Trust (May 2019)

I appreciate the truths that T’ai Chi Chih teaches me. I have been practicing TCC since 2004 and it has resonated through my life in so many wonderful ways.

One of my favorites is trust. That word simply feels relaxing doesn’t it? It implies that we are in a safe place where we can allow ourselves to be led without our own efforts. In our community, we can trust that the mentors around us are making small adjustments to gain more significant release.

I enjoy hearing that Justin gave corrections to those he felt had potential. I focus on openness and delight to be mentored by the many teachers before me in T’ai Chi Chih. I hold onto their observations and play with these lessons to feel the truths as I continue to practice in renewed awareness. I trust the Chi to teach me the way.

We live in an era of constant change and demands for more effort. So much of my life I have strived to be self-reliant and for what sometimes felt like superhuman accomplishment. It has been a challenge for me to practice “Letting Go” of the sense of responsibility to depend on only myself alone. Yet allowing myself to be shown the way has been the greatest blessing.

When I see one of my students striving with effort, their shoulders leaning forward, I ask them to invite their shoulders to patiently trust the hips to carry them and allow the tan t’ien to lead the way.

Early in lessons my students might have heard me say that it might look like my fingers are lazy, which might imply they are not trying or have no intention. Actually, my fingers have the intention to trust my wrist to bring them back to the heart and tan t’ien. This helps so much with the “effort of no effort.” 

As I have gone through health issues that have changed my own capacity, the experience has affected what I can expect of myself and diminished confidence in myself too; so this idea of trust from one part of my body to another part of my body invokes a feeling of relaxation and safety thus rebuilding confidence in myself. What a gracious gift TCC is in my life.