TCC For All Seasons

It’s early March in Philadelphia. Twelve degrees and gusty winds. Biting icy snow and sleet still falling on already icy streets. No problem. The roads between home and the train station are flat, and once at my destination I don’t even have to go outside. I am going to the annual Philadelphia Flower Show.

I meet my friend on schedule at the Convention Center and enjoy several hours of indoor “springtime.” Forests have been created, complete with waterfalls. Roses bloom, tomatoes ripen, hyacinths smell sweet. Master gardeners share their wisdom at pop-up seminars. Vendors with garden-related fare from around the world have set up shop.

My friend must take an earlier train home, but I wander a bit longer. By the time I board my homebound train, I am happily exhausted. I fall asleep as soon as the train is in motion, and wake to hear the conductor announcing a next stop – not on my route. I had boarded the train heading the opposite direction from home.

The next stop is an isolated one with no indoor shelter. But the stop beyond that is way beyond, and by the time I get back to Center City I could miss the last scheduled train home. The safer bet seems to be to change directions at the earliest opportunity, even though it’s a 45-minute wait for the next train. I gather my belongings; I am the only person to get off.

Oh dear. It’s even colder, even windier, and the icy snow is still blowing. Ah … a sheltered bench and enough time to do a full practice. I position myself to take advantage of the shelter. It’s cold, but I’m mostly out of the wind, and Rocking Motion feels like the greatest blessing ever. Bird Flaps its Wings stares a gust of wind in the face. The “Platters,” Bass Drum and the “Daughters” are solid against the elements. Carrying the Ball – of persistence – to the Side. Pushing the cold away and Pulling in the warming Chi. Pulling in the Energy that cuts the chill. The “Taffies” – low, steady, deliberate, fully grounding. Working – “no effort” but really Working – the Pulley. Light – and warmth – to the Top of the Head and the Temples. Seeing clouds of warm Joyous Breath. Minutes are Passing with the Clouds. Six Sounds have never felt more Healing, nor a Consciousness Pose more Cosmic. With the final grounding, I realize I am warm and centered. While I am contemplating my gratitude for TCC, a train whizzes by on the far track, its wake spewing tiny ice pellets across my face.

Uh-oh. I never crossed the tracks, did I?

Filled with the peace of a good practice, I once again gather up my belongings and in perfect balance inch carefully down the icy stairs, cross under the bridge, and head up the stairs to the tracks on the other side. Amazing: there’s enough time to do a full practice. And so I do. And I end up on that last scheduled train after all, and all is well.