How Far Are You Willing to Go? I’ll See You There….

“I became a successful Judo player after I had learned three hard lessons: the first lesson was to ignore the crowd and concentrate on the opponent, the second lesson was to disregard the rank and reputation of the opponent, and the third was to just go out do the best I can do.” –  Jesse Glover…

Forging The Alchemical Body – Time, Sweat, Blood, Tears

I have always cherished and savored the endless hours of physical training in martial arts and long distance running. In many ways I view this time as alchemical in nature: heat, pain, sweat, blood, tears, joy and sadness all coalescing into physical expression. The Transformative Fire Ayurveda and Yoga refer to this as the transformative…

The Alchemy of Blood and Bones – Integral pathways through the journey of transformation

“The chances of finding a human existence are one in a hundred. Now that you have found one, if you fail to practice the sublime Dharma, how could you possibly expect to find such an opportunity again? This is why it’s crucial that you take advantage of your situation. Conceiving of your body as a servant or…

Let None Put Faith in the First Sown Fruit

“Let none put faith in the first sown fruit not yet his son too soon; whim rules the child, and weather the field, each is open to chance.” Havamal In the modern world we see the majority seek instant gratification, instant satisfaction, and instant success. We see individuals crying over being judged or being made…

The Heart of the Matter – Observe Nature’s Simple Way

“Some people are born with good physiques, a sense of speed and a lot of stamina. That’s fine. But in the martial arts, everything you learn is an acquired skill. Absorbing a martial art is like the experience of Buddhism. The feeling for it comes from the heart. You have the dedication to get what…

Danger is a Very Rare Commodity

One of the most interesting entries found within the pages of “Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai” is as follows: The Way of the Samurai is found in death. When it comes to either / or, there is only the quick choice of death. It is not particularly difficult. Be determined and advance. To say…

Pathways to Mastery

Some of the best memories of my youth are the seemingly endless hours of games on the soccer pitch. Growing up in the states, I had the rare opportunity of having a European coach, one who scolded me when I called it soccer: “you mean football don’t you Mr. Williams” would be his constant jab….