Homecoming

Although Thomas Wolfe said, “You can’t go home again,” he’d obviously never been to an International T’ai Chi Chih Teacher Conference. My long overdue homecoming this year was especially warm and welcoming; only Justin’s physical presence was missing. The teh (or power of inner sincerity and integrity) that Justin so often describes was palpable, especially our guide, Sr. Antonia. 

Although I was recognized as one of the “old” TCC teachers (certified in the 1980’s), I came to this conference as a humble beginner again, open and eager for corrections which were gently given. It was so powerful and peaceful to move as one with other teachers and to renew my practice and commitment to teaching. Peace was ever-present in the joyful faces of other teachers. The Saturday evening renewal was profoundly elegant, and I was heartened to find myself at home again – within my practice and within the teacher community. My only regret? “What took me so long?”

I was also surprised by, but appreciative of, the public acknowledgement of my role as one of several who organized the First International TCC Teacher Conference at Asilomar, held in 1985 on California’s Monterey Peninsula. It was gratifying when Carmen Brocklehurst told me that Justin still remembered my role in organizing that first conference. If that memory has given him any pleasure over the years, the effort was worthwhile.

As I reflect upon that first conference, there are many wonderful, California-dreaming kind of memories. The most vivid one took place at twilight on the beach at Asilomar. Teachers began to move silently, barefoot on the sand, allowing TCC to do TCC. As the sun was setting, seagulls circled overhead while frothy, translucent waves crashed upon the beach. In that breathtakingly setting, in the TCC experience of awareness and relaxation, I faintly heard the wind carrying the haunting sounds of … bagpipe music. A lone Scottish piper on a distant dune plaintively accompanied our practice with the song, “Amazing Grace.”

I encourage you, whether old or new to teaching TCC, to make plans to travel home again to our next family reunion in July 2009 in Nebraska City.