With the upcoming election next week, I’ve been feeling like many of you a bit stressed, and I thought it would be helpful to share how I’m planning to manage it using a concept from Shōgun called the “eightfold fence.”

It’s a mental and emotional boundary-setting tool that’s about protecting our inner peace when external pressures mount.

Mariko (played by Anna Sawai) introduces the concept of the “eightfold fence.”

This concept is rooted in an ancient poem by Susanoo-no-Mikoto, who built eight layers of fences to protect his wife from dangers.

Mariko explains to Anjin (John Blackthorne) that the eightfold fence serves as a way to safeguard one’s inner thoughts and emotions, allowing them to retreat mentally when faced with challenges.

Mariko teaches,

This highlights the importance of creating mental space where you can step back from overwhelming situations while still performing your duties.

It’s about protecting your inner peace and maintaining control, even when the world around you is chaotic.

This concept can be especially helpful for parents, faculty, and students in today’s overwhelming world.

Whether you’re dealing with the challenges of raising teens, teaching, or navigating the college process and pressures, the eightfold fence offers a way to preserve your emotional and mental well-being.

Applying the Eightfold Fence in Daily Life

The eightfold fence is not about avoiding emotions or reality. Instead, it’s a way to create mental clarity in difficult moments.

Mariko’s advice to Anjin, “If you really listen, the present circumstance vanishes,” speaks to this ability to find peace in the midst of adversity.

Here’s how you can apply the eightfold fence in your own life:

1. Separate Personal and External Pressures
   When you’re feeling overwhelmed by school, work, or family responsibilities, the eightfold fence allows you to separate these emotions and handle them more effectively without being consumed by them.
2. Focus Amidst Distractions
   Just like Susanoo’s fence protected his wife from dangers on all sides, you can create boundaries to shield yourself from external noise. This mental retreat helps you maintain focus and clarity.
3. Protect Your Core Values
   Mariko’s use of the eightfold fence helped her stay true to her beliefs. Similarly, you can use this concept to stay grounded in your values, even when facing difficult decisions or pressure.
4. Compartmentalize Challenges
   Learning to break down problems into manageable parts allows you to approach each one without feeling overwhelmed by the entire picture.
5. Listen Without Reacting
   Mariko’s wisdom of “listening without hearing” teaches us the importance of not letting emotions cloud our judgment. This can help us respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively.
6. Balance Complexity with Simplicity
   In a world full of responsibilities, practicing mindfulness, such as listening to small, simple sounds, can help restore balance and keep you grounded.

I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming mindfulness event where we can learn to quiet our mind and practice together.

Warmly,

DOWNLOAD WORKSHEET

Building Your Eightfold Fence

This worksheet guides you through a four-step process to help manage challenges and foster balance.