Centered Self and Personality

"Center is the part of us that remembers we belong to the Universe, the part that feels no need to protect oneself since it is not in opposition."
~ Wendy Palmer

In a recent post (April 13), I mentioned I was traveling to Minneapolis for a course on Visibility with author and aikidoist, Wendy Palmer. I spent a tremendous weekend with Wendy and fourteen other participants practicing and embodying concepts such as center, visibility, intention and receptiveness.

In her teaching, Wendy distinguishes between the Centered Self and the Personality. The Personality's main goals are safety and approval -- it wants to stay safe and look good. The Centered Self is already okay. The Centered Self is enlightened and connected to a higher wisdom.

We practiced being pushed or pulled off center. My partner faced me and held my wrists, then either pushed or pulled. Each time, I reacted by tensing up and pulling or pushing in response. Although I've had many years of aikido and centering practice, I still went into a reactive posture. It was a fantastic learning to watch the Personality kick in on a physical level.

As Wendy put it, "I acknowledge that I'm going to start from my personality -- my resistant, defensive self. And I don't have to stay there."

I notice the reactive posture and center myself, rooting and lengthening my posture, relaxing and extending my ki into my arms and hands, and connecting with heaven and earth -- and my partner. Gradually I find the Centered Self, and I can no longer be pushed or pulled. If the pressure increases, I notice Personality begin to contract and defend. As soon as I notice, I can relax, extend, connect and re-center. As I change my energetic state, I change my perception. Life is more effortless and effective, as Judy Warner said on April 15.

I promise more entries on these topics in the future. In the meantime, you might enjoy reading a new edition of Wendy's book, The Intuitive Body: Discovering the Wisdom of Conscious Embodiment and Aikido.

Good ki!
Judy Ringer