Category Archives: redtailhawk

Aikido and Rhetoric: The Gymnasium

The purpose of training is to tighten up the slack, toughen the body, and polish the spirit. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace Hence it is incumbent on us to control the character of our activities, since on the quality of these depends the quality of our dispositions. It is therefore not of small momentContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: The Gymnasium”

Aikido and Rhetoric: The River

Do not failTo learn fromThe pure voice of anEver-flowing mountain streamSplashing over the rocks. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace You can never step into the same river twice. Heraclitus, fragment 91 Water–flowing water, to be precise–is a key metaphor in the practice of both aikido and rhetoric. Sometimes it exemplifies a kind of “softContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: The River”

Letter of Recommendation: Rebecca Roanhorse

Rebecca Roanhorse is a fantasy writer who draws on her indigenous heritage and her experience living in the Navajo (Diné) Nation to create really unique speculative worlds. So far I’ve read two of her books: Trail of Lightning and Black Sun, and I recommend them both. Trail of Lightning takes place in a speculative post-apocalypticContinue reading “Letter of Recommendation: Rebecca Roanhorse”

Aikido and Rhetoric: Virtue

The Art of Peace is based on four great virtues: Bravery, Wisdom, Love, and Friendship, symbolized by Fire, Earth, Heaven, and Water. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace For the orator to produce conviction three qualities are necessary; for, independently of demonstrations, the things which induce belief are three in number. These qualities are goodContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Virtue”

German Word of the Week: Glückspilz

A glückspilz is someone who’s happy-go-lucky: sort of a cross between the American expressions “Pollyanna” and “lucky devil.” It transliterates “happy/lucky mushroom” and is, in fact, the German name of the (poisonous!) flycap or fly agaric that Euro-American kids associate with fairytales and gnomes–the one with the red cap and white spots. As a metaphor,Continue reading “German Word of the Week: Glückspilz”

Aikido and Rhetoric: Waking Up

The Art of Peace is not easy. It is a fight to the finish, the slaying of evil desires and all falsehood within. On occasion the Voice of Peace resounds like thunder, jolting human beings out of their stupor. Morihei Ueshiba, The Art of Peace It is the thunderbolt that steers the course of allContinue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Waking Up”

Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse

I am a survivor of narcissistic abuse (NA), and so I wanted to put a brief handlist together of the resources I have found most helpful in my ongoing recovery. First, a few caveats based on my experience: There’s a lot of content on the Internet about narcissism, NA, and C-PTSD (complex post-traumatic stress disorder,Continue reading “Recovery from Narcissistic Abuse”

Aikido and Rhetoric: Finding Balance Outside

Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all the vibrancy and fecundity of the earth.Continue reading “Aikido and Rhetoric: Finding Balance Outside”