TCC Workshop: Going Deeper

Glenwood Springs, Colorado; October 2017

By Eliza Fulton, Host

This Fall workshop came alive. Our fledgling community was welcomed with open arms and open hearts into the larger community, and the results were magical. As Carmen Brocklehurst led us in practice and refinement, everyone clearly had several “ah-ha” moments. Each of us chose a particular move that really spoke to us in a new or deeper way, and we shared our inspirations.

Rocking Motion became a way to really let go – let things fall as we sank and then once again gather new energy and lift ourselves – only to release and let go again and again. Deeper and deeper we went.

Push Pull was also an exercise in letting go, releasing and then allowing the nurturing energy to be called, and to come “over the mountains” into our hearts. As one participant noted: why is it we are always the lover and never the beloved? This movement, bringing the love into ourselves, allowed us to feel what it as the beloved; and to recognize we are all worthy of being loved.

Another realized that practicing Daughter on the Mountaintop was not better than Daughter in the Valley. Yes, being on the mountaintop is wonderful and yet, from the valley one can go in any chosen direction. One must come down from the mountaintop to share the Chi. Being in the beautiful valley has its own rewards.

As we practiced joy and experienced camaraderie, it became clear that it’s okay to be who we really are. It is okay to be like we were as a child – open, loving, playful and authentic. We do not have to wear masks; we are worthy just as we are to love and be loved. It is okay to love ourselves.

It never ceases to amaze me how, just by grounding, just by being present in the body and just by doing the practices, we seem to become so much more – more comfortable with ourselves, more loving of others, more filled with gratitude and more willing to be of service.

Just as groves of aspens are produced from a single root of origin, it is the same for we who practice TCC as Justin taught and as Carmen so generously shared. A quotation from Justin rings true as our little community became part of the larger one: “T’ai Chi Chih and integrity (teh), the power of inner sincerity, are one and the same. All things proceed from one Reality, which remains the same. The leaves fall to the ground in autumn, but there will be leaves on the tree again in springtime; the root remains the same. Seeing the trees against the sky, we sense a spiritual power.” (Spiritual Odyssey)

Pyramid Poems

On Chi and the Lotus Sutra, from Carmen Brocklehurst’s April 2017 TCC Retreat

Chi

expands

limitless

empty yet full

let thoughts go

power

comes

– Lisa Stroyan

Chi

inside

unhindered

in the depths of

my being

strong soft

free

– Caroline G.

Chi

reveal

your constant

presence to me

through your love

I am

full

– CR

trust

the void

the joy that

juices us all

coaxes our

essence

wow

share

the Chi

emptiness

knowing the void

connected

with heart

now

– Judy

voice

wisdom

from inside

deep within me

energy

healing

Chi

– Pauline Quimson-Miller

this

flowing

energy

that I so love

is present

within

me

– Monica Cejudo

all

voices

rising till

the one merges

with many

being

one

– Connie Happ

blank

but full

of what could

be — really be

why limit

yourself

now

– Jerry G.

we

evolve

along our

current journey

as the Chi

brings forth

peace

– Sandy R.

Chi

being life

Chi being all

the universe

all that is

is the

Chi

– Leya

Chi

circles

universe

pervades expands

joyfully

creates

life

– M.R.

one

is all

fulfilling

universal

connection

all is

one

– J. Veerkamp

joy

patience

the safety

of nothingness

emotion

release

safe

– VLF

know

beauty

feel the love

of creation

always love

sparkling

now

– Robert