Momote Shiki a Japanese archery ritual, part of the coming of day or Seijin-no-Hi tradition

Brief description of the tradition

This tradition is part of a larger set of traditions and is celebrated as part of Seiji-no-Hi or the comming of days. This is a milestone for individuals in Japanese traditions. Seiji-no-Hi is celebrated the first monday of January and on this day many 20 and 21 year olds celebrate a transition into adulthood. Young (20 ish) individuals often go to Shrines and other places to pray and reflect, along with other traditions.

Momote Shiki is a ritual archery competition that occurs as part of the coming of days traditions. Individuals from the Ogasawara-Ryu (one of the oldest schools of Japanese-style archery) take part in this event.  It is my understanding that the event has evolved from earlier training exercises.  The shift of the rituals is no longer on necessarily hitting the target but instead it has a distinctive spiritual focus. The focus is on how archery can be used in self improvement for mind and soul. It is most interesting to watch how each movement seems coordinated and flows from one to the next.

The ritual seems follows a simple format
Those participating where traditional clothing and unusual hat (the hat is associated with governing officials).
A priest cleanses and or purifies the archery range.
Then he fires a special arrow that has a unusual head that whistles as it flies. This arrow is thought to originally be used in wartime signals but is now used to scare away evil spirits into the four directions.
Then the archers line up and fire as individuals, not at the same time but in a sequence.
after the 100 arrows are fired the ceremony is ended with a small glass of sake.

I was especially interested to know that hitting the targets is not a focus for the event. I was also surprised by how solemn the participants. The event seems some how sacred and definitely seemed to be very important to those participating.

A poem was mentioned that seemed to describe the rituals focus.

A Zen Master of the Kamakura Period once wrote:
No target's erected
No bow's drawn
And the arrow leaves the string;
It may not hit,
But it does not miss!

My sources were primarily found using internet searches on Google

I wanted to put up a web page that was particularly helpful, I used a combination of other sources as well but this page seemed to have a nice amount of useful information.

http://english.ohmynews.com/articleview/article_view.asp?at_code=433437

as well as this video that was in my opinion well done and nicly shows the ritual

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nik5nrC-aXI

I think that such rituals are important to society as milestones for an individuals life and that such traditions should not be forgotten
But these are just my thoughts

Image of Dine Bahane

When in class our teacher mentioned that a created work of art to illustrate our creation myths I was initially excited. I have for many years considered myself an artist and look forward to creating some art to illustrate the creation myth. But as many artists or other creators are sure to know sometimes it is hard to find inspiration. To use an appropriate expression my muse was not with me. I had looked at many of the creation myth images depicted on the useful internet, and liked the unusual styles depicted in what must be the art styles of the Navajo Native Americans (or first peoples).

A very nice image from http://www.navajolegends.org/navajo-creation-story/

 I decided that such a stile may be interesting to try, (I have a great fondness of experimentation with new techniques and or art styles). Yet did not seem to make progress towards creating.... anything. I just seemed stuck until sometime later when I found another image. I have noticed that forcing creativity doesn't necessarily work for me. I tend to do best when I let it flow at its own pace. I think several things changed when I saw that image. I was struck by its creativity and its great talent. But also I was surprised by its uniqueness. it was very unlike any of the images I had seen before. I think I needed that inspiration to jump start my own creativity. I may have become too attached to replication of a unfamiliar style and just got into thinking to much on the mechanics of the project.

 I feel much more free no when I realized I can use this as an opportunity to create something of my own style pulling things from any source of inspiration. Yet I must make sure that my own creation is in some way drawn from myself.  From my own inner being I need to pull part of my creation. I find it hard to put into words these contemplations, this experience may be unique to me, but I suspect that others artists feel the same about creation. When you create its using a bit of oneself in the creation. One's self is not used up by the creation more like channeled, or maybe made permanent. The expression that comes to mind is " a candle loses none of its light by lighting another candle". I have started to sketch out possible designs for some sort of project, maybe a painting. All this rambling is because this image helped me to understand something. My art can be influenced by other artwork but for it to mean anything to me I need to pull some of the art from myself.
But these are just my thoughts.

Image from http://dgeiu3fz282x5.cloudfront.net/g/l/lgwiz01546+navajo-creation-myth-john-stephens-poster.jpg With great thanks

Repetition, PCR and achieving perfection

My Experiences with a task that could be considered repetitive and or boring,

Oddly I did not even consider this task unpleasant and enjoy PCR, I preform polymerase chain reactions on a regular basis and often complete several a week in my lab. I will over cast some of the techniques finer points and give a simplified and less technical description. This procedure is used for analysis of DNA samples by repeatedly copying a segment of the sample DNA using a primer pair so that it can later be viewed using an electrophoresis gel. In a sense you take a small bit a DNA and end with a large amount of a specific portion.

Several People have told me that they do not like to preform PCRs because they are very repetitive, I think that that is one of the reasons I like them. The procedure takes several hours to complete fully and does not vary between sample sets, it is primarily unchanging. It involves a lot of repetitive motion because for each sample must be treated just like the other samples so each step is repeated for each sample. For example at one step a reagent is added, this reagent must be added to each of the samples. I tend to perform this procedure with thirty two samples, so this one step is performed thirty two times as is the next step and so on and so forth.

Great care and some skill is needed to complete the procedure. The procedure can not be rushed without risk of mistake, and care must be taken at all times so that samples are not confused with one another. If at any time a mix up happens the whole batch is useless scientifically. Each step is crucial and so also must be completed in order and with a high degree of accuracy. The measurements of solutions are crucial and unforgiving and are very small less then a ml generally in the range of 2-1000 micro meters, (1000 micrometers in one ml) slight errors ruin a batch.

Because of the sensitivity of the procedure I must take great care in preforming all of the steps with great accuracy. Over all I still find the procedure relaxing and genuinely enjoy the procedure, even with all of the care involved. I like the repetition and the perfection involved. This sounds Obsessive and or compulsive (OCD) but when I get done with a set of identical perfectly alined samples I feel a great sensation of satisfaction. Its an accomplishment but I think it is due in part to the concept of perfection, Few things that I accomplish can be considered to meet the requirements of perfection but PCR does.

Not to say that I don't succeed in other areas I excel in other activities too, but this specific kind of accomplishment seems rare. It is hard to explain how I feel on this topic but the Procedure of PCR feels some how different. To note I feel it is self destructive to try to be perfect in all aspects of someones life and perfectionism can be harmful even in just parts of your life. Yet I think that when your life requires excellence and you can fulfill that requirement with a very high success, perfection it is a great accomplishment. I know that sometimes I push my self harder then necessary, and it is one of my traits that I work to change. Yet at the same time I think that it is healthy and good for an individual to push themselves somewhat so that they push back their boundaries and succeed where they would not have believed they could. So in a sense I think individuals should not be afraid to achieve what could be called perfection, just note that if you don't succeed then certainly don’t let that discouragement hold you back from living the rest of your life. I have come to realize that I will never succeed at all of my trials but failure will not stop me from trying with the fullest of my ability to achieve perfection.

But these are just my thoughts

Rituals in my life

I initially thought that I have no rituals in my daily life, but then looking closer I think that their are some aspects of my life that could be considered rituals. I will reflect on one in this post.
I consider any habit that is preformed consistently with some significance to the performer a ritual if the action/habit also has a certain distinction. The action must in some way be more then necessary or required. For example the habit of brushing my teeth is not a ritual to me because it is necessary for basic health. I think my definition is some what limited but it allows me to narrow out my daily habits and focus on unusual traits of my daily life.

I tend to do some things in a way that does meet my requirements for a ritual.
I always carry certain items on my person, almost always (I tend to check my person before I leave the house making sure I have not forgotten them.) I also always tend to carry these items in the same way. Each item always goes into the same pocket (or in the case of the ring always on the same hand). I sometimes don't take them out of my pockets all day, but still carry them with me each day.

 I carry a pocket watch (mechanical or wind up style). My high school class ring on my right hand. A stylized cross on a chain. my keys, with certain key chains that I have had since I started to carry keys, including a small glass earth, flash drives, a small bit of self woven material, and a ring I created in an art class, along with my car and house keys. One pocket knife. Two bandannas carefully folded in exactly the same way, one to cover my pocket watch to keep out dust and another because they tend to be useful. My wallet, and my cell phone are practicable but always with me. And lastly some sort of stone, I favor and collect labodorite and carry a small particularity nice polished worry stone.

Overall all I would not say that carrying these things with me is in any way unhealthy, but instead is a habit that for some reason has become important to me. I think it is because I like the constancy of the situation each day continuing to be somewhat like the day before. It has become a comfort to keep this aspect of my day the same.

I suspect that is why many people have rituals in their lives, because in this world many things are changing and uncertain and uncontrollable. Yet people can try to keep some part of their lives structured just the way they like it and so that it has some significance to them, even if they cannot control anything else. I think it is healthy to want control in your own life and think that it is natural to try and arrange your day so that you can do so even if it is in only the smallest things.

But these are just my thoughts

The creation myth of the Navajo

Diné Bahane

This story tell of the creation of people and the world as we know it today.

First world the black world
known for a singular island with a tree sounded by 4 black seas, little to no light
Man and women created separately from 4 colored clouds
They find each other after First women sees First man's fire.
Many other peoples come into being including the ant people (red and black) the wasp people and others
World becomes crouded and conflect arises the people are asked to leave by the 4 rulers from the 4 seas
The inhabitants climb up and find a hole into the 2nd world.

Blue world
Is a small world filled already by its own inhabitants: Swallow people and grey animals that have blue eyes
Conflict arises among the inhabitants and people wish to leave but can not
First man creates four wands and the inhabitants walk on them until they find a slit into the third world.

The yellow world
This world is known to have two rivers flowing from north to south and from east to west, they cross in the middle
Man and Women become human and are no longer spirit
Many people are born and quickly grow and multiply
Great flood comes water continually rising
Four Reeds are planted and grow into a great stock that is hollowed out by wood pecker.
Inhabitants flee up a planted reed and enter into the fourth world

The White or glittering world
Water is still rising and is caused because 'First angry a coyote has stolen water beasts children. Some variation in the story but he gives at least on back and the water recedes.
First man and First women plan out and create sun and moon seasons and stars, This is disrupted by coyote first angry, who unbalances seasons and lunar cycle. and scatters many of the stars randomly.
Monster slayer and his brother are born and goes on many adventures

Monster slayer leaves four monsters alive.
Cold, because without her the world would become too hot.
Hunger, because without him food would loos its pleasure and purpose, there would be no planting and no feasting.
Poverty, because without him their would be no wearing out of items, and then there would be no creation or innovation again on the earth.
Death, because with out her people would never die and therefore there would be no need of children because without death new life would not occur

and that is how the Navajo Indians describe the creation of the world as we know it today


Sources
http://navajopeople.org/blog/navajo-creation-story-the-first-world-nihodilhil-black-world/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Din%C3%A9_Bahane%CA%BC

The tale of the avocado

Hugging A Tree

Here is a photo of me hugging my avocado tree. I like the plant because it survived against all odds. It was started by my mother last year and was give to me because it looked like it was going to die but I was able to restore it back to vitality. It doesn't look like much but it looks much better then when I revived it. When it was given to me it it was only a long stalk with three unhappy leaves. But with plenty of sun it was able to recover.

I like the plant because it has a lot of potential that almost was lost, but instead it can now start thriving just because it got a little help.

I was thinking about it and it sounds a little inspirational in all of the best and stylized ways. It follows the classic story of overcoming a difficult circumstance with help. I can place the theme of this tale from many other stories I have read or hear it just looks different each time.

The avocado started out like many other avocados as a seed that was sprouted into a tender plant.

Just like people start out equal and are cared for by others the avocado was cared for by my mother, with all of its need met. The Avocado grew up into a small tree with a cluster of healthy leaves, but then disaster struck when the living room was rearranged and the avocado no longer was by the window. Just like the avocado people can go through hardships and turmoil that are completely out of their control. Then the avocado begun to wilt, with out its sun its leaves one by one dried and dropped. With out hope and in hard ships people can lose their will to survive. But then the avocado was moved it took a long car ride in a crammed vehicle in the middle of winter, to a new home in another city. Sometimes to overcome a hardship and calamity a great risks are taken sometimes with a journey and a struggle to survive. Then the avocado was taken inside from the cold and placed next to a much larger much more sunny window and watered. It has survived and even though it took some time it recovered and still continues to grow. Overcoming that hardship was likely the greatest challenge in the plants life but because it strives to survive it may one day become great tree. So don't give up! regardless of what you are facing with help even great obstacles can be overcome, and that is the motivational story of my avocado.

My earliest memory

The hall with the white cat
I have not thought on early memories in some time but can recall one that I believe is my oldest known. occasionally I think about his one because I like it for some reason. Its important to me. It is faint but very vivid in some details. It consists of mostly one single image with no movement. I am very young or must be because the hall way is very high (the door knobs must be above my head). A hallway with one or two rooms on my left and at least one door on my right. the doors are opened and open into rooms. I can not see into the rooms from this angle but the doors are all opened. Certain details are unclear but I remember doors on both sides, but not how many exactly. I can not remember what is at the end of the hall way just grey in my mind (I find this very odd that I can't see farther). The focus in on details closer to me. The carpet is grey/blue (maybe?) and the walls are white, but look grey in the light its not strong but not weak I remember this clearly, the light coming in. Light comes in from the room on my left, At least I think so its fuzzy certain details. I remember the light but not exactly where it is placed. I remember the light coming in to the hall indirectly from like a window in another room, that is why its not so bright. The light is white sun light and flows into the hall from the left. One especially important detail is the cat. I remember a cat a white grey cat in this hall. It is the heart of the memory its white and fluffy and it is turned away from me but has turned its head and shoulders back towards me, like it was walking down the hall and is now turning around to face me. That is the entirety of the memory its simple and peaceful and quite, no sound at all and no movement. Just recalling it I feel calm, the whole scene is very calm.

Tree hugging
The idea to hug a Tree is one that initially surprised me. I am not apposed to tree ( In fact I have been called a "tree huger" by friends). It did surprise me though why would a mythologies class hug trees? or find them important at all for that matter?

I like trees I would like to clarify that. I like them and other plants a lot. I am a plant science major with a double major in Biotechnology. I wish to make plant, life with a goal of improving it through genetics, to be a central theme of my life's work.

So back to mythology why hug a tree. Many reasons come to mind symbolism in trees is every where. Trees are strong and lasting features on the landscape. Older trees ancient trees could represent many important ideas age, history, the past, endurance, young trees can symbolize concepts such as  potential, youth, new beginnings, vulnerability.

Them came some in class discussion with the axis and concept of a tree as a foundation of the world and for some reason that excited me and made me think of all sorts of ways that trees are important. How they appear in stories and how much I value them. I have more ideas on this topic but I have not finished thinking on them, maybe I will never be fully satisfied. I think it is important not to give up on ideas just because they are difficult to grasp in their fullness. I think it is certainly worth my time and efforts to continue to ponder ideas even if I am not able to grasp all that the idea could be, because the more I ponder the more I obtain. I don't and am quite sure I will never have all the answers I am looking for, but the questions and the journey to examine them is probably just as important if not more so.
But these are my thoughts