It is moments like this that give me deep pause.
Last night I had a deep, introspective Katannabis Session. This morning at 6:00 am, I went out on my deck and performed Sanchin-Dai Kata as a Blood Kata. Usually, I perform a full Kata-Rx (no cannabis entheogen). Most Wednesday’s (my sacred day) I am alone at home with only my dog, Maharet as a companion. I felt compelled to perform a Shugyo (intense, deep, prolonged) Katannabis session once alone. That session began at 8:30am. It was during that session, which lasted about two hours, that I intuited a “compulsion” to immediately release a video of my Sanchin-Dai Kata and the majority of my personal prayers. Some of the prayers and breathing intonations are redacted as this is way beyond your present capabilities to understand. Still, for whatever reason, I was “pressed” into releasing the within video. I have no idea why and, frankly, would prefer not to.
In any event, the video is of Sanchin-Dai Kata which I formulated to encompass the Sacred Trinity of Kata (Seienchin, Suparunpei & Sanchin, which are reflected in the Kata). This facilitates the ability of a non-martial artist to acquaint themselves with the possibility of Kata as a form of prayer and sacrifice. Know and understand clearly – this is what works for me. It may not work for you. It is a matter of introspection and faith which is a subjective relationship with the transcendent Divine.
Again, the inspiration for all of this was when, a few years ago, I stumbled upon a translation of and ancient papyrus scroll – the Gospel of Mary, hidden in a desert cave, and written over two thousand years ago that contained – the word ——- KATA! 
My obligation is now fulfilled (two more hours later after my session). Enjoy with caution, these are deep waters.
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When it came to the kanji for Seienchin Kata, the task of explanation was a bit daunting for him. Here is the gist. 
With that background, I can now address the interest that was expressed. The inquiry I have received, on a few occasions, enough to warrant this post, generally concerns the manner in which (the path of) Seienchin overcomes the lesser or negative of the two opposing forces. 
Using the first euphemism, the nature of each of the opposing forces is contextual. That is to say that neither “calm” nor “storm” is inherently inferior to the other, or even “dark,” or negative compared to the other. Rather, given the context of any situation, internal emotions and the like, or external confrontation, one of the two will be a more appropriate response then the other. Thus, in a situation requiring calm the storm would be deemed negative, harmful or “dark.”
Seienchin does not conquer in that sense. Think in terms of the yin and yang symbol. Neither of the opposing black and white consumes the other. First the contrasting dot of the opposing color recognizes that each opposite contains a little bit of its counter part. Similarly, the two counterparts are portrayed as spiraling inwards, thus blending with the other. This is the symbolizes the mechanics of Seienchin Kata. The opposite force is not consumed or destroyed. It is blended but yet remains a separate “entity” or concept. The two will jointly and severally exist.
The whole point of the path of Seienchin is to balance, or harmonize opposites. As contextually either maybe appropriate, they must both remain present. To do so, they must be balanced or harmonized. Then, at the appropriate time, either can manifest from a covert harmonized force to an overt actualized force. Thus the appropriate response, at the appropriate time, to the internal or external stimuli. 
Keep this balancing, this Eukratoi, in mind as you perform the esoteric Seienchin Kata (or the Seienchin section of my Sanchin-Dai Kata). I think you will encounter a more fulfilling and enriching Esoteric Kata experience. One last comment. This balancing is of particular import if you are performing the Blood Kata ritual – using Kata as a vehicle for prayer and sacrifice. 
The poem came to me during my morning (5:30 am) Kata performance. As there are bears that roam this early, I usually perform my morning Kata on my deck high above the Earth. The day was a Sacred Day. The Sacred Day being Wednesday. My dear friend and Karate-Do comrade Sensei Wayne Norlander passed away May 18th, 2011, a Wednesday. Each Wednesday thereafter (without fail) I would perform his favorite Kata in his honor. I think his immortal spirit whispered the poem within the song of the birds and the breeze (see videos, with sound on). Miss you Sensei Wayne, but your spirit is eternal, and eternal you endure (nod to Dante Alighieri).
During a recent Katannabis Blood Kata session, I felt persuaded to release my personal notes on the more advanced esoteric concepts of the mandala sections of Suparunpei Kata. These very powerful mandala form an integral component of my Sanchin-dai Kata. It is this powerful section of Suaprunpei that combines with the esoteric aspects of Seienchin Kata and Sanchin Kata (my Sacred Trinity of Kata) that gives experiential “life” to Sensei Toguchi’s words.
I had finished my nightly Katannabis session and was quietly reading one of the three books I currently had in rotation. Having divergent tastes in reading material, I usually have two or three, sometimes four books that I would be reading in a rotation. The Goodreads website tells me I average fifty books a year, hell, you don’t do that reading one book at a time.
If you are on your own Esoteric Kata Path, continue with a pure heart, open mind and clean spirit. Perform your Kata, read, research, meditate and evaluate – discover! Keep the above in your consciousness at all times – there are mysteries which the intellect (alone) maybe unwilling to unravel and acknowledge. Use, in the words of the ancients, your Gnosis.
Sanchin Kata is the preeminent Kata of Karate. If you accept my premise that Zazen, seated meditation is the “Big-Bang” (as in Big bang theory of the Universe) of all Kata. Then Sanchin Kata is the first emanation from the Big Bang from which all other Kata emanated.
Sanchin is a powerful Kata that in my opinion, anybody, anywhere, any time should perform regardless of whether or not they study karate. Esoterically speaking, as discussed in the video, Sanchin Kata is not a Kata to be trifled with.
As with all videos in this series, I do not provide you with a move-by-move account of my technique. Rather I give you access to my notes, via J-pegs incorporated into the video to motivate you to explore your own Esoteric Kata methodology. I will; however, give you one hint. The chant I use in Sanchin is derived from a very unusual source – Dante Aligheri. That serves as a reminder that your chant can come from any source that has significance for YOU. In fact, I urge you to esoterically adopt the motto of my Kata Lab to you esoteric practice – namely – “Think * Sweat * Experiment with your (Esoteric) Kata. 
Here are a few Sanchin Kata links to help you along the way:
The shirt commemorates the inaugural motorcycle ride in honor of my dear friend and karate-do comrade, shihan Wayne Norlander, who passed away May 18th, 2011. I miss not only the nights at the Dojo with Sensei Wayne, but also riding motorcycles, and generally hanging-out. Both during life and after his death, he has a great impact. See, for example, 
I had utilized my nightly Katannabis Blood Kata ritual to try to work through and gain insights into this recent event that has “Path altering implications.” It was a productive session that led to many insights. 
As is my practice, I jotted down a few notes (naturally with my beloved fountain pens). I meditated and went inside to start my day. I wanted to codify and memorialize my thoughts from these last two sessions. Over my first cup of coffee (now about 10:00 am), I did so. I am at a good place as far as interpreting the insights, visions and interpretations from the path so far. I hope that throughout the day and during tonight’s Katannabis Blood Kata I will make even more head way. (See Endnote# 2) Maybe, I’ll even understand how I got to this exact crossroads and what it all means. The Path got me here. The Path will reveal what’s next.
You see the Esoteric Kata Path reveals itself not when you want or demand answers, but when the Path is ready to give you not an answer but the hint of one.
I had carried her collar with me by attaching it to my motorcycle. When I traded it in for a new motorcycle seven months ago, I put the collar aside for safe keeping. And – naturally – misplaced it. Until now. Perhaps this is but one of the many signs that I have found along the Path. 
In the course codifying an Esoteric Kata syllabus, I reflected on my own journey which began 53 years ago. The common myth about such a journey of introspective examination, meditation, and reflection is that many believe such a path to “enlightenment” is all unicorns and rainbows. In actuality there is a dark side. One of the reasons that I so love the above quote by Terry Pratchett is that this dark side is more often than not what one encounters before seeing the light. Even when the spark of light begins to illuminate the darkness, the darkness will always, yes, always, seek to reclaim is domain from the onslaught of illumination.
In this post, I would like to summarize the dark side of Esoteric Kata as I encountered it. In future submissions, I’ll describe each aspect in greater detail and sic lose how I navigated its dark path. Here is the working outline that I’ll be using in my own Esoteric Kata reflections:
In developing my own Esoteric Kata session, I tried intoning various “accepted” words and sounds. The one that is perhaps the most popular intonation for meditation is the sound “Ohm.” This sound did nothing for me. After much practice and research. Yes, you must do your won research. In fact, this research often is outside of the bounds of the martial arts. In my research I discovered an ancient name for the Creator. I found this name to easily be intoned during a kata performance. I am not going to give you this ancient name – however, the video contained on this page contains a hint. You want an answer? Do your own research, you’ll find it. 
Esoteric Kata 
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