In TaiChi class our teacher introduced us to an excercise called push hands. You connect your wrist to a partner's lower palm and they begin to push. To be effective you don't push back which is the natural thing to do. In your stance your are rooted and relaxed and the incoming push energy is received, grounded and deflected softly. That is how in the martial art you defeat your opponent, by changing the course of that aggressive energy. Their push energy travels into nothing and is dissipated. It is the idea of giving up your self, and following the other, being able to read the intention of the pusher and being calm and relaxed to deal with it. What at first might be perceived as "weakness" actually becomes the "strength". It is so hard not to push back. Practicing with a significant other can be revealing!
The physical activity of moving around the chi is what is helping me meditate. I read that the practice of tai chi and moving all that energy around can bring many feelings close to the surface. It seems to be true. If there is a story on the radio of someone's misfortune I will start to cry. I am surprised sometimes how quickly my temper flares up. But it is so brief now; like a firecracker, a quick pop, over in a second, just a puff of smoke remaining.
