LEARNING TO ROLL

In "A Brief History Of Time," Stephen Hawking wrote that Gravity has never been observed, other than through its effects. It affects objects instantaneously at an infinite distance. Paradoxically, it is the weakest of Nature's 'large forces'. Every object in the Universe affects all others and is affected by all. Can't see it. Every object has it. Gotta love it! But this means that we are, all of us, affected from every conceivable direction, including through time, by each and every object in space/time.

Now...the Creator is certainly not stupid. There must be something to this 'gravity stuff'. If every object in the universe(s) is pulling on me from all directions, how do I move or change without harming myself and everything else in the process?

The answer? Levity. Webster defines Levity as "lightness of weight; buoyancy; lightness or gaiety of disposition, conduct, or speech; and "lack of seriousness." Levity suggests surrender to an attractive or otherwise strong energy, constellation of forces, or to a general direction - but harmoniously, with regard for other dominant energies or concerns. It also implies a conscious redirection of energy and lessening of one's own gravity.

When I move, all things follow in all directions like shadows. As I surrender without force I am neither harmed nor hurtful. I maintain contact, but not as an adversary. Instead, I am moving intelligently and consciously. I mustn't get too serious about it though, or I crash land. Smash! Like a fat melon on pavement! Because I have lost my levity!

Not long ago, I had some of the bones in my right foot carved and screwed together to compensate for the dissolution of old bone and cartilage. (The result of not paying attention to Gravity as a very young man in a sky diving accident). Anyway, recently I “took up” cross-country skiing. I was out on skis for the fifth time in my life, and still in recovery from foot surgery.

So, imagine: I'm a gimp, and I'm moving fast down a hill on a curving trail. It’s obvious that I'm going to wipe out at the curve between myself and the next strait-a-way. With poles and skis, I now have eight appendages flapping ingloriously around my body, and I see that in a moment, some of them could be broken.

My body-mind sees that I need to execute a nearly perfect Aikido roll

(Aikido is a very beautiful and playful martial art involving circular motion) and that my 78 inch skis must not touch the ground during the roll. Instinctively, I release myself from the ground, and a moment later I have done a complete forward somersault through the air. My skis are again flat underneath me.

During the flight I was aware of the forces of gravity, big tree, frozen ground, arms and poles, skis and legs, vulnerable head, neck and foot, the blue sky, and an immediate need to 'be light'. Energetically I "gravitated" towards the sky. My body rotated around my center of gravity. I landed, and ski’d on unharmed.

After more than 40 years, I am finally learning to trust myself with the forces around me enough to know that if I am present and aware, and not

too greatly attached to a desired outcome, I will probably be all right under any circumstances. To properly utilize available energetic resources I need

to first trust myself and my ability to roll.

Directions, people, ideas, organisms, mergers, competition, are not right or wrong. Neither are they good nor bad. They are forces with attractive or repellant properties relative to where and who we are, who we are becoming, and where we are going in the dance of our journey as beings or businesses, and they have certain effects. Both following and resisting have consequences and repercussions. From a "moral" point of view, This may be the best of all reasons for practicing harmony and lightness in a field of gravity, will-fullness, or resistance. And so, perhaps the best moral, spiritual, martial or business practice may simply be the practice of awareness and learning to roll.

By rolling, instead of kicking, screaming, or focusing on our fears, we make fewer enemies, cause less resistance and expend fewer resources. Focused awareness, timely surrender, intelligent strategy and skillful movement result in success, satisfaction, and effective action.

By Bob Drake

April, 1996