Justin Stone on T’ai Chi Chih

May 9, 2004

Dear Justin,

Yesterday when Dan held the usual 2nd Saturday of the month meeting, we had a particularly lengthy discussion on two subjects: (1) Six Healing Sounds, and (2) the subject of “emphasizing” as mentioned in your article in the recent issue of The Vital Force.

(1) Six Healing Sounds. We agreed that the movement itself is done softly but are in confusion about how to make the sounds. In the Justin Stone book, we read, “…slowly uttering the correct sound in a long drawn out whisper.” Yet to the contrary we have heard from different and respected sources that the sounds should be expirated in a short, crisp manner, that this is what Justin recommends. It is the way I teach it in my classes. Which is the correct method?

(2) Passing Clouds. One page 9 of the April VFJ, you use “Passing Clouds” and “Push Pull” to illustrate the importance of emphasizing “…the hand opposite the Yang leg.” While I am aware of the opposite hand emphasis in “Push Pull” and in “Carry the Ball to the Side,” not mentioned in your article, it is the first time I’m hearing that there is an emphasis to the opposite hand in “Passing Clouds.”

There was much talk yesterday about “what Justin means,” and about whether “emphasizing” and “substantial” have the same meaning. Is there a 60/40 emphasis in the hands in “Passing Clouds”? If so, how does it relate to the substantial/insubstantial leg in that movement? We could not get a clear understanding yesterday.

Always with deepest respect, and loving thoughts,

– Lucia Veteran
Lake Winola, PA

Dear Lucia,

By now you’ve gotten my first letter, and now I have your second, which I’ll do my best to answer. I’m not happy explaining what I wrote 20 or 30 years ago as things do evolve, sometimes for the better.

As to the Healing Sounds, my original intention was to have the sounds slightly drawn out: Hooooo. However, Ho and Hoo (who) would then look exactly the same. On the sheet you sent, your elucidation of the sounds is exactly the way I wanted. To clarify, I would like the sounds slightly drawn out in a forceful (oral) manner. Most teachers have gradually come around to utter them in a short manner. Okay, but not my original intention. Remember, others have been giving the Teacher Training Courses for many years now. Change is not desired, but it is inevitable under the circumstances. Incidentally, there is no way to concentrate on the inner organs; I wouldn’t know where to concentrate. That was taken from ancient instructions and was a mistake. The article on the six healing sounds does not read like my writing and may have been taken from an article; I don’t remember.

In doing “Passing Clouds,” a change was suggested by Steve Ridley at a Seijaku course I gave in San Francisco, and it was a good suggestion. By emphasizing first the left hand and then the right hand, slightly cupped, we scoop up the Chi as we move. I cannot go back and change what I originally wrote, but I welcome good change, of which we have had little. For instance, Kathy Grassel started counting to six as her hands circled in “Light at the Top of the Head” and “Light at the Temple,” and again to six as the hands held steady. Most of us now do it in the improved manner. Consistency can be a hindrance if the change is an improvement.

Your letter confirms my thought that you are a good and serious teacher. It is necessary for a good teacher to understand the movements, so I am always at your service. Meantime, I compliment you on your work. You might want to share my answer with Dan.

With loving thoughts,

– Justin