Happy Thursday, everyone. I hope your week has bee amazing!
Quick update on the resolutions this week. Steady progress, one step at a time.
I’ve been reading my assignments for my next class, coming up at the end of March. The page count numbers hover around 300–about 1/3 complete. Not that the readings are necessarily difficult, but I’m taking it slow. There is a lot to digest and important refinements to my current practice need incorporating.
Thinking about my individual resolutions…let’s get to it!
Breathing
Last night during Taijichuan, we were talking about moving Qi in our lower dantians, specifically heart fire down and kidney water up. A classmate asked how he would know if he was forcing the movement.
During beginning Qigong practice, knowing if you are truly feeling the Qi is difficult. There are signs: tingling or warmth in the extremities, flashes of colored light, a sense of heaviness or lightness, among others. When the Qi is deep, your concentration needs a corresponding depth.
To illustrate forcing, I relayed a story about my early breathing practices. I had read about monks that could inhale and exhale so deeply and so slowly that it may take a minute or more to complete one breath. I thought, “yeah, I can do that.”. And I could, almost, for between 30-45 seconds sometimes. And did I feel the stretch! My pubic symphysis moved, as did my coccyx; my hip bones flexed outward. I pushed everything inside me down deep into my pelvic bowl, convinced I was going to master deep breathing.
Fast forward one week. I’m lying in bed, unable to get comfortable. My hips hurt so badly I needed aspirin to take the edge off just so I could sleep. I kept at it only to find the pain worsening. Surely this couldn’t be what the ancients endured.
In our next Medical Qigong class, I asked about it. In the way of someone who knows from experience, my teacher looked at me and told me to stop doing that. Miracle of miracles, the next week, my hips didn’t hurt and I was able to sleep soundly again. Lesson learned. Don’t force it.
As I read more, I know more of what I don’t know, but want to. I remind myself daily not to force it.
Cultivating my Qi
Did my Daoist 5 five times. Took Tuesday off. Meditated several times throughout the day. Being mindful. Overall, successful week.
Doing for others
Sometimes all I can do is give my time and attention to others. With that in mind, I went out (for the first time in weeks) on Friday to celebrate a friend’s birthday. As a result, I saw a lot of people, reconnected, and had a fun time. I hope they enjoyed my company as I enjoyed theirs.
Learn something new
As I indicated above, I’m reading reading reading. The lessons in the texts are definitely illuminating. Because of the details I’m discovering, I’m excited to see how my practice and energy improve as I implement the changes.
Alright, I need to get this out and prep for class. As always, thank you for reading. I hope the rest of your week is amazing and you continue to have success realizing your greatest potential!