The Vital Force Archive

Tom Bleckov's two-line pyramid poem plays on tension and release as "chi sion" and "chi lease" to describe the process of Seijaku, with a note from Jeanne Jacobs on his recent Seijaku course.

Steve Ridley's pyramid poem, dated April 4, 1991 and dedicated to the Albuquerque accreditation graduates, asks whether they can abide in patience like a deeply rooted tree.

Steve Ridley answers a student who stopped practicing when his hands vibrated strongly, arguing that sensations of heat, pressure, pain or emotional surges signal harmonization in progress rather than danger.

Justin Stone asks teachers not to recommend unprepared candidates after one entered a course without being ready, praises the Albuquerque course, and previews a maximum Chi program at the Seijaku Course.

Carmen Brocklehurst recounts organizing Justin Stone's April 1991 lecture, moving from a 100-seat Hilton room to a larger one as prepaid tickets passed 70, and likens Justin to Master Hakuyu.

Steve Ridley argues that spiritual growth requires continual re-birth, and that self-satisfaction creates resistance to the progressive change that would otherwise bring evolutionary transformation.

Steve Ridley instructs teachers to send only well-qualified candidates to accreditation courses: excellent performance of every movement, at least six months of practice, maturity, and an attitude of respect and cooperation.

Joy Barbour facilitated Arizona's first T'ai Chi Chih teacher training course in Bullhead City in May 1991, with Steve Ridley teaching; newly accredited Loretta Hopper adds her own thanks and names the thirteen graduates.

Three students write in: Karen Greene no longer needs prescription medication for menstrual cramps, Yun Yu Hu regains movement in an inflamed shoulder, and John Schneider finds himself rooted amid confusion.

Richard Brier argues that a teacher who does not practise daily has no right to teach, and describes how faithful training after the first eight to ten classes opens students to higher energies, grounding and letting go.

Two newspaper features reprinted in part: The Times on San Mateo teacher George Balliet, who found T'ai Chi Chih while recovering from an industrial accident and now runs a 12-week class, and The Albuquerque Tribune on Caroline Chavez leading seniors.

A passage quoted from Jin Shin Do: Acupressure Way of Health defines Shin, or Shen, as spirit dwelling in the heart, master of chi in body and mind.

Four aphorisms from Justin Stone, including "Every Blade of Grass a Guru" and his claim that all practices come down to knowing who and what you are.

Teacher updates include Christeen McLain speaking at the American Holistic Nurses' Association conference, Shoko Purdy teaching in Japanese to her mother, Michael Martin's free drop-in classes on Chicago's Navy Pier, and Theda Gillespie's library demonstration with the mayor.