As our time here is drawing to a close (only 2 days to go) I’ve been considering a few things: what will I miss about being here; what have I got from being here; what will I not miss; what am I most looking forward to about being back in Brighton…
Firstly I’ll miss the people I’ve been here with. Ed for his compassion, Javier for his intensity, Dorian for her laugh and insight, Karin for her caring and clarity, Erik for his gentlemanliness (one might almost say he has the nobility of a fine horse!), Bobby for his wisdom, Tony for his questions and openness, “88 Mary” for her passion and joy for life, Trude for her listening and gentleness, Declan for his eagerness, and Sam, of course, for his jokes…
Then there’s the food; as people who’ve got to know me here will testify, I do enjoy food! And I love Mexican cuisine, with it’s warmth, freshness, juiciness… a little rich and meat heavy, but you can work around that somewhat. Our housekeeper, for all that she’s done the laundry, kept the place clean, done the shopping, hasn’t been an inspiring or inspired cook – but then we also didn’t have to do any of that for ourselves. I’m looking forward to some good British food: curry and a pint at the Unity; sushi at Moshi Moshi; tapas in the South Lanes.
The weather here has been perfect, even able to sunbathe sometimes; I’m not expecting to be able to do that for some months in England. It’s been wonderful to watch hummingbirds, butterflies (including monarchs), kiskadees, egrets, hawks… there was an incident at training this morning – a large hawk disturbed the nesting egrets from their nests above us and circled whilst herded by those huge snowy white galleons of the sky. Beautiful!
I may take some time to not be on the lookout for scorpions if walking barefoot. We have had a couple wandering the house, and a few cockroaches. The scorpions got killed before I could see them, so I’ve been out at night with a torch looking for them but no luck yet.
I’ve got many things from being here, particularly as this intensive was held in Mexico, a place which has the feeling of coming home for me.
It’s been a source of frustration to me for years that, even with all the Tai Chi out there, a cohesive and well developed curriculum has been difficult to piece together; and now I and our students don’t have to scrabble around to find it. I feel very honoured to be able to bring back what I’ve learned, add it to the fine foundation and enthusiasm for the study that we already have in Sussex and take things forward as a community of Tai Chi players. (I remember sitting around at the pub trying to find a collective noun for Tai Chi’ists and hitting upon a Tao of Tai Chi players… what do you think? Will it catch on?) The skills of Tai Chi we all work on in our training on a daily (or at least frequent and regular basis), and that’s the road we’re all on.
Friday, March 27, 2009
27th March - The Test!
There's going to be a test for all students who've been training this term, focusing particularly on those students who've not left any comments or asked questions on any of these blogs.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
19th March '09 - Anniversary
So, we were at the pub last night and I was telling the story of my last trip to Mexico; how I'd got in touch with Bert, Tlakaelel's translator, and let him know that I was coming and that I'd be arriving on March 18th, at about 7pm... "But it's March 18th today", said Eric! "What time is it?". "Trude checked her watch, "7pm..."
So I got to celebrate my ten year anniversary to the minute, with a beer or two, great company, wonderful food... In as much as there is so much I'm looking forward to when I get back ('Hi Babe'), there's a lot to celebrate having been here for. Twice.
So I got to celebrate my ten year anniversary to the minute, with a beer or two, great company, wonderful food... In as much as there is so much I'm looking forward to when I get back ('Hi Babe'), there's a lot to celebrate having been here for. Twice.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
18th March '09 - Sam vs The Leprechaun!
Yesterday was St Patricks Day and we were visited by a very friendly Leprechaun. He merrily ran around handing out gold, blessing us and wishing us well... and wouldn't you know it, this one knew the Two Person Form as well! The pointy shoes may have been a bit of an advantage in some of the kicks, as even Sam found out...
And I don't feel so wealthy in the light of day, I thought I was rich but I've mis-placed my gold. If you happen upon it, it's mine!
18th March '09 - A Race Against Time!
My shoes are wearing pretty thin... I think they'll probably survive the last couple of weeks, but whether they'll make the journey home or heroically suffer and expire, their remains interred in Mexico, I don't know. The one thing I was certain of is that as long as it doesn't rain my feet would stay dry even if the sole wore through - then last night, just at the end of class, it actually rained! For the first time (properly) since being here! I'll keep you posted...
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
4th March '09
It's kind of odd to come all the way to Mexico and find someone making really good spear tips of all styles, but kind of nice, too; it fits with choosing here for such intensive training. I'm looking forward to fitting and working with the one I've bought...Well, we've covered a lot of ground these last few weeks, enough to realise that we could easily have been here for two years (or more) getting deeper and deeper into Tai Chi. Just as well it wasn't for that long, though, isn't it, Cher?! I'm very happy that we have such wonderful students with a deep desire to research and study this amazing art. The next few years are going to be amazing!
Looking back over the time here so far the study has kind of been the reverse of how most Tai Chi is taught in the west - for example, we're finally about to study 'the form'. What we've been putting in place, though, has been the foundation of what the form is for, rather than asking that as a question later, so we've been doing lots of principles applied to partner and solo practice in pushing hands, sabre and sword. I think that part of the joy of Tai Chi is it's depth and challenge, almost as much as that's part of the challenge. This afternoon we'll be at the terraces starting the 108...
It's getting quite warm here now, maybe reaching late 20's in the day. Still chilly at night, though, so although it's been cold in Brighton (is it still that way?) I've been quite glad that I brought my gloves. Nearly had to wear them, some mornings... And do I miss the rain? A bit, strangely, it's very dry here. No seagulls, though - we have egrets instead! They're nesting above the terraces so I'm trying to collect some feathers to bring back.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
24th Feb '09 - The downhill bit
We started back with training yesterday, doing sword drills and skills. Feels good to be back, partly because we're more than half-way through and the days are counting down, partly 'cos I love learning and training in Tai Chi and miss it if I'm not. So, we were studying parries and sticking skills in middle, low and high ranges, how to change from one to the other and change sides. My sword got a bit hacked up...
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
16th February '09
I had originally intended to stay until Thursday, but it felt right to travel back with Mary and Dorian. It’s safer travelling as a group in Mexico, also there is an impending bus strike over the price of diesel. As all travel is done by bus/coach here it would bring the country to a standstill; although it would probably be only for a day no-one could say (some protests here last a while).
Tlakaelel had to go into town in the morning, so he checked the buses for us in case ‘they’ weren’t showing it on the TV (it was a protest against the government, after all, and not all news gets reported…).
This morning I had a great opportunity to speak with Maestro and ask some questions, some that Cher had emailed me and one of mine. A visiting Maestra, Camila, graciously translated, and I had permission to record, some of which you may find on our YouTube site. Camila’s own study amongst the Maya is amazing, and if you ask me about it I’ll tell you what I know and put you in touch with her.
Tlakaelel had to go into town in the morning, so he checked the buses for us in case ‘they’ weren’t showing it on the TV (it was a protest against the government, after all, and not all news gets reported…).
This morning I had a great opportunity to speak with Maestro and ask some questions, some that Cher had emailed me and one of mine. A visiting Maestra, Camila, graciously translated, and I had permission to record, some of which you may find on our YouTube site. Camila’s own study amongst the Maya is amazing, and if you ask me about it I’ll tell you what I know and put you in touch with her.
15th February '09
What an amazing day! The experience of returning 10 years later, seeing the places where I had spent so much time, worked so hard, even learned a bit – and becoming aware of how much I’ve changed, grown and learned since. I feel so honoured to be able to invite and share this with Mary and Dorian; our hike up the mountain to the circle and the powerful time we each spent there has left a lasting impression upon me, most of all in a sense of completion. A journey I set out upon over ten years ago has finally ended (in a spiral kind of way), and it’s time to move on. “A Hobbit’s Tale: There and Back Again.”
15th February '09
Got up this morning at 6 so we could see sunrise over the valley. Very beautiful! And it brings back so many memories of doing exactly that almost every day for 6 months. Then the artillery started – there’s an army range on the mountain the other side of the valley…
And there was smoke in the valley, too; the grass is so dry at this time of year that there are spontaneous fires, one of which was covering the whole valley and the pyramids.
Walking through Teotihuacan, climbing the pyramids of the Sun and Moon (thank heavens for the stairs in San Miguel); wandering and taking photos of us all in various Tai Chi postures (can’t take a Tai Chi player anywhere without them spontaneously posturing); buying souvenir T shirts… Bliss! On the Pyramid of the Moon I did a round of wobbly 5 Section Tai Chi – look for it on our YouTube site! It’s very bumpy and was difficult to keep my footing, as you’ll see in a couple of places.
We’re now back for lunch, maybe a siesta, then up the hill to the Kalihuey (long house, which I helped build), and even higher to the Sundance circle.
And there was smoke in the valley, too; the grass is so dry at this time of year that there are spontaneous fires, one of which was covering the whole valley and the pyramids.
Walking through Teotihuacan, climbing the pyramids of the Sun and Moon (thank heavens for the stairs in San Miguel); wandering and taking photos of us all in various Tai Chi postures (can’t take a Tai Chi player anywhere without them spontaneously posturing); buying souvenir T shirts… Bliss! On the Pyramid of the Moon I did a round of wobbly 5 Section Tai Chi – look for it on our YouTube site! It’s very bumpy and was difficult to keep my footing, as you’ll see in a couple of places.
We’re now back for lunch, maybe a siesta, then up the hill to the Kalihuey (long house, which I helped build), and even higher to the Sundance circle.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
14th February '09
Well, it’s been a while since I wrote anything. We’re half-way through the intensive, and later I’d like to see what I can say about what we’ve been learning and what it’s meant to me; there's also the kind of chatting that'll wait ‘til I’m back and enjoying a pint of good British ale, chatting and exploring Tai Chi theory; and then there's when I'm teaching and our students are asking really good questions, the kind that come from their own experience…
We have a mid-intensive break, so I’ve come with Dorian and Mary to visit with Tlakaelel, the Azteca/Tolteca elder I studied with the last time I was here in Mexico, almost 10 years ago. He’s difficult to describe, but he’s a great teacher and leader of his community, and a wonderful and actually wise human being. I always feel such love and warmth whenever I even think of him, let alone being with him, and it’s good to be back here. Dorian asked me a great question (she’s like that); “How are you the same, and how are you different to the last time you were here?”
He welcomed us very warmly, then we (Mary, Dorian and I), went with Marco (a young leader and director of Kalpulli Koakalco) and Camilla (a film maker) to San Martin to get us all some food for a few days and to eat some. Marco remembered when I first arrived here, “fresh and clean”, and how I was when I left, “wiped out”. He says he as the pictures to prove it, which I’m hoping to get sent to me as I have no pictures from that time (but great memories).
When we got back Maestro talked to us about the project here, the work that is involved in it, of the people who have been involved in it over the years (including me).
The pyramids themselves are amazing, as always. We’ve arranged to be picked up very early in the morning (even if it is a Sunday/lie-in day!) by taxi (Fernando, also a member of the Kalpulli, so trustworthy and doing it as a favour to Maestro so much cheaper than otherwise).
We have a mid-intensive break, so I’ve come with Dorian and Mary to visit with Tlakaelel, the Azteca/Tolteca elder I studied with the last time I was here in Mexico, almost 10 years ago. He’s difficult to describe, but he’s a great teacher and leader of his community, and a wonderful and actually wise human being. I always feel such love and warmth whenever I even think of him, let alone being with him, and it’s good to be back here. Dorian asked me a great question (she’s like that); “How are you the same, and how are you different to the last time you were here?”
He welcomed us very warmly, then we (Mary, Dorian and I), went with Marco (a young leader and director of Kalpulli Koakalco) and Camilla (a film maker) to San Martin to get us all some food for a few days and to eat some. Marco remembered when I first arrived here, “fresh and clean”, and how I was when I left, “wiped out”. He says he as the pictures to prove it, which I’m hoping to get sent to me as I have no pictures from that time (but great memories).
When we got back Maestro talked to us about the project here, the work that is involved in it, of the people who have been involved in it over the years (including me).
The pyramids themselves are amazing, as always. We’ve arranged to be picked up very early in the morning (even if it is a Sunday/lie-in day!) by taxi (Fernando, also a member of the Kalpulli, so trustworthy and doing it as a favour to Maestro so much cheaper than otherwise).
Thursday, February 5, 2009
19th January '09
The weekend was pretty chilled – training with most of the guys on Saturday, then a short walk into town, but mostly chilling at home. We have an astounding place, and I can’t imagine a better one for being here. The view is incredible! We also have a housekeeper who cooks, cleans, does laundry… it does make for an easier life after training, and I strongly suspect we’ll be even more grateful for that as time goes on.
I’ve still been feeling pretty rough with ‘flu, it seems to be dragging on a bit. I know that Cher’s still not better yet; even though she started hers first she was much worse off at the beginning.
I’ve still been feeling pretty rough with ‘flu, it seems to be dragging on a bit. I know that Cher’s still not better yet; even though she started hers first she was much worse off at the beginning.
15th January '09
So, I’ve had a few problems with money, and I’ve been pretty stressed because of it. On checking my accounts I found that most of the money I needed to live on whilst here was gone – it seems from an electronic error at the airport, where I was trying to withdraw US dollars. I got really upset, mostly because that money isn’t only mine but represents the faith and trust of my wife; it’s our money. I found this really upsetting, and wasn’t able to appreciate being here and being with everybody here at first, but Life’s settled down some since. As Bobby beautifully put, a crisis or emergency isn’t something that can easily be solved with a few hundred bucks but something which may involve guns and/or hospitals…
Training’s been good this week, starting directly with the foundations of Yang Style Tai Chi from a classical and literary perspective, looking at how push hands has been depicted from the earliest records and what happens if you follow those old instructions… Sam’s knee’s been playing him up, so the weeks training was partly geared around that, so looking at breath and breathing, qigong and meditation, as well as a lot of pushing hands.
Training’s been good this week, starting directly with the foundations of Yang Style Tai Chi from a classical and literary perspective, looking at how push hands has been depicted from the earliest records and what happens if you follow those old instructions… Sam’s knee’s been playing him up, so the weeks training was partly geared around that, so looking at breath and breathing, qigong and meditation, as well as a lot of pushing hands.
12th January '09
We had an opening ceremony led by Alina, a local curandera. Huge wafts of copal smoke (my favourite incense), Alina praying, all of us turning to face the four directions… so much of spirituality and religion deal with the four directions, following the same basic practices. Interesting, isn’t it?
At the beginning of the ceremony we were all handed things; candles, a rain stick, corn of four colours, a conch… except me. So I stood with my hands open offering all that I had to Spirit, whilst contemplating the meaning of all that. It reminded me of the beginning of my first journey to Mexico ten years ago, but that’s another story…
At the beginning of the ceremony we were all handed things; candles, a rain stick, corn of four colours, a conch… except me. So I stood with my hands open offering all that I had to Spirit, whilst contemplating the meaning of all that. It reminded me of the beginning of my first journey to Mexico ten years ago, but that’s another story…
11th January '09
The air here is so dry it’s impossible to drink enough water for my lips to not be dry. It’s drying on the eyes, too. We’re about 6000 feet up, so some altitude to adjust to but I’m okay with it – Sam and a couple of the others are having a harder time of it.
So, we made it to San Miguel, found our home for the next three months (more on that later) and begun to settle in. Hummingbirds! Outside my window! I love hummingbirds, they seem such miraculous creatures. The old indigenous understanding of hummingbirds is as a symbol of consciousness and the facility of thought, in part from their ability to hover and move in any directions
It’s gorgeous here; the light is amazing, it’s warm in the day (mostly, anyway, although I’m still dealing with ‘flu) if rather cold at night – its’ the same temperature here as in Brighton at the moment!
Training starts tomorrow, which I’m both excited and nervous about. We had a meeting this evening where I got to meet all the others. They all seem lovely, and it’s going to be a great three months!
So, we made it to San Miguel, found our home for the next three months (more on that later) and begun to settle in. Hummingbirds! Outside my window! I love hummingbirds, they seem such miraculous creatures. The old indigenous understanding of hummingbirds is as a symbol of consciousness and the facility of thought, in part from their ability to hover and move in any directions
It’s gorgeous here; the light is amazing, it’s warm in the day (mostly, anyway, although I’m still dealing with ‘flu) if rather cold at night – its’ the same temperature here as in Brighton at the moment!
Training starts tomorrow, which I’m both excited and nervous about. We had a meeting this evening where I got to meet all the others. They all seem lovely, and it’s going to be a great three months!
10th January '09
The hotel we found was absolutely brilliant, Hotel Meson de Obispado; typically Mexican (unfinished building works) but charming, clean, comfortable and very reasonable (about £30 for a twin). The restaurant we chose was a tourist trap, but ok. The company’s good.
I woke far too early, not yet adjusted to the time difference, but after dozing off was awakened about 6.30 by the clanging of church bells (making up for quality by competing in the “who’s got the clangiest clang?”). I lay there listening to the birds (do sparrows tweet in a foreign tweet?); the lowing train; another, very exotic sounding, bird; the dawn light stretching…
Today, after some touristing, we’ll be making our way to San Miguel and seeing our place for the first time.
I woke far too early, not yet adjusted to the time difference, but after dozing off was awakened about 6.30 by the clanging of church bells (making up for quality by competing in the “who’s got the clangiest clang?”). I lay there listening to the birds (do sparrows tweet in a foreign tweet?); the lowing train; another, very exotic sounding, bird; the dawn light stretching…
Today, after some touristing, we’ll be making our way to San Miguel and seeing our place for the first time.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
8/1/09
It was strange running up to the time for me to leave the UK. It seemed that everyone reminded me of someone else; one person reminded me of one of my friends, another of a relative, another of someone on TV or from the movies… partly I was saying “goodbye” in case something happened (well meaning relatives: “careful on the plane in case you suffer permanent hearing damage”(!?), “travel safely, don’t die in a plane crash” etc), and as I was lying here in a Mexican hotel room (with hearing intact and still not dead) was thinking how people are more the same than they are different. Maybe it’s genotypes, maybe personality types; people are more like each other than they are different…
The journey was simple enough although a couple of things needed sorting at the airport; the plane was delayed which would have meant missing my connection at Orlando. A chat with a lovely guy from Virgin and I was re-routed through Las Vegas on a flight which was itself delayed and which meant that I had time to catch it, and had plenty of time to catch the late flight to Mexico City, arriving about 1 in the morning; then phoning the Holiday Inn at Mexico airport to re-arrange the shuttle pick-up.
All the flights themselves were really smooth and easy, even with ‘flu (thank heaven for modern drugs), mostly fairly boring (watched some movies on the Virgin flight though: Star Wars: Clone Wars, the remake of Death Race with Jason Statham, a rom-com with Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst (How to Lose Friends and Alienate people or something like), and maybe something else that was so memorable I don’t remember it. I dozed on and off during both flights, particularly the second.
Meeting up with Ed was great – his flight from Vancouver had also been delayed, and he was relaxing in the room when I got there, about 2 in the morning 25 hours after leaving. We chatted and laughed, and then set about sleeping; Ed from moving 2 hours forward and me from moving 6 hours back (8 hours back to Vegas then 2 hours forward to Mexico).
I awoke gently only three hours later, already refreshed, dawn beginning outside the window. As the curtains were open I lay there watching the dawn slowly fill the day. I grew more aware of the city stretching and preparing itself: cars passing, trucks too; a train sounding it’s horn as though it knew it was still too early, trying to do it’s horn thing without disturbing anyone (compared with the 8 o’clock train loud, long and brash); the worlds largest metropolis becoming more confident of itself in the light of day.
After spending time relaxing then showering and getting ready myself we went for breakfast – lots of meat in sauces – then off to the airport to meet Mary and Jane. Their plane had landed early and wasn’t showing on the boards so lots of running around to find out what had happened. Mary had had to explain about her swords which, although boxed up, all had to be inspected and measured. Apparently anything less than 48” is ok.
Travelling to Queretaro on the bus was full of “I’m in Mexico!” moments: the quality of light; the cactus with and without fruit; being on the bus itself; the mountains; the feel of this land beneath me and around me. There were many such moments both on that journey and after, and there’ll be others, I’m sure. I wonder wah the purpose of that sort of realisation is? Being here is a statement of fact, perhaps the wonder of it helps celebrate the awe of it, cultivates joy and gratitude. This morning I’d had a conversation about our wives, what amazing women they are in their support of us. I miss not sharing this with Cher, and still hope that one day I will.
The journey was simple enough although a couple of things needed sorting at the airport; the plane was delayed which would have meant missing my connection at Orlando. A chat with a lovely guy from Virgin and I was re-routed through Las Vegas on a flight which was itself delayed and which meant that I had time to catch it, and had plenty of time to catch the late flight to Mexico City, arriving about 1 in the morning; then phoning the Holiday Inn at Mexico airport to re-arrange the shuttle pick-up.
All the flights themselves were really smooth and easy, even with ‘flu (thank heaven for modern drugs), mostly fairly boring (watched some movies on the Virgin flight though: Star Wars: Clone Wars, the remake of Death Race with Jason Statham, a rom-com with Simon Pegg and Kirsten Dunst (How to Lose Friends and Alienate people or something like), and maybe something else that was so memorable I don’t remember it. I dozed on and off during both flights, particularly the second.
Meeting up with Ed was great – his flight from Vancouver had also been delayed, and he was relaxing in the room when I got there, about 2 in the morning 25 hours after leaving. We chatted and laughed, and then set about sleeping; Ed from moving 2 hours forward and me from moving 6 hours back (8 hours back to Vegas then 2 hours forward to Mexico).
I awoke gently only three hours later, already refreshed, dawn beginning outside the window. As the curtains were open I lay there watching the dawn slowly fill the day. I grew more aware of the city stretching and preparing itself: cars passing, trucks too; a train sounding it’s horn as though it knew it was still too early, trying to do it’s horn thing without disturbing anyone (compared with the 8 o’clock train loud, long and brash); the worlds largest metropolis becoming more confident of itself in the light of day.
After spending time relaxing then showering and getting ready myself we went for breakfast – lots of meat in sauces – then off to the airport to meet Mary and Jane. Their plane had landed early and wasn’t showing on the boards so lots of running around to find out what had happened. Mary had had to explain about her swords which, although boxed up, all had to be inspected and measured. Apparently anything less than 48” is ok.
Travelling to Queretaro on the bus was full of “I’m in Mexico!” moments: the quality of light; the cactus with and without fruit; being on the bus itself; the mountains; the feel of this land beneath me and around me. There were many such moments both on that journey and after, and there’ll be others, I’m sure. I wonder wah the purpose of that sort of realisation is? Being here is a statement of fact, perhaps the wonder of it helps celebrate the awe of it, cultivates joy and gratitude. This morning I’d had a conversation about our wives, what amazing women they are in their support of us. I miss not sharing this with Cher, and still hope that one day I will.
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