Teacher Conference July 2022

Conference is all about educating ourselves. Justin felt strongly that teachers should take this task upon themselves rather than having formal continuing educational courses to keep their T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) skills fresh and on track.

Conference offers an opportunity to gain new insights into our TCC practice, but its presentations also bring information on a peripheral level. The roots of TCC are anchored in Taoist philosophy. What is that philosophy? Why is grounding so important and what is happening during that time? If TCC is a moving meditation, what is meditation? If TCC is a transformational tool, what am I transforming into? What are the skills of being a good teacher? What did Justin learn during his travels that influenced the inspiration for TCC? All these subjects can be inspiration for conference talks.

We can teach TCC well knowing very little of the history and philosophy behind the practice. But that knowledge adds depth to our understanding. The more we know the better we can work with students sharing what knowledge and information may be pertinent for their growth and comprehension of the form.

Being with Justin when he was speaking, whether at conference, at other TCC events, or in his home, I found his knowledge on world religions helpful in understanding other cultures — and where I fit into the world and exploring what it means to be a human being.

So, at conference whether we learn more about TCC directly, or about its background and philosophy, or about Justin Stone and his stories and teachings, the richer it makes our understanding of the whole. It’s the whole process of energy flow and the Chi force, the whole being of who we are and where we fit into this world, the whole of emptiness that is rich and full of vibrancy and life.

And as we grow, we are more grounded and better ambassadors of TCC. May our conferences continue to be as rich as 2022. Thank you to all who were of service to benefit others.