We often think and speak about spirituality as a far away mystical place or as an abstract intellectual idea. In both cases, it is easy to miss the beautiful spiritual world we live in right here on earth. It is easy to disconnect our physical life from our spiritual life. We have heard many times that the physical world and the spiritual world are interconnected, but we don't have many tools to teach us how that is true, so we often get stuck in our knowledge and lack understanding about our own connectedness and true nature.
Tai-Chi, in my experience gives us an opportunity to intimately examine our true nature.
We get to experience our miraculous nature and our child like nature. It allows us to practice spiritual principles with our own body where we can see those principles work in the physical world. This practice allows us to develop deeper faith in our creator and allows us to learn more clearly what we are passionate about. While doing Tai-Chi I have learned to slow down and savor the moments of simple beauty such as smelling a flower or enjoying the taste of a juicy pineapple. I have learned to enjoy the simple pleasure of smiling for no reason.
In the spiritual world of feelings and intellect, there is no place to test our wisdom. We read and hear things, but how can we rely on them without testing them? The physical world is the place we can get feedback and confirm the truth. I imagine there will always be mystery and unknowns to life, but just as we can learn to drive a car without understanding physics and thermodynamics, we can harness our spirit and go beyond our limits by learning to map the spiritual with the physical.
When practicing Tai-Chi, you get a very intimate experience of the miracle that your body is. Whether you experience graceful movement, centered thoughts, healing, or other things, Tai-Chi gives you an ability to do things that you never thought you could and it also allows you to know the elegance and strength that only a greater being can create. This comes from practicing, observing, experiencing, and being curious. It takes more than just thought.
Whether you practice Tai-Chi or not, have some fun this week noticing how your physical world relates to your spiritual world.
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