Nature moves in a coordinated manner- the day dawns and night falls; the seasons have patterns of warm to cool, green leaves to beautiful red, orange and yellow leaves as they prepare to depart and welcome in winter; water warm enough in summer to attract us to swim or be at the beach; water freezes in the winter so it’s time for ice skating or sledding or skiing.

If you have been reading my blogs in the last few months, you know I have been focusing on clouds. The clouds, during the day and at sunset, have been spectacular this year. When I look up, gaze at the wispy clouds, the big, white puffy clouds, with their changing formations and gentle movement across the sky, I am still. I am in the moment. The clouds are part of the natural rhythms of nature.

While in Poland a couple weeks ago, I paid attention to the clouds, almost 5000 miles from home. The clouds at sunset in Lodz were stunning. And then back at home, out my front window, the clouds framed a great picture of my city.

These images came into my consciousness again today as I was reading the “Tai Chi Classics”. I’m eager to start my fall Tai Chi classes tomorrow and want to ground myself in major principles. In the treatise by Master Chang San-feng, (ca. 1200 C.E.), he says “Once you begin to move, the entire body must by light and limber. Each part of your body should be connected to every other part.” He emphasizes that the entire body needs to move, not just the hands, or elbows or legs. We need to be like the universe that moves in a coordinated way, with balance and harmony.

For me, that’s like day turning into night, seasons changing, watching the clouds drift by with ease and grace and harmony. I aspire to move my body as a coordinated unit with Tai Chi. It’s a life-long journey and it’s so worth it.

I am grateful for students who are are with me in this journey.