Saturday 24.2.2018
“The crisp morning air
touches the bare skin of your face and hands and draws attention to the
nostrils taking in its freshness. A deep exhilarating breath awakens the throat
and lungs and sets the biological ball rolling for the pre-emptory movements
about to happen for your body.
Lazy ducks glide across the pane-glass surface
of the pond; Willie wag tails and finches twitter and bob between the native
trees of the surrounding parkland; and the grass shimmers with the touch of
sunlight upon its dewiness. This same sunlight sends a lighted delicate glow
all around. Ah Nature!” T.M.
This is a perfect setting for beginning the practice of a Qigong
session.
Qigong, literally translates as life-force energy (qi, chi)
cultivation, work or development. But in its doing, there is not meant to be
any vision or intention of ‘work’ in the usual sense whatsoever. Like the lazy
duck that glides across the pond, there is much more than meets the eye with
qigong. ‘Lazy’ the duck is definitely not. For beneath the surface of the
water, it is ‘working’ intuitively to
move its streamlined body through the water. In its seeming effortlessness, it produces
an image of ease, peace and detachment from obstructions or worldly
affectations. And in this gliding, this natural activity, the duck paints a
delicate yet profound wake upon the pond water; not a disturbing picture to behold,
but an inspirational one where the yin and yang concepts are reflected in the
ever-changing nature and play of light and shadow over the water.
Not only is the above introductory passage a pretty and poetic
one, but also a perfect mindset and
attention to surrounding natural detail that sets the body’s internal scene for
the acceptance of the innumerable benefits of Qigong. For not only do we gain
physical benefits from this beautiful movement practice, but also on other
levels of our being, very possibly all levels in fact – but who could possibly
count them!?
The mind can find peace, clarity, stringent focus, and a
newfound re-adjustment of the nervous system processes to allow for a more
in-sync and fluid altering of old mindset patterns which have not served us
well and can be discarded. Mindful and intentional practice can bring a natural
ease to many systems of the body. But this is not meant to be a measurable
thing – it is a very personal experiential one, as results vary and range in
diversity from person to person.
There are lots of technicalities I could write about Qigong. I
could tell you about the Yin and Yang Theory, the Five Elements Theory, the
human meridian system that is an amazing and intricate part of our energy body
framework that carries our life-force. There is a wonderful web of mythology
and esotericality (is that a word? J) around
it too. There is a real strength and antiquity about it as its roots come from
the attention to primal, elemental and natural forces: these forces being both
its inspiration and ours, as well as its purpose in re-connecting us with these
pure forces, as opposed to the artificial ones imposed upon us or manipulated
around us. But, I have read about these
all before and you probably have too.
But it is the intuitive, or natural, nature of Qigong that
inspires me to write about it here and share the passion I have for you to know
on a different and deep level of your being. . . your own poetic side.
Anything you do can be done in a Qigong way. Just immerse
yourself fully, consciously,
momentarily, in whatever your body is actively doing, or not doing. Recognise,
and in that way, grow a new respect and understanding for your very own body’s
real talent and subconscious effort to keep you alive and active and mobile.
Take a step – an actual physical step - and breathe, but not
only ‘do’ that, be fully present ‘in’ that. Sense the angle of your knees, the
weight shift and pressure as your foot takes you forward from the movement of
your hip and the very first spark that ignites in your brain that decides you
are physically and consciously going to place one foot in front of the other,
in order to get you from one place to the next. Acknowledge every part of that
sequence of mini-events that occur in your body from that very first intention
to move all the way through to the culmination of the entire act of stepping!
We are incredibly complex beings of nature and we owe it to
our true selves that are striving for balance and connectedness and true peace,
to be not only aware of that , but of our unrealised potential as individuals
as well as a race, of evolving and improving humanity and our own personal form
of humanity.
Of course, we needn’t be so distracted looking internally that
we forget what is around us. I am speaking of momentary inner viewing and
awareness, but this state which can also be utilised in good Qigong practice to
deliver vast enrichment of life itself and the flow through of that into our
extension of the greater world of which we are a part – especially referring to
the Natural world of course.
However, the realm of Qigong is not isolated to just the
Chinese aspect of practice. For certain, it is at the traditional forefront in
its history, complexity, beneficence and practical extension into our current
world. But if its literal meaning is widened, then we can see that it also
flows to include the native dance of Africans, the Whirling Dervish, the Native
American Indians and more as you may notice for yourself.
So, Qigong, from my perspective? I am a born poetess. Poetry was
my first love from a very young age: that natural flow of writing poetry and
descriptive prose. Once I discovered the power of transformation and
illustration of this medium, it gripped me forever! It has followed and
detailed my heartfelt experiences through my own life and in viewing others; intricately
and lovingly detailing the simplicity, trauma, love, hope and complexity of
each stage and in relationships. Poetry is something that never fully leaves me
and can always pop up when I least expect or at an impromptu moment, delivering
a loving account of my inner experiences of the time. I am so grateful for this
gift.
And then came Qigong. I experience my practice as poetry in
motion, literally. I sense my body movements in my nature spaces just as
poetically as any words that may come to mind. How poetic the two forms are
together and reflective of each other and expressions of the self both inner
and outer. And Qigong itself inspires those words too. A friend of
mine who also practices Qigong has reflected similarly and commented that
'moving in qigong is like moving through honey'. And it really is. When the
mind and body become harmonised, focused and combine in the active
movements of the body, there is that definite sensation of being in a
surrounding viscous filled space, yet totally limitless and abundantly peaceful
and aligned with the Universe and your Higher Self. Qigong may not be for
everyone, but that is in itself, an aspect of the Nature of Life.
Breathing
Moving
Turning
Still
Grows yin on the outside and yang within.
Dragon swims
Crane flaps wings
Bear turns
And seasons begin
Opening
Closing
Lying in wait
A limitless process beyond humanly state
Breathing
Moving
Walking
Still
Enter True Nature
that qigong does fulfil.
(All copyright T.M. 2016)
