Shifting weight forward and back and side to side allows immediate connection to our root and to the Qi-filled depths of the earth…the soil, rock and energy of that location. A rooted connection is established in that spot. The earth gives its support and localized energy. And likewise, the practitioner gives a vibratory impact back to the earth, creating a sense of the solid, stable base from which one's Taiji movements may flow with steadiness and ease.
When you sink like a stone to the very depths of the wellspring of Bubbling Well energy, you will find It is more than an energy point at the ball of each foot. It is a vast reservoir of latent potentiality that comes to life when tapped. The technique of how this is tapped is simple, yet profound. Mind intention leads the body and the Qi flows. The body activates the energy pathways through the physical exercises of rooting and circulating the wise-earth chi.
Shifting weight forward and back and side to side allows immediate connection to our root and to the Qi-filled depths of the earth…the soil, rock and energy of that location. A rooted connection is established in that spot. The earth gives its support and localized energy. And likewise, the practitioner gives a vibratory impact back to the earth, creating a sense of the solid, stable base from which one's Taiji movements may flow with steadiness and ease.
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When you are committed to your Tai Chi practice, it is in the doing that you learn, as well as repeat. You begin to discover the hidden meanings in the sequences and these continue to delight throughout all the permutations that are possible in this beautiful living art. Always think of yourself as a student. The foundation is solid. The structure is in place. The forms are expansive and the awareness is growing as each repetition is achieved as a unique moment in time. Attune yourself to the highest inspiration that is available from the adepts. You will be most pleased with the knowledge and wisdom you gain from your practice. Write of it as you discover a new nugget of wise insight the moment you learn of it. This will keep you fresh and energetically vibrant and you will enjoy sharing these gleanings. "Softness" listens, hears, sees, knows...anticipates the flow of events that are moving forward to make their appearance. They are just around the bend, approaching...and we are not there.
Allow yourself to enjoy the benefits of your own Tai Chi practice…not only in your form but in your approach to living your daily life. Persistence and perseverance are the foundation for a stable and centered, harmonious life. They are the hallmarks of one who is committed to probing the depths of the Tao's inexhaustible wisdom and then sharing it with others. The more you practice with a humble spirit and joyful delight, the more you will receive the blessings.
It is also most advantageous to implement these Taoist principles in new ways. They open grand vistas of awareness through simple movements and the power of the breath, expressing the yin and yang as a fusion of an ever changing, ever growing spiral of mastery and joy. Just like a smile that lights up a room and lifts the spirit, the positive impact of the Tai Chi lifestyle is immeasurable. The roots are deep, the channels are wide, the sky is high and the opportunities are endless. These are the visions to keep in mind as we explore the vast reaches of time and space.
This brings new expansive understanding and appreciation for living a life that is in harmony with nature, the cosmos and the eternal, inexhaustible Tao. On Earth, in the form of Nature, we are always surrounded by the ever-changing cycles of life comprising birth, expansion, contraction and death. This is the dance of life and recognition of this truth leads to emotional harmony whereby the ability to flow, to know, to move forward, to step back is part of the daily dance of life. When this dance is experienced with the knowledge that wisdom leads the pattern, pure joy fills one’s being. There is a sense of being at one with the "Supreme Ultimate" expression of Life.
Allow gravity to give back to you through the support you feel from the earth…to keep you grounded, stable, supported and energized.
Be at peace while moving through the air... feeling the roots beneath your feet, with every step you take. It is of great importance that the Taoist wisdom of the ancients is preserved and shared because of the tremendous physical and mental balance achieved through the T'ai Chi movement forms. It is indeed a language. The balance of yin and yang is as old as the earth herself and there will always be a need to find this harmony within and without, for the preservation of life. When you remember that your roots run deep into the earth, you are fully supported and nourished. It is time to note the wisdom of your body and the knowledge within that assists you at all times and in all circumstances. When you release the need to have your focus be on beginnings and endings, you will be able to enjoy the spaces in between which are all about the practice, the doing, the repeating. This is the gift of T’ai Chi, the flowing dance of life!
T'ai chi is a living art and as such there is adaptation and transformation taking place as well as an ability to maintain an alignment with the unbroken line of continuity at its essence. The masters of old who kept this ancient art alive found ways to distill the essence. They taught this to their students who in turn kept the teachings moving forward, entrusting these to future generations.
And thus, people world-wide are enjoying the many health and spiritual benefits of this ancient art of moving through life in a harmonious Way. |
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Denise has enjoyed practicing T'ai Chi Chuan since 1981. This moving meditation inspires and enhances her daily life. Archives
March 2022
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