The way I see it, warriors are here to carve out space for something to grow. We're here to protect the natural integrity of the soul and the world, to open up and heal wounds that need to be healed, to use our words and bodies skillfully.

I spent several years studying aikido when I was working at a corporate job. The lessons that I learned from my aikido instructor about handling conflict were worth more than a Dale Carnegie training. Much of what I was dealing with at work was loose, undirected aggression, and learning to fend it off was essential in order for me to be able to be happy at my job.

At my current job, people are treating each other with more respect, but it has been difficult to stay centered because of deadline pressures and assertive personalities. After receiving not-so-subtle hints from spirit guides for six months, I started studying t'ai chi. As it turns out, what I am learning in "push hands"- how to stay centered when interacting with assertive males in their fifties- is exactly what I need to know how to do at my job. I am sensitive enough that when my boss has a deadline, I can feel it, and my instinct as an obedient citizen is to jump to attention, salute, and say, "Yes, sir! It will be done tomorrow, no matter what!" For large tasks, this self-erasing response leads to frustration, long hours, and disappointment.

Learning how to be impervious to pressure- whether that is pressure as to what to think, what identity to assume, how to talk, or how to act- is an ongoing task that is part of a warrior's job. The first step in becoming impervious to pressure is to learn some basic psychic protection. Some people and places carry a lot of negativity, and sometimes that- or our "baggage"- can cause us to give away our power. This feels like an energy drain. When I feel my energy being "drained", I cut the energetic connection between myself and the other person and invoke healing energy for myself so that I return to balance. I try not to spend too much time in hazardous situations, but as I define my safe space more and more, I am able to venture more freely wherever I choose to go.

Something else that a warrior has to learn is to know when and how to speak up in conversation. I used to either remain silent, or say something extremely blunt and alienate people. Learning to walk the middle road between my "riotgrrl-with-middle-finger-raised" attitude and self censorship has been one of my challenges in coming to adulthood and taking ownership of my voice. What I have to say, at the core of it, is usually very simple and direct, and it is this simplicity, this direction, and sometimes passion, that give the words their warrior quality.

Being a warrior is about believing in the sacred nature of life and being willing to take risks to embody that belief. This means drawing that sacredness into oneself by communing with the divine and cultivating confidence and inner power. Inner power comes from being close to God, and is a light that gives other people hope. You can make other people feel better just by sitting near them or smiling at them. If you are in your power, that means that you have joy to share. Power likes to expand, not contract. If you try to hold power in or hide it, you will feel uncomfortable. The best thing to do in most situations is to draw positive energy in and expand your aura. You can put a protective boundary on your aura when you are in chaotic or unsafe environments, but let it stay "full", like a large sphere.

Taking risks to embody the sacred doesn't need to be an "extreme" activity. It depends on what is appropriate at the time. Sometimes the risk to be taken is very simple, such as putting aside something in one's life that one no longer needs. This may mean giving up on or cutting back relationships with people or organizations who sap one's energy. It may mean giving up some TV or Internet time in order to take a little time each day to do a cleansing meditation or a full-body relaxation. At other times the risks can be more complex, such as being willing to walk down a street with a crowd of unarmed protestors, knowing that nightsticks may descend at any time. Or speaking up about discrimination at work, which I have done several times and plan to continue doing, even though I know that it may bother some people.

But the real risk- the one we wake up with every day- is, am I going to be true to myself today? Am I going to follow through on what I believe? Many of us say that we would like peace in the world. We would like to end oppression and violence. But what have we done for the world today? It's our job as warriors to give back- to give of ourselves, not just to donate money. We can give of ourselves by being really present with people and doing what feels right intuitively. In my life, that means getting to know people from different backgrounds than my own. It also means getting up in front of crowds of people who like poetry, but may not like what I have to say, and sharing a little red jewel with them, a little drop of my heart that I put out onto my computer one night when I wasn't thinking about an audience at all. Sort of like this essay...

Recommended Reading

For further thought-provoking discussion of what power is and how it can be cultivated, I recommend the books Truth or Dare by Starhawk or Be A Goddess by Francesca de Grandis. Truth or Dare has an especially good section on overcoming self censorship and standing up to "authority".

Practicing the principles from a book called The Gentle Art of Verbal Self Defense has greatly improved my personal relationships. I strongly recommend it for anyone who finds that they are getting into power struggles in conversation or are being consistently walked upon.

A book that has some useful purification exercises is Energy Vampires: A Practical Guide to Psychic Self Protection by Dorothy Harbour. Although the title sounds esoteric, the "vampires" described in the book are muggers, harassing ex-boyfriends, bullying bosses, manipulative coworkers, and other people from everyday life. (Other people whom I have found to be common energy vampires are people who are being "cooler-than-thou", people who make snide comments, and people who talk about themselves constantly.)

Text is copyright  2003 ©  Kat Ariel, all rights reserved.  Used here with permission. DO NOT republish in any form, electronic or paper.

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