Updated the article "
Morihei Ueshiba, Budo and Kamae Part 2: A Note from John Stevens" with a quote from Gozo Shioda's "Total Aikido":
"Originally, there was no position in Aikido that might have been called a "basic stance". The founder, Morihei Ueshiba Sensei, while saying that the basic stance was "to open your feet to the six directions [north, south, east, west, up, down]," also wrote, "The complete kamae is what arises from where the gods lead you, depending on time, situation, the lie of the land, the spirit of the moment - kamae is what is in your heart." [from Budo], so that the explanation for the real battle is to adapt to the circumstances that you are in."
Best,
Chris