Cosmic Rhythm – Part 1

T’ai Chi Chih has been an integral part of my spiritual journey for over five years, as well as a key player in my spiritual development from the beginning. Additionally, this past year, I began a three-year Spirituality Program with Sr. Celine Thames in Wolfforth, Texas. We meet once a month with a day full of activities, teachings and exchanges.

As usual, Sr. Celine began the session with calming and grounding music, and then I began a meditative prayer session. Quite to my surprise, the chapel became totally still and quiet. I wondered why I couldn’t hear anyone coughing, sneezing or fidgeting. Could they have left and not told me? After a brief time, the silence was broken by the sound of my heart beating very loudly. It was so loud that I could feel and hear it in my chest. The intense beating seemed to go on for several minutes. After this interlude, the sound diminished slightly and I began to hear the single sound of an insect. It was clicking in perfect rhythm with my heartbeat. This was very cool, I thought. I didn’t know that bug noises had the same rhythm as a human heart. I sat still for several minutes and enjoyed the harmony. With my eyes still shut, the insect song faded and I was once again left with my heartbeat.

Trying to re-focus, I questioned the purpose of today’s chapel session. As quickly as my mind tried to recall the assignment, my heart started beating very loudly again. Just as before, the sound of my heartbeat intensified then diminished, as it was joined by the sound of a single bird chirping. Once again, I listened: the chirping was in perfect rhythm with my heartbeat for what seemed like several minutes. Eventually, the bird half of my duo faded, and I was left with the sound of my own heartbeat, then my breathing and finally the ding of a small bell signifying the end of the session. I had been prepared for my chapel assignment – but not for what actually happened.

When I returned home later that day, I remembered a lecture from 1995 that Justin had written entitled Cosmic Rhythm. I re-read the lecture and felt it take on a deeper meaning following my chapel experience. In Cosmic Rhythm, Justin says, “If you do a lot of TCC and a little meditation, at some time you’re going to reach a different plane, a different vibration. At this vibration you will realize that there are uncountable forms of life… as you raise your vibration, suddenly you’re aware of other things…” I wondered if that’s what had happened between my self, my heartbeat, the insect and the bird. I had recently increased my TCC practice time significantly because I was planning on attending teacher training in November. Was my new vibratory status due to my recent increased practice time, increased Chi flow from five years of practice and the peaceful surroundings? All I know is that as I experience new material on my spiritual walk, many unique things have begun to happen.