TCC & Grief

My mother passed away last month. Anyone who has lost such a central figure in one’s life knows how this can affect us in ways not always apparent.

Since she died, I feel so heavy, so grounded, so rooted in my feet during my private practice of T’ai Chi Chih that Justin Stone’s suggestion to “feel as though we have lost our best friend” rings especially true right now.

TCC practice continues to be an anchor for me, allowing me to stay in my body while feelings of loss sweep over me. I’ve found it easier to practice a sitting meditation after my TCC moving meditation as I am rendered inert, laid low and hollowed out in ways I never was before practice.

Staying in these moments of sorrow while practicing TCC – without trying to escape – offers me a way to feel quiet and calm within my grief. The heaviness of the practice during this time is very different from the joy I’ve felt through the years. I think this will help me become a more insightful teacher in the years to come.