The Vital Force Archive

Judy George marks twenty years as an accredited teacher, describing the worldwide friendships TCC has brought her and how teaching abbreviated movements keeps students who cannot stand nine repetitions coming back weekly.

Alice Holden's account of the 40th anniversary conference at Kean University, where 102 participants heard Sandy McAlister refine the movements, Pam Towne present Seijaku, and Neal Roy's raffle raise over $2000 for scholarships.

Judy Hendricks marks the first anniversary of Justin Stone's death with a joyful teacher-led practice in Albuquerque, lunch at India Palace, a Ruth Fuller Sasaki quote, and a dream invitation into oneness.

On Justin Stone's 95th birthday, the writer and a friend improvised a ceremony at the Bosque by the Rio Grande, launching a bark boat that snagged on a tree until stone and petal fell away.

April Leffler recounts a dream in which a frail, legless Justin Stone stood in a rehab room, clasped her hands, spoke in a foreign language with glowing eyes, and said he could not find his way home.

Marcy Burns describes the second annual candlelight practice at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Ventura, where 40 practitioners lit each other's candles and honored Justin Stone and Phyllis Luyken on her 90th birthday.

Sue Bitney describes the Minnesota TCC community's November gathering near Justin's birthday: a circle practice, a teacher-provided potluck, 18 people saying what TCC has meant, then cake and ice cream.

Carmen Brocklehurst describes Justin Stone's 94th birthday gathering in New Mexico, with a noon practice at the country's first TCC center, jazz musicians, visiting teenagers, and three-year-old Leila Berg.

Judy Chancey's birthday greeting for Justin Stone's 93rd, praising his humility and crediting T'ai Chi Chih with leading her back to a genuine connection with the God-energy.

Guy Kent recounts International T'ai Chi Chih Day in Albuquerque, where 15 new teachers were accredited, practice filled the New Mexico TCC Center, and a potluck honored Justin Stone's 93rd birthday.

Ann Rutherford announces that Justin Stone plans to attend Sandy McAlister's November 2009 teacher training, whose graduation day falls on his 93rd birthday, marked by a potluck dinner.

The editor announces secure on-line subscription renewals at taichichih.org, walks through the snail mail and email reminder cycle, and describes a teacher who asked 60th birthday guests to donate, raising $851.

Justin Stone marks the birthday party at the Albuquerque T'ai Chi Chih Center, argues TCC is making the world a better place, and adds two pyramid poems written in 1999 en route to Kyoto.

Sr. Antonia Cooper marks the Year of the Rat with news of Justin Stone's November 17th Life Celebration, the new 17-minute DVD biography and poetry CD, and a planned international teacher training scholarship fund.

At Justin's Life Celebration, Sr. Antonia interviewed Justin Stone, who recalled Professor Wang's three warm-ups, the week the TCC movements came to him named and complete, and refusing teachers' tithing checks.

Ginny Morgan describes Justin Stone's November 17th Celebration of Life for his 91st birthday, with two group practices, a piano concert of his original songs, his paintings, a potluck dinner, and the new narrated DVD/CD of his life.

Ginny Morgan announces registration details for the November 17, 2007 Celebration of Life marking Justin Stone's 91st birthday, with a full practice, a talk by Justin, movement refinement, and an evening potluck.

Sheila Leonard describes T'ai Chi Chih in Newfoundland and Labrador, where her students gathered at The Lantern for Justin Stone's 90th birthday and where teacher Dan Pienciak is expected for a July weekend.

Pam Towne Duncan thanks the Minnesota TCC community for the Conference and describes being Encircled in Chi with her fiance Ted, whose blessing ribbons later draped their Encinitas wedding church.

Nancy Lecraw describes how twenty-five northern Illinois teachers and students formed a Circle of Gratitude for Justin Stone's 89th birthday, with Native American readings, flute music, a full practice and tea.

Barbara Riley describes Bay Area teachers gathering in Wendy Helms' garden in June to celebrate Lois Mahaney's birthday with cake, recalling her years as Vital Force publisher and database founder.

Kathy Grassel describes the 4 by 7.5 foot banner TCC Guide Sr. Antonia Cooper designed for the 150th anniversary of her German motherhouse, founded in 1855 by Antonie Werr to care for women in need.

Sr. Antonia Cooper, OSF, plans a trip to her community's Motherhouse in Wuerzburg for its 150th anniversary of ministry to women in need, then an overnight train to Christina Minelli's Italian TCC community.

Andrea Skillman recounts a November 20th World T'ai Chi Chih Day gathering of about 25 teachers and students, with workshops on weight shift and t'an t'ien rotation, origami peace cranes, and birthday cards for Justin Stone.

Marking the journal's twentieth year, the July 2004 issue reprints Justin Stone's letter to teachers from the Summer Solstice 1984 first issue, on harmonizing Kidney yin and Heart yang and keeping the practice pure.

Linda Braga honors Bay Area teacher Lois Mahaney, who kept the TCC database for 15 years, mailed the Vital Force, designed the Ou Mie Shu bird shirts, and retired in her mid-80s.

Nancy Werner-Azarski describes a November 21st gathering at the Fridley Community Center for Justin Stone's birthday, with Judy George leading 25 people in practice, a potluck, and a student's husband volunteering to build a class webpage.

Kathy Grassel recounts how New Mexico teachers and students marked Justin Stone's 87th birthday and International Joy Thru Movement Day on Nov. 20 with two practices, a restaurant lunch, a potluck and a slide show.

Barbara Riley organized a November 20th birthday celebration for Justin with her Walnut Creek class, where visiting teachers took turns leading movements, Linda Braga spoke, and refreshments followed.

Teachers' responses to the 18th International Conference at Banff, where praise for the breakout sessions on softness, groundedness and yielding was overtaken by the retirement announcements from Ed Altman, Noel Altman and Jean Katus.