Soliciting Experiences

Articles do not pour into The Vital Force in numbers great enough to sustain a quality publication without solicitations from the Editor. We know from feedback that you are quite appreciative of The Vital Force and look forward to reading it cover-to-cover upon arrival. So please consider adding your voice to this chorus by writing. If you don’t, who will? Well, perhaps the people that the Editor calls and emails … perhaps. As the deadline approaches each quarter, when not enough submissions have been received, active teachers around the country are contacted and asked write. Most do. (And we are grateful.) But what happens if the Editor does not know you or if you aren’t as active as others? Does that not mean you do not have anything to contribute? No. Every single teacher and student of TCC has a story worth sharing. Ideally we’d like a more organic process of submissions, with readers taking responsibility for their publication. The Editor is often asked, “What would you like me to write about ‘X’?” The answer is always the same, “I wouldn’t for a second imagine that I could know what you should write. I am continually surprised and impressed at the breadth of what people express. Your consciousness is your only limit (or not).” Please carve out some time to give back, to put your thoughts and experiences on paper. Take a little risk by writing. You might be pleasantly surprised at what comes out. That’s the feedback so often heard. If not you, then who?

New Themes

This is the seventh issue of the new incarnation of The Vital Force, where we have suggested a theme around which to help practitioners organize their thoughts. Going forward, we hope to pose a different question for each issue and have teachers and students respond. The November 2009 issue will be the first with this new format. Please email us your suggestions for questions.

Time Is Running Out

With its new appearance, The Vital Force costs more to produce and mail than it receives in subscription fees. If this situation does not change within the next six months (or two issues), modifications will have to be instituted. Please encourage your fellow teachers and students to subscribe to The Vital Force. We only need 100 new subscribers. Make a phone call and ask your TCC friends if they subscribe; show them a recent issue. Tell them that they can download a free sample from www.taichichih.org/vital_force.php.

KG, Albuquerque, NM

Submission Guidelines

Please send articles as Word documents, electronically. If possible, please tailor your submission to a particular section; the newsletter will hang together better that way. A 1/4 page in this newsletter runs about 200 words; a 1/2 page is 400 words. We are always in need of photos and artwork. Please send high resolution jpgs, which the Editor will crop and edit. If you have 10-12 pieces of related artwork – calligraphy, drawings, photographs, or something that will reproduce well in B/W – please submit them for consideration in an entire issue.

The Vital Force reserves the right to edit submission for length and clarity.

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Vital Force Deadlines & Ideas

Jan 1Early FebSharingCarry the Ball to the Side

April 1Early MayClarityPush Pull

July 1Early AugAwarenessPulling in the Energy

Oct 1Early NovTBA*Pulling Taffy

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Web Site Updates

The on-line calendar and database (for www.taichichih.org) will be updated within a week of the following deadlines:

January 15

March 1

April 15

June 1

July 15

September 1

October 15

December 1

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Table of Contents

Justin Stone1

From the Editor2

Features3

Sharing4-5

Guiding Thoughts: Sr. Antonia6

Sandy Says / Pam Says7

Teaching Tips:

Carry The Ball To The Side8-11

Justin Stone Speaks on TCC12

Justin Stone13

Events14-16

By Students / For All17-19

For All20-21

Karmic Comments22

Lighter Side22

Community Calendar23

Contacts / Subscribe24