In this time of physically distancing, we can still connect with others and more importantly ourselves.

#47 Tao Te Ching
by Steven Mitchell

Without opening your door,
you can open your heart to the world.
Without looking out your window,
you can see the essence of the Tao.

The more you know,
the less you understand.

The Master arrives without leaving,
sees the light without looking,
achieves without doing a thing.

This chapter reminds us that we do not have to search outside ourselves for the answer. Why is it that we continue to think our answers are out there? [me included]

Some of you may want to get back to normal, whatever that was to you, but I feel that would be a mistake. Our world is changing, we are changing and our awareness is expanding.

For instance, maybe you miss your local coffee lattes, for me, it’s the matcha lattes. What about physically going to work, connecting with your coworkers, yoga in the studio, grocery shopping without a mask on, retail therapy—spring accessories for your wardrobe, going to concerts, and sharing the group energy as you all dance together.

Now this approach may work for some of those objects and desires listed, but they are all outside of us. What we really desire is peace of mind, happiness or serenity.

Without opening our door, we can open our heart … why is this so hard for us to comprehend?  [me included] Maybe it’s because we think too much about it, period. Remember the Tao can never be understood with thought—when we are in our heads we create the dualistic mind of object and subject. Creating separateness.  What if the only reality is ONENESS and WHOLENESS? What if the only way to understand is within instead of without?

Without looking out your window, you can see the essence of the Tao. The essence is to be felt within, not thought about or analyzed. When practicing Qigong/T’ai Chi we feel into our stillness, become aware of our breath, feeling our chi flow throughout the body, and experiencing it for ourselves. No need to explain it because we FEEL it within.

The more you know, the less you understand. Again, let’s get out of our heads and feel into our heart + gut = HUT.

The Master arrives without leaving, sees the light without looking, achieves without doing a thing. There is no place to go, no place to arrive, simply BE (Breathe & Expand). Feel the light within you shine, know you are right where you are meant to be, now and each moment that arises.

Be kind to yourself [I continue to work on this one]. Let’s lighten up and not take things so seriously and try to figure out what our future is going to be. Instead let’s dance, laugh, connect virtually, call a friend, go for a walk and breathe in the clean air that is everywhere. Hug a tree when you’re outside, since we currently can’t give hugs to others. [pet snuggles are awesome too]

Lastly, lighten up on your intake of the news. Yes, we need to be informed, but do we need to watch every live broadcast, read every article? My answer is a resounding, “HELL NO”!

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I am sharing this with you because, I myself have been looking for answers outside of myself. Placing mental pressure to be more… whether that’s updating my website, learning more, reading more, exercising more, eating more nutritious foods, blah, blah, blah.

When in reality, the best place I can be is in the present moment, while continuing to practice and connect. Again, know I am here with you, beginning again, opening my heart to the Tao within.  Experience and know the Tao resides in you, and that is where we connect in all ways.

Sending you virtual hugs surrounded with blessings of effortless Chi flow within.

photo: Cathal Mac an Bheatha, unsplash.com