EMPTY FORCE - CONTEMPLATING TAOIST PHILOSOPHY

Since my arrival at Tao Garden I have been contemplating this metal statue near the exercise pavillions - hmmmm - a figure without a middle? What could that mean? A person with an empty space between the head and legs?

As I move forward into my second month at Tao Garden near Chiang Mai in Thailand, I find this notion more possible and more valuable as the exercises combined with chi nei tsang, my own practice and just being in this harmonious international community weave their magic in my being and life.

The clearing of the negative energy from the navel, abdomen and organs produces a calm that allows entry into the flow of what is. When energy or resistance appears I am more easily aware of how uncomfortable that is and work immediately to release and return to emptiness. Mantak Chias's Taoist exercises give practical skills for a calm center and a balanced perspective.

I look forward to sharing some of the exercises in my classes in School of Natural Medicine on my return to Boulder, Colorado in Feburary and March and Health Master SNMI in Iceland in May/June.

The weather is beautiful as we move toward Christmas. Sunny days and cool evenings. My friends doing Amicus charitable work in Thailand have come to Tao Garden for the holiday time and I visit one of their childrens refugee camps near the Burmese border this week. My son Galon who teaches at Mahidol University will bring his bicycle and enjoy the countryside - recently he biked from Bangkok to Burma and in July from Chiang Mai to Burma!  Kavita, a friend from India, is also visiting for a week over the holidays to explore ideas for a health oasis. Life is full even on retreat.

Happy holidays everyone. Interesting thought. Keep that empty space even though the holidays are full of temptations for tasty treats!!! love to all  Farida