Once again, winter has an icy grip on
our home and I am made to retreat inward rather than spend my force
on generating income. Both a blessing and a challenge, this is a
common occurrence in the late winter months in New England. While I
get a much appreciated rest, my bank account gets a commensurate lay
off from equally appreciated deposits.
What a balancing act it is to remain
fluid and relaxed and peacefully present with what arises and at the
same time manifest skillful means at handling the material world I
find myself in. It is far too easy to swing pendulum like from an
easy, blasé demeanor to an axious planning for unforseeable
circumstances. Without having had experience with the alive and ready
but relaxed feeling state inherent to quality Tai Chi, Qigong and
Bagua, I have my doubts as to my ability to find a state of being
even remotely related to balance in this.
This, to me, has been one of the many
examples of how Tai Chi, Qigong, and Bagua have contributed
meaningfully to my life experience. So often these practices are
touted for their life enhancing properties in terms of their health
benefits. Rarely does an article ever mention these subtler yet no
less life enhancing qualities. It is this familiarity with the
feeling state of harmony that is so enriching to me.
What do I mean by feeling state? You
see, it seems to me that we are in a constantly shifting state of
being, and our only sense of this state as a whole is the general
feeling we have of our experience. It is the awareness of this ever
changing feeling state that I, at least, focus on as my barometer for
my practice. It is this awareness which seems to be the most valuable
thing one can develop in the early stages of training.
As this
awareness grows, it becomes apparent that our bodies are deeply a
part of, rather than apart from, the world we inhabit. Further, there
is no part of us that is not in intimate communion with the
landscape, both seen and unseen. It is through a deep awareness of
the everchanging feeling state of our authentic being that we can
come into harmony with our lives and the world we dance through. And
it is also by giving voice to this feeling state into our awareness
that we can learn to manage the delicate balance that is living well.
