MAGIC and 108 Days of Healing

(On Aug 21 I had my right hip replaced. This is part of my journal of healing)

M.A.G.I.C. and the 108 days of healing.

The value of the Firedance system is its extreme flexibility. Once you are past “White Belt” you simply choose a goal in each major area that would take you about 100 days of constant forward progress, but would be transformative in nature.

1. Lose 20 pounds
2. Establish a meditation practice
3. Create a side business with zero net energy.

These things would change you, but require nothing but the willingness to shatter your old self-image.

For me, my 108 days (Counting from Aug 21) can be a huge shift in my life. WILL be. I demand it of myself). But I have to RELEASE what must be released (Yin) but CONTROL that which is under my control (Yang).

The trick will be to use some pattern larger than my conscious mind to guide my actions, so that my ego is overwhelmed.

1. The 34 Questions. I know how I created them, by combining two wisdoms “larger than me”: the HJ and the Enneagram. Today’s question:

“What’s one step I could take today that would force the next step?”

I’d say use the MAGIC formula to look at what I’m doing. Back to basics.

MAP OR MODEL: I’m juggling advice from two doctors, two physical therapists/nurses and a scad of Youtube videos by doctors and PT experts. My goal is to BOTH heal completely AND open the door to my most advanced yogic and martial being (note: I swapped the order there. First draft was “martial and yogic.” No. As my Angel said: “your war is over.” My internal models, from Dawn Callan to Tim Piering, all agree that this is a new period in my life, and it would be foolish to pretend otherwise.

ACTION: There are daily tasks I have to do. Boil them down to the minimum

1. Tai Chi. Most “open chain” movements, the full 360 degrees of human physical potential. Tai Chi WALKING is then the single most important exercise.
2. Yoga. Most “closed chain” movements.
3. Kali. Just starting to grove the 6-count more deeply. The single most sophisticated martial motion I’ve ever encountered. It has EVERYTHING. But…could be taught to a child.
4. Isomax (isometric machine). Deadlift, Standing press, curl. Start with just 10 pounds, and add no more than five pounds per session. Pulling movement.
5. Stationary Bike. Circulation and Cardio.

GRATITUDE

1. To heal, I have to flood myself with gratitude. To my body, which has carried me so far, for so long, with all the strength it could give and all the skill it could express. Forgive myself for not being “better”.
2. For the technology that offers a promise of full function, even improved function, if I do my own part.
3. For the injury itself. To wake me up to deeper truths of Memento Mori. This has impacted my relationship with Tananarive and Jason, and helped awaken THEM to the need to “Up sluggard, and waste not life. There will be rest enough in the grave” as Franklin said.
4. For each precious day of life. The ability to move, and write, and love. What a gift!
5. For reminding me not to waste energy on people until and unless they are really willing to walk my path. There are other paths. Let them find one.

INTENTION: I have goals in all three arenas: body, heart, career. “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” To balance that with a profound sense of gratitude and surrender to the universe is a balancing act. The most direct is to be HEALED 108 days from my operation. That means good basic function. And a foundation to start building fitness and performance.

CORE ALIGNMENT. Who am I? I’ve kept some things to myself. A few students, friends, and family know the things I’m not saying straight out, and that’s the way it has to be for now. But yes, I know who I am, “turtles all the way down.” I no longer need to ask that question, and am ready for the next, which is about “what is life/the world?” I will judge my accuracy in how I reach my goals through simple daily experiments, measuring results and making micro-corrections. There are no more major corrections to be made. And hell, that really SHOULD be true before you die, don’t you think? The trick is to align your sense of self and view of life with physics and basic animal behavior as well as that tricky and complicated thing, human psychology. High level physical, emotional, and mental function is essential to my chosen life expression.

The best bet there, looking at all of this, is simply to put the Three Centers as more primary, with the Gates and Goals secondary to it. Why? Because properly engaged, the Three Centers will GIVE you the Gates and Goals. So let’s take the simplest expression of this, which would make sense BOTH to a child, and to someone on their deathbed, with reduced capacity and energy.

Belly Brain, Heart Center, Head Center. Breathe, slowing it until your hindbrain sends you an emergency signal. The body wants to live, and once you grasp that you can move on from your “what is the meaning of life” stuff to the really interesting question: HOW shall we live, individually and together? This is your source of “Is it True?”

Then: feel your heartbeat. Go into the master engine of your life and existence, and deal with fear and love in some healthy way. There are COUNTLESS approaches to this. Lifewriting and Firedance has things like heartbeat meditation and The Ancient Child, but “Core Transformation”, Christianity and Buddhism have infinite depth to this question. Take a splinter and work with it. This is your source of “Is it Kind?”

Then your head center. You know? Once you engage survival AND love, you will automatically seek ways to move away from suffering, embrace joy, and be of service. And with the Memento Mori of grasping your finite life, will begin creating goals to accomplish these things with greater efficiency and effectiveness. This is your source of “is it useful?” It is useful if it helps you escape suffering, increase joy, and offer service.

If you just do a 5x5 rotating between the Three Centers, checking your FEROCIOUS hunger for life with a boundless love for self, clan, and life as a whole, as well as a belief that you can accomplish any goal for which you are willing and able to pay the price…

That is a damned good start to the day, yes? And you can do all of that, and much more, in just five minutes a day.

Breathe into your belly brain

Feel into your heart

See the light in your mind, and stretch it forward 100 days.

Yes, I could teach all of that to a child, or someone on their deathbed. AND HAVE. All of it is in alignment with your original manufacturer specifications. If you don’t feel it, someone added buggy software after you left the factory.

Let’s get back to basic code, shall we?

Namaste

Steve

www.stevenbarneslist.com