DRAGONS, TIGERS, AND BEARS

Here in Colorado there are hints of spring. Yes, today will be unseasonable warm but we'll have snow again during the upcoming week. It's that in-between time. 

Yesterday was the first full moon of the Chinese Lunar New Year, the Lantern Festival. Ken Cohen tells us this is "a time for family reunions, lighting lanterns, guessing riddles, Lion and Dragon Dances, and eating special foods."

Today I am turning my attention to dragons, tigers, and bears. I'll be practicing forms with friends in our beloved park. We're coming out of hibernation, at least temporarily. My motivation for our practice is found in this poem also provided by Ken Cohen.

Subduing the Dragon, Taming the Tiger 

by 毛玄漢 Mao Xuanhan

心中元氣謂之龍，身中元精謂之虎。性定龍歸水，情寂虎隱山。二家和合了，名姓列仙班。

The original Qi of the heart-mind is called the Dragon; the original Essence of the body is called the Tiger. 

When the inner nature is stabilized, the Dragon returns to water. 

When the emotions are quieted, the Tiger hides in the mountains. 

When these two are in harmony, your full name will be listed in the ranks of the immortals.

Today we'll be pouncing like tigers, swimming like dragons, and moving like grumbling bears emerging from their winter's caves. The dragon forms will conjure images of water as we twist the spine, moving in reptilian fashion. The tiger will connect us with our muscles and tendons, as we stretch upwards and search for prey behind us and quickly pounce forwards. And the bear, well, the bear: slow lumbering movements waking up the body to what's outside our comfortable winter retreat. 

Through our movements we'll be telling a story based on the Neijing Tu, the Taoist chart of inner alchemy. 

The Dragon swims and plays in the deep blue water center of the body, the pelvis. It swims towards and then slowly up the spine. With every inhalation and exhalation it climbs higher through the lower back, the heart center. Twisting and turning its way into the cervical vertebrae of the neck, up the back of the skull and it finally emerges through the Bai Hui, the crown of the head. Here it enjoys the mountains, the sunshine, the clear blue skies, the light breeze. The Dragon relaxes, falling asleep at the crown. 

The Tiger has been hiding at the fire center of the body, the heart. This is above the cliff you see in the Neijing Tu. This cliff represent our diaphragm. On this cliff you see trees, wood element, the element of muscles and tendons, the element of spring. The tiger also moves towards and then up the spine to the Bai Hui, the crown. Here it meets its arch enemy, the Dragon. But the two, feeling the warmth of the sun and the expanse of the sky, are drawn to each other and become the forces of Yin and Yang.  

And the bear? Well, being the animal of the "in-between time," looks around, sniffs the air, enjoys a bit of sunshine, but then goes back in for another nap. The bear will commit to coming out of hibernation once it is confident that spring is truly here. 

Tiger forms from a couple of years ago, the year of the Tiger

Dragon Forms by Konstantin Rekk

Lantern Festival Riddles:

What’s full of holes but still holds water?

Answer: a sponge

What building has the most stories?

Answer: A Library

Which is faster, hot or cold?

Answer: Hot’s faster. You can catch a cold

When is your mind like a rumpled bed?

Answer: When it is not made up.

What is it that everybody does at the same time?

Answer: grow older

Be well, be happy, and follow your bliss

Brian

The source and inspiration for a lot of my thoughts, Ken Cohen

www.qigonghealing.com

TAIJI RULER

The Taiji Ruler, or Tai Chi Ruler is both a tool and a form, or set of movements used to focus the mind while cultivating and moving Qi.

Use of the Taiji Ruler became popular in China in the 1950's although some claim that the Taoist practice dates back to 900 CE.  

What it's not: 

• It's not a measuring stick. Well, it is in a way. 
• It's not a magical wand that directs Qi. Well, it is in a way. 

The Taiji Ruler is a stick or dowel which measures eight to twelve inches. It is most often made of wood. I have made simple Rulers and have purchased a somewhat more traditional Ruler.

The traditional Ruler is symmetrically shaped to resemble two sword handles. The round center is used as a focal point. 

In the photo above you'll see the traditional Ruler, a Ruler that I made out of a half inch dowel with round end caps, and a simple Ruler made from a cut up broom stick. I made twelve Rulers pictured in the middle for my fellow practitioners in my Qigong in a Park group. 

Well,"in a way:" 

While the Taiji Ruler does not have inches or centimeters designated, it is indeed a measuring stick, measuring the width of the side channels of the body. It should roughly measure the distance between two points in Kua, the inguinal crease, and also the shoulder nests.

We often refer to the Kua during practices. We move from the Kua, we settle into the Kua. The Kua is home to many lymph nodes. The Kua supports immunity and also our urogenital health. 

The "Shoulder Nests" also called "Crow's Nests" are located below the collarbones in the hollows near the shoulder. These nests are home to two very important acupressure points: Lung 1 and Lung 2. The lung points also support immunity and also lung health. 

We hold the Ruler between our palms at a point called Laogong. This point is also known as the "Palace of Toil." It is the eighth point of the heart protector or pericardium meridian. Stimulating it eases anxiety and clears inflammation. Bodyworkers and healers up their game by focusing attention on the Laogong point. 

Find the Laogong point by making a loose fist. The point is near where your middle finger meets your palm.

The Laogong:

• Removes excess heat in the body.
• Relieves mouth or tongue ulcers and cold sores.
• Reduces fever.
• Increases internal energy.
• Calms a restless mind.
• Warms cold hands.

If there is an imbalance in your Fire Element which is housed in your heart, you may feel depressed and without joy in your life. Stimulating the Laogong can restore your vitality and happiness while also protecting your heart.

I will spare you by not explaining the forms practiced with the Taiji Ruler. The movements are flowing, circular and meditative. There are plenty of lovely videos on YouTube. 

My favorite way to practice Taiji Ruler forms is first with the Ruler, and then without, holding the hands at the same width and energetically connecting the Laogong points. 

I love this Primordial Tai Chi Ruler video because of the simplicity. He picks up a stick laying on the ground and practices the forms with ease. 

And a slightly more involved practice with detailed descriptions of the forms: 

Be well, be happy and follow your bliss.

Brian