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The Daoist Outlook・033

Apr 11, 2025

Full Dragon Moon


   Admittedly, this moon is far less emotional than the previous one, but the charge is certainly stronger. Nature is in full bloom and the year is beginning to ramp up. There's a lot of potential to manage right now. How are you with containment? Can you keep it all under wraps, or are you busting out at the seems? In the face of a flash flood, it's less about building a dam and more about having solid irrigation systems. When you can't stop it - let it flow.

   We can compare this phase against the yielding and neutralizing power of the Tai Chi Fist. As Yang starts to rise, Yin begins to sink in equally opposing proportions - it's the circle of life. Nature's wisdom here is clear, don't meet force with force. By now, you have to know that when two titans clash even the winner loses. Is it really worth it? Instead of getting dragged into a rising tide of turbulence, ease back and play the role of an observer. Just for this lunar phase, let all your triggers and tensions exhaust themselves out. When the funk fades and the dust settles, that's when you can step in and move a thousand pounds with four ounces of power. Shifu calls this "the effortless effort," when nothing is done, yet nothing is left undone.

✧ Softness for the Win ✧
Take it Slow: Why rush? No one is chasing you.
Take it Easy: Force never fixed anything. Ease up some.
Take it Down: Choose your own tempo. Don't get riled up.
Take it Off: Shed your defenses. Anger doesn't serve you.
Take a Break: Some problems resolve on their own.

Strong Enough to be Soft


Contents

・Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
・Let's Train: There's a lot going on, come practice with us!
・The Daoist Calendar:
Special holidays and how to observe them.
・Learning Courtesy: Hijinks and harmony of Gretchen and Grace.
・Deep Steeps: Shifu interviews his big brother, Donald Allen L.Ac 


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