(1161?â€"1184?) was one of the few examples of a true female samurai in all of Japanese history. She was a samurai during the time of the Genpei War (1180â€"1185). Her name is pronounced "toh-moh-eh", and is translated as "perfect circle".
Most of our knowledge about Tomoe Gozen comes from tales and legends. Depending on the source, Tomoe Gozen was either the wife, concubine (mistress), or female attendant of prominent daimyo Minamoto no Yoshinaka. Many women of the time knew how to use the naginata to defend their home, and there are tales of female ashigaru, but Tomoe Gozen was a high-level samurai, skilled in riding, archery and kenjutsu. She was said to have been fearless and possessing great skill in combat. Fiercely brave and tirelessly loyal to Yoshinaka, she was one of his senior captains during the war, leading his troops, and accompanying him to every battle. She was well respected by men and fought bravely alongside them. In the Heike Monogatari (Tale of the Heike), Tomoe is described:
Tomoe was especially beautiful, with white skin, long hair, and charming features. She was also a remarkably strong archer, and as a swordswoman she was a warrior worth a thousand, ready to confront a demon or a god, mounted or on foot. She handled unbroken horses with superb skill; she rode unscathed down perilous descents. Whenever a battle was imminent, Yoshinaka sent her out as his first captain, equipped with strong armor, an oversized sword, and a mighty bow; and she performed more deeds of valor than any of his other warriors.
â€"Tale of the Heike, McCullough, page 291.
I'm looking for role models (mythical figures) more in line with my genetic background and being a sansei (third generation) Japanese born in America, I do not have a solid background of Japanese history.
Happily, knowing about this legendary woman and other women samurai, fires my imagination and helps me reach deep inside for strength, courage, endurance.
A few months ago, I became aware of an unfocused energy around me and in my mind that was not ME as far as I could tell.I was doing a visualization of a dome house I wanted (in accordance to some techniques I was studying to manifest it in my life)and I wrote a little story describing this dome house, describing it in great detail. Surprisingly, it included an unknown male entity who I thought was a Significant Other. I never clearly saw his face. We had an excellent, comfortable relationship - very mellow and relaxed. I then, had a dream of this man and I knew he had brown hair and very pale skin - still his face wouldn't come into focus. As the days went by I tentatively matched what I knew about this mysterious man against all the men I knew and dealt with in my daily life. No satisfactory matches.About the same time, I ordered online a Celtic Meditation Music CD beautifully done by Aine Minogue, and I have listened to it constantly, especially when I drive back and forth to work about 19 miles. Some music affects me so strongly that I feel pierced through my soul. I did some research on the internet about this feeling and I am not alone. I am not sure about my intensity but I have found that St. Teresa of Avila wrote about it in her autobiography and a sculpture was done by Gian Lorenzo Bernini to commemorate it. She describes herself as being pierced several times in the heart by an angel of God.

Photo Courtesy of One Lord One Faith One Baptism Christian Forums

For some reason, I always thought that this indulgence in music was melodramatic and unproductive and I always tried to reject it and live (what I thought) a more traditional acceptable life. Since these visions, I've followed where the music led. This mysterious energy around me coalesced into what could only describe as my soul's connection to God, an angel and due to Irish music I've been listening to, an Irish angel. No other music helped me to recognize this energy. My Irish angel has helped me tremendously to accept what's going on with me right now. I needed desperately to feel more secure enough to act on my dreams and follow God's purpose for me, no matter where I go, do, see. Then I received through One Spirit, a book club I'm subscribing to, some information about a book about Anam Cara, Friend of the Soul. I knew immediately what my Irish angel was, my soul friend, Anam Cara. I've done some research on Anam Cara and absorbed the information and realized I was incredibly thirsty for this knowledge. I am humbled that God would send this precious entity to me and I am grateful that I now have the wisdom to accept him. I used to believe I was alone and I am not. I copied this from another site to explain a little more about Anam Cara, who could be a real person or angel (from my perspective , "the mind makes it real"): " He listened to my story - all of it. He helped to relate my life's jig saw pieces to a larger picture. If my self image was low, he would build it up; if my ego was high and mighty he would bring this to my notice; if my blocked emotions hindered my moving forward with the Holy Spirit, he would explore memories or dreams until there was release. Thus, in a context of soul friendship, the Bible's Messianic mandate was again being taken seriously: The low places in my life were raised up, the high places were made low, and imprisoned places were released (Isaiah 40:4; 61:1) " quote from http://www.aidantrust.org/html/soulfriend.html.
Photo courtesy of Stonegate Waterfall Every now and then I wonder about things and thoughts come unbidden into my mind. Like baby ducks and geese. When they hatch, they bond to their mother duck or goose or if it happens to be a human, they will bond with that human, too. ( Have you ever seen the remarkable movie, Fly Away Home?)
Then I thought about baby humans......if ducks and geese bond......humans are alot more complicated than ducks or geese ....what happens at a human baby's birth?

More and more science is proving that newborns retain and imprint much more than you would think - even though they are so seemingly delicate and unaware.
And I wonder about all those babies born under hospital conditions with doctors and nurses they may never see again. So much loss at such an early age. Can that, perhaps have anything to do with our social unease .... incomplete or lost bonding?
I was amazed to observe that the colors of the rainbow are the same as the ones that are in our chakras.Rainbow image courtesy of Bob Fay and Chakra illustration courtesy of Sacred Centers.com

My Dear Windsurfing Sis
You turn and beckon to me: Come catch a ride on the winds of time. Stand strong above those dark curling waves, Cascading at your feet churning into magnificent solar clouds Flash flooding the Universe. Surround yourself with space, Filled with ever shifting star shadows and moody silver moonbeams. Hear the unquiet talk of stars, signaling each other of our luminous, electric, all encompassing ride. And as we pass, our fingertips brush the stars, Scattering a million, sparkling light motes scintillating across galaxies. Heal with your heart, the aching longing of Lost memories, lost loves, lost times, lost ways. Feel with your soul, The joyous music of planets being born, of comets winging riotously by, Of careless sun spouts shooting into the sky. Capture a wave of time and ride it to the farthest end. And be the wonder of it all and be the mystery of it all. I love life, Nana, follow me.
Copyright 1986 Ellen Wakamatsu Image Courtesy of Disney's "Treasure Planet" and Hubble Space Photo
What Does the Earth Think?
According to scientists, our brain lights up like a brilliant, vibrant thunderstorm when we are thinking coherent thoughts - lit up by all the neurons firing.
I find myself wondering what the Earth is thinking during one of her thunderstorms.
Image of Firing Neuron Courtesy of "What the Bleep" and Lightning Photo Courtesy of Webshots.
Photo Courtesy of "What the Bleep"Down the Rabbit Hole Have you ever felt that you have started a journey which seems to get stranger as you go along? I have, on and off through the years, been "into" spiritual development, new age stuff, and finally when it got too strange, gave it up and tried for a relationship. Stubborn me, I couldn't recognize that even as strange things were happening - I was happy. I thought I could cut it as a traditional homemaker, etc. That's what us females do, don't we? Every now and then when I heard certain types of music like the lyrical lilting sad Irish songs or a deep cello in a Chinese movie, like "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", I would be moved to tears way out of portion to what was happpening at the time. I grew very curious as to the cause or causes of this heart rending sadness or perhaps a longing. I wrote this around November, 2004: My mind feels like it wants to spin off reeling into space. I feel turbulence in my soul, a turbulence I have not felt in a long time. My souls longs to sing symmetrically in prayers and poems of inner space and endless times. I keep trying to follow other people's directions to happiness, wealth, abundance, peace, bliss.....I read the books that speak to me or seem to appear out of nowhere. I just read, "The Power of Now" by Eckhardt Tolle. I found this book at a local library, in a spot where I have looked before and suddenly I saw it and started reading it. I didn't have my library card with me at the time, so I had it reserved until I could get it. And this book answered many of my questions. I don't mean to complain or anything but it helped me get to where I am now ..... half out of my cocoon and half in -- a terrifically uncomfartable place.
 Night Horse Whose hooves do you hear crashing on the North Wind? The clouds froth and billow at your passing. People toss and turn at your wondrous flight, And lay sleeping still. I feel the night wind against my face And know you are here. Your wild neighing echoes in my ear As you come from the heavens, Landing by my side sweating sea foam and glinty silver. Untouched by reality, all Darkness and Light, You heave with motion. The breath of life you give to the Earth, And she receives it lovingly, Giving you, your grounding and your lightning. All at once there is a flash and you are away. Proud head lifted into the clouds, Mane and tail brilliant in the full moonlight. I cry, “Wait!” and you turn to look at me. Dark ebony eyes pierce my very center, And very briefly, oh so briefly You touch your nose to mine And you are gone.
Copyright 1988 Ellen Wakamatsu Photo Courtesy of Pegasus.com
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