New Year's Eve Keiko

These are photos taken at the annual New Years Eve Keiko. We begin at 9pm with a major dojo cleaning. Around 10:15 pm we begin with a period of zazen, followed by the "year letting go" liturgy. During this ceremony, each participant is welcome to offer incense at the shomen for any intentions that relate to karmic unfoldings for the previous year. During this time, we chant the "Emme Juku Kannon Gyo" to invoke Compassion, forgiveness and healing. The Aikido practice is very formal, and we go through all the core Aikido techniques. As each technique is practiced, it is offered formally by Sensei as a prayer for world peace. As midnight nears, we again return to the still point of zazen, and at the stroke of Midnight, we begin the year welcoming liturgy. During this ceremony, we offer incense for intentions relating to the karmic unfoldings of the upcoming year as the "Sho Sai Myo Kichi Jo" Dahrani is chanted. The quality of this chant is of breaking though barriers. All the participants are welcome (and in fact encouraged) to frame these practices in whatever way makes sense to them. During this special time, Sensei wears a white hakama that was given to him by the students at the dojo years ago. The fellow who is not in a Gi is Sensei's dad Otto! After all of that, we enjoy a toast together to bring in the new year, and another one to wish Sensei a happy birthday!