The Physics Of Grounding Circulating Chi

During a violent lightning storm, my neighbor’s house received a direct hit. The electrical charge blew out her TV, dryer and washer. After that frightening experience, she invested in a lightning rod for the house. Six years ago, Justin lectured me, “Ann, don’t you ever again touch an ungrounded TCC practitioner.”

I had attended a T’ai Chi Chih retreat, and a teacher prep student could not ground her Chi. As she practiced, her entire body would violently shake. Thinking I could help her ground her Chi, I reached down with my hands and held her feet to the ground. Immediately a bolt of lightning shot into my body, throwing me down to the ground in incredible writhing pain, and I began to violently vomit. The loving people at the retreat tried to help me, but they could not. Antonia called for an ambulance, and I was taken to the hospital where, after four hours of waiting in pain, I was given muscle relaxants.

Grounding the Chi is very similar to the job of a lightning rod. It’s not a theory or a pretty pose; it’s a physical law. When I practice, I need to stay in a deep, grounded position. I practiced with Justin at the TCC Center almost every Tuesday since 1998. He often commented on my deep grounding. He understood the power of circulating Chi, and he could see what I needed to do.