An important, albeit highly advanced, aspect of Katannabis is to sanctify your Kata. By definition, anything can be sanctified. (See Endnote # 1) Before I delve into sanctifying your Kata let me provide a few common examples of that which can be sanctified.
- •An object can be sanctified. First, an example from religion. In the catholic mass, a wafer and wine is sanctified so as to become the body and blood of Christ which is then distributed to those who are of clean spirit (through the process of confession and penance). (See Endnote 2) In terms of the martial arts, one need only to think of the significance of the obi of one’s Sensei that is handed down to his successor, (a form of sanctified talisman). Literally any object can be sanctified. I have a very special object given to me by an instructor – I have kept it with me since the day I received it. You can see it below and read about it in Endnote # 3).
- •A day can also be sanctified. Every religion has a weekly holy day – in my practice of Esoteric Kata, I have sanctified Wednesday as a sacred day. (See endnote # 4).
- •A word, or name can be sanctified. Clearly, the name of G-d, the prophets, and others have become sanctified, or holy.
- •Text and speech can even be sanctified. Examples include prayers, chants, psalms, and, for that matter, any speech whereby one’s pure heart and spirit are reflected in the text or speech;
- •Lastly, ritual is sanctified – drum circles, dances, meditations, masses, and now Kata.
Kata is not sanctified sua sponte. The first Kata I learned was Taikiyoku Sho-dan. I first learned it in 1971. At the time of learning and practicing the Kata, it was not – and is not presently – sanctified. I say that this Kata is not sanctified because after over fifty years of practicing it, I have never sanctified it, therefore, within my personal Kata syllabus, this Kata has not been venerated.
Before I delve into the process of sanctification, you may enjoy this video concerning a Sanctified Talisman you use in your training each and every day:
So what of the process of sanctification?
I am certain that there is not one and only one method to sanctify a Kata. This is so because first and foremost sanctification is achieved by the individual performer. Simply put, my mere telling you I have sanctified the Kata within my Katannabis Syllabus does not make it so for you. I can teach you my sacred trinity of Kata. I can teach you my own unique Sanchin-Dai Kata and my Ghost-hand Kata. These Kata are highly venerated and sanctified by me. Not so for you. You can dance around the pattern of the Kata as many times as you want and they are not and will never be sanctified for you. You must take affirmative action, physically, mentally and spiritually to sanctify the Kata for yourself.
This is so because Kata is sanctified based upon the intention, emotion, passion and energy (the Kime) of the performer. Over time, after many repetitions, this spiritual Kime is imbued within the Kata. (See Endnote # 5) It is this physical, mental and spiritual energetic Kime that is transferred from the performer to the Kata. Such spiritual Kime becomes imbued within the Kata so as to complete the sanctified energy field. This energetic Kime field will return back to the performer as a complete sanctified ritualistic holy bubble or sphere. This energetic bubble or sphere isolates the Kata performer from the profane, impure reality that surrounds the performer.
Within the entire syllabus of twenty-one Kata that I learned in the Goshin-Do Karate system (see attached link for videos of each https://senseijohn.me/kata-syllabus/ ) the following are the ONLY ones that I have sanctified and use in my Katannabis and Esoteric Kata practice: Fuku, Gekisai, Ananku, Seipai, Seienchin, Suparunpei, Sanchin, Sanchin-Dai, Ghost-hand Kata and Zazen. (See endnote # 6) Note here that I consider Zazen a Kata. So, the unsanctified Kata should also be performed either before or after the last sanctified Kata which includes Zazen. I have previously stated my case that Zazen is the “Big-bang” of Kata ( link: https://senseijohn.me/2023/03/03/zazen-the-big-bang-of-all-kata/ ). As such, Zazen can, and should, be sanctified.
Not every Kata that is performed in a Katannabis ritual meditation session needs to be sanctified but they should be performed only at the following two stages. Either in the very early transition stage, prior to the performance of the first sanctified Kata or after the last sanctified Kata and after the performer has left the soul phase of transformation. Thus, the earliest phase is the mind-soul phase. (See Endnote # 7).
Each individual sanctified Kata is analogous to a sacred relic. Kata is made a brother to the sanctified shroud of Turin or bones of the Saints, water made holy in Christianity, the Ark of the Covenant in Judaism, the Tooth of Buddha in Buddhism and the Black Stone in Mecca for Muslims. The sanctification process imbues the Kata with energy, Kime. As the Kata percolates within you at all times, so too are you sanctified. Once each individual Kata is sanctified, then the entire Katannabis ritual meditation process is sanctified.
In closing I want to reiterate my thoughts on the the of the cannabis entheogen. Specifically, its effect on the process of sanctifying Kata. The sanctification process is possible without the cannabis entheogen. The process of sanctifying a Kata being contingent upon the intent, emotion, passion and spiritual energy, called Kime, of the performer, the use of cannabis is not a condition precedent for sanctification. The cannabis entheogen will; however, decrease the amount of time for the process of sanctification.
Until the next post, I remain.
Cum superiorum privilegio veniaque *
Sensei John Szmitkowski
* (with the privilege and permission of the superiors)
Endnotes:
1. sanctify (verb)
– to impart or input sacredness, venerableness, inviolability, title to re and respect or the like
– to make free from sin, to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution to purify
– to consecrate by appropriate rites, to hallow
2. I remind you of the private conversation I had with Sensei who advised me that Suparunpei should never be performed with an unclean spirit. Thus, implying that Suparunpei was a sanctified Kata and you had to be purified to perform it.
3. The photo shows a “Go-yen,” a small Japanese coin. It was given to me by a Kobudo (ancient weapons way) instructor before he returned to Kochi-shi, Japan. He rubbed it between his fingers and handed it to me saying, ”I have put my spirit in this go-yen. If you believe, I am always with you. If not, then its just a go-yen.” I put the go-yen on my key chain. From that day forward he has always been with me.
4. I learned Kunchaba Kata from Sensei Wayne Norlander. It was not part of the Goshin-Do Karate system that I learned. Sensei Wayne passed away on May 18th, 2011, a Wednesday. In his honor, memory and spirit, every Wednesday since then I have performed Kunchaba Kata. By doing so with the appropriate mental attitude and spiritual energy Kunchaba became a sanctified Kata. By extension, Wednesday became a sanctified, sacred day for me.
5. One internal component of the process of sanctifying a Kata is to perceive the Kata as prayer and sacrifice. This is a very detailed, complex process that I mention here only to make the reader aware of its role in the sanctification process. You may read a basic introduction to the topic using this convenient link: https://senseijohn.me/2022/10/17/katannabis-effect-of-sacrifice-prayer/
6. It is worth noting and thus, worthy of you remembering that the process of sanctification is part and parcel of the third battle of Sanchin Kata and by extension all Kata.
7. The esoteric stages of “body,” “body/mind,” “mind,” “mind-soul,” “soul,” “soul/void,” and “void” are beyond the ken of this submission. I refer to them herein so that when my complete Esoteric Kata work is published, it will be a cohesive whole.
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