The Vital Force Archive

Nine new teachers were accredited by April Leffler in Leavenworth, Kansas, and candidates including Gilbert Pagat, Barbara Starke and Roksan Biktimir recount refinements, presentation nerves, PTSD healing and long delays.

Lorraine Lepine recounts a small group of T'ai Chi Chih teachers gathering in Belize, where twice-daily practice, jungle, ocean and Beverly's community combined into what she calls the most delicious Chi dish.

Lorraine Lepine traces how natural breath, emptying, and slowed movement lead to subtle vibration and inner light, citing Paul Reps and Justin Stone's statement in 20th Century Psalms that we are the product of sound vibration.

Lorraine Lepine describes moving her attention from the soles of her feet to the t'an t'ien until the Chi seemed to practice itself, and a group meditation on listening to mental clamor rather than pushing it away.

Lorraine Lepine describes the resting position, or graceful conclusion, that punctuates the nineteen movements, and the grounded empty fullness of Chi settling when the body comes to stillness.

Lorraine Lepine describes the four-days-a-week Zoom practice she has led since March 2020, letting the Chi teach during silent practice, with testimonials from Melissa, Steve Geer, John Marquez and Nicky Mendenhall.

Lorraine Lepine walks through the upright posture of the resting position, from the thread of energy at the ceiling to the tucked chin, lowered shoulder blades and perpendicular tailbone, as a route to the relaxation response.

Lorraine Lepine catalogues a T'ai Chi Chih intensive entirely in words beginning with R, from revisiting movement basics with a beginner's mind to remembering she is not alone in the journey.

Melissa Eichman's pyramid poem moves through glistening snow, patient stillness and a gentle breeze where yin and yang converge, ending with a soft walk across snow kissed earth.

Lorraine Lepine describes hosting a daily Zoom T'ai Chi Chih practice and guided meditation since March 2020, and the wordless energetic connection she feels with participants through the screen.

Mary Kay Chavez, who lives three hours from her teacher Lorraine Lepine, describes how Zoom practice gave her the frequency, control and versatility that Facetime sessions could not.

Art Loche returns to T'ai Chi Chih as a moving meditation, describing how the circularity of Pulling in the Energy, attention in the t'an t'ien and imagined ocean motion inspired his published sketch.

Lorraine Lepine describes a Stone Circle in Kenmare, Ireland, where a beam of light through the center stone became a recurring practice vision of Justin Stone at the heart of the TCC community.

Jan Block thanks the 2009 Nebraska teacher conference for deepening her teaching of "why" as well as "how," describes adding intermediate and advanced classes, and recounts practicing TCC after airport security pat-downs.

Lorraine Lepine reports on the open Outreach Coordinator post, guidelines being drafted for teaching seniors, children and seated TCC, and the teacher reference materials project, followed by Justin Stone's letter objecting that T'ai Chi Chih is being made commercial.

Lorraine Lepine describes the online Teacher Resource list updated at the 2008 conference and announces Hannah Hedrick's "Guidelines for Teaching Students with COPD," the first of several population-specific guidelines.