Battle Mode

 BATTLE MODE

The warrior dares to face the only war that is worthwhile: the battle for awareness.

Carlos Castaneda

Does this path have a heart? If it does, the path is good; if it doesn't, it is of no use. Both paths lead nowhere; but one has a heart, the other doesn't. One makes for a joyful journey; as long as you follow it, you are one with it. The other will make you curse your life. One makes you strong; the other weakens you.

Carlos Castaneda

I heard a woman cyclist the other day refer to cycling as 'getting into battle mode'. Naturally, she was sharing the road with cars that encouraged this mode of cycling and this battle-ready attitude. As a wild cyclist I have only one mode on my control panel, that of awareness. The dial is pointed to it constantly. To be sure, I am battle-ready, always, but this readiness emerges not out of fear but out of awareness, and heart. Thus, it is awareness that is the real battle. And if you're still sharing your path with cars then maybe you should consider wild cycling as an alternative. That doesn't necessarily mean cycling on pavements but being aware of alternative routes that are safe and (relatively) car-free. After all, the wild cyclist is a true warrior (whose battle is with awareness) and will always choose a path with heart before anything else. As Castaneda writes: 

A warrior chooses a path with heart, any path with heart and  follows it; and then he rejoices and laughs.