Taking Apart My T’ai Chi Chih

I must start with SOFTNESS
It permeates everything
T’ai Chi Chih is soft, soft, soft
always
Just when I think I am soft
softer softness comes
There is no end…
ever

My FORM is my shell
the vehicle that carries me
My back is straight
softly straight
My shoulders round and soft
My knees slightly flexed yet –
not overextended –
all to encourage and allow
the Vital Force
Intrinsic Energy
Chi
(one and the same)
to pass through
My feet are planted firmly
on the ground
rooted like a tree
An imaginary string comes from the heavens
and attaches to my crown
I know that I am
rooted like a tree and
flowing like a river

The MOVEMENT is now automatic
I know that the way I move
is more important
than the way I execute the moves
There is circularity and continuity
circularity and continuity
on and on and on

My BREATHING is soft
I concentrate on the Bubbling Spring –
in the soles of my feet – or –
the Tantien –
two inches below my navel –
where the Chi is stored.

The movements were studied and learned
long ago, so
much of the time
there is no MIND
I am uniting the inner Divine Energy
with the Universal Energy and
I am one with all that is
My mindless mind is free…
Free…

I am FEELING adrift
floating on a cloud
moving through heavy air –
both of these – and yet
I am strong – and yet
nothing
My fingers flutter slightly
They tingle
The palms of my hands tingle
The rest of my body follows
The feeling of total well-being
comes once again
and this time…
stays longer…