The Vital Force Archive

Lois Vermilya's prose poem gathers energy from the most distant star into fingertips and soles, naming a paradox of force and letting go that might fuel her activism of fierce hope.

Transcribed from Justin Stone's spoken word CD, two talks recount a Roshi telling a lawyer to remove his overcoat, poems by Tagore and Tenko-san on the question of who you are, and a monk who kept rescuing a biting scorpion.

Christian E. Gunning's poem, written out of the November 2024 teacher accreditation course, moves through circle sharing, magpies and mule deer, snow past a west-facing window, and pealing bells.

Greg Berg, who writes free verse himself, examines Justin Stone's Pyramid Poetry form from Climb the Joyous Mountain and reads its seven lines as an ascent of yang and descent of yin.

Diana Bahn's few lines from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference name the joy of seeing old friends, meeting new ones, and sharing time together.

Gail Nieto strings a few words together from the 50th Teacher Conference: joy, being together, old and new friends as companions on the way, and Albuquerque red and green chile.

Two short pyramid poems from the 50th teacher conference, one by Jungmin Lee on eating and being hungry again tomorrow, one by Benjamin Brisjar on tea with friends.

John Marquez led conference attendees in writing Justin's original Pyramid Poetry during the Friday evening program on July 26, with a tip to re-read only the first and last syllable for self-insight.

Bonnie Schowalter offers a few spare lines on the 50th Teacher Conference, where friends from the past reunited, shared the Chi, rested their souls and shared joy.

A few lines from the 50th Teacher Conference by BM, praising good fresh food, the nourishment of T'ai Chi Chih friendships, and chi inside and all around, infinitely loving.

Lisa VanderVliet's short poem from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, on life beckoning something new, a radical step forward, and light shining through each person as the group moves together.

Marie Dotts sets an anonymous line about being warm and soft like a newly woken puppy beside her own short declaration that she chooses life, come what may, good and bad.

Jo Brinkman's brief haiku-like lines from the 50th Teacher Conference, about flying back home to the garden, birds flitting by and keeping her grounded, and the calm and joy felt there.

BM sets down brief poetic fragments from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, among them Cathy Dalton's line that one embrace of all life is all that is needed.

Gail Terriff strings together short imperatives offered at the 50th Teacher Conference: breathe, laugh, share, be a light, smile, try something new, be creative, then sit back.

Victor's brief verse from the 50th Teacher Conference in Albuquerque, naming the teachers joined forever and moving the chi together with much joy, closing with Justin's name.

A short untitled poem from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, addressed to Denise, praising twinkling eyes and shared laughter and closing with a line of Spanish endearment.

Two brief poetic fragments from the 50th TCC Teacher Conference, one by NWA on life as one letting go and being human now, the other by NJB on love rising.

Denise offers a short fragmentary poem from the 50th TCC Teacher Conference, quoting an anonymous line about peace inside all the time and letting go as the present.

Two short untitled haiku by CK from the 50th TCC Teacher Conference, one on time passing too fast and letting the moment go, the other on strangers becoming friends in one circle.

Two short untitled poems by Anon from the 50th Teacher Conference, one on light, gratitude and expanding joy, the other on brown leaves and holding the hose in a rainless heat.

A short untitled fragment from the 50th Teacher Conference, addressing the reader as the only one knowing spirit in the heart, followed by a string of words running from food and appetite to coma.

Linda's short untitled poem, presented at the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, instructs the reader to be silent, go within, dwell long in the quiet, and become one with the whole world.

An unsigned fragment from the 50th TCC Teacher Conference strings together feeling the feet, joy, listening and truth, closing with a blessing for the true family gathered there.

Donna Aldous collects short poems from the 50th Teacher Conference, among them Nancy Frost's lines on quiet forest air and going home, and a verse on letting go into your soles.

Two brief anonymous poems from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, one naming the peace of being together with friends in July, the other addressed to John in everlasting love.

A brief anonymous verse from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, declaring love for practising together and a cherishing that carries from yesterday into today.

Christina Tillotson offers a brief poem from the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, naming oneness, center and joy, and counseling that when softness eludes you, let the flow return the chi.

Linda Braga recounts writing "Blooming the Rose Within" during a silent retreat at Santa Sabina Center, where she led morning T'ai Chi Chih, and its 2020 first-place win in the International Dancing Poetry Contest.

A short poem by Lorel Maple, written at the 50th T'ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference, counting the joy of that sacred gathering place and asking to carry it home.