Many Paths: One Destination

Twenty-six paths led to one destination – the February Tai Chi Chih Retreat at Mount Calvary Retreat House. Personal reasons differed for reaching that destination. Some came for healing medical and physical problems, others for the mind and spirit. Curiosity about the retreat brought one student; improving Tai Chi Chih movements brought others. Sharing the experience with friends and family led to the destination as did improving teaching techniques.

Mt. Calvary Retreat House, sitting high in the mountains above Santa Barbara, California provides the perfect atmosphere for Chi. Nature provided soul-satisfying views of the ocean, sunsets, sunrises, and the starry night sky. The monks added to the mountain grandeur with a stone labyrinth, hidden peaceful gardens, sunny terraces, a quiet library, community rooms, a small restful chapel, and hospitable sleeping quarters. In between practices, walking the stone labyrinth to its top center in the warm noon sun brought an exhilarating energy from head to toe. During the breakfast silence time in the secluded garden, drinking tea wrapped one in a soothing peacefulness. Quiet reflections went out like the morning tide leaving one’s mind and spirit filled with contentment.

A professional chef provided delicious meals and a friendly office and cleaning staff provided excellent support. The monks were gracious hosts making one and all feel at home and welcome.

Sister Antonia, guide of Tai Chi Chih, from North Plainfield, New Jersey, added to the monk’s graciousness with her leadership of the retreat in the Chih philosophy of joy in the heart, mind, and soul.

Pam Towne, retreat co-coordinator and instructor from Encinitas, California, with a deep personal tranquility, organized and taught, bringing currents and rhythms of 27 lives into a synchronized flowing dance. Four Tai Chi Chih instructors generously gave of their time and skills to lead two of the training session. We thank: Carolyn Allenby, Paradise Valley, Arizona; Alba Cordasco, Jersey City, New Jersey; Siobhan Hutchinson, New Egypt, New Jersey; and Nancy LeCraw, Libertyville, Illinois.

During the sharing sessions participants opened their inner selves to join together in peace and harmony. Peggy Goldman, student from Seattle, Washington shared that she had been a doer and a worker all of her life, and now she wanted to explore being. Maureen May, student from Cardiff, California, felt it was more than a deepening of practice and a renewing of body, mind and spirit. She felt that the effects were at a cellular level, and the whole experience is living within her. Jerry Bumbalough, student from Greenfield, California, who joined to wind down after some stressful activities, learned once more that what you think you know only leads to what you do not know.

During the healing circle session the Chi currents visibly flowed over, around, and through making everyone simultaneously givers and receivers. The room became a bath of Chi and long after the session ending time all remained peacefully soaking in the energy. Grace Hathaway, student from Seattle, Washington still mentally goes to that time and renews herself by bathing again in the Chi. Siobhan finally relaxed and found she was not there to “accomplish” anything, but to really look at her T’ai Chi Chih practice without putting pressure on herself. In this relaxed and empty space her body “melted” into a deeper practice like a warm melted chocolate flowing inside her mind and body.

Doris Goldman, student from Oakland, California, and her daughter Peggy, shared the Chi together renewing and reinforcing their mother/daughter bonds. Doris at 82 finds her daily T’ai Chi Chih exercises to be a strengthening force in her life. Her commitment to finish each session was an inspiration and role model for students and teachers.

Sister Antonia invited us to be “empty cups.” The chi filled the cups, generating a positive group attitude permeating all of the retreat activities. At the end the participants, from Washington to Pennsylvania, eagerly applauded plans for a retreat at the same destination in 2006. This opening to new Chi experiences carried over to the plan for a Sedona T’ai Chi Chih retreat in 2006.

This retreat touched each person in different ways but all agreed that not only was it worth the time and expense, but that they were leaving with new life perspectives and energy levels. Joe Genovese, student from Newbury Park, California learned that to be more “fully present” he had to release work responsibilities and be 100 percent mentally in the practice. Marilyn Fulmer, student from Stanwood, Michigan, received so many fresh insights to help enhance her practice that long before the retreat was over she could truly say, “My cup runneth over.”

The love and compassion entered so deeply that one hopes it will act like a sourdough starter and always be a core in our relationships now and in the future. Rosalind Walsh, student from Encinitas, California, read a poem by Rumi which defines the totality of the retreat experience.

“Let the waters settle
and you will see
the moon and stars
mirrored in your being.”