Rituals

Yesterday was the Red belt/Black belt promotion/recertification test. I participated as a helper, and I chose to run up and down a very steep hill (about a mile), with the senior students as part of the test. They had to finish in within 10 minutes. I finished in 8:40, about the middle of the pack, and the first non-senior student across the line. My knee is a bit stiff, but it has been much worse.

Then, off with Bailey, for an excellent workshop on the basics of informal, semiformal, and formal psychodynamic ritual. On the ride home, a quote from O Sensei, the founder of Aikido, popped into my head. The quote, from a thank-you card from Bethie: “Loyalty and devotion lead to bravery. Bravery leads to the spirit of self-sacrifice. The spirit of self-sacrifice leads to trust in the power of love.”