Yin Water Snake Moon
Wow, Snake moon - the first moon of Summer! We often talk about how a Snake is really just the tail of a Dragon, but Snakes also have a personality of their own. On good days, they're wise, intuitive, attentive, intelligent, and caring. On bad days, however, they could be down right mean, manic, and manipulative - their misconduct is literally biblical. Care for an apple?
As for the poetry of the moment, stay sharp. There are a lot of bad seeds out there looking for an opportunity - and you could very well be their next prospect. You can't blame a Snake for biting no more than you can blame a Tiger for killing - it's their nature - it's up to us to stear clear. This is why we have Darwin awards - ignorance doesn't excuse us from the bottom line.
To make this make sense, be vigilant. You don't have to be paranoid, but be sure to lock the doors and don't leave any valuables in the car when you park. In a cut throat world of instincts and survival, we've got predators and prey... may we never have to walk the shoes of either.
⧠Stay Safe out There â§
Discipline: To control your own impulses.
Awareness: Be present, well-prepared, and alert.
Positioning: It's 10pm. Do you know where the kids are?
Presence & Poise: Predators prey on poor posture.
Defense: Hopefully, you'll never need it.
Warrior in a Garden > Gardener in a War
Contents
ă»Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
ă»Astrology and Tea: Shifu and Seanan talk about the lunar calendar.
ă»The Daoist Calendar: Special holidays and how to observe them.
ă»Tai Chi True or False: You've got a 50/50 chance. Is it Yin or Yang?
ă»Along the Way: Tale of two Daoist brothers and their angry master.
ă»Madame Xu's News: Zodiac forecasts from our Hong Kong Oracle.
ă»Final Fortune Cookie: Big wit and wisdom from a tiny little idiom.
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⧠Shifu Says â§
That last Water Dragon phase was rough, especially around the full moon, right?! Did you notice it? May day was insane - at least here in the Bay Area! Traffic was a mess, everyone was aggressive and argumentative, everyone was irritable and angry - it was nuts... and it's nowhere near over!
With all of these triggers to trip over, I'm reminded of the "Four Terrors," an old adage from my youth. The first terror is an Earthquake, and having lived through the Loma Prieta quake of 89 and the Sichuan quake of 08, I'm all too familiar with those fears. Next up is Thunder, and when I was a kid, I can clearly recall how scared I'd get when the sky shook from a big storm. The third terror is Fire, and here in California, we face that fear every year.
The fourth and final terror is the one that seems out of place from the list, and in all vulnerability, it's the one I'm most afraid of - an Angry Father. Not that I have one - I was raised by a single mother and my dad died a decade ago... I'm talking about myself. I may appear calm and collected, but I'm just as human as the rest of us, and I've certainly got my fair share of demons to tackle. Now, my anger isn't exactly constant - it's not even all that common - but it can happen... and when it does, I want to be in control.
This matters to me now because I'm not only the Shifu of a school, but I'm also a husband and a father. My son is still young, but I can already see that he does what I do - not what I say. So now, my Kung Fu is about conquering ME. God forbid I scare my family in a world that's already scary enough.
Sharp Sword âïž Solid Sheath
Astrology & Tea
Weâve entered the first moon of Summer - the Snake Moon - and the year is officially ramping up. The energy is rising, the pace is quickening, and the heat is beginning to build. Be careful out there - donât get carried away just yet. There's still time to calculate your moves, refine your strategy, and align yourself with whatâs actually unfolding.
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In this round of Tea Drunk, Shifu and Seanan explore the Dao of now. The Snake doesnât rush about - it's calculated. The snake observes, adjusts, and strikes with precision, but only when the time is ripe. This is the kind of keen awareness we'd want to cultivate as we collectively step into Summer and start to steep in the heat. This is the wisdom you'll want to watch for.
As always, you can enjoy the first few segments on us - but there's a full, hour-long production on the other end of this subscription wall. Enroll now to unlock the entire program and stay in line with the times.
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The Dao that can be Spoken...
Daoist Holidays
Fourth/Plum Moon: Yin Water Snake
Qi Node: Summer Begins
Holiday: Dian Mu (Mother of Lightening) Birthday
Be Silent, Create Space for Inspiration to Flourish
*Hey New York! Support our dear friend, Sifu Kisu of the Harmonious Fist!*
Tai Chi True or False
True or False:
The elbows and shoulders should stay down and relaxed in practice.
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