Nancy's 2003 Reunion Class On Spirals

June 2003 - The 24th Annual Tai Chi Friends Reunion, Mt. Madonna

That Oceanic Rock

Introduction: Spiraling Energy as Wave

These two sessions build on my previous discussion at Asilomar of our Tai Chi movement having similar properties to the phase space transitions observable at the point of change in chaos. In the repetitions of developing coast lines, in cloud formation, the patterns in the tail of the seahorse, and in the "whorling" spiral of the nautilus shell, we find and we experience the thrill of nature's manifestations "always and never the same." This deep order is implicit in our movement as well. We can avail ourselves of control of this great chi in our practice, governing our energy. That is what I would like to explore in these sessions.

Thanks to Web Kirksey, I have some good study materials from Hubert H. Lui, himself. From "Lui's Corner" of the Cloud Hands Michigan Newsletter of February 2002, there is a quote from Mr. Lui:

Isadora Duncan, the pioneer of modern dance, observed that one of the characteristics of "true dance" is its "wave movement." She said, "All movements in nature seem to me to have as their ground plan the law of wave movement … all energy expresses itself through this wave movement … all free natural movements conform to the law of wave movement … it is the alternative attraction and resistance of the law of gravity that causes this wave movement."

I. Rooting the Spiraling Chi
- the "ground" as an electrical ground and rooting
- maintaining dynamic energy while staying grounded

A. Deepening the ground through the feet - Dragon Dance

B. Expanding the ground through the thighs and feet - Repulse Monkey

C. Polarity of Yin/Yang weight shift, always on full foot - Cloud Hands Gilgale ("gilgale" is the name of the Hebrew character for "spiral" -- we get "gill" from it, for the spiraling gills of the fish)

D. Rooting through the spine - Stationary Grasp Bird's Tail


E. Internal Spiral - Rubber Band Stretch



II. Conserving the Spiraling Chi
- the "ground" of the nautilus shell
- the "whorl" of the nautilus shell, creating a chamber in which energy is developed and made new on its return into the body, not just "recycled"
- the "making new" of the energy a function of the intention or will plus the attention or spirit

Generally:
- High energy is great, but we often throw it away
- Yoga/Ba Gua considered by some to cause less "throwing away" of the chi
- Since Tai Chi generates big chi, conservation essential to avoid big drains
- Conservation built into the practice, but we can enhance it

Avoiding Dissipation of the Chi
- to maintain health
- to develop more personal strength
- to develop more personal patience
- to increase concentration and focus

A. Referring back to grounding of previous session
1. the whorl: large round shape of spiraling, as opposed to the locus, in-place, concentration of grounding
2. yin tan, Tsang tsung, low tan tien: scooping back through critical areas of the body Cloud Hands - side whorl

B. Repulse Monkey - the expanded ground
Whorl is behind, coming forward, passing over the head, by the ear; health of the head, re-pulse, filling the mind, walking backwards a reflection on the present, looking at what is before you as it recedes, memory, clarity, thought

C. Always return, not just a sending out - the Pulldown
The quintessential "send out"; how to use for conservation:
- grounding
- yin/retreat
- breath
- internal circle in waist to bring back

D. Focus on the yin aspect as the yang takes care of itself
- greater definition
- the exhale
- leads to a focus on transitional material as opposed to the larger movements
as form develops, transitions become more "tasty"

E. The diving down spiral: small Bagua exercise to ground, lower the chi


From Web's "Lui Corner":

In Tai Chi the practitioner moves up and down, forward and back, advances and retreats, yields and unyields, indicating the two opposite cosmic forces interplaying with each other. If this interplay is in perfect harmony, the things involved will grow. When moving up, advancing, or yielding (bouncing back), etc., you release energy and you exhale. At this moment you are resisting the law of gravity; this is why your movement is harder at this time. On the contrary, when moving down, retreating, yielding, etc., you store energy and you inhale. At this moment you are drawing your body along with the center of gravity. The interplay of these two opposite forces, yin (storing energy movements) and yang (releasing energy movements) constitutes the wave or circular movement.

It is this wave that makes the "continuity" of Tai Chi movement possible. And it is the continuous movement that helps the practitioner develop energy and high chi, the very goal of Tai Chi practice. -from Lui's Note 6/6/89

Thank you, Web.

Thank you, Judith.

Thank you, Mr. Lui.

NMH