Hello friends. I have been down and out with a serious cold, sinus infection, fever for the past week. Feeling like I'm returning to some normalcy today. This week has been interesting watching myself float between survival mode and being in my center. When I was in survival mode, I needed to quantify, qualify, define every pain, discomfort, sleepless moment. I went in to the doctors office for two strep tests this past week (1st on Tuesday, 2nd on Thursday) because I needed a reason why I was feeling so miserable. They tested me for mono, too. All came back negative. My moments of centeredness, knew that this would past and I would be fine, but try telling that to my suffering mind! Now, that I feel some relief today and can see and feel that beautiful glowing sun within me again shining brightly, I look back in retrospect with my returned peace of "heartmind" and wonder where did this survival mode originate from and powered by what? painting by SAH
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No class this Monday, March 27. See you next week, April 3, 7:15p-8:30p.
No class tonight, see you next week on April 2 at 5:15pm.
Happy Re-Birth-Day to us!
To celebrate my birth, my Re-Birth-Day, I would love for us to collaborate to inspire 1,000s and 1,000s of people. So, as a gift to you and anyone you wish to share with -- this is one of 5 Days of what I want to offer to inspire you and any one you share with. Imagine a world where everyone is practicing some sort of Qigong or Mindfulness! So that you can share access with family, friends, co-workers, clients, students -- here is the link for access to the whole 5 Days of Qigong Gifts: http://IIQTC.org/Birthday-Gifts Share freely! Your gift to me is your willingness to learn, practice and share!Happy Re-Birth-Day to ALL! Dr. Jahnke -- Roger Founder and Director of the Institute of Integral Qigong and Tai Chi (IIQTC) During class on Monday we began with our usual grounding imagery to settle into the moment releasing the past day, letting go of future worries and settling into our bodies.
Shaolin's Qigong consisted of, "Lift in the sky, Pushing Mountains and Carrying the Moon." As these are the beginning gestures of the 18 Lohan Hands as set by my teacher, Pragata, they are held in my experience as very powerful moves to ground and tap into the harmony and balance of this life. We had a new participant join us for class and so as we introduced the Tai Chi walk across the floor, it was offered to the returning guests to return to their beginners brain... meaning to settle in to the review and go deeper in their understanding of the concept of each move and find new meaning in the familiar or rediscovered details. We finished class with our usual Qi facelift and massage, moving into final grounding imagery with the sharing of our light and love to ourselves, our loved ones and the whole world. Thank you to those journeying with me in this game of life. Peace be with you. During class at Gild's Club this weekend, the participants and I settled into that moment in time and space with some grounding imagery of bringing our awareness into our bodies. The theory was shared that the more grounded our bodies are to the Earth, the safer our bodies feel and in turn, the safer our higher self (our soul, us at a being level) will feel and return to our bodies. This creates a balnce between you the body and you the being, coming into wholeness, returning to healthy relationship between our two halves.
Warm up consisted of Shaolin's Logan's Hands "Lifting the Sky" and Pushing Mountains" with WuWei between each gesture. The Tai Chi Walk across the floor was introduced accompanied by the concept of Yin Yang (Tai Chi symbol of duality) as we walked: The moving side of the body is Yang: flowing, light, powerful, strong, as the still side of the body is Yin: grounded, heavy, quiet, relaxed. We closed with the Qi Facelift and body massage, more grounding imagery with mantras of love and gratitude and said farewell with the Shaolin Solute. Thank you to those who joined me on this path of finding and Inviting our Iner Truth to shine. class on Monday was a return to the beginning with the first three Lohan gestures from the Shaolin lineage:
Liftinng the Sky Pushing Mountains Carrying the Moon We practiced our Tai Chi walk across the floor multiple times and ran through the upper body/arm gestures of the five form Tai Chi Easy on the right and left sides. We ended class with the Qi face lift and read from the Tao Te Ching. The oil gift was Lemongrass essential oil. Thanks to all who joined us. It was a pleasure practicing with you. Have any of you read Celestine Prophecies. In the series one of the themes it talks about is watching and looking for synchronized moments throughout your day to guide you on your life path experience and answer questions you may need help with in the moment.
I have been playing with this for years now and had an interesting a couple of weekends ago that I feel is fitting and interesting to share. We were invited to a birthday party. As we were walking through the parking lot, I noticed a woman and man getting out of a huge black SUV. The woman was yelling at the man, "Every week, every day, every hour, every second I have to maximize to the fullest... " as I walked out of range to hear the rest, I looked behind me and her energy was intense, fast, overwhelming. She ruffled in the truck and swung her jacket on as she walked around the car to the man and continued her speech. As we waited inside for the party to begin, the woman and man walked past us. To explain her to you not in judgement, but in observation of how her life might be, her hair was very blonde and very manicured. She was wearing a tailored jacket and her jeans were tight exposing a very thin physique. She had a pair of ankle high-healed boots on. The man was following close behind and jumped in front to hold the next door open for her. Wondering if they were married, I looked for a wedding ring and saw a very large, extravagant diamond ring on her finger. This observation brought to mind how much effort she must give to maintain her appearance, to maintain that SUV and a house that may match that ring. Her children, her husband and their busy lives that she is managing, in addition to her own needs and wants, all of this without any clues if she is a stay-at-home mom or has a full-time job on top of all that. Yes, she does have to maximize every minute of every day. Why did I see this exchange, this moment in time with a glimpse into another person's life. Could it be a mirror for me as how I manage every moment into a scheduled play book of work, chores, appointments, personal and family time? Did I witness this to see deeper into our society of materialism management and distracting cultural habits from what is really the purpose of life. Did I see this as a mirror of my own life that I am managing and not living? Something to ponder. Perhaps getting out of the way and letting go of control and judgement and watching and experiencing the flow of nature here on Earth with neutrality, forgiveness, compassion and love. Would love to hear your perspective or examples of synchronized moments in the days of your life that help you learn and grow. Peace. Hello and good morning.
Last night in Tai Chi class the passage we read from the Tao Te Ching the previous week was still ruminating between us, so I was wondering your perspective on it: Chapter VI: transition, Arthur Waley The valley spirit never dies. It is named the mysterious female. And the Doorway of the mysterious female is the base from which Heaven and Earth spring. It is there within us all the while; Draw upon it as you will, it never runs dry. Cross reference with a translation of Chapter VI by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English: The valley spirit never dies; It is the woman, primal mother. Her gateway is the root of Heaven and Earth. Is like a veil barely seen. Use it; it will never fail. Hello all... so, this Inner Truth Mystery School is a way for us to all share in this experience of life, here and now.
In that spirit, I share with you my life journey to maybe offer help to even just one person through similarly, through opposition, through validation or none of the above. This is not a poor me, nor a look at me, just a story. I am currently experiencing a dis-ease that stopped me in my tracks again. The breast cancer did this for me 4 years ago, instead of thinking of it as a punishment from the universe or God, I used it as an opportunity for a life lesson, to grow from, to hear what I was supposed to change and do it. It is now my heart that is trying to tell me something. In Oct. 2013, I was diagnosed with SVT (Supra ventricular tachycardia). Triggered from a fever, my heart beat got up into the 220/minute (normal range 60-100). Since then, I would have this happen, but could get it to return to normal with a couple of deep breaths. Looking back over the last 3 years, I never stopped and asked myself why this was happening with my heart. I've been busy, lots to do, which I thrive on. Then, my heart started to race last Monday with the onset of the flu, triggered by another fever and wouldn't stop this time. When I reached the hospital, I was crashing. The medical staff couldn't get my heart to return to a normal range. My blood pressure was 60/30. No blood was moving in or out of my heart. Well, life... I am listening again. The docs and nurses were able to save me. Thank you to them. And, I believe I saved myself too. I'm not ready to leave yet. So, my first lesson I am hearing is an obvious one for me, but a hard one to swallow! My heart is telling me to slow down, I'm doing to much and going too fast. But I love everything I'm doing!!! I am a full time preschool teacher to a room full of 3 year olds, I started my own business in 2015, obtaining my 200 hour Qigong/Tai Chi teaching certification and teaching 3 Tai Chi classes a week in 2016, performing weddings on the weekends (8 last year), I joined the Healer Within Foundation Board of Directors in August 2016, nominated to be Secretary this February, and then nominated to be the Staff Representative on the Board of Directors for the school where I work starting this month. This is just my professional life, my most important job is being wife and mother to my VIP cast at home, a beautiful husband, daughter and cat, not to forget to mention a wonderful home to nurture... and clean. 😁 With self observation, I asked myself what needs to change for my own self love and well being. What do I have to change, heal, eliminate, dissolve. The rest of the lessons that come out of this, I will be sharing in the days and weeks to come. Feel free to comment or to just listen. As I believe we are all mirrors for each other and can learn a lot by observing others as much as we can learn with our own self observation. One last thought... Once I wanted to save the world. Now I realize, if I save myself I am saving the world. I busyed myself so much to hide behind the tasks of the day instead of facing my ego and the thoughts that tease me, haunt me, nag at me. Well, I am turning my spot light inward, I am listening now, I am watching now, I am feeling now... to let them go. |
Sarah HarrisonSarah offers ease and fun to the process of getting married to couples as a Wedding Officiant with Koru Ceremony LLC. Sarah also contributes to her community as a Tai Chi and Qigong Instructor at the Monona Community Center. Archives
March 2020
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