The Invitation

One evening as I flew into St. Louis I found myself looking out the window as the plane gradually descended from the clouds. At one point the view cleared, and my eye caught a glimpse of something partially hidden below. Was it land, water, or perhaps just my imagination? Moments trailed together as I strained to perceive what the eye could not see; something was definitely out there.

Suddenly, without warning, a flash of white light lit up the night as the shining moon was reflected on the still surface of a small lake. My mind was momentarily confused as I struggled to determine the source of illumination. Hovering above and out of view, the brilliant moon was present, yet I hadn’t noticed it until that moment.

How often is this the case in our T’ai Chi Chih practice? It may begin with a general feeling of discomfort, the recognition of tension, or the discovery of a rough edge that wasn’t there before. The certainty that was present a moment before quickly fades, and a small doubt begins to grow which may eventually overwhelm our enjoyment of the movement. Once again, the struggle is upon us.

T’ai Chi Chih is a wonderful spiritual practice because it requires each practitioner to discover his or her own way within the guidelines of the principles. As teachers, we must help our students learn how to move properly, and encourage them to continually examine the movements for new insights. I often tell students that it is impossible to think your way through the movements. You must feel your way along, as if searching in the dark for some unknown thing. There is no way to describe what you’re looking for, so any advice you receive from the outside is of little help. Just keep focused on alignment and flowing from the center, be willing to try different approaches, and feel your way along. Eventually, you’ll discover it, and then you’ll know.

When teaching, I note which students are struggling and which ones are complacent. The latter ones are the most concerning because they rarely break through to the deeper levels in their T’ai Chi Chih practice. The struggle is a necessary part of the growth process, and a good teacher will respect and assist the student in every way possible without getting in the way. I encourage students to use unwavering attention during their practice, and to focus on the feeling rather than trying to remember every important point. Just let T’ai Chi Chih do T’ai Chi Chih and get out of the way. This can only be accomplished by letting go.

When a problem area is discovered in the T’ai Chi Chih movements it is an invitation to deepen the practice, and this is something a serious student will not ignore. At times, the self-discovery process can be awkward, or even emotionally painful. This release is necessary to allow the Chi to flow more freely, and until that happens, it may feel like every way is blocked with no escape. If we stick to the principles we will make progress. Gradually, inevitably, a way through the barrier will be discovered, and a whole new world opens up in the practice, and in our lives.