Midwest teachers reconnect after the August Teachers’ Conference

On September 12, a group of T’ai Chi Chih teachers from the Indiana and Ohio areas met at Michaela Farm in Oldenburg, Indiana. We shared much, especially our remembrances of this summer’s conference in St. Paul. Another activity was to share a pot luck meal at the retreat center on the farm. We were able to practice T’ai Chi Chih twice together during the day—once in the beautiful setting of the herb garden, and the earlier practice at the San Damiano Center while Sister Patty went back to her home to get the meat to grill. Toward the end of the day, all were invited to go up to the sisters’ Motherhouse for a tour of the premises.

Michaela Farm is owned by the Sisters of St. Francis, of which Sisters Patty Campbell and Claire Whalen are members. The farm has been in existence since the mid 1850’s. It has recently been restored as a center for sustainable agriculture, growing food organically, composting and other preservation efforts are used. It is a center of natural energy, and those who attended the T’ai Chi Chih gathering also gave of their Chi energy to the farm, as well as being recipients of its life-giving energy.