Imagery & TCC

During my first encounter with T’ai Chi Chih, I felt at home with circular movements in Around The Platter, Bass Drum, Pulling in the Energy and Pulling Taffy, Variation 2, Wrist Circles. As an artist, I’ve often worked on a potter’s wheel. First the potter rhythmically kicks the wheel while leaning onto a mound of mud with both hands. When the clay centers, he or she then inserts fingertips on the inside and outside and guides the swirling mass into a pot. The outside of the vessel represents positive space or physical reality. The inside is the negative space or spirit. Yin and yang converge into wholeness.

Each week, Janet Oussaty in Branchburg honed our skills by concentrating on different components of TCC. During one session, when she talked about the importance of being grounded, I felt a kinship with trees and their root systems. The winds blew, the limbs swayed, and I remained firm and steady as the life force traveled through my body.

My favorite TCC movement is Pulling In The Energy: a sparkling star rested in my hands as I circled it around a platter. Working The Pulley, Passing Clouds and Perpetual Motion mimicked the movements of the ocean. Waves unfurled, broke on shore, pulled back and receded. When the movements changed, I felt a lull or undertow. Within this sacred space, Chi balanced, flow happened and healing took place.

As the group performed the 19 TCC movements, our circle gathered strength and unfolded into a communal, collective mandala. We climbed to the top of the mountain, walked in the valley and cleansed ourselves in flowing water. TCC provided serenity in the midst of chaos, inner strength and peace.