Heightened Awareness In Northern Colorado

“Dear Universe, amaze me.” April Leffler’s latest prayer was at the center of her teaching throughout. As a new student, I was delighted to be in the company of so many experienced teachers and students, including several who have studied with the kata’s originator, Justin Stone.

Four teachings resonated and I continue to ponder and allow them to integrate between T’ai Chi Chih practice and daily life. The first is the nature of who we are, that we are filled with innate wisdom. April likened this prajna to our own inner guidance system or GPS. The second teaching is that there is a reciprocal nature between mind and Chi that reflects my own spiritual experience of “as you believe, so it will be.” We practiced bringing our awareness to the present moment, accepting what is, neither clinging nor resisting, and knowing we can consciously, mindfully raise our vibrational channel. We were invited to dream, think and believe in the realm of limitlessness. What is possible in the mind is activated with our Chi and becomes our reality. This led to the third powerful teaching: name things you would love to experience; trust your intuition, your prajna; and say, “Yes!” When stymied by our self-imposed limits, and the question arises, “How am I going to [fill in the blank]?,” April’s enthusiastic answer is “Now, is how!” And finally, lean into your community for inspiration and support. This fourth teaching, that we are not having this “earthsuit” experience in isolation, is pure gold. We are surrounded by like-minded souls who readily see our potential. Allow family and friends to “supersize” your dreams. This web of interconnection and oneness reminds me of the Buddhist metaphor, Indra’s Jewel Net. We are sparks of life force, vastly built with potential and are inextricably connected to all beings.

There are so many ways my TCC practice enlivens all of the above teachings, from trusting and acting according to my inner knowing, to letting go of efforting, and to allowing the unfolding of my life experience. I am grateful to be welcomed into the TCC community of Northern Colorado. Let’s continue to build this life-sustaining, compassionate community, together. Come join us – you will be amazed!