Practicing with Nature’s Gift

The clouds didn’t hesitate to unleash the winds and rain. Anne pedaled as best as she could against it. Horizontal rain splashed against her face, blocking her vision to see the road in front of her. The wind pushed and blowed against her chest, eventually bringing her to a stop. For a second, her bike was still, and upright.

The wind forced her hood back allowing the cold rain water to plop on her head. It felt good. Cold, fresh rain washing away the sweat building on her head and back. But it wouldn’t help in the long run. She’d be on the floor soon, and she didn’t want to slip.

She got on her bike and tried to pedal again, the wind refusing to let her pass. She wiped a drenched hand across her face. It didn’t help.

“Alright, wind,” she said, “You asked for it.” She extended her hand, palm facing out and took a deep breath. She felt energy in her stomach come to life, swirling up her spin and to the top of her head. It came through her arm, tingling the underside until it reached her palm. Then she exhaled.

Through the forcing winds, her energy parted it. She could feel nature’s wind tumbled to the side as her own winds pushed forward. The rain suddenly shifted and fell vertically.

Anne dropped her hand. “Was that so hard?” She asked, repositioning herself back onto her bike. The wind didn’t reply, of it remained parted, completely under her control. Her foot pressed down on the pedal as her body splashed through a wall of rain. But that didn’t bother her. She could dry herself once she got to the dojo.

****

“Now relax the body, not putting pressure on your knees.” Hanako followed her teacher’s instruction, gently pushing her hips out and lowering her tailbone to the ground. She went as far as her thigh muscles could go, which unfortunately wasn’t far. After four years of training, she thought her strength would’ve improved.

A hand gently touched her back. “Relax the spine,” her teacher instructed, carefully adding pressure to her lower spine. She readjusted herself, feeling the weight shift from the front of her legs to the back.

A great heat wave rushed up her body, and she exhaled.

“There we go. Good job.” The teacher left his student and corrected another nearby. “When you feel your Ki heat your body, that means it’s being released. Tingling sensations may also work. Everyone’s different.”

A faint bell rung in the dojo. The sound of pouring rain grew louder for a moment before the bell rung again, keeping the pitter-patter sound outside. The teacher glanced over at the door. A young girl threw back her hood and unbuckled her helmet. Her eyes darted around before catching her teacher’s stare. She bowed, panting.

“Good morning, Anne,” he greeted, “Thank you for coming, even when the Seattle rain has settled.”

“Sorry I’m late.” Anne removed her helmet and unzipped her jacket. Her black hair was finely braided and tied together as one ponytail, swishing from side to side as she shimmied out of her gear.

Her teacher shook his head. “Take your time, then join in.” He shifted his weight to leave and paused. He examined his student for a moment. “Be careful when using your Ki before warming up,” he warned, “It could throw you out of balance if you’re not careful.”

Hanako opened one eye and peeked over at her classmate as she shuffled across the wooden floor. Students were spread out with their own space, standing with they feet shoulder width apart, arms slightly raised to stomach level, legs bent. Everyone’s eyes were closed, and only the sound of the teacher’s footsteps and the sound of breathing filled the space.

A few minutes rolled by when Anne took her spot on the floor, standing next to Hanako. Once she got settled into her standing meditation, Hanako could feel her energy beneath her feet. It rolled beneath the wooden floors, yet didn’t roll into her rooted energy. Like a plant Hanako sucked Ki through her feet and let it rest in the center of her stomach. Then she let some it trickle down her legs and back into the ground while let the rest claw up her spine. It then parted down her shoulders to her arms, gathering onto the palms of her hand. The rest of the Ki flowed to the top of her head, and then tumbled back into her stomach. She envisioned it circulating through her body over and over again, absorbing the new energy, and releasing any tension that dared to distract her.

“Okay, with your next exhalation, lower your arms.” Hanako let a slow breath pass through her lips, letting it lead her shoulders and arms to lower themselves naturally. “Inhale,” she heard her teacher say. As she drew a deep breath, her Ki filled her body, and she raised her arms without any resistance. Her feet pressed into the ground the higher they rose, and she stretched herself as far as she could, gathering Ki through both hands and feet. Then she exhaled, bringing down there energy from above, and bringing up the energy from below. She felt it through her skin like a leaf gathering energy from the sun, and as her arms lowered her energy mixed with that of the Ki around her.

The teacher instructed the students to clean themselves once more. “Bone-marrow washing will always be good for the body,” he explained, doing the exercise in the front while mirroring his students, “It will keep fresh Ki reaching those places that we normally don’t think about on a day-to-day basis. Inhale.” He took a very deep breath. “Exhale.” The room filled with the breath of his students. Feeling satisfied, he moved on.

“Monday mornings can be very stressful sometimes. It helps to regenerate the Ki after a long weekend of relaxing.” Laughter escaped from the students, many of whom Hanako knew from her classes at UW. She rolled her eyes. Probably didn’t train, like they should’ve.

The teacher joined in the laughter, hands smacking his round belly. “I know I spent it eating too much barbecue for that Seahawks game.” The students joined in his laughter as Hanako cracked a smile.

Anne taped her shoulder. “Nina’s doing, right?” she whispered.

Hanako nodded. “He wouldn’t stop eating those ribs.”

“Me too. Talk about showing off.”

Hanako nodded, and left it at that. Nina stuffed him with so much food that he was moaning and groaning all the way home.

“Makoto-sensei,” a student asked, his hand loosely hanging above his head, “Which is better? American barbecue ribs, or Korean Kalbi ribs?”

“Both are equally delicious,” he answered, “But that will not help us learn to cultivate our Nature-Kies. Come.” He gestured everyone to break their line formation and to join into a circle. “Hanako-chan, would you mind grabbing our elements?”

Hanako nodded and left the circle. She entered the chilling backroom, the chill running up her leg and shot through her spine. Her Ki froze in place and she shivered. Quickly she hopped onto a carpet. It’s warmth soothed her feet, and she welcomed it.

Her eyes scanned across the room, not finding a single element for the exercise. There wasn’t much space to look around. It was small; a combination of the dojo-master’s office and a greenroom for the students. Everything looked clean and tidy, as it had the night before. She bit her lower lip. Guess I’m gonna collect them. Her eyes glanced over to her classroom where everyone was reviewing forms from the previous week. A small sense of envy tugged at her heart. Why can’t Anne do this? A frustrating groan rumbled in her throat as she walked into the bathroom. She flicked the switch, illuminating a four-wall mural of nature transitioning through its seasons. Oddly enough, her favorite, spring, was were the toilet was connected. “It’s our natural cycle,” the master joked when she showed it to her the first time.

There was a mahogany red cabinet between the summer and autumn wall. Hanako took two steps and opened the double doors. Neatly stacked on both shelfs were the supplies needed for their training. Incense with elaborate holders and a moderate round vase rested on the top shelf; thick, red candles and a variety of stones sat on the bottom. A roll of aluminum foil was tucked on the right side, and Hanako took it. She pulled out her arm’s length and folded it in half. After putting it back she grabbed the candles.

That’s funny, she thought as she stacked a few candles in the crook of her arm, where is Nina?

She hadn’t seen Nina since the football game. Her amazing display of game-time food even wowed Hanako’s parents, who happened to be very particular about their food. Back in Japan, they cooked almost everything for everyone, and rarely let others do it for them. Usually when they went out, it was because they trusted the chef. Otherwise they were going to make it themselves.

That was before the earthquake in 2011. When the three of them had lost everything, yet also inherited something very unknown.

Hanako brought the candles to the master’s desk and returned to retrieve the vase. As she pulled it out, the pictures painted caught the light, and shimmered as if truly swimming in those bright blue waters. With great care she brought it to the sink and filled it up was water.

CREEK! SLAM!

Hanako turned off the faucet and waited. She heard feet shuffling and someone muttering under their breath. Her feet planted themselves as she took a deep breath, opening her Ki pathways. As she exhaled she released some of her Ki down her legs and through her feet. It swam beneath the tiled bathroom floor, and didn’t travel far to find one very tardy student.

“Nina,” Hanako softly called out, “What took you?”

A young woman no taller than Hanako peeked her head around the corner, a guilty smile on her lips.

“Sorry, I overslept.”

Hanako lifted the vase and carried it to the desk. “As we figured considering the state we left you in last night.” She gave her a stern look. “I know you like your fun, but you shouldn’t let it get in the way of this. It’s important too.”

“Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” she replied without a care in the world. Her voice radiated as if she wore a microphone.

“Why don’t you do some standing meditation and warm-up. Don’t want another incident with you and these candles.”

“That’s not a very nice thing to say, Hanako-chan.” Hanako was surprised by Makoto’s presence.

“Sorry, Sensei.” He sighed and shook his head.

“I know it’s not the same as in Japan, but can’t you at least call me dad?”

Hanako’s cheek grew warm with frustration. “No, because we’re at our dojo that’s in great need of students. It would be strange if one of them was your daughter. Besides…it’s strange that you add ‘chan’ to my name.”

“It really wouldn’t be a problem,” Nina chimed.

Hanako shot her a nasty glare. “Do you mind?” Nina held up her hands in defense, and sealed her lips.

Hanako looked back at her father. “Look, I’m gonna set this up. I suggested for her to do some standing meditation before joining us in the circle. That way, she might be able to control her Ki better.”

Nina yelled something back at her, but Hanako already stomped off to the bathroom. She knew her father could feel her vibrations beneath the cemented floors of the greenroom, but she knew he wouldn’t say anything. No matter their differences, he always knew when she needed space, and even when she had to ask for it, he gave it to her. She admired that in him.

"Now, Nina," she heard her father say when she brought out the incense, "The agreement was that you would take your Ki training as seriously as your cooking."

Hanako noticed Nina's posture had changed. Instead of appearing casual and rolling her eyes as people talked at her, she stood up straight with her focus on her teacher. She could feel Nina's Ki radiate a great wave of passion, but it saddened Hanako that she had zero interest in practicing it.

When she grabbed the basket of stones, Nina stood with her legs shoulder width apart, arms slightly raised, eyes closed, and mind focused.

Makoto collected the candles. "Thank you," he whispered.

"Always," Hanako replied, gathering the incense with her free hand.

The two entered the dojo as students practiced a tai chi movement known as silk reeling. Some with open eyes, others with closed, students focused on shifting their energy in a spiral motion. Many struggled, and their forms seemed sloppy, but Hanako could feel their Ki stirring, and that was the important point.

The wooden floor creaked when Hanako and her father placed the items in the center. They began to organize them, placing each item to face a different wall of the dojo. She grabbed the water vase and placed it facing the backroom. Then she laid out the tinfoil opposite it as her dad set up the incenses. After placing the candles on the foil, she situated the stones towards the eastern wall, opposite of the incense.

Makoto had set up four incense sticks and grouped them together facing the western wall. He rubbed his index finger and thumb together before pinching the top of each stick. Hanako heard a faint sizzle, and smoke began to rise, unleashing the smell of cedar wood within the dojo. He then walked to the three red candles and pinched the wicks between his fingers. Again she heard that sizzle, and when he let go, a small orange flame began to glow.

“Alright,” he announced, straightening himself, “Let’s do another quick bone-marrow washing and then we’ll begin.”

Hanako took her spot in the circle and sunk her hips, letting her legs support her weight as she gather Ki from the earth up her legs and into her stomach. She pushed down as far as she could while raising her arms. Her palms were open, gathering the Ki around in and imagining it like a ball within her hands. As she exhaled she brought the ball of Ki down and felt it mix with Ki of the earth. It warmed her body, and she could feel her Ki tingle to life. A small, proud smile appeared on her lips.

“Nina!” Makoto called out, “Please join us. Your Ki should be ready.” Nina stepped onto the wooden floor, bowing to her master before taking her spot near the candles.

Makoto strolled in the center between the students and the elements as he began to explain imagery ideas to help connect Kies to their respected element. “Each element may be different, but the one thing we can’t forget is that they all came from the same source: Our planet Earth.” He inhaled loudly and pointed to his daughter.

“Let’s have Hanako-chan lead us.”

She let her smile show and took her horse stance. For her, having her legs double shoulder-width apart was more comfortable than with her legs closer together. With a wider stance, she felt more of Earth’s natural energy, and that helped her explore with her own Ki when she first learned about her power. Even after four years of training, it felt more natural and more open that way.

Hanako drew the energy through her legs and mixed it with her breath and Ki. She placed one hand on her waits and the other at her side, the palm channel waves open and clear. Her eyes were locked onto the stones. Their presence hummed in reaction to her energized Ki, and as she raised her arm, she felt her Ki attach itself to a small, black stone. Its weight matched in energy as it did physically, and when her arm reached shoulder height, the stone levitated, mirroring her motion.

The class quietly watched in awe as Hanako rotated her shoulder to turn her hand with her palm facing outwards and shifted her weight to the left. As if being pulled by a thread, the stone moved across her vision, staying shoulder height. Then she lowered her arm, rotating her hand so that her palm face the circle. The stone followed. When she shifted again and brought her hand towards her stomach, the stone gently glided down and across. As she inhaled she rotated her arm once more, palm facing outwards. The stone lifted up, bobbing a bit as it rose up to her shoulder height. Then she completed the motion, returning to her starting position.

Makoto raised his arms outward towards his students. “All together now.” Everyone stood in their horse stance. Makoto raised his arm, drawing up a string of blazing fire. The students followed, lifting thick threads of water or wisps of smoke. Hanako continued to lead fellow Earth-Ki mates with the other smooth, round stones.

Hanako loved using her Ki. After all the destruction that earthquake caused, having an element unlocked within her energy was a surprise that brightened her life. It brought forth a deeper interest in Qigong and Tai Chi, two healing and martial art methods that her father had been practicing since she was a little girl. Through these arts she learned about the pool of energies she felt beneath her feet. Different elements interacted with every Ki that surrounded her. Like a magnet, they follow the attraction, and then Ki-User can use that force to control the element as needed. Her father’s strong enough to create his own fire!

Every element has their potential, and Hanako wanted to find hers.

“Well how about that,” Makoto said, his voice a little horse from the concentration, “It’s already ten o’clock.” He lowered his hand. The fire thread slithered back down to a small flame.

“Oh thank god we’re done,” Nina puffed, dropping her arm and slouching over her form. She took a huge gulp of air into her lungs and exhaled with great relief. As she did, her fire string flared to life and became a wild loose rope. Nina screamed and stumbled back. “OH GOD!”

Makoto gracefully stroked his hand down the flaming line, and soon took control over it. He returned it to one of the flaming candles.

“You can’t collapse like that when controlling an element,” he warned, “It’s still connected to your dan tian—your source of you Ki.” He rubbed his stomach. “It acts upon your breath. Fire especially will become dangerous if you’re not careful with it.”

Nina’s lips crumpled together and she didn’t dare look at her sensei.

Makoto faced his class and straightened himself. “Thank you for a wonderful class, everyone.” Her pressed his hands together, and raised them as he bowed. “It gives me great pleasure to share this art with you all.” The students mirrored his action, and then broke off into small circles to discuss their lessons.

Hanako approached her father and Nina, who still appeared embarrassed by her fumble.

“It’s alright to feel frustrated,” Makoto said, “Remember when you started cooking, and the the head chef promoted you out of the dish-pit, and into pantry? Can you recall those frustrating moment when you were learning prep work, and knife skills, and everything else a chef would throw at you?” Nina reluctantly nodded. “This is exactly like those first steps. Even Hanako-chan struggled when she started.”

“Yes, but that’s only half the battle,” Hanako replied, “But I also have passion. Without that other half, the struggle would’ve been unbearable.”

Makoto’s face expressed worry, and Hanako sensed it in his Ki. He wanted to keep students at any cost, and when he moved to the States, he wanted to have these classes be free to all those who carry nature-kies. Since they’ve inherited an unwanted responsibility, he felt it more than fair to make these classes free.

“These extra classes may cost you your time, but I assure you it’s worth every minute.” He rested a hand on Nina’s shoulder, and smiled with encouragement. “I guarantee that this will be a positive asset to your cooking skills.” He chuckled. “I should know.”

Nina’s frustrated look lessened. “You were an owner of one of Japan’s top rated restaurants, Daichi. But you never got back into the business. You kinda just…disappeared.”

Hanako looked up at her dad, her heart suddenly swelling with homesickness. She missed Daichi very much. The earthquake left nothing untouched, and the only thing her family left was a piece of wood with green and blue paint on it. It was a part of their sign that hung outside.

Makoto glanced over at his daughter and memorized her look. “I was healing with my family,” he explained, walking to Hanako and wrapping an arm around her. Students began to walk passed them, waving good-bye and chattering out the south entrance. Anne signaled Hanako to text her later about practice as she slipped out the door. The sound of rain made it seem like a flood was going on, but the doors closed, keeping the sound outside. That girl over works herself with training and two jobs.

“And then the healing transformed a new goal for us: To seek others who know of this art and try to recruit others to learn of its mysteries.” He hugged his daughter tightly, and then let her go. “That didn’t mean, however, that I stopped cooking. My goodness, no!” He smiled. “It only meant that my focus couldn’t be on the restaurant, and feeding people the great things found on this great planet.”

Hanako glanced over at the rocks and reached out to one. She gathered some Ki and brought it up her spine and through her arm, opening her palm meridian. Her Ki reached two stones and she pulled them towards her. The black one was her favorite. It represented Yin, which her element Earth falls under. The second stone was one of the white ones, which repressed Yang. As she withdrew her energy, the stones gently rested on her hands, and returned her Ki within her dan tian.

She picked up the white one and passed it to Nina. “Fire is a true Yang element. It’s always burning forward and never falling back unless forced to be extinguished.” The black stone rolled with the motion of her wrist. “However, Anne’s element is a Yin element, yet it’s considered to be more Yang than it’s Yin relative, water.” She nodded her head towards the door. “Anne strives to be an actor on broadway, but she doesn’t let this get in her way. She instead tries to accommodate it into her passion so that she can move forward.” With her other hand, she opened her Ki channel and locked onto the white stone, pulling it out of Nina’s hand. “Besides, she wants to protect herself from any more natural disasters. After all, they’re not going to lessen any time soon.”

“Exactly,” Makoto agreed. “The weather’s already changing. If we can be prepared for the next big disaster, imagine the lives that could be saved, and the homes!”

Nina looked outside. The rain had lessened, but the wind was bending thin trees, swaying them from side to side. Some had thicker trunks and refused to bend to its opposing element. She didn’t seem convinced.

“Here, I’ve got an idea,” Makoto said, encouragement stirring in his voice, “Let me show you how I cook while using my Fire-Ki.”

Nina pushed out her lower lips and stared up at the ceiling, thinking upon the offer. “I’ll give it a try,” she replied, “But if I don’t like it, then you’re gonna teach me classic cooking with no magic whatsoever.”

“It’s not magic, but I’ll agree.” He extended a hand and she took it. “However, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with the results.”