The Clarity of No Effort

I recall my 2002 teacher’s training where candidates were asked to give a 15-minute mock presentation about T’ai Chi Chih. This was my first glimpse into the clarity Justin Stone often talks about with practice. Our trainer and the teacher assistants suggested we not rely solely on words during the presentations but to get folks up and doing the actual movements. The evening before the big day, I was beside myself. In my monk-like room, I wrote down everything I wanted to share with the would-be massage therapists (the mock audience), so they would readily embrace TCC and sign up for classes. I had so much to say in so little time and knew it was going to be rough going. I was characteristically nervous.

Back in those days, my favorite movement was Passing Clouds: Imagine you are on a high mountaintop with heavy mist enveloping you. Flow effortlessly, continuously, left then right. Experience a low glowing light shining through the mist. During that presentation (which could easily have morphed into Edgar Allen Poe mode) of Passing Clouds, I began to feel a grounded, clear connection to the earth that carried me through. My message as we moved together was plain and simple. It was as though an experienced editor had taken up residence in my head. There is a wonderful clarity that TCC provides, and it is not cerebral at all. That’s the sort of clarity I have discovered as I practice TCC. I show up, start moving, and so much more wholeness, focus and integration comes without so much effort.