Bird Flaps His Wings

During the recent Tai Chi Chih Teacher’s Conference in Albuquerque it became apparent that not everyone was aware of the center’s “Bird Flaps His Wings”. Yes, people knew that it was a movement but most did not know of the plant I so fondly call “Bird”. So I thought I would write about Bird and our escapades together.

I first met Bird Flaps His Wings at my fist class at the Tai Chi Chih Center in January 2000. Bird (my name for him) had only 3 leaves and was in a small 8-inch pot. “The plant looks somewhat forlorn”, I thought. He needs a friend. Over the course of time, when I came to class I would say a mental, “Hello” to Bird Flaps His Wings. It wasn’t until my Intermediate class that I named the plant. The leaves flowed out like the palms of my hands during the Bird Flaps His Wings movement I thought – hmmmm – I’ll call my plant friend “Bird”. Somewhere along my Tai Chi Chih courses I took Bird home to repot him because he seemed to be getting too big for the pot. Now up a size pot-wise I was now through my Intermediate class and had taken Seijaku. I continued my practice and my classes. Bird now needed to be repotted yet again. Somewhere along the way – while taking teacher prep classes – Bird started to sprout leaves and grounding roots. It wasn’t until my teacher training that enlightenment came to me. My plant friend, Bird, had sprouted a leaf for each year of my Tai Chi Chih training. By 2004, four years after first walking into the Tai Chi Chih Center, Bird blossomed 4 leaves and was grounding himself with air roots. “Hmmmm, what an awesome thing!” I thought. “As Bird has grown and grounded so have I.” So Bird now with 7 leaves was a presenter with me during my Tai Chi Chih Teacher presentation. After becoming a teacher I have taken him “on the road” with me for my Tai Chi Chih demonstrations. During our road-time together Bird blossomed his 8th leaf.

My first Tai Chi Chih Teacher’s Conference this past August was an awesome experience. Meeting new people, reuniting with classmates and fine-tuning my movements was energizing and calming. Bird during the Teacher’s Conference blossomed his 9th leaf. Oh, I thought, the significance of 9.

Since the Tai Chi Chih Teachers conference I have been busy with life. Tai Chi Chih practices continue and as I write this article, Bird is blossoming his 10th leaf. I’m looking for a new pot for my friend as he’s starting to outgrow his pot – our life continues to grow and expand. Tai Chi Chih has allowed us both to blossom and as we continue our journey together I enjoy watching and experiencing – The plant – The human – Linked together by Tai Chi Chih!

Bird
Blossoms
Life’s Journeys
Take Us
Home