Individual Focus, Collective Intention

One of the of the beautiful attributes of the movement Pulling in the Energy is that each person will have his or her own focus, his or her own way of feeling and visualizing “energy from the most distant star coming in through the fingertips” (pg. 56 of the photo text). It is the only movement that can be individualize in each person’s own way.

Years ago when teaching this movement I could not relate to “the most distant start” and figured others may have trouble too, so I gave a long list of what people might visualize – connecting with God’s healing love and light; if you are a moon or earth worshiper connecting with that energy; connecting with the collective consciousness of mankind; feeling a healing life force; or whatever had meaning for them. One day talking to Justin, I, in my thinking that I’m cool way, told him what I said when teaching the movement. After listening patiently he looked at me quite nonplused and said with no emotion “I don’t know why you have to make it so complicated; it’s just pulling in energy from the most distant star.” I laugh at myself with a little “duh” every time I recall this conversation.

How simple it is and yet how powerful. Often new students find this to be the first movement where they feel a tingling in the fingers for the first time. And consider how much more powerful this movement is when doing it in a group. We are all doing the same movement using our individual focus, yet we are all moving with the same collective intent. The power of the collective intention intensifies the results.

I see this as a metaphor for our T’ai Chi Chih Community. Over the past month I have been involved in several conversations discussing how teachers can contribute to the growth of TCC and the wellbeing of the community. We each have different talents, skills, knowledge, and wisdom to offer. But talking is not enough. We must each step forward and offer what we can. Speak out with suggestions. We are a grass-roots community and responsible for ourselves. No group or organization is going to take charge. Gratefully we have Antonia to guide us should our ideas not be in alignment with Justin’s wishes. In the true spirit of community we each can contribute our talents so that the TCC community is truly run by the collective and not a few hard workers. With our individual gifts to give, and working with a collective intention for a vibrant TCC community, we cannot fail to propel TCC into future.