Finding Our Center

Is there anything more valuable in times of difficulty then discovering our center? When I think about the Original Face of the Nei Kung practice, or Justin Stone’s reference to “your face before you were born,” that center comes to mind.

In doing my T’ai Chi Chih and Seijaku practice, I often become very aware of expansion and contraction in the movements and in my body. It seems as energy rippling outward and then retreating inward again.

In forward and back movements, the ripples expand while the weight is given to the front leg, and the ripples draw into the center while the weight is given to the back leg. In the turning movements, the drawing into the center happens in the middle of the weight shift with the weight on both feet. I feel the tan t’ien as if gently blowing up and then shrinking inward.

In Asia it is said that one can chase their shadow all day long, but if one stands still and upright at noon, one’s shadow will become one with them.

In the practice, I feel my shadow as lengthening on the ground in late day sun, and then slowly shrinking until it is only beneath my feet. I recall a favorite childhood movie, Peter Pan, whose shadow had become lost, then found, and sewn back on … to the feet! Ah, the place of grounding, the place of rooting of the Chi.

When tree leaves blow off during a storm and branches snap off, the trunk remains upright and immoveable if the tree is rooted deeply enough. And so it is in our practice, if fully aware, we can discover and know where we stand.

I’ve recently discovered that I suffer from a mild case of PTSD and have discovered its source. Being aware of it, and the great benefit of TCC-Seijaku practice to combat its absolutely jolting inward affect, has been a lifesaver in this most difficult time. The awareness and feeling of expansion and contraction in the practice helps us find, feel and stay in our center. This is our True Home.