Tag: Tai Chi

ArticlesLeave a comment

Be Who You’re Meant To Be

Steve Rowe

What’s the best bit of advice that I can give you? Take responsibility for your own soul. Do not let anyone own any part of you. Do not give any part of yourself away to others. Listen to and be guided by your gut. Everyone wants a part of you. Everyone wants to shape you into what they want you to be. Be yourself. Walk your own path. Be who and what you’re meant to be. Any good relationship is 2 independent people supporting each other to be the best can be. Otherwise you’re just a slave to others. Continue reading Be Who You’re Meant To Be

Articles, PoemsLeave a comment

Morning Garden Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

Early morning Tai Chi and meditation.The smell of the earthThe scent of the flowersThe gentle breezeBlowing in my skinThe deep blue of the skyEach one charging my energyBreathing it all inMy body thanking meFluffing up the cavities and spacesIn my body with chiSwimming in the warm airGentle spiralling motionsPressing with the footTo power the waistTo move the armsTo express my immortal soulAnd exchange energies with the earthThe stillnessThe quietThe calling of the birdsThe buzzing of the beesThe rustling of the leavesAll in harmony with my movementWe’re all joinedWe’re oneDancing in the universe.Steve Rowe Continue reading Morning Garden Tai Chi

ArticlesLeave a comment

Silk Reeling

Steve Rowe

It’s said that when silk is pulled from a cocoon, it comes out in a spiral. It has to be pulled gently with a continuous pressure so that it doesn’t break. In our Tai Chi, silk reeling means that we practice with a continuous unbroken spiralling motion. This means that all movement is curved with no weak spots, maintaining momentum and the opponent is deflected and unbalanced on impact. Pulling silk is lightly stretching and opening the joints and fascia to encourage the transmission of energy through the body with no stiffness or collapses. Continue reading Silk Reeling

Articles, PoemsLeave a comment

Be The Driver

Steve Rowe

Oh poor you….Your avatar is born out of this worldNot into itSurvival mode gives it needsFear of deathWanting recognition from the tribeWanting sexual favoursFear and aggression arise from defence modeNourishment is needed to surviveThe driver is joined to that which gave birth and is immortalThe avatar feels isolated and lonely when not nourishedDeterioration and death are assured from birthIts purpose is to engageSo the driver is enriched from the experienceIt’s being human for the journeyIt’s the only way it can experience itselfThe best journey is when the avatar can understand what it isAnd know that it’s only theatre created by … Continue reading Be The Driver

ArticlesLeave a comment

Everything Changes

Steve Rowe

The one thing in life that never changes is the fact that it’s always changing. Children grow upAdults grow oldExperienceIllnessTragedyRelationshipsTimeGradings They all change peopleThey change usThey change people we knowThis is important We can’t expect people to be the sameFriendsPartnersStudentsTeachersOurselves Quite often disappointment arises when we expect people or things to stay the same. They don’t. They can’t. Love, friendship, relationships, respect can grow stronger or fade away. Eventually everything peaks, and everyone and everything turns to dust. This can be scary or a comfort – it’s up to you. Continue reading Everything Changes

ArticlesLeave a comment

Find Your Being

Steve Rowe

Look into the eyes of any animal and you can see an intense ‘being’ looking back at you. We forget our human ‘being’ and it tends to lie dormant whilst our convoluted survival mechanism subjects us to its fears and anxieties. But our ‘being’ instantly recognises itself in the eyes of the animals and intensifies, this deep recognition reminds us of who we really are and is the reason that any decent human loves animals and has a primal empathy with them. We can use this to enhance our ‘beingness’ in meditation and training. This is why martial arts uses … Continue reading Find Your Being

ArticlesLeave a comment

Beautiful Hands In Tai Chi

Steve Rowe

In Tai Chi we say that you should have beautiful, fluid, expressive hands. Fajin requires you to stimulate, store, release and discharge energy, for that transmission through the body requires loose, coordinated joints and soft tissue to bring the power to the hands, but it’s here that so many people lose it. The arches of the feet and palms of the hands are connected both physically and energetically, the drive from the feet with the loose joints and the body’s centre brings the bodyweight and momentum to the hands joining the energy released from the opening, closing, compressing and stretching … Continue reading Beautiful Hands In Tai Chi

ArticlesLeave a comment

Yield To A Good Teacher

Steve Rowe

Everyone wants to learn on their own terms. This is what holds them back. Remember those old Kung Fu movies where the kung fu monk wannabe would go to the temple and sit outside the gates for days before being accepted? They’d sweep the yard, scrub the floors and wash the others clothes for months to show commitment before being accepted. Even now, many students are abused, physically, mentally, sexually and financially by their ‘master’ because they wrongly assume that they’re going to get ‘the secrets’. Stupid eh? But….. the best way to really learn is to find a good … Continue reading Yield To A Good Teacher

ArticlesLeave a comment

The Importance Of Ritual

Steve Rowe

I’ve been asked to talk a little bit more about the importance of ritual. I’m ritual magic, before working on their inner self for healing and creating energy, the magicians would shower, anoint themselves with oils, wear a clean robe, go to the shrine room where they would keep a continuous flame burning 24/7. They would consecrate the space with water, and salt and cast a circle calling on the gods or elementals of 4 directions drawing symbols with a blade for protection. The preparation was important to create the right mindset to dig deep and do energetic work. In … Continue reading The Importance Of Ritual