To me the spiritual nature of aikido is there in the practice, just as it can be in anything from walking meditation to dishwashing. Its about recognizing things about yourself and your barriers and how you relate to the universe (which in aikido manifests as your partner, your instructor, dojo rules, the mat, gravity, etc....) and letting the training and your approach to it be a medium for changing yourself.
So its there for those who want it, but need not be made use of.
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