Unity, Courage, Inclusion, Gratitude, Love

Recovered from travel and back in my routine, I finish my morning coffee and browse through the beautiful program we received at the 2024 50th anniversary T’ai Chi Chih (TCC) conference. The experience was transformational; I not only felt it while there; the effects have been rippling through me since I returned, almost as a different person. Yet, how do I put into words such a deep and somatic experience?

When a friend asked about my biggest takeaways, I replied with two “understandings” that came to me, one in the form of a self-realization in a small group about how courage shows up for each of us (which had been primed by the presentation and the guiding questions): “The courage to be myself.” This combined with something I saw on another card, “The courage to be nonjudgmental.” I could tell, though, that my words didn’t convey the shift I had felt hearing these.

However, what I can share are the highlights I wrote down in my notes. Hopefully this montage will give you a feel of this incredible experience:

Focus on our similarities, instead of our differences. Bring your awareness here. Let go of the future. Where do you want to spend your precious life force? (April L) “I don’t know now but it will come to me. I will know.” There is nothing added to TCC for cosmetic reasons. Focus on understanding the movements. The waist and wrists are what do TCC. It’s not a muscular effort, but it develops great strength. (Justin) The longer I practice, the more there is to learn. (Me) Justin gets smarter every year. (Nancy) Our practice changes and deepens and we are always discovering, e.g., rotating the heel in back in Working the Pulley is about a full weight shift forward. (Sandy) Seated TCC: follow the four points in your feet and also the four points in your bottom. Did you feel the hip swivel? (Carmen) The knees continue to soften in Perpetual Motion as the weight shifts. Fully commit to the shift. Feeling the practice fully requires being in the now. Doubts come from fear. (Daniel) 

We are bonding through synchronized movements, like penguins do. When the body rocks, the mind comes along. Use TCC to settle the mind. Draw the mind down, relax the chest, soften the tummy, soften the knees, feel the feet. (Tina) Want to spend more time with Justin? Do your practice. It’s not just about paying attention to the feet, but feeling the inside of your feet, feeling the Chi flowing down into the feet. Stay with the Chi and the flow becomes … just wow. (Carmen) “If you want to be happy, be grateful.” (Guy from Justin) The courage to let go. (Steve G) A deep feeling of peace and stillness. (Marie) “Now all I have to offer you is my love.” (Justin)

A pyramid poem from the daily program themes and titles

joy

courage

inclusion

much gratitude

unity

receive

love

— Lisa Stroyan