Misogi
Spiritual Cleansing
O'Sensei once said that all Aikido is Misogi or
a form of spiritual cleansing. In Ki-Aikido, we actually practice
a form of Misogi but it has had the religious conotations removed.
It is more of a balancing of your inner self and a finding of harmony with
nature. The Misogi that I have practiced with many Ki-Aikido instructors
comes from Ichi Ku Kai Temple. It is the same type of Misogi that
Tohei Sensei has practiced since his days prior to entering Aikido training
although altered in some ways. I also participate in Kawa Misogi
or water misogi that is done each new year to start out fresh.
The standard misogi is not for everyone. You sit for long periods
of time in seiza, chanting (yelling) at the top of your lungs and swinging
a bell till you reach a state of clarity. This can take hours and
is done as a group. It is one of our most intense practices and is
not to be taken lightly. That is about all that I can say for it.
As for Kawa Misogi, it also involves ringing the bells and chanting but
it also requires jumping into a river or lake in mid winter to cast off
all things old and emerge from the water fresh for the new year only to
ring and chant again. This practice is imp
