A Journey, Words & Polarity (August 2023, Part 1)

We are all on a journey, on a spiritual journey, really. Do the practice the best you can with all the principles present. Then go and watch Justin. Be open to learning. He watched what was happening inside of people. He didn’t explain the movements so that we could discover them for ourselves. In our own time and at our own pace. You cannot force feed the truth.

Words Matter

Every word we say is a trap because it brings you somewhere else. That said, I teach a lot with words and action. But first I want students to relax in their bodies. Then we can move together, but I see a lot when we talk. And let’s use Justin’s words, please — such as “visualizing the energy from the most distant star, streaming through the fingertips.” There’s power in those words, those exact words.

We “come back to a graceful conclusion” not a resting pose. We rest a little bit, but not too long, and then we go on. But it’s not coming back into the dimes, or resting in the dance or whatever, right? There’s a “graceful conclusion” and we should know and experience what it is. When I went to Justin’s, I just watched. Can you relax your gut? And if you relax your behind, there, you are good. You can stay there forever. It’s little things like that.

I tell students how to do the “hip swivel,” which is what Justin called it. It’s all about letting go. I was watching Push Pull recently and Justin drops his hands to his heart. They are already relaxed before they arrive to the body. You push from the shoulder, you come back to the shoulder, but notice where it ends and relaxes.

Polarity

Editor’s Note: When someone asked Caroline about polarity on the TCC teacher Facebook page, this answer came to her at once without thinking.

The polarity in T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) practice is at the forefront since it is part of the principles. We pay attention to it while moving.

We do not just bring the palms together as a cosmetic gesture; it goes much deeper than that. That first relaxed manner of open hands is an integral part of the start of how to feel the energy moving between the hands. You might feel it as heat, or cold, or tingling or… (we each have own experience). But it will be a way to notice, not with the mind, but with the body.

It brings an awareness of the movement that is more subtle. It brings it out of the realm of being an “exercise.” Little by little, students and teachers open themselves to an encounter with Chi that is flowing. By paying attention to it while still being in the feet, there will be a connection to our own self. Along the way, we get in touch with the impalpable by letting it show itself in our own practice. But we have to be ready. We learn to cultivate it and we start to know that we are this Chi flowing in our own body, vibrating inside.

For this, we just have to pay attention to it and let it manifest all the way to the fingertips. We will know it is alive, vibrating inside. We will invite it by allowing it to show its presence. The slightly cupped, relaxed hands and wrists allow this process to unfold.

The Chi is shy in a way. We know mentally that Chi is activated, that it circulates, and is balanced while we do the TCC movements. We get out of our heads and bring it into the realm of the senses through the body and heart. By noticing with our heart what is going on in our body, we sync with what is expressed within ourselves.

This is my take on the importance of the polarity in TCC practice. I hope it helps and brings another awareness of this principle. Enjoy it to the best of your ability and discover who and what you are.