Yin Wood Goat Moon
Is it a Sheep, a Lamb, a Goat, or a Ram? It might even pass as a miniature bull cow! Whatever you call it, it's the last moon of Summer, and it brings a flavor of closure to the conversation. This species is known to eat anything, and they'd scale a rigid cliff for nothing more than a lick of salt. It'd be wise to use this nimble chi for a safe descent into the cooler moons of Fall.
As for the poetry of the moment, slow down - like, waaay down. From this view, the sizzle of Summer is behind us. Now is the time to forge your way home and quietly close out the night. Skimp that second wind and ignore all those fancy happy hour specials. Let your friends burn out while you remain alert and rested. Don't forget, we still have a huge Winter ahead of us.
To make this make sense, don't over do it. Learn when enough is enough. Let someone else set the agenda. You don't need to have the last word. Try not to start anything new, and certainly don't stir up any pots from the past. This is your golden hour, that perfect moment just before sunset. Remember that you have a valuable treasure worth going home to - now act like it.
✧ The Last Moon of Summer ✧
Devote: Work towards a purpose.
Dominate: Knock out all of your daily duties.
Discern: Don't start nothing that won't be nothing.
Direct: There's no need to sugarcoat truth.
Don't Delay: Hurry home - Now!
It Has to End Sometime
Contents
⭐︎ Shifu Says: A brief word from our head teacher, Shifu David Wei.
⭐︎ Astrology and Tea: This episode honors four years of production!
⭐︎ The Daoist Calendar: Special holidays and how to observe them.
✭ Tai Chi True or False: You've got a 50/50 chance. Is it Yin or Yang?
✭ Along the Way: Tale of two Daoist brothers and their angry master.
✭ Madame Xu's News: Zodiac forecasts from our Hong Kong Oracle.
✭ Final Fortune Cookie: Big wit and wisdom from a tiny little idiom.
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✧ Shifu Says ✧
I once heard heartache framed as the pain of having love with nowhere to go. That view really landed for me in the Summer of last Dragon Year, 2024, when we lost our daughter, Dalia due to complications at birth. She'd have been two this year - and the pain of loss hasn't grown any lighter.
It took all of our courage to try again - especially for my wife. Our medical team wasted no effort detailing all the risks of our "Hail Mary Project." Every phase of the pregnancy was poked and prodded with assumptive criticisms and statistical scrutiny. It was terrible. I'm sure they had our best interests in mind, but all their protocols and policies just fostered more fear. 
Time passed, and after a long, reticent pregnancy, we made the collective choice to induce last Sunday afternoon. My wife showed off all her Kung Fu prowess by birthing naturally - with zero medication - and in just three short pushes, we welcomed our Triple Horse son to the world... Earth Horse Hour, Wood Horse Moon, Fire Horse Year! Talk about Horse Power!
We named him Zahran Zayd Wei. We'll call him Zayd (like Jade) for short. We figure he'll mature into his first name over time. It's a prominent Muslim name that reads as if it were a blessing with potent spiritual significance. It translates as "Effortless Bloom of Radiant Potential," and it was the given name of one of the Prophet Mohammad's (PBUH) closest companions.
His name is also special in Chinese. Phonetically, the name Zahran Zayd translates as 直然在德, or "Zhi Ran Zai De," which almost reads like a poetic idiom from an ancient literary classic, "Original Promise of Returning Virtue," or simply, "Nature has Arrived." It's a powerful statement, not so much of a name - so we distilled it down to 魏直然, or "Wei Zhi Ran," to make it easy.
Powerful names for a powerful child. I swear, little baby Zayd has no idea how strong he already is. He's barely a week old and he's already lifted a world of heartache off our shoulders. Nothing turns hurt into hope like the smile of a newborn child. Thank you for joining us, son - Baba loves you.
✧ Welcome Baby Zayd ✧
Born On: Monday, July 13th
Weight: 9 pounds 6 ounces
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It's a Boy!
Astrology & Tea
The boys are back for another edition of Deep Steeps, and this one marks a major milestone - four years of tea talks about the Tong Shu. What began as a simple initiative - two kung fu brothers sharing tea and trading stories - has matured into a living archive of martial arts, medicine, history, religion, spiritual cultivation, and everything in between. Four years is a long time to keep showing up, and we're deeply grateful to everyone who has poured a cup and joined us along the way.
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What makes this edition even more memorable is the story behind it. Shifu filmed the conversation less than 28 hours after welcoming his newborn son into the world! Somehow, between burps, diaper changes, and grabbing the occasional power nap, he also found the time to edit the program! If nothing else, that level of commitment alone deserves a watch!
Otherwise, if you've been with us for years, this episode is a celebration. It's filled with old callbacks, inside jokes, and familiar themes. These are the kinds of conversation that only emerge after years of brotherhood... and if you're only just now discovering Deep Steeps - welcome! It might feel like you've stepped into the middle of an ongoing conversation - it's because you have! So brew yourself a fresh pot, settle in, and before long - you'll be part of the story too.
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The Dao that can be Spoken...
Daoist Holidays
Sixth/Lotus Moon: Yin Wood Goat
Qi Node: Little Heat
Holiday: Hu Ye (Tiger Lord) Birthday
Safeguard Wealth, Tend to the Youth, Protect Legacy
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Tai Chi True or False
True or False:
Rooting refers to feeling stable and connected to the ground.
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