Pulling in Awareness & Connection

Pulling in the Energy is one of my favorite T’ai Chi Chih movements. Along with the Cosmic Consciousness Pose, it reminds me of my connection to everything in the universe through the Chi. It’s very exciting and comforting to me (and I hope to my students, too).

Before finding TCC I was a high school and college science teacher. I taught many students about our wonderful universe, one that includes everything from the smallest nuclear particle to the farthest star and every animate and inanimate being in between. We are all part of one another, since we all come from stardust and exist with a common energy (which I now call Chi.)

When I began to practice TCC I was much more in touch with my intellect than my body. In fact, it took several years before I felt the Chi at all. The first time was with Pulling in the Energy! Gradually, through daily practice, I’ve become more aware of my body and of the Chi that flows through me. I’m very grateful for that awareness, and I never do Pulling in the Energy without remembering that first time. Nor do I ever forget to use Justin’s words when I teach: “As we circle the hands from left to right, we visualize the energy from the most distant star coming in through the fingertips. This visualization is important.” (T’ai Chi Chih: Joy Thru Movement, ” p. 56)

sPULLING IN THE ENERGY

The energy comes into the tips of the fingers, up the arm, and into the chest. To close the movement, bring the foot back simultaneously with the hands. (Don’t bring the hands back to the front center of chest and then sequentially bring in the front foot.) Just be open to the energy coming through the fingertips and be willing to let it come through. The energy wants to be part of us; it is what we are. If the head is tilted up, this closes the back of the neck. Learn to bring the chin down just a little bit. For advanced students, feel the five energies (five pranas, five aspects of Chi, or five colors) coming through the fingertips. Each fingertip draws in its own color, and each finger will reveal which color flows into it. It’s important to learn about these energies and colors through the actual experience of it rather than being told which is which.