The Vital Force Archive

Lorraine Lepine's account of the first introductory Seijaku course, led by Bill Moore for 18 participants after the 2013 Minnesota conference, with his emphasis on grounding and participant comments.

Sandy McAlister announces a six-month Mentoring Program, with April Leffler and Stacey Moore as the first mentors for May's new teachers, plus a Continuing Education Program awarding 27 hours for intensives.

Judy Hendricks recounts the grounding she felt in the conference group practices and the realization that T'ai Chi Chih belongs to no one person, closing with a line from Swami Prajnanpad on love.

Donna McElhose recounts organizing an After Conference Workshop for area teachers who could not attend, sorting her notes on the teacher trainers' comments, KG's media talks and the YouTube presentation videos.

Daniel Pienciak breaks down grounding with two mnemonics from his conference break-out circles, "Sink, Shift, Hands, Heel" for beginning a movement and five S's for closing, plus three weight points under each foot.

Bruce Eisenmenger, newly accredited in May 2013, describes his first T'ai Chi Chih conference in Collegeville as a reunion and a homecoming, opening with Justin Stone's words on gratitude from Spiritual Odyssey.

Hannah Hedrick, prompted by conference discussion, began organizing "T'ai Chi Chih Connections" with contact people and home-based centers in Chicago, Vigo County, Matsu Valley and Big Island, followed by reader-submitted jokes.

Deb Bertelsen, co-chair of the annual conference, recounts the bruised hearts, venue changes and deaths in the planning group, and the lessons in teh and staying grounded that followed.

Julie Schuster's first conference, which she helped plan with fellow Minnesota teachers, gave her a deeper grasp of prajna, the ability to ground in Seijaku, and ACE continuing education credit through Pam Towne.

Judy George, writing as a conference planner, names what she learned holding an intention through the ups and downs of two families, and thanks Deb Bertelsen, the trainers and the Minnesota community.

Donna McElhose recounts the 2013 conference at St. John's University, from Kimiko Gunji's tea ceremony and the Dances of Universal Peace to KG expanding a 20-teacher video shoot to 45 slots.