Many would ask why one interested in the deeper aspects of spirituality would have an interest in studying a “martial art” or self-defense system.  Although many people discuss the martial arts as a spiritual endeavor, I have heard very few reveal any “secrets” of the spirituality of martial arts, except in the most superficial of terms.

Please note that my definition of a martial art includes only those self-defense systems that focus on the study of protecting oneself from all forms of attack, physical, mental and spiritual.  These systems teach their students how to defend themselves from the most realistic forms of attack, often very brutal attack, to the extent that it can be practiced within realistic drills without injury to student and teacher.   These systems would be in contrast to those devoted to preparation for traditional competition for trophies, as is seen the USA.

So, on the surface the study of a martial art appears to be antithetical to the attainment of a calm and peaceful life as one pursues spiritual evolution.  I will attempt to explain by using the example of a medical student training to be a physician.

The comprehensive medical education and training a medical student experiences takes him into the depths of disease, suffering and death.  She experiences events in her training that most human beings cannot imagine occur, and most should never know occur.   The physician in training experiences mind- and life-altering thoughts and feelings that result in a kind of metamorphosis that allows her to see illness in other human beings where it is unapparent to the non-physician.  Further still, the trained physician can now see signs of impending illness before any real illness has taken hold.   Better still, the physician now has the skills to prevent many illnesses from taking hold of his patients and even himself.  She has become a healer.

A person who chooses to become a student of an authentic martial art must also travel to the depths of dark emotion, evil thought and ill intent.  This study begins with gradually experiencing on a physical level how ill intent might manifest on a most basic level, such as an attacker grabbing another by the lapel with the intent of hitting the person.  As the student matures and is able to manage very basic attacks, she is gradually exposed to more realistic and brutal attacks.  As he matures further, these   attacks begin to include the dark emotion and ill intent that is fueling the physical attacks.  As the student continues his education, he learns to increasingly recognize the subtle thought, emotions and “energies” that occur even before any attack on a physical level begins to occur.  Like the physician, the martial artist can now see signs of impending altercation before any real altercation has taken hold.   Better still, the martial artist now has the skills to prevent many altercations from taking hold in others and himself through subtle intervention using physical, mental and/or spiritual skills.  Eventually, this is done before the average person recognizes anything could have gone wrong.  The martial artist also has become a healer!

As we strive towards understanding and performing our purpose on the planet at this time, we must be vigilant of any obstacles that might get in our way.  Given that all human beings in this dimension are a complete part of the ALL, potential obstacles in our path will involve one or more other individuals.  We can now see how the study of conflict, through the study of an authentic martial art, provides another tool at our disposal to keep our paths clear so that we might more efficiently experience our higher purpose within the ALL.

Daniel J. Cardona, M.D.

Dan is a board-certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist,  who is also a student of and holds a first-degree black belt in Aiki-Ninjutsu under Do Shu Thomas Jotoshi Maienza, and holds a fourth-degree black belt in Toshin-Do under Stephen K. Hayes

Anyone who has dreamed of becoming a martial artist has imagined him/herself to be nimble, flexible and powerful.  What if imagining ourselves to be quick and powerful were more than just daydreaming?

As children, for many of us our imagination was one of our favorite toys.  What happened to this toy?  Fortunately, there are still many who use their imagination on a regular basis.  The most successful among us use their imagination most often.  Even Albert Einstein said, “Imagination is far more important than knowledge.”  There are many who would argue with that now days, but what was Einstein trying to say?

What is the definition of imagination?  “The formation of an image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses,” is one of the more common usages.  Although we can imagine with any one of our senses, visualization is probably the most often used method.  Visualization is used any time we “see” with our minds, with eyes open or closed.

Most people are able to visualize easily.  For instance, we could imagine ourselves sitting on a beach, under the bright sun, watching the waves of an ocean gently hitting the beach.  For those who find visualizing more difficult, try to remember what you had for breakfast this morning.  See yourself this morning, sitting or standing (or driving in your car, for those busy folks), eating and drinking what you had for breakfast.  Next, try to imagine yourself eating supper later tonight.  Once these visualization skills become easy, try to imagine yourself in all sorts of positive situations.  Always keep visualizations positive.

Why is the skill of visualization worth writing about?  The answer is because every effective method for achieving goals and success I have been exposed to uses this skill, regardless of whether the method is for attaining financial success, romantic success, self-healing, enhanced memory, or a particular athletic skill.  I find that very interesting.

A famous quote, “Whatever the mind can conceive, the body can achieve,” is now nearly a cliché.  However, there is now a wealth of scientific data that clearly indicate “what we merely imagine has exactly the same effect on the brain and body as the actual physical experience or event.”  Judd Blaslotto, Ph.D., a world-class powerlifter and author of a number of books on mind control, stated, “Not only does a visualized experience condition the human brain, but it will also program the human body.”

The idea of the mind-body concept has also been given more credence through the use of high-tech studies.  In fact, the mind-body concept brought about by visualization has now been referred to as the video-motor concept.  As your mind conceives an act, it produces impulses that prompt neurons (brain cells) to perform the movement being imagined through transmitting those impulses from the brain to the muscles.  “In other words, if you close your eyes and visualize yourself performing a particular act, your body’s movement/actions are ‘programmed’ in exactly the same manner as if you actually performed them,” stated Dr. Blaslotto. Hence, there is an increasing amount of data indicating mental imagery trains our minds and creates the neural patterns in our brain to teach our muscles to do exactly what we want them to do.

Western scientific interest in using mental techniques to improve sports performance actually began about 25 years ago, after Americans noticed that Russian and other Eastern European athletes were gaining more gold medals in the Olympic games than they.  When they sent observers to Russia to see how its athletes were being trained, they were shocked to learn that it consisted of 25 percent physical and 75 percent mental training, the exact opposite of what the Americans were doing.

When the Americans increased mental training and included other disciplines such as meditation and visualization, their athletic performance improved dramatically. This was dramatically validated and confirmed in an experiment conducted in one American university.  “At the University of Chicago,” reported Dr. Blaslotto, “a study was conducted to determine the effects of visualization on the free-throw performance of basketball players.”  The results were dramatically in favor of visualization.

How do we make this work for us, as Aiki Ninjutsu students and practitioners.  We learn the mechanics of the skill or kata, add the lessons/mitsu, and then have mental picture of how the skill or kata should be performed correctly, either through having performed the act correctly a few times or through having watched Do Shu perform the act.  Then, close your eyes and get into a relaxed state by means of your favorite method, and finally begin to imagine/visualize yourself performing the skill or kata correctly.  Simple!  The difficult part is having this become are regular part of your practice.

And lastly, as there are several Mitsu with which to perform Aiki Ninjutsu effectively, there are “secrets” that allow visualization to be more effective.  One of those secrets is instead of just watching yourself performing the movement or kata on a “movie screen” in your mind, “see yourself performing the act through your own eyes.”  In other words, visualize yourself performing the act from the vantage point of inside your body.

Daniel J. Cardona, M.D.

On May, 16, 1998, Grandmother Pa’ Ris’ Ha, a Cherokee Elder, led a group of approximately twenty people on a Fire Walk.  I hope that  sharing my experiences on the Fire might assist you in your path.

Grandmother, of course, has walked the Fire and led fire walks countless times, and many of her people who travel with her have walked the Fire numerous times.  I, on the other hand, was challenged with my first Fire Walk.

The fire-building ceremony was beautiful and transforming by itself, as are all of the ceremonies led by Grandmother.  However, Grandmother also intended that we all participate in the building so that we could see for ourselves that we used real oak logs, real kindling and a real match to start the Sacred Fire.  It was very important that we all realized there were no “tricks” involved in this Fire Walk.  Oak logs were used because they make red-hot coals that are hard enough to walk on without crushing into ash.

During the two to three hours that were required to allow the tower of logs to sufficiently burn to form a pile of red-hot coals, Grandmother prepared us mentally and spiritually for the walk with great love and patience.  We talked about some of the many reasons why walking on the Fire was an important step in realizing that not only are we a part of Mother Earth but we actually have a cooperative relationship with our Mother when we experience sincere love and respect for Her.  It was very clear that walking the Fire had nothing to do with being macho.  In fact, feeling macho about this would prove to be dangerous!  Grandmother also emphasized that those who felt in their heart “this is my Fire” would choose to walk on the fire and those who felt “this is not my Fire today” would choose not to walk.  There was absolutely no pressure to do what we were not ready to do.  In fact, it was guaranteed that those who chose not to walk the Fire would also be transformed by witnessing the “miracle.”

After the tower of logs burned to a pile of coals, we formed a bed of coals about two-feet wide and eight-feet long.  The heat was so intense that spreading the coals was very difficult.

After the bed of coals was ready, we danced and sang while moving in a circle around the coals as drums sounded.  Within a minute or two, one by one Grandmother’s people began walking the Fire.  Loud animal calls and hoots were given as each crossed the fire.  The air was electric.  I was so excited that I could barely contain myself.  I was not in some sort of trance, but instead I was more alert and aware of my senses than ever before.  As I circled around and approached the entrance to the fire, I suddenly and clearly made a decision to walk the Fire.  During the next two to three steps before I set my foot on the coals I was aware of my feeling unsure about what would happen and about what I was getting myself into.  In spite of the fear and my feeling unsure, I knew that my intention to complete this task and my decision to do so had never been so clear and definite.  My first foot fall felt like I stepped onto a hot asphalt road, but as I saw the love and appreciation for my decision in the faces of Grandmother’s people who were standing at the other end of the bed of coals, each subsequent foot fall was increasingly less hot!!!  By the time I reached the end of the bed I was feeling no heat!!!  I experienced not even the slightest blister, even though I walked the Fire a total of three times that day, one of which was hand-in-hand with my wife, Patricia.

Each person has a unique experience on the Fire, and on a more recent fire walk I learned that each Fire provides a unique experience.  A friend from Dayton, Ohio, stated that his experience on May 16 was such that he felt absolutely no heat at all until he looked down to make sure he had not somehow missed the coals.  He also suffered no burns.

For me, the Fire Walk is a reminder that even doubt and fear are not powerful enough to create an obstacle to attaining a goal when I have established clear intention and made a definite decision to do so.  I have learned that the Fire Walk is not an end in itself but is literally a path for remembering and re-establishing our God-given right to create a reality that benefits ourselves and the entire Human Race.

“…the works that I do you will do also; and greater works than these you will do…”–Jesus.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought [dreamed]“–Buddha.

Daniel J. Cardona

by Patricia Cardona

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We began the ceremonies with a purification and initiation at the CENOTE DZITNUP (a sacred well). This is a new cenote that has been opened up recently. It is underground in a cave. It was very magical to climb down the ladder into the belly of the earth only to have it open into this large underground cenote. The cenote water was crystal clear with fish swimming in it. Overhead a large sacred ceiba tree was growing out of the top of the roof of the cave letting in light around the tree’s roots. These roots were trailing down to the water of the cenote about 100 feet below. What a sight! It took your breath away to see the sacred symbolism present in this place. I could hear the sound of toning in my mind as soon as I entered the cave. Before long Hunbatz blew a whistle and all the women were toning and chanting. We filled the sacred space with sacred sounds for a long time. The walls of the cave reverberated with the sounds we made. Bats in the cave responded by making their own sounds to add to the harmony. We ended the ceremony with each person going down to the water to receive an annointment of the water from the cenote onto our crown chakras.We then had the benefit of being at CHICANAH for our final ceremony. Chicanah means ‘The Temple where the Snake Emerges’ We were able to visit the site for the full moon rising. It turned out the full moon rose through the large window of the pyramid, representing the mouth of a snake. It was a very powerful ceremony. 20 or so women climbed into the mouth of the snake and toned and chanted as the full moon rose. We were guarded by four men standing outside of the mouth of the snake supporting the women’s ceremony. At just the right moment the sense of need to hear the rattle occurred and all the men and I began shaking our rattles. The snakes energy was very present, until it peaked at the end of the ceremony. All present were blown away by the energy of the moon that night. I have never felt the moon emanate energy as powerfully as I did on that night. Hunbatz encouraged us to write about this ceremony because he believes we are the first to witness and participate in the full moon rising through the mouth of the snake during the equinox time period at this sacred site.

Patricia Morris Cardona is a Spiritual Healer, Cinical Specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She founded the Cosmic Mysteries School, part of the world wide Mayan Mystery Schools with her husband Daniel, a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist under the guidance of Hunbatz Men, a Mayan Elder. www.cosmic mysteries.com

This article was published in Gillian Hollands Newsletter in March 2005.

Also near site of alleged UFO sighting

This morning I had visited a mysterious ‘crop formation’ that has recently been found in a portion of Southern Ohio -the exact location I will not disclose out of respect for the continuing investigation and also as per request by a neighboring resident and possible owner of the property; who has stated that she doesn’t want “a convention of UFO nutcases destroying all her soybeans.”

NOTE: A week after this report was prepared, the location of the formation (Serpent Mound) was released by The People’s Defender Newspaper, see below

The large formation, an oval shaped flattened area accompanied by several projecting ‘spikes’ that arch around it, is in a field of soybean – which is a rare crop for a formation to appear in. Already working the site at the time of my arrival was Jeffrey Wilson and two others, Roger and Ted. Apparently Roger had already overflown the site earlier this morning and has obtained aerial photos.

It is unclear how news of this formation has spread so rapidly, having just heard of it myself late last night from telephone advisement by Nancy Talbott of BLT Research, Cambridge, Massachusettes.

I found it difficult to negotiate through the field as the standing crop was midway between waste and shoulder-length in places, one tends to raise his or her arms above their head to plod their way through the field. This, plus the tortuous conditions due to the recent heat caused me to wonder how anyone could ‘make’ this formation. Of course I am no specialist in crop circles and am aware that just about anything can be done, but I can add that the nearby resident who I spoke with declared firmly that there had been “absolutely nobody in that field at all” and has no idea how the formation came to be.

From the road and even standing near the formation, I had no real appreciation for it. Upon looking at the notes, diagrams and measurements made by Jeffrey Wilson, I could then appreciate this formation and how it might look from the air. I will look forward to reading his report on this formation at http://www.cropcirclenews.com , and Wilson informed that he is utilizing 2-GPS units in his investigation. As I was leaving, cars were pulling up and numerous other folks were arriving on the scene, many of them with cameras and tripods. I had a perception that there was a good deal more ‘activity’ taking place than should have been and was hoping all this business would not impede or distract Wilson’s investigation.

This formation has appeared within less than 30-miles of Hillsboro, Ohio, and there are early indications that the formation was first spotted last Sunday, August 24, 2003.

This Hillsboro, Ohio location is of significance due to an ongoing investigation by MUFON’s Donnie Blessing of a UFO sighting there on Friday, August 22. The UFO was described as having rotating white lights. Donnie has interviewed the primary claimant and has also made inquiries with area law enforcement regarding this UFO complaint. I talked with Donnie by telephone this afternoon and she agrees that the location of the sighting and the crop formation is interesting and Donnie also advises that her report on the Hillsboro, Ohio UFO sighting is pending, and will be posted at http://home.fuse.net/ufo when complete.

I have ground-level photos of the formation taken with my digital camera and I will make them available online at http://home.fuse.net/ufo , check the site for updates.

FILED,
FRIDAY, AUGUST 29, 2003
KENNY YOUNG

As per official notice by Jeffrey Wilson, the word is now ‘out’ regarding the location of the Ohio formation. Many will take special interest that this formation has appeared opposite of Ohio’s famous ‘Serpent Mound’ in Adams County. Enclosed below is a newspaper article from the People’s Defender of West Union, Ohio. – ky

Thu, Sep 04, 2003 04:15 AM

Aliens or hoax: crop circles appear in Peebles soybean field

By TROY JOLLY AND CALEB GROOMS

The People’s Defender: West Union, OH

A strange design found in a soybean field across from the entrance to Serpent Mound on State Route 73 near Locust Grove remains under investigation. The design was found on the property of Molly Williams, a resident of Dayton.

The design, designated as a crop circle, was first seen by Delsey Knoechelman, of Peebles, on Sunday, Aug. 24 around 11 a.m. Knoechelman stated that the creation was not there on Saturday as she inspected the fields in the area for flood damage. She returned to her home where she contacted the Adams County Sheriff’s office and then returned to the site with family. Knoechelman’s father, Jim McKenzie, inspected the site with a metal detector, where he found several different metallic levels and minerals in the outlining circle. According to McKenzie, one circle had higher concentrated levels of minerals than did the others.

Jeff Wilson, an independent crop circle investigator from Dexter, Mich., documented slightly higher radiation levels inside the design, as well as slightly higher electrical and magnetic fields than those outside of the marking. The plants inside the cirles have been swirled to the ground and have sustained heat damage. According to Wilson, it is more difficult to analyze markings such as the ones found at the site because there have only been an estimated 10 reported markings in soybeans in the United States.

“I obligated myself to not release the location of the markings,” said Wilson. He did however share his personal feelings about the markings found. “Based on plant damage, it is my belief that the design in this field is authentic.”

Douglas McIlwain, president of the American Society of Dowsers, reported abnormality in the field. “I believe the design is pointing towards Serpent Mound, either to the head or tail of the effigy,” said McIlwain.

Wilson, McIlwain and Roger Sugden, of Ft. Wayne, Ind., analyzed the field, taking with them crop and soil samples. The findings have not been returned. However, they did note that there were no tracks leading to the marking.

The design consists of several markings. The smaller circles on the sides of the design measure 12′ in diameter with the larger bottom circle measuring 16′. The total design measures 300′ in diameter.

David Garvin, of West Union, said, “The markings in the crop and tail of Serpent Mound are similar.”

According to the Adams County Sheriff’s office, there was no unusual activity reported on the morning of Aug. 24.

“Anyone caught on the property will be charged with trespassing and may be arrested,” said deputy Shawn Cooley.

History shows that very few crop circles have been made in soybeans. The majority of markings have been found in vegetable crops, corn fields, grass, wheat, and even groves of trees.

This isn’t first questionable event in the county. It was reported in The People’s Defender that on the evening of Oct. 17, 1973, three Adams County deputies and one West Union Police officer encountered an unusual object in the sky on Chaparral Road in West Union and later hovering between State Route 41 and 125 near Panhandle. The men described the object as having pulsating red, green, blue and white lights and claimed it would “zig-zag in a very tight circle” throughout the sky. Highland, Ross and Scioto County deputies also reported seeing the object.

In relation to the most recent happening, McIlwain reported that eye-witnesses have encountered “earth lights” since the design was found. These orange, glowing spheres measure five feet in diameter and are common after crop circles have been formed.

A final report of the findings of the investigation is due to be released in October. Anyone discovering additional field circles or markings is encouraged to contact Wilson. He can be reached at (734) 891-2689.

END OF ARTICLE

When I went to the Equinox celebrations this year, I was not sure why I was going or what I hoped to learn from this trip to the land of the Maya with Hunbatz Men. I guess, in retrospect, I really went with no expectations. I only went with the confidence that I would learn from Hunbatz Men and the pyramidal sites something I needed for my higher education. I would like to convey to you today the essence of what I learned from teachings Hunbatz Men shared with us this Equinox Celebration in the sacred land of the Maya.

It was amazing to me to be in the Yucatan, at the same place and time, with Hunbatz for the third year in a row but finally grasping what it is he was trying to teach and share with us. I trust that Spirit will speak through me so that I convey to you what I finally learned this Equinox.

The breakthrough for me came when I asked Hunbatz to explain the sacred symbolism of the T. John Majors Jenkins just finished his lecture on his research connecting T, the great cosmic cross, and the “crossing” of the sun’s ecliptic and the axis of the Milky Way Galaxy in which the sun will be at the exact center on the winter solstice in 2012. Hunbatz pointed to my hand and drew a cross on a piece of paper. He said, “You have a T or cross on your hand that the lines on your hand form. Sweat comes out at the center of that cross, but not from anywhere else on the lines that make the cross.” Instantly, his saying that connected me with the universe. I understood what was happening in the universe was also happening within me.

The Maya, with their incredible intelligence and their incredible understanding of how the universe works and how we evolve as individuals, were able to draw themselves and others into this incredible oneness with all life through the use of their calendar systems.

I know this sounds simple, or incredible, depending on your perspective. What could calendars have to do with oneness with all life or oneness with the universe? But, if you can try to put yourself into a space of feeling what these words are trying to convey, you may grasp what and where Hunbatz helped us go on this trip.

The Maya were intimately connected to cosmic consciousness and the heart of the Universe through their deep love for and observation of the heavenly bodies above and the Milky Way Galaxy. Through plotting and tracking the greater celestial star systems and galaxy movements and connecting them with Earth’s movement and seasons, they were able to create calendars that conveyed this energy and information. These calendars drew them into the greater whole and were used as stepping stones to reconnect and pull them back into the stars.

As we become familiar with and use the calendar systems of the Maya, they reconnect us to the galaxy and the cosmos. (I am not talking only about connecting intellectually.) As we understand and work with the calendars we open ourselves to deeper levels of consciousness. We return to this deeper awareness and understanding of our own innate and true dimension of consciousness, back to our true home among the stars.

This happens at a cellular level. We become once again a piece of the greater reality. We become a cell in the body of God. Contained within that cell is all of God and all of the universe. We become no longer separate and no longer alone, but one with the greater whole.

For these reasons, Hunbatz Men keeps trying to help us understand and work with the Maya Calendars. He is trying to help us return to wholeness and oneness with the universe.

The Maya were multidimensional beings. They used their calendars as tools to convey and anchor this cosmic consciousness into third-dimensional reality. As we learn to use the Mayan Calendars, we reconnect ourselves with the universe and the timeless Maya. We become one with this greater consciousness, and we realize we are not separate from it.

These teachings from the Maya that Hunbatz Men shares with us are not just symbolism and mythology from the past. They are real tools and concepts that can pull us into a greater reality.

When Hunbatz tells us the sacred symbol T is also a symbol for the tree and the Maya saw the tree as a brother and knew how to communicate with and ask help from the tree, he is not speaking symbolically. He is talking about a real, living relationship between real, living beings: the trees and the Maya.

After meeting Hunbatz for the first time a couple of years ago, I wrote to him a thank you letter telling him about how I appreciated what I learned from him and about what I was working on within myself and in my life. My letter must have conveyed some of the desperation I was feeling after that first trip to the Yucatan. That trip definitely altered my consciousness, and I was trying to come to a point of balance within myself. He answered my letter in third-dimensional reality, but he also sent to me, on another level, a blast of golden light that came from a group of trees in my backyard. I saw and felt this in a dream, even before I received his letter. When the letter arrived, his message linked with the dream, which allowed the energy to break through my emotional block. The flood of tears I experienced in my backyard with Father Sun and the trees released the rest of what I was carrying.

I did not understand the depth of what occurred with the trees until after returning from my latest trip to the Yucatan and rereading Hunbatz Men’s book, Mayan Science/Religion . When I reread the section that discusses the sacred T, I began to understand things I had not previously understood. The following passage stood out: “When our Mayan ancestors defined this link between the human and the tree, it was not based on simple speculation, but from a root of the truth. For, if animals are vibrant with energy, so, too, are plants. If animals subsist on vegetal elements and if plants serve to cure our physical and psychic maladies, they are certainly our protectors. In fact, they are veritable companions and valiant protectors! Because through the sacred Hunab K’u, the Only Giver of Movement and Measure, plants help the human being defend its life, its very existence. Moreover, in moments of anxiety or desperation, the human can turn to the tree for help and, being a relative, it will provide help.” (If you were here with me right now I could show you the group of trees in my backyard. They are frequently filled with fire flies, which look like fairy lights in the warm summer months.)

Clearly the trees had helped me, a relative in a time of emotional desperation.

I was humbled and grateful for the healing that came to me that day. However, I feel I only now grasp the depth of what occurred when the trees actually sent golden healing energy out of caring for another being such as themselves.

I trust that you can feel and understand what Hunbatz Men has shared with us from the Sacred Land of the Maya. I trust that you will learn from him how to work with and relate to the sacred calendars of the Maya. Through this work you will bring yourself back into your greater awareness as a multidimensional being.

Patricia Morris Cardona, MS, RN, CS, and Daniel Cardona, MD, are the founders of the Cosmic Mysteries School , 6116 East Cabin Creek Drive, Cold Spring, Kentucky, 40176. Patricia is an intuitive and vibrational healer and works with people around the country. Daniel is a child and adolescent psychiatrist and has a 3rd. degree black belt in To Shin Do (a descendent of Ninjutsu). Tel. 859-448-0379. Contact Us.

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