Opening Remarks Open Windows

A meaningful, beautiful package was woven through two events: Antonia’s opening conference remarks and Pam’s opening Seijaku accreditation remarks.

Antonia spoke about Impermanence – that it is a part of the evolution of life as we discover who and what we are. She likened it to the yin-yang process that occurs as we practice T’ai Chi Chih. She asked us recall when we first began to practice. A picture came: a soft green room at a church where I had attended Sunday service for the first time the previous day. I was 52 years old, back in school, in a rocky marriage and my artwork had dried up. Antonia said she knew that wherever we were then, and wherever we are now, TCC had made it possible. Yes, such strides made in those years.

And what was also clear? Evolution picked up when I began Seijaku a year ago. Just a few weeks into Seijaku, I began to say no to lifelong activities. Just because I am good at something doesn’t mean I have to do it forever. I said yes to moving through resistance and found my way back to writing, studio work and taking my two practices deeper.

Pam asked us to dream big with the question, “How does Seijaku want to newly express through me?” I woke up the next morning with the words “Marks and Movement.” While I don’t know the specifics, it seems that “marks” refers to my writing and artwork, while “movement” is my TCC/Seijaku practice.

It’s impossible to know where TCC is moving us, or how our evolutionary process will unfold. But Justin writes in Spiritual Odyssey that “once we accept the idea of Impermanence, it is not too difficult to experience Who and What we are.” (page 52)