The Vital Force Archive
Forty years of The Vital Force (1985-2025), the journal of the T’ai Chi Chih community. Search for a word, a teacher, a movement or a place, or browse by category and topic.
December 1994
The December 1994 issue lists Justin Stone’s key points for correct movement, from flowing from the t’an t’ien to the 60-40 emphasis, with notes by Steve Ridley. Carmen Brocklehurst reports on the November meditation retreat with Justin Stone in Albuquerque, Steve Tang recounts his first year after accreditation, and Ed Altman warns that checkpoints useful to beginners can later distract.
Richard Brier recounts finding Justin Stone's book in a Carmel bookshop in 1979, declaring on the spot that he would learn and teach it, then talking a retired Santa Cruz teacher into private lessons.
Virginia Shilson of Albuquerque looks closely at winter's leafless trees, their seed pods and dried leaves catching sunlight, and imagines being cradled in their branches, hearing their song and knowing oneness.
Ed Altman warns that the checkpoints useful to a new student can later become a distraction, and urges teachers to examine their own habit energies so students learn the feeling of the movements rather than details.
Patrick Lenard Eagle's poem pits social pressures to buy a car and sell the house against a dream vision in which Lady Wisdom counsels not to hurry, worry or fret.
Patrick Lenard Eagle
Virginia Shilson recommends that teachers preparing accreditation candidates exchange students between classes, so candidates meet one another and see that minor differences in executing movements leave the essence unchanged.
Virginia Shilson
Patrick Lenard Eagle recounts Seijaku training in San Francisco, Justin Stone's delight in local restaurants, and a diner's syrup-soaked breakfast that humbled him into seeing all people as equal.
Patrick Lenard Eagle
Noël Altman describes the "Ongoing Practice" continuing class she and Ed lead, where students pull the teaching from them, mature students strengthen the group chi, and beginners watch the second half of the form.