Joint Cultivation

"Joint Cultivation" means working together in groups to improve ourselves physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. When we gather together to meditate, pray, play, or do movement arts like Qi Gong and Tai Chi, we build on each other's energy. I will speak of this using both Western and Easter terminology to honer the traditions we are steeped in at our weekly sessions.

We are more likely to move through the whole healing set or program that we have established as our ritual or routine if we have others around us doing the same thing. In our Qi Gong practice, we have a set of exercises that begin with "Saluting In," thereby creating a "sacred" space where ever we are. We salute into the circle and acknowledge that we are about to embark in an hour or so of joint cultivation. Our focus will be exclusively on the moment letting go of all the distractions that encumber us in our daily lives. We will allow our body, mind, and spirit to be undivided. We do this by practicing five types of Taoist exercises:

• The "Qi Scattering" set is meant to warm up the muscles and joints, and to dislodge any stagnant energy that may be stuck in our muscles or joints which can cause dis-ease.
  
  
• The second set, "Purging" is designed to help rid our bodies and energy fields from the detritus loosened up during scattering, and whatever else we can let go of.
  
  
• The third set, "Tonifying" is calculated to develop a perfect balance of yin and yang energy throughout our bodies and energy meridians. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) this type of work is the pathway to optimal health and healing. These exercises if done properly are also physically safe and demanding. We engage our bodies, minds and imaginations to fully embrace the movements, philosophy and energy activities related to them. They develop good strength, flexibility, balance and circulation in their practice. We conclude this set with a standing meditation that helps in relaxation, posture and mindfulness, as well as connecting us to all levels of our existence.
  
  
• The fourth set, "Circulating" is meant to take that perfect balance of energy and inner peace, and circulate it throughout the whole body. This movement set is a meditation on using the imagination to lead the mind, and the mind to lead the chi. Feeling the physicality of our chi energy is a major long term goal of these exercise. It is my intention to help all students actually physically feel the polarity of their external and internal energy fields between their hands, if not actually circulating in and around their bodies.
  
  
• The final set, "Storing" is brief, but essential in remembering that as we cultivate ourselves, we can return to the strong, relaxed and confident feeling we have after our session any time of the day or night simply by tapping into our core connection that has its base between our pelvic bowl and our diaphragm and up through the top of our head. In Chinese, it is called the lower or first Tan Tien (Dan Tien), the middle Tan Tien and the upper Tan Tien. These all compose our core connection to the yin of the earth and the yang of heaven.

Finally we separate or "re-individuate" ourselves after a period of joining our energy fields throughout the group. We salute out, returning the "Sacred" space in which we cultivated to the "Profane" (non-sacred) space that it is during all other times. We can then go our separate ways without unnecessary energetic ties to the people we cultivate with.

Thank you for reading my blog. Please post comments as you deem appropriate.

Sincerely,

Sifu Mark Angel

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