The T’ai Chi Chih Teachers’ Conference and The Bubbling Spring

I just returned from my first teacher’s conference and am still a bit bemused. It has taken me two weeks to sort out my impressions and it will take many more to integrate all the things I learned into my practice and teaching.

My original teacher’s training had been a disaster. I thought I was well prepared, but was not. (My own fault, I might add). From the first practice, the first day, things slowly slid toward doom. By the end, I was deep in depression, loving T’ai Chi Chih, but convinced that I could never succeed in doing it correctly …. much less teaching it.

I would not have dared show my face last year, so I stayed at home, wondering what was going on and what I was missing. I studied the tapes over and over. I read about T’ai Chi Chih, I thought about T’ai Chi Chih, I taught (cautiously). Most important, I practiced. I focused, and I practiced again.

This year I gathered my courage, a year of teaching and hard practice under my belt and dared. Thursday night, once there, I again felt that sinking feeling. What was I doing there? I probably would have run, if I could.

The early morning practice was a total joy. Was I perfect? Of course not, and never will be. I have a long way to go and much to learn, but that morning was a revelation. The feeling of practicing with so many focused individuals was magic … I felt like a balloon floating free in the air, joy, and perhaps the breath of God, lifting me aloft. In many ways the conference became more spiritual than anything else. I am so grateful.

To the experienced teachers who took their time to talk to me about teaching and to help me with the form, I can only send a heart felt thanks. Whereas thanks are small things, I know that the kindness will be returned to you in some way, 1000 fold. That’s the way life works. To those of you who welcomed me with smiles, a warm hug, and encouragement, thanks also. I will pass the hugs along to others who need them as badly as I did.

And now, about the Bubbling Spring. Yes, I know Justin talks about this, but the one to which I refer is a little different. I have found that the conference was much like a bubbling spring. It renewed and invigorated me at the time and has continued to do the same since. Its memories bubble, and chuckle, and tumble through my spirit … a scene here, a word there, a kindness remembered. It renews and invigorates me every hour and infuses my practice with joy. What an overwhelming feeling, to know that all of you are out there practicing with me. Time, place, distance, do not matter. We are all doing this dance of energy together, with each other, the chi, and the Infinite All. What a blessing!

So, it’s back to work. Try harder, study more, practice more. Know that we are all working to be at one with the chi.

Thanks again to all of you who worked so hard to make this conference possible.