Winter 2022 Living Tao Essential Tai Ji Series — Session One
(February 2022)
Download Printed PDF All Study Materials
This series is designed to delve more deeply into the ongoing exploration of the Living Tao forms, metaphors, and philosophy. The areas of study for Session One include:
- The metaphors of Water and Tiger for the Lunar New Year including “Embrace” Tiger and “Return to” Mountain;
- More details of Tai Ji motifs and the “Five Moving Forces of Nature” 五行 (Wu Xing)
WATER TIGER
(Tiger) (Water)
FOUR QUARTETS by T.S. Eliot
“We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.”
(From: Little Giddings)
“At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless;
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is…”
(From: Burnt Norton)
TAI JI RITUAL*
*[Refer to September 2020 Study Materials]
Centering Motif
|
東 dōng 南 nán 西 xī 北 běi 東 dōng 朝南cháo nán |
East South West North East Facing South |
TAI JI RITUAL – Tai Ji Chakras
|
中 zhōng 庸 yōng 安 ān 定 ding 內 nèi 觀 guān 音 yīn |
Center Unwobbling Pivot Inner Peace Settling Inside Contemplation Resonance |
EMBRACE TIGER ~ RETURN TO MOUNTAIN
CHINESE (MANDARIN) NEW YEAR GOOD WISHES
Gong Xi Fa Cai 恭喜發財 Congratulations on Making Money
Zhu Nin Xing Fu 祝您幸福 Wish You Happiness
BASIC TAI JI MOVEMENTS – 1st CIRCLE PRACTICE
Lan Que Wei 揽雀尾Grasping Swallows Tail
Peng Lu Ji An棚捋擠按
Bai He Liang Chi 白鹤亮翅 White Crane Spreads (flashes) it Wings
Shou Hui Pi Pa 手揮琵琶 Hand Strumming or Plucking Pi Pa
Dan Bian 單鞭 Single Whip
SUPPLEMENTAL REFERENCES
The Chinese Book of Animal Powers
Chungliang Al Huang
ISBN 0-06-027728-9 / ISBN 0-06-027729-7
Four Quartets
T.S. Eliot
A Harvest Book, Harcourt, Inc.1971 (original 1943) ISBN 978-0-15-633225-5
Dao De Jing: A Philosophical Translation
Translated by Roger T. Ames and David L. Hall
Ballantine Books, 2003
Tao: The Watercourse Way
Alan Watts, Chungliang Al Huang
ISBN: 0394733118 / ISBN13: 9780394733111
Kingdom of Characters: The Language Revolution That Made China Modern
Jing Tsu (Riverhead Books,2022)
The following material can be found in previous session study materials, which have been posted on the Living Tao website:
September 2020 Study Materials:
- Wu Xing (Five Moving Forces)
- Jing/Qi/Shen (Essence/Breath/Spirit)
- Tai Ji Ritual Guide
- Tai Ji Chakras (Zong, Yong, An, Ding Nei, Guan, Yin)
JUST FOR FUN!
