Wu Qi…emptiness

Wu Qi…emptiness

Tai Qi (Tai Chi) which is a term for everything that has emerged from nothingness. It is more than an exercise done for health. It is the full yin and yang of everyday life. It is the ten thousand things that arose from nothingness. Tai Qi is the matter and substance of being as well as the invisible space in between.

Today it is most often referred to as a learned form or practice, but this is just one example of Tai Qi. It is a way of learning how to be, how to feel, how to move and how to stay still. The form that one performs to be true Tai Qi must arise from nothing in order to be something. There must be stillness to produce the movement. This is the Tao (way) of Tai Qi, not the perfect execution of a learned form. It is the way of life itself in healthy balance and fluid process.

The forms are all different but the originating state is the same for all. The Void, the space where there is no thought of the soon to follow movement. The relaxed state of being that is complete within itself, allowing something to arise and be.

The first challenge of any Tai Qi practitioner is to achieve this state of Wu Qi. Quietude, equanimity, a state of relaxed being, that is where it all starts. From there anything is possible. To do this a body must transform itself from action to stillness from tension to relaxation and alignment. This is done by standing as grounded as possible while being suspended from above. Stretched out and aligned by heaven and earth. By listening and feeling, internally and externally to tension and weakness. By relaxing and circulating energy, to let it go and balance it out, you find this peace. By breathing softly but thoroughly fully distributing your Qi and realize your strength. Shoulders relaxed, pelvis drawn forward, knees slightly bent, chin up, mind empty.

Forget the form, just achieving this state of Wu Qi can take many moons to perfect and without it the entire form will be contrived. When the conditions are right the forms and positions will flow, but without this state you will be planning and judging your every move.

When you can find this state of Wu Qi and translate it into your everyday activities you will live Tai Qi. With this state everything and anything are possible. Life will not be so full of stress and you will feel prepared and ready to step into activity. Whether it is a step forward or back it will be the appropriate step for you.

Try it, please, peace will be sure to follow….e