(no subject)

My student has been and gone, four days of intense learning and teaching that was both draining and fulfilling at the same time. We worked on many lessons. She was able to meet many of my teachers, and even participated briefly in training in my dojo. To teach is to learn and relearn. Breathing, meditation, coping, and Bushido are principles worth reinforcing, and the Universe rewarded my work by providing a new white Henley shirt – with Musashi on the back.

My fast was completed, and I have started daily Bhakti, with a healthy and happy Phaedrus for company. It was not a difficult fast, but cleansing, and was good practice. My heart cave has been itself transformed into a dojo, with a shrine for Shakti; I’m asking Shakti what she wants, and giving that to her. I’m often sad and alone, but I am content to sit with those feelings right now. I’m also now eating more mindfully and slowly, being more aware of what I eat and how I eat it – I notice I’m eating less, with less processed foods and more of what my body needs, which is almost exclusively meat and vegetables. I’m losing weight.

I’m training daily, 2-3 times a week in my dojo and several times a week in my gym at night, where I can run and train with more peace. More and more things are on their way to Goodwill, or as gifts to others who can use them. Everything of mine in Portland that is mine except my bike is now in Salem, and is actively being sorted and either being used or purged. I have almost everything in two places, my office and my room. More is still flowing out than is coming in.