“Second Hand” TCC

BY NADINE BURGE, WINTHROP HARBOR, IL

In February 2007, my 14-year-old cat, Spike, was diagnosed with cancer and given a few months to live. The vet assured us he was not in pain. To keep him comfortable over the next two months, they periodically drained off the excess fluid surrounding his tumor.

It was about that time that I began my first TCC class. Initially, I couldn’t understand what value the movements could have. But by May, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. I began practicing in earnest – just a few movements for ten minutes a day – and I began to see remarkable advantages. In June, I purchased the DVD and started practicing in front of the TV in my bedroom daily.

By this time, Spike had isolated himself from the rest of the household. He took up residence in our front hallway, as far away as he could carry himself from me, my husband, and the other cats. He knew he was dying; instinct made him hide. However, he was eating and had already lived longer than expected; I was happy to have him with us.

In October, when my husband began sleeping later than usual, I moved my TCC practice to the front room, closer to the front hall. Seven or ten days later, we noticed Spike was no longer hiding in the front hall. He began coming up the few steps to the living room and spending part of his day there. He’d greet me when I arrived home and played with a catnip toy. He even came into the kitchen with the other cats for dinner.

Right away, I knew: There could only be one explanation for this reversal. He was reaping the benefits from “my” TCC practice. I doubled my efforts, practicing every day directly in front of him, wherever he was. I mentally sent him the healing energy of TCC.

It paid off. By the end of the month, he was back in our bedroom with the other cats, spending at least part of the day there. I mentioned this to my instructor, Donna McElhose (with whom I was now taking my second class), and she said to be sure to do Six Healing Sounds. I hadn’t done this previously because we had just learned this movement. But the next day, I tried this with – and on – Spike. Unbelievably, the following day he was back on our bed, sleeping with us and the other cats, as if he had never been ill.

It’s now mid-November, and my husband joins me every morning in my TCC practice with Spike. After all, twice the energy means twice the healing for Spike. As for Spike, he’s doing very well, even walking better than he had before. My vet’s office calls Spike the miracle cat. While I don’t believe in miracles, I do believe in the powers of the Universe and T’ai Chi Chih.

Editor’s Note:

pines

whisper

as wind blows

into their boughs.

white with snow

pale moon

glows.

– Lois Novicki (Student of Richard Detert)

strands,

each one

connected

by energy

flowing through

our lives.

Chi.

– Jane Nicholl (Student of Richard Detert)

move

with mind

in the flow.

universal

energy

for all.

here.

– Jane Nicholl (Student of Richard Detert)

fix

your eyes

on stillness.

falling snowflakes –

soft whisper

to greet

you.

– Jane Nicholl (Student of Richard Detert)

still

silence

in the dark.

amidst the night,

only wind

within

trees

– Chrissie Markus (Student of Sharon Sirkis)

Peace

free

tension,

drifting away.

empty mind.

full heart.

joy.

– Laura Schreiber (Student of Hope Spangler)

light

begins

creating

spiritual

energy

within

us.

– Betty Greer (Student of Carmen Brocklehurst)

walk

alone.

trees and stones,

natural world,

brings you back

to the

peace.

– Caroline Guilott (Student of Carmen Brocklehurst)

mind

is blank.

do not know

how to start this.

so I sit

with no

thought.

– Debra Winland (Student of Carmen Brocklehurst)