Spring / Summer Living Tao Essential Tai Ji Series — Session Three
(July 2024)
Download Printed PDF All Study Materials
Master Huang’s teaching encourages a holistic approach to Body, Heart/Mind & Spirit study through the practice of Living Tao philosophy, metaphors, and forms.
Over the course of this Series, Master Huang will introduce new material in the following practice areas:
* Classics, Culture & Music: (Session One: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony); (Session Two: Introduction to 易經 Yi Jing / I Ching – delving deeper into many aspects of the power of this Wisdom Book of “Change and Transformation” (Session Three “Ode to Joy” & “We Are the World”);
* Related Calligraphy & Metaphors: (Session One: 為無為 Wei Wu Wei); (Session Two: 抱虎歸山 “Embrace Tiger, Return to Mountain”, to engage in our perpetual learnings of how to “embrace 抱” the many current global and personal challenges—the “Tiger 虎” in and of our lives. And to learn to understand the true wisdom of 歸山 “Return to Mountain”— coming back to a secure home base instead of reaching far and away for lofty abstract ideals); (Session Three 佛 Fó Buddha/Buddhism and 樂 Lè Joy); and
* Continued Articulation & Development of the Tai Ji Forms (Session Two & Three: Centering, Tai Ji Ritual, Five Moving Forces / Wu Xing, and Circle Motifs)
Fó Buddha/Buddhism
Zhong / Centering
Zhong Xin
Calligraphy by Weng Liang Huang
Centered Heart
DEEPENING PRACTICE
TAI JI RITUAL – Part One
天 tiān 上 shàng
Sky Above
地 dì 下 xià
Earth Below
外 wài 內 nèi
Out There / Inside (in Here)
前 qián 進 jìn
Forward Action
後 hòu 退 tuì
Moving Back into Reflection
左 zuǒ 顧 gù
Left Looking (Presently)
右 yòu 盼 pàn
Right Looking (Far)
TAI JI CHAKRAS
中 zhōng
Center
庸 yōng
Unwobbling Pivot
安 ān
Inner Peace
定 ding
Settling
內 nèi
Inside
觀 guān
Contemplation
音 yīn
Resonance
WU XING – The Five Moving Forces
(of the Nature within our own being)
木 WOOD – MU
火 FIRE – HUO
水 WATER – SHUI
金 GOLD/Metal – JIN
土 EARTH – TU
(in center)
QI ENERGY OF HUO & SHUI
When you do the form, we see more than just your body shape.
We see the qi you create with your form.
~ Quotes from our Master
Huo
Upward Lift
Wei
Shui
Downward Flow
Wu Wei
. . . a very clear shift of qi flow. . .that makes tai ji — tai ji needs to have yang and yin,
happening spontaneously, easily — create a wholeness in your awareness.
~ Quotes from our Master
TAI JI THROUGH THE YEARS
By Beat Städeli
CIRCLE PRACTICE MOTIFS
Sculpture by Marina Donati
1st Circle Motifs
揽雀尾 Lan Que Wei / Grasping Swallows Tail
Peng Lu Ji An 掤捋擠按
(”pon, lew, gee, ahn”)
Bai He Liang Chi 白鹤亮翅 White Crane Spreads (flashes) Wings
Shou Hui Pi Pa ⼿揮琵琶 Hand Strumming or Plucking Pi Pa
抱虎 Bao Hu / Embrace Tiger, 歸 山 Gui Shan / Return to Mountain
2nd Circle Motifs
Single Whip / 單鞭 Dan Bian
拳 Quán / Fist 掌 Zhǎng / Palm
海底针 Hǎi Dǐ Zhēn / Needle at the bottom of the ocean
Slanted Flight / Xie Fei
扇通背 Shàn Tōng Bēi / Fan through back
3rd Circle Motifs
雲手 Yún shǒu / Cloud Hands
高探⻢ Gāo tàn mǎ / High Pat on Horse
TAOS MEMORIES
SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES
1. “The Greatest Night in Pop: 2024 documentary about the making of “We Are The World”
2. “Ode to Joy” is best known for its use by Ludwig van Beethoven in the final (fourth) movement of his Ninth Symphony completed in 1824. The Beethoven text is partially based on Schiller’s poem, and it introduces a few new sections.
3. Additional Photos from Taos 1982 by Jay Goldfarb – Download PDF
JOY / Lè
Calligraphy by Weng Liang Huang