Fire Dragon Pearl #1: Forgiveness

I am a Fire Dragon. Just ask my husband. It’s rarely boring at home, but sometimes my fiery nature gets me into trouble! I would say “into the doghouse” but if you’re a Dragon, you generally don’t like Dogs. Sorry. It’s nothing personal. I actually do know a lot of nice Dogs but I can’t think of any right now. (Just kidding!)

I’ve been gathering yin since the Chinese New Year and have been inspired to share a few thoughts from a Dragon’s perspective about how to cultivate abundance. Every so often I’d like to share a “pearl” that has been brewing in caldrons deep. As with anything that you encounter in life, you are welcome to keep it, throw it away, or just hold it for a little while.

In the beginning, the recipe for abundance calls for an open and clear space. We all need space to create, both inside and out. My first pearl is forgiveness, quite a sticky subject, but whenever you are ready to forgive yourself or someone else, quite a bit of personal energy can be liberated and reclaimed.

Because of all the baggage attached to this word, let me emphasize that the power of forgiveness is a gift that you give to yourself. It is releasing the debt or expectation of repayment from someone who has wronged you. It means returning energy and power back to you to create what you desire in your life.

Forgiveness is a process that you consciously choose to enter. Timing is important. It must happen when you are ready to do it. It can be done without the participation or apology of another and may need to be done multiple times. This is not to be confused with being a doormat or emotional pincushion, however.

Forgiveness does not invalidate impact. It does not condone an action but pardons it. The essential spirit of forgiveness does not intend to enable or support bad behavior. Depending on the situation, it does not necessarily mean maintaining the same relationship status with the person you are forgiving. It is even entirely possible (albeit difficult) to forgive someone that you never want to see again.

So I invite you to glance inside yourself, roll up your sleeves, and do a little internal space clearing if you feel that the season is right. Is there anything that you could clear out now to make more room for what you’d like to create?

Joanna Rossi

Happy 4th

Yesterday (Thursday) afternoon I walked up to Welles Park at Montrose and Lincoln. There weren't any formal games going on, so the park was pretty open. People all around but plenty of open space available.

I walked into the middle of the park and began to do the tai chi warm-ups. Always a little self-conscious when doing that in public, but I always like the feeling of sharing, however passively, the form I love so much.

By the time I got to the standing meditation, I was going into a zone. The self-consciousness was melting away and I was tapping into the energy of the air, the ground, the sun (glorious sun that day) and the people -- all strangers yet all ultimately family -- running, laughing, playing, flying kites, sunning all around me.

As I started doing the form, I had evolved to a state of calm acceptance and openness. I was able to process all the sights, sounds, smells, the breeze and warm sun on my skin, the other human voices into a symphony of earthly sensations.

I didn't so much *do* the form as let the form happen. I rooted to the ground (not a floor, not a deck, but EARTH), connected to heaven, breathed deeply into my center and swam effortlessly through the form with whatever physical presence I had, motivated by the spiritual, ethereal energy that animates us from within (or wherever).

I became a conduit through which all the energy around me passed and changed. I opened like a sail to the wind, like a flower to the sun, like roots to the earth and like a mother to the people around me.

My anger, frustration, worry, doubt, regret, resentment were passed into the air and the earth, which gratefully accepted them to be processed into new, pure energy. In return, I received fresh nourishment and light, filling my recently dark corners with illuminated essence.

Not surprisingly, on the walk home, I was fresher, lighter and more energized than on my walk there.

And so we prepare to begin a new chapter in the still short history of the Tai Chi Center of Chicago. And I, for one, am thrilled and honored to be a part of it.

Happy 4th!
Don

Special Events 2008

Tai Chi At Millennium Park with Christopher Zalek
June 7, July 5, August 2, amd September 6, 2008
7:00 am

Consider riding your bike to participate Chris's tai chi class at Millennium Park. Yes, yes, yes I know it is early but what a wonderful way to start your day off while supporting your tai chi brother. Consider helping him by promoting his introductory class and the school by passing out postcards.

Retro on Roscoe
Saturday and Sunday August 2 & 3, 2008
11:00 am - 10 pm

Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation and Yoga. Member artist Kipling Swehla will also be presenting his works of photography.

ArtWalk Ravenswood
Saturday and Sunday October 4 & 5, 2008
11:00 am - 6 pm

Tai Chi, Qigong, Meditation and Yoga. Member artist Kipling Swehla and Christine Wallers will also be presenting their works of art. If you are interested in showing your work please contact me. ejw@taichicenter-chicago.com