KI REVIEW
I offer shiatsu along with a ki energy health evaluation, supported by basic macrobiotic dietary and way of life guidance, in Fairfield, CT, and Manhattan. I also offer classes in Five Transformations theory and Nine Star Ki, from my personal viewpoint. For further information, please contact me at Tel: 203-254-1795.
I am taking appointments for housecalls in Manhattan on Thursdays and Saturdays.
While based on my understanding of the macrobiotic teachings of Georges Ohsawa and Michio Kushi, and of Daoist and Buddhist thought, my blog entries, unless mentioned otherwise, are original material following my personal line of thought, the result of in-depth research over many years. I hope you enjoy this material, find it informative, educational, interesting and helpful. But please, if you pass any information from this blog on in any way, whether complimentary, critical, or otherwise, be sure to mention my name and the website address, so others can decide for themselves. Thank you.
Present
Roger Federer, 1 Water ☵
(b. 8.8.1981, Basel, Switzerland): Currently ranked world No. 3 in men’s singles tennis by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) … won 19 Grand Slam singles titles, the most in history for a male tennis player … held the world No. 1 spot in the ATP rankings for a record total of 302 weeks and was ranked No. 1 for a record 237 weeks … won a record eight Wimbledon titles, five Australian Open titles, a record five consecutive US Open titles and one French Open title … … … … … (Wikipedia)”
Federer is in the news after winning his eighth Wimbledon and 19th career Grand Slam title. I would like to begin with a profile from the past.
Federer as Religious Experience, by David Foster Wallace, The New York Times Magazine, August 20, 2006
Water always finds an opening / Water has a destination
'Federer is able to see, or create, gaps and angles for winners that no one else can envision, and television’s perspective is perfect for viewing and reviewing these Federer Moments. What’s harder to appreciate on TV is that these spectacular-looking angles and winners are not coming from nowhere — they’re often set up several shots ahead, and depend as much on Federer’s manipulation of opponents’ positions as they do on the pace or placement of the coup de grâce.’
'It’s a spectacular winner, a Federer Moment; but watching it live, you can see that it’s also a winner that Federer started setting up four or even five shots earlier. Everything after that first down-the-line slice was designed by the Swiss to maneuver Nadal and lull him and then disrupt his rhythm and balance and open up that last, unimaginable angle…’
“… able to see, or create, gaps and angles for winners that no one else can envision: Water always finds an opening. “… these spectacular-looking angles and winners are not coming from nowhere — they’re often set up several shots ahead … it’s also a winner that Federer started setting up four or even five shots earlier.”: These quotes remind me of quotes on Michelle Obama (see 17.2) who was also born in a 1 Water year. I maintain that water metaphors that help us to understand and describe 1 Water character and personality can best be derived from observations of a river. What is relevant in this regard in Federer’s case is that water in a river has a destination, the ocean, one that is intrinsic to the nature of water. It suggests to me that the 1 Water person in touch with his/her innate nature will have, most likely unconsciously, an idea of destination in whatever he/she sets out to do, and how to arrive at it.
Water imagery
‘In 2005, he auctioned his racquet from his US Open championship to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. At the 2005 Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells, Federer arranged an exhibition involving several top players from the ATP and WTA tour called Rally for Relief. The proceeds went to the victims of the tsunami caused by the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. In December 2006 he visited Tamil Nadu, one of the areas in India most affected by the tsunami …In January 2011, Federer took part in an exhibition, Rally for Relief, to raise money for the victims of the Queensland floods.’
“… to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina … The proceeds went to the victims of the tsunami … raise money for the victims of the Queensland floods …”: I found it interesting in terms of his Water nature that in his Wikipedia entry, in reference to his charitable organization, “The Roger Federer Foundation”, a number of the causes he became involved in, were concerned with the ravages of water.
Roger Federer: A Tennis Assassin, by Matthew Futterman, WSJ, July 17, 2017
In this match his opponent was Marin Cilic (b. 9.28.1988, Yugoslavia), 3 Tree. Cilic entered the match at a physical disadvantage, since he had a foot blister which was causing pain, worsened by a fall during the match. According to this profile, it also caused in him a psychological disadvantage. I want to try addressing this match from an energetic view, of the interaction between Water (Federer), and Tree (Cilic).
A tree’s roots need to connect with a water source / Wood doesn’t always float on water
In the natural relationship between Water and Tree, a tree seeks out water through its roots; water doesn’t seek out trees. The tree must connect with the water source. It then draws on the water, absorbing its energy, which gives it strength. So, theoretically, a Water competitor will energize a Tree player. Even if the Tree player ultimately loses, he/she should still feel elevated from the match. The 3 Tree I Ching trigram is called Thunder, ☳,a yang solid line is at the base, with two yin broken lines above. In nature, it corresponds with a plant as it first breaks through the earth and into the light; the yang force, the strength, is rising from below. Since a strong rising force is necessary to score in basketball it is not surprising then, to see how two prominent names in basketball today, Jeremy Lin (b. 8.23.1988, Torrance, CA), and Stephen Curry (b. 3.14.1988, Akron, OH), were both born in a 3 Tree year. Thus, it appears this blister was far more significant energetically than one might have thought. A root, his leg, was weakened, and he didn’t have the force to rise up, and draw on Federer’s energy which he could use to his own advantage. Result, he “couldn’t keep his head above water”, he was “sunk”, “dead in the water”: Federer beat him in three straight sets, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4.
Water imagery
‘The Croatian was reduced to tears as his game fell apart in the second set …’
‘Two points later, Cilic double-faulted to lose the set and to put himself in a hole he would never get the chance to dig himself out of.’
“… as his game fell apart …”: The philosopher and Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron (b. 7.14.1936, NYC [Wikipedia]), 1 Water, has written a number of books, that to me, contain Water imagery in the titles: “The Places That Scare You: A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times”, “Taking The Leap: Freeing Ourselves form Old Habits and Fears”, “The Wisdom of No Escape…”, “Don’t Bite the Hook…”, “Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better…”, and, “When Things Fall Apart”! The latter images to me a state when the stamina and drive, traditional kidney energy qualities (Water), according to classical Chinese medicine, decline to the extent, that we can no longer, “hold it all together”. Thus, theoretically at least, a player with strong kidney energy has the potential to play a long game, and at the least, win by outlasting his/her opponent. “… put himself in a hole he would never get the chance to dig himself out of …”: In a similar way that Wallace in the first profile maintains that Federer sets up a shot several strokes in advance, it appears here, that the result is a classic negative Water experience, that is described in the 29th chapter of the I Ching, called “The Abyss”, or “Pit”. Putting it simply, the opponent is heading for a fall, but not put there by himself. If Federer is in touch with his innate Water nature, which no doubt he would be, then he knows about the abyss, and how to place his opponent in that position.
We cannot always see what is going on below the surface of water / Water in a river only flows forward
‘That is what Federer does. His artistry and his elegant, courtly manner cover up what an efficient killer he is, putting his foot on his opponent’s throats once he has them down.’
‘“It didn’t hurt so much that it was putting me in tears, it was just that I couldn’t do my best,” Cilic said. … He draped a towel over his head and tried to regroup. Federer strutted past him and pushed for the match to re-start. … ever the assassin, Federer finished off Cilic with an ace in just 101 minutes.’
“… cover up …”: Water’s surface conceals what is going on below. It can hide dangerous animals, and in its forward flow water itself can be dangerous with a fast undercurrent or undertow, that can draw and hold one down. “… putting his foot on his opponent’s throats once he has them down. … Federer strutted past him and pushed for the match to re-start”: The imagery in the first quote here seems a little exaggerated, however water only flows forward, indifferent to obstacles in its path; water engulfs. “Push” is as classic Water word, again repeating this image of water continually flowing forward.
2017 is a Water year
‘“I’m incredibly surprised,” Federer said of his success in 2017. “You would have laughed at me if I told you I was going to win two Slams this year. I also didn’t believe I was going to win two.”’
In Nine Star Ki, each year has a different energy, and 2017, after February 4th, until February 3rd, next year, is a 1 Water year. It means that the person born in a 1 Water year visits the 5 house, the house in the center, and in this situation, the Water person is aided by the forces of nature to take on some kind of central role.
We Need to Relax Like Roger Federer, by Jason Gay, WSJ, July 20, 2017
‘This past Sunday, Roger Federer won his eighth Wimbledon men’s singles title—his first in five years. Weeks away from turning a sports-ancient 36, the Swiss legend is playing some of the best tennis of his life, and a big reason appears to be rest. … an injured and exhausted Federer took six months off at the end of 2016, only to show up this January in Melbourne fresh as a daisy, and win the Australian Open. Then Federer turned right around after Oz and skipped the entire clay court season and the French Open—but returned for Wimbledon and rolled to another Slam title.’
‘The sports science appears increasingly clear: rest may be nature’s finest performance-enhancing drug, restorative both physically and mentally. Smart teams are routinely resting key players in the NBA.’
‘Sports are catching up to what workplace productivity experts have known for ages: time off is good for everybody. Rested employees are consistently better employees, with higher performances and morale. Non-rested employees are...a grumpy disaster waiting to happen.’
“… playing some of the best tennis of his life, and a big reason appears to be rest. … rest may be nature’s finest performance-enhancing drug. … Rested employees are consistently better employees, with higher performances and morale”: This point is most significant, especially in terms of Water. The fundamental image to understand Water energy is of water in a river. In this image, water continually flows until it comes to rest in the ocean: movement ends in rest. In Five Transformations theory, Water takes the lowest point in the cyclical flow of energy, and in terms of correspondences, it aligns with winter, and nighttime, times of rest. When water comes to rest it is flat. Nighttime is the time most appropriate for, and most common as, the time for sleep. We repeat this natural Water imagery by taking the lowest body position and lying flat. Ideally, we should lie “face up”. In this way, the Water related organs, the kidneys, located towards the back of the torso, assume the most restful position, and in a similar way that water flows into the ocean, energy flows into the kidneys, and are restored, energetically speaking, for the next day’s activities.
Past
2015
John Kasich, 3 Tree ☳
(b. 5.13.1952, McKees Rocks, PA): 69th Governor of Ohio, from January 10, 2011 until present. Announced this week he will enter race to become Republican nominee for 2016 presidential election.
John Kasich Joins Crowded 2016 Field, Facing Job of Catch-Up, by Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, July 21, 2015
A tree's branches extend outward / a tree casts a shadow
' Gov. John R. Kasich, a blunt-spoken and unorthodox Republican who bucked his party by expanding Medicaid under President Obama’s health care law and says politicians must “reach out and help those who live in the shadows,” announced Tuesday that he was joining his party’s long list of candidates for president.'
“... politicians must “reach out and help ...”: I maintain these qualities are common in those born in a Tree year, and reflect the way that Tree energy extends outward through the limbs imaging “helping hands”. “...those who live in the shadows...”: A tree casts a shadow. In different ways shadow imagery appears often in Tree person profiles.
A tree takes time to grow
'Like Mr. McCain, Mr. Kasich is brusque and often combative — even his own aides describe him, euphemistically, as “impatient” — and questions about his temperament have dogged him throughout his career.'
“... “impatient” ...”: A tree’s overall growth pattern is of a slow, steady process, and thus, patience is considered a positive Tree quality in classical Chinese medicine, and impatience as a likely energetic imbalance in the corresponding Tree organs, liver and gallbladder. Since 3 Tree energy corresponds with early spring when the plant first breaks through the earth and into light, we might expect to see impatience more in 3 Tree than 4 Tree profiles.
A fire needs fuel and oxygen to survive
'This is not Mr. Kasich’s first White House bid. He briefly entered the 2000 race, but quickly concluded that he could not compete against George W. Bush, then the governor of Texas, whom he has said “sucked not only all the money, but all the oxygen out of the room.”'
“... “sucked not only all the money, but all the oxygen out of the room” ...”: George W. Bush (b. 7.6.1946, New Haven, CT) was born in a 9 Fire year. Fire needs both fuel (in this case money), and oxygen to exist. In addition, Bush, due to his family history and power, constituted what we could call “big Fire”, and as such, Kasich could not compete.
Copyright© by David Sergel
Photographs© by David Sergel
One Peaceful World
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