The cost of both workshops is Fifteen Dollars.

News

·        Our blog has been updated with articles from our past newsletters. The old online newsletters can still be found in the archive folder (http://www.ren-dao.com/na.htm).

·        Holiday Gift Certificates are available for massage, reflexology, reiki and energy healing, acupuncture sessions and yoga classes. Gift Certificates will be mailed or emailed to recipients. Ordered services will be offered at 10 to 15 percent off regular prices. Email or call the RDWC to place your order.

By Joan Perez

Something Old – Something New. Actually hypnosis is a pretty old practice that is being given new applications. The ancients understood the process of “speaking” to their inner conscience mind and giving it suggestions or commands. Hypnosis was used in shamanic practice as well as in ritualistic ceremony. The Chinese used (and still use) hypnosis as a natural analgesia for healing purposes. The Australian aborigines used self-hypnosis as a tool to insulate themselves from the cold. Sleeping temples were commonplace in ancient Greece, Egypt and India and the word itself comes from the Greek deity Hypnos, the god of sleep. Sleep is the state in which we are at our most vulnerable and open to suggestion.

Hypnosis today. Hypnosis is the bridge used to access our restful unconscious state (alpha, delta, theta). It is a proactive and interactive tool which aids in behavior modification. Hypnosis is used successfully for smoking cessation, weight management, sports/exercise enhancement, stress reduction, phobias, addictions, forensic recall, past life regression, and the list goes on.

To quack or not to quack? Stage hypnosis is fun and oftentimes seems to work because of the very nature of its setting and venue. While someone may lose their inhabitations long enough to do the funky chicken on stage it would be impossible to make that same person do the chicken dance in the middle of a board meeting. Thankfully we have been engineered with safety brackets that protect our subconscious from acting out in any manner foreign to our nature. So – you absolutely would not be capable of doing something - ANYTHING -reckless, immoral, plain stupid or reprehensible, that you would not do in your conscious (beta) state, or as we say in my neighborhood, “your right mind!”.

Et tu, Brute? Have you ever been driving and seemed to have zoned out and found yourself on autopilot and not sure how you got to where you were? Have you ever counted sheep to get to sleep? Or backwards from 100? Have you ever fallen asleep repeating a mantra or affirmation – speaking to your silent self? Then you’ve experienced self-hypnosis. Mesmerizing isn’t it?

Joan Perez is a Consulting Hypnotist certified by the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH). Her practice covers lower Westchester, Bronx and Upper Manhattan.

Join Joan at the RDWC, Thursday evening November 20th (6:15pm to 7:00pm), for a fascinating free lecture on how hypnosis can benefit you.

Joan will conduct a Past Life Regression workshop/group hypnosis on Sunday afternoon November 23rd, and Sunday December 7th, at 2:30PM.  Seating is limited for the workshops so early registration is recommended. Suggested donation is $15

Last Sunday (10/26) I ventured down to Central Park to go roller skate. This was maybe the third time this year I had a chance to go. This was also the last skate day in the 2008 Central Park Dance Skate Association season and their annual Halloween Costume Day.  As usual, DJ Nick @ Night picked up after the CPDSA signed off.  (Click on picture to view gallery)

November 8th - Energy & Light Share @ the Wayne Nursing and Rehab Center – Saturday 2:00pm to 5:00pm. The RDWC will be hosting a Reiki Energy and Light Share for clients and staff of the Wayne Nursing and Rehab Center (3530 Wayne Ave., Bx, 10467).

Participants can meet at the REN DAO Wellness Center at 1:45pm or at the Wayne Nursing and Rehab Center at 2:00pm. Jai Karker (347-275-8209) will be our contact person at the Nursing home.

If you have attended one of our healing circles or are an energy practitioner and would like to join us please email or call the REN DAO Wellness Center.

November 15th - Iaido / Swordsmanship Class with Instructor Louis Rodriguez - Saturday 12:30 pm to 3:00pm.

November 15th - Psychic Enhancement Workshop with Peter Goldbeck – Saturday 3:00pm to 5:30pm. Reconnective Healer and Reiki Master, Peter Goldbeck will give a “Psychic Enhancement Workshop”. It will include a Group Attunement to empower one’s Intuitive and Psychic abilities and instructions, followed by a practice session.

This will be a fun dynamic workshop bringing out the “Reader” in everyone. We ask everyone to bring a pen and paper to journal their readings. No experience required. Cost of workshop is twenty five dollars.

November 20th - “So What About Hypnosis” a Lecture with Joan Perez – Thursday 6:15 pm to 7:00pm.

November 23rd - Past life regression workshop / Group Hypnosis with Joan Perez – Sunday 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm.  Cost of workshop is fifteen dollars.   

November 29th Iaido / Swordsmanship Class with Louis Rodriguez and Kyudo Demonstrations with Phil Ortiz, - Saturday12:00pm to 3:00pm. Sensei Ortiz, head instructor of the New York Budokai, will join Sensei Rodriguez in instructing our Iaido Class. Sensei Ortiz will also talk about and demonstrate the art of Kyudo, Japanese archery. Cost of class is twenty five dollars    

December 7th – Kettlebell Exercise Introduction Class with James Alexander – Sunday 10:30am to 12:00pm. Yoga instructor and certified kettlebell trainer will teach an introduction Kettlebell exercise class.  The kettebell is a traditional Russian exercise tool similar to a dumbbell. Exercise routines and workouts using the kettebells are becoming a popular way to increase strength and conditioning. This class will replace the normal Sunday morning yoga. Cost of class is ten dollars

December 7th – Past life regression workshop / Group Hypnosis with Joan Perez – Sunday 2:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Cost of workshop is fifteen dollars.

By Dr. Shaa Bae

 “It’s not what you are eating. It is what is eating you.” In a nutshell, this could be said, to be the distinction of a meta-psychologist, from all other practitioner’s in the healing art-science community.

 In order to more fully understand this difference, we must look carefully at the term meta-psychologist. Simply defined meta means beyond. Psychology, is from the Greek, psyche, “breath, life, soul”; and logia/logy, a combining form used in the names of sciences or bodies of knowledge. Currently the term psychology is considered an academic and applied discipline, wherein mental processes and behaviors are studied scientifically.

Upon putting the two terms together, we find a discipline where the practitioner systematically investigates causes and the nature of ultimate reality, ie the soul. The difference being, where a psychologist will study or apply knowledge of the mind, as the ultimate “driver” of the human “machine”, the meta-psychologist, will study or apply knowledge to the true soul, as the ultimate “driver” of the human “machine”. Succinctly, meta-psychology, deals with first principles and seeks to explain the nature of being or reality (ontology) to the client and of the origin and structure of the universe (cosmology), to the client, in manners the client both relates to and accesses regularly.

Ultimately, a Meta-psychologist goes beyond the obvious psychological definitions and solutions into the Spiritual Realm, seeking solutions, for the client. Additionally, the meta-psychologist will work with the client in ways to empower each individual, for future reference.

So, when and where, do I enter? This brings us full circle to the first statement, “It’s not what you are eating. It is what is eating you.” Therefore, a Holistic Meta-psychologist, must look inside to where the soul, our “driver” resides, and see what nourishes us there, or what is “eating you”, ie our thoughts. Then, we must continue further, to examine what support, if any we are giving the physical plant, the “machine” that is our vehicle on this life’s journey. In this model of the dis-ease v health paradigm, a holistic meta-psychologist, works with the soul, and then goes beyond the spirit and mind to support and protect the plant or “machine” housing both, allowing all to work synergistically, and optimally, for renewed, expanded and/or continued robust, joyous health.

 Dr Bae is a holistic meta-psychologist, herbalist. She sees clients in Manhattan and Westchester.

• October 4th – Reiki / Energy practitioners gathering (site tba) - Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm [Cancelled]
• October 11th – Iaido / Swordsmanship Class with Instructor Louis Rodriguez - Saturday 12:30 pm to 3:00pm
• October 11th – Energy and Light Celebration with Peter Goldbeck - Saturday 3:00 pm to 5:30 pm
• October 12th – 6th Intra-Dojo Martial Arts Workshop - 11:00 pm to 3:30 pm
• Date TBD – Kettlebell and Carido Boxing Introduction Class
• Date TBD – Qigong Workshop with Kenny Lopaz

From Sensei Fitzpatrick

Everyone,

    I returned from Arizona on Saturday morning.  While there, I sorted through the life’s belongings of Sensei Monroe at the request of his sister.  It was emotionally difficult for me to do so, yet I was able to retrieve several historical documents and photographs from his time.  He saved everything.

    He was interned at the Arizona National Cemetery (Mesa) with full military honors consisting of a 10 man detail ( 21 gun salute, Flag presentation and Taps).  In death, he was the same as he was in life.  He was LATE for his own funeral.  All waited for his arrival.  I spoke on behalf of the family and Goju community.

    The NY memorial tribute for Sensei will be on Saturday, Sept. 20th at 4:00pm.  Due to Mrs. Patricia Young, we were able to secure the Worthington family’s former private chapel, which was built in the mid 19th century.  I have seen it and it is a serene location.  It is located on a large wooded site in the Town of Greenburgh, NY. and offers two large meeting areas, a full kitchen, grounds, parking and the chapel. 

                The address is: 2127 Saw Mill River Rd.   White Plains, NY 10607.

    Please R.S.V.P. as soon as possible so we may prepare properly for this event.  Thank you.

Yours in Budo,

Raymond A. Fitzpatrick, M.C.S.
Founder of ryuha, Nisei Goju-Jitsu

From Sensei Jackson

Blessings to one and all.  Yes our beloved father will be missed, but he’s probably dancing and performing applicable bunkais, judo and jui jitsu applications with the angels.  By the way, I heard that he has been put in charge of a plattoon by St. Michael the Archangel to fight off the devils and negative forces in the world.  I love him and will miss him.  As his Dai Sempai, let us all keep up his legacy and do it with pride, the way he taught us.   To his beloved family, may God comfort you in this time of pain ….not just today, but always.
Love ya!

Professor Louis A. Jackson   340-642-0300
Ja Goju Jitsu-ryu

September 6^th - Iaido / Swordsmanship Class with Guest Instructor Debra Klens Bigman - Saturday 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm
September 13^th – Yonkers Riverfest
September 20^th – Reiki Healing Circle - Saturday - 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
September 27^th – Practitioner Health Fair at the Vitamin Shop - Saturday 12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
October 4^th – Reiki / Energy practitioners gathering (site tba) - Saturday 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm
October 11^th – Iaido / Swordsmanship Class with Instructor Louis Rodriguez - Saturday 12:30 pm to 3:00pm
October 12^th – 6th Intra-Dojo Martial Arts Workshop - 11:00 pm to 3:30 pm

RDWC News

Our first reiki healing outing held august 30^th went well. Thought our intention was to visit a nursing home and then last minute a friend’s mother’s bedside, we ended up gathering at the wellness center treating each other. We send our condolences and blessings to Laura Jenson and her family after the lost of Laura’s mother August 27^th. Laura taught yoga at the RDWC for almost three years.

Our condolences and blessings go out to the family of Sensei Monroe who passed August 17^th.

Congratulations to April Young and Milton Roman on the promotion to Shodan Black belt in Bujinkan Dojo Budo, August 31^st.

In the works are seminars and workshops to introduce our new cardio boxing and kettle bell exercise trainers, a Japanese swordsmanship workshop, a Qigong and Acupressure workshop and more.

Links of the Month:

• Gapingvoid - How to be Creative, a blog entry.
• Natural Awakenings Online Magazine
• Exotic India Art - The esoteric artwork known as ‘The Wheel of Life” explained.
• Zen and Iaido are one.
• Close Up Card Magic.
• All Disease comes from the Heart.