An Active Year in New Jersey

At the time of this writing, the year is not yet half over. Although there is more to come in the second half of 2006, we have already held four major events and we have 15 new TCC teachers. We also have our monthly Saturday gatherings, plus many local teachers have been busy with 2007 conference planning amid all these other activities.

The Intensive: March 3-6, 2006

It started at the beginning of January, when we suddenly realized that we needed to get an Intensive organized – and soon. Between Sr. Antonia’s and Pam Towne’s busy schedules, it became evident that there was only ONE 4-day period available if an Intensive was to precede a spring teacher training. I knew that I would have to cancel another planned program in order to host this event at that time. I was reluctant. But prajna told me to move forward and TRUST! So I said goodbye to the oceanfront location booking for this other event, which was not suitable for a full TCC Intensive, and cancelled it.

Thanks to the creative planning and resourcefulness of Alba Cordasco, and the willingness of Sr. Antonia and her congregation to bend over backwards to accommodate us, a big miracle happened and we had a great place at which to hold the Intensive.

This place would be the Villa Maria – a convent and former nursing facility run by the Franciscan Congregation in which Sr. Antonia is a vital member. Our monthly Saturday TCC gatherings have taken place there for years. Sadly, the facility had to close down, was being sold, and would be replaced by luxury condominiums, so we felt extra grateful, and many of us a bit sentimental, about our final gathering there.

Arrival on Thursday evening happened in an ice storm. On arrival, I could barely manage to keep my balance the short distance from the car to the entrance of the Villa. “Stay grounded and trust your feet!” my inner voice kept repeating. Does this sound familiar?

I was relieved that Pam was already safely there. Somehow by about 9pm, everyone was present and accounted for—another miracle considering that several folks were arriving by air. But what a pretty sight lay before us outside our windows the next morning – a fairyland of glittering ice and sugary snow coating everything!

Just as all who had arrived in those very slippery conditions had to let go and trust, so that same theme emerged in our work during the Intensive. We had a big turnout —23 students and teachers in attendance (in addition to ourselves), so we were grateful to have both of Pam’s great leadership and teaching as well as the wisdom and assistance of Sr. Antonia. Everyone worked to learn to give the feet the weight, trust the feet to hold us, let go, and FLOW from the center, carrying nothing in the upper body.

It was a great gathering of wonderful folks – many of whom came from states all over the US. In the circle of our final TCC practice, everyone shared their own personal journeys of letting go and trusting. It is often in discovering our weaknesses that we find our strengths. In the circle of this Intensive, we were able to hold one another in strength, and trust ourselves through our vulnerabilities.

A TCC Intensive is a beneficial event for everyone – students and teachers alike. Nine of the 13 students who attended this event would go on to the May Teacher Training Course. It was there that the benefits of the Intensive really came through and supported them in their efforts and their success in accreditation.

From one Intensive Participant: “When Tom Viner, Anita Vestal, and I were in Lubbock, TX in September 2005, we asked Sr. Antonia what were the steps to accreditation. She told us what books, videos, and audios to get, but the big thing was to go to an Intensive. So early March found the three of us in New Jersey at the Intensive. And we all thank Antonia for her guidance. The Intensive was just the right preparation for the teacher training in May. We three are now accredited teachers. — Stan Corwin, FL

Seaside Teacher Gathering April 20-23, 2006

Our annual seaside teacher gathering, hosted by Sky Young-Wick, brought 13 teachers together for a weekend of refinement and fun. Along with TCC group practices, refinements based on the principles of how to move, and some partner practice, Sr. Antonia and I invited the group to address some very good topics of discussion. Among these were seated TCC, teaching “intermediate” level TCC classes, and how to teach Working the Pulley.

I especially enjoyed the discussion around the suggested topic, “Does TCC develop compassion?” Sr. Antonia brought to our attention some thoughts from Justin Stone’s “Spiritual Odyssey” [p.31 The Essence of T’ai Chi Chih], reminding us that T’ai Chi Chih is an inner discipline, and that the fruit of regular practice is Love Energy. Teachers shared the thoughts that TCC helps us with self-acceptance, which in turn can’t help but spill over to others in compassion as our interior self becomes love-filled. Doesn’t this sound like “what the world needs now” most of all?

On Saturday, the exterior day and night were filled with wind-driven rain and a raging sea, while our interiors were quiet and peaceful (and sometimes full of fun). Doing T’ai Chi Chih, our bodies gradually let go of tension and chaos, and became quiet and flowing.

We were very grateful this year to have an extra day (having arrived on Thursday evening instead of Friday), affording us more time to enjoy the good company, and to let what we were being filled with sink in. Let the body surrender to the softness, without the mind having always to understand. Surrender the need to control. Surrender to give ourselves the time to practice. Surrender to feeling the movements, and to awareness of the flow of chi. Surrender to “entering the cosmic rhythm.”

Teacher Renewal Day Ringwood State Park, NJ, May 20, 2006

The pastoral hills and lakes of northern NJ at Ringwood State Park were once again the setting of both the teacher renewal and the teacher training week in May. Mt St Francis Retreat Center was resplendent in the awakening of spring and the warmth and light of the sun.

In our circle of 11 teachers, Pam Towne began the day with some beautiful invitations:

Let the greater circulation and balancing of the chi heal you and make you whole ~ You can learn to soften more, but without losing the shape and form of the movements ~ Explore and self-discover in your TCC practice, and uncover the places where “you don’t know that you don’t know” ~ and reminding us of Justin’s encouraging words: “You do more good than you know by practicing and teaching TCC.”

It was a day of focusing on the principles of how to move, and helping teachers to renew and refresh their movements – some of whom are not often able to attend such events or yearly conferences. In addition, we were privileged to listen to a taped talk that Justin had given on “Evolution through Chi.”

We were reminded of Justin’s often quoted story:

“Teach me, Master!”

“Are you READY to let me teach you how to learn?”

All went away READY to become even better and more devoted teachers of TCC.

TCC Teacher Training May 21-26, 2006

For me personally, as host of this event, the training this year presented a difficult but welcome challenge – to strive to allow myself, “in all my host duties” of the week, to enter and REMAIN in the realm of BEING, not of doing.

On the first morning of the training, as Pam asked all of us present to take some time to focus on our intention for the week (and for the 15 candidates, not merely the intention of going home at the end of the week with a teaching certificate), this is what stood out as thought about the week ahead. All of the events and trainings that I have hosted had consumed me with “doing” tasks – so much so, that I had rarely, if ever, been able to be really PRESENT to the group, the event, and the lessons.

Having realized this, I vowed that this week would be different for me. And so it was. It became a process of being attentive to and engaged in what I needed to do as a host, but not attached to these tasks. The struggle is part of the evolution – for me, the struggle to let go of everything having to be perfect – and entering into the scariness of letting go of the fear that I might not be “good enough.”

The result was such freedom, such serenity, and such enjoyment! (And so, no need for E-G-O! ).

The candidates were truly an inspiration. It was a privilege to witness and be a part of their learning process. And I was filled with gratitude for the great teaching skills and leadership of Pam Towne, the great wisdom and compassion of Sr. Antonia, and the great willingness of all of the auditing teachers to GIVE. Holly Sanders came from Florida and stayed the entire week.

But this is truly a Candidate’s Week, now new teachers. So it is best to provide THEIR comments for all to read.

“We examined ourselves closely this week to discover our individual and collective essence. We found inner-oriented awareness of our strengths and personal resources. We became softness and continuity in our T’ai Chi Chih practice and with our community of teacher candidates as we nurtured and encouraged each other to move from the center. Truly the fruit of this week of May 2006 Teacher Training is LOVE ENERGY.

– Anita Vestal
Texas

“‘To flow from the center, grow from the center, realizing it may require painful pruning to let in the light…’ “I couldn’t move from the center. I looked inside to see what lesson I would learn – fear of failure? No, there was something else. Fear of success? To receive an accreditation that I was not worthy of, to be helped over a hurdle to find that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time? I faced my deeper fear and moved gently forward from the center – T’ai Chi Chih!”

– Darla Granberry
Texas

“All the pressure I felt was self-generated. I was surrounded by loving helpers to guide me along the path to accreditation. I am so grateful for the help, the guidance, and the love.”

– Stan Corwin
Florida

“Teacher training was life transforming for me. I will never be the same! I came out of Teacher Training a different person than I was going in. What a privilege teacher training has been for me.”

– Vicki Schroeder
MN / SC

“I broke my cup, and my family helped me put it back together with LOVE! Thank you.”

– Barb Hines
PA

“Thank you for the Chi…. rather the knowledge of the Chi. I’ll use it as a tool to transform myself and those I love– in other words, the world. I’ll be holding good thought for all of you in my practice.

– Stephen Thompson
MS

As the saying goes, “All hindrances are self-liberating in the great space of awareness.” The TCC teacher training course certainly provides the crucible of space and compassionate instruction for those who want to share TCC with the world by becoming teachers. The experience was wonder-full.

– John Valentine
NE

The TCC Teacher’s Training in Ringwood turned out to be the most profound personal journey. I have experienced the Yin and Yang of myself: from being Big to being Small to being Big again, joined by my new circle of connections: my classmates, Pam, Dan, Sr. Antonia, the auditing teachers, and the community.

My deepest appreciation to Carolyn Perkins and Diana Bahn who got me started on this journey, and the generosity and wisdom of ALL who helped me through my progress. Thank you Justin for the gift of Tai Chi Chih and I am grateful to ALL for a New Beginning.

– Sokie Lee
NYC

“To know that there is a web of T’ai Chi Chih in the world, and to know that I have been given the honor and responsibility to teach and strengthen that web, makes my heart smile. Like Pooh Bear says, “Thanks from the bottom of my socks, cuz the bottom of my heart isn’t deep enough!”

– Kim Follmer
PA

When all had departed in the joy, satisfaction (and exhaustion?) of the week, and when I had cleaned and packed up all my things, I went through the dormitory one last time to check windows and lights and thermostats before locking up to leave. I found this note on an index card left in one of the rooms: “This vastness is not empty or a void or impersonal but filled with the incandescent nectar of selfless love, tender joy, and gratitude. What a true JOY it was to host this Accreditation Course. I am filled with gratitude!

– Dan Pienciak