Dear Friends,
Lunar month 9 begins on October 2nd (join us for our New Moon Medley) and October 11th is the Double Nines festival. This is the day on which we honor the patron of Wu Dang, Zhen Wu’s ascension. The picture below is from the opening ceremony of the Zhen Wu festival at the Purple Cloud Temple in the Wu Dang Mountains in 2008.
Last month as a rain-day alternative to hiking, we did a little Qigong, drank tea and tasted mooncake in the studio on the full moon. An amazing, powerful group of women gathered! I am so inspired that I’ve dubbed us The Messengers.
To encourage the inception and evolution of this group, I’ve invited Miriam Moussaioff to speak to us about what it means to be a Messenger, a Light Bearer. As some of you know, Miriam is a truly gifted intuitive and healer. She’ll be joining us from Oakland, CA via zoom on October 17th. More information is available here…
I was reflecting on the effect of dramatic events – such as many of us just lived with Hurricane Helene. Even if there is no significant impact (trees down, houses flooding, town floating away, power out, no intenet for days, etc.) the
anticipation, preparation and lived experience throw us out of our ordinary routine. How do you respond to these disruptions? Do you go into panic mode? Or do you go into a mindful and present awareness – beginner’s mind? Do you sit in expectation of the worst? Or do you just wait to see what nature brings? Now that we are on the other side of Helene, how are you feeling? How has the disruption landed in you? Reflecting on past disruptions, how did you react? In the moment? In the aftermath? Did you internalize the events and experience them as trauma? Have you been able to release the trauma? Have you settled back into ordinary reality?
In Daoist tradition it is not uncommon to be encouraged to cut ties to routine and “ordinary” life, to encourage beginner’s mind and an openness to new experience and learning. In part this is about learning to let go of expectations so that we can be open to the arising experience of Qi, the Void and the Dao. Expectations can hinder our progress in stillness, meditation, alchemy, Qigong, Taiji practice.
Expectation can be very subtle: expecting to brush your teeth in the morning, go to work, have a cup of tea at 10. All of those things that we think of as routine may be built on expectations. What does it feel like when we let go of expectations? When we choose, consciously, our path, in the moment? Today I’m going South instead of North, left instead or right, outside instead of inside, fasting instead of eating.
There are a million little ways we can change how we behave in the moment. What does that feel like? We still operate from the place of virtue (Dao De = Virtue Path) and attend to our responsibilities, but do we usually fret about them? Or approach them from a place of curiosity? Can we change our attitude if not what we actually do? Our being rather than our doing? I invite you to look at your life and ask “Where am I operating solely out of expectation? How could that be different within the context of virtue?”
Wishing you a transformative and joyful October!
Peace, Joy, Love,
Corinne
Upcoming
- Oct. 2nd New Moon Medley
- Yang Style 24 Teacher Certification
- Oct 17th Messengers speaker
- Stone Mountain Qigong Oct. 20th
- Sanfeng Taiji 13 in-person
- In-person Qigong with Rob Sarabia begins January 9th 6:30pm, Details TBD
- 2025 Qigong Teacher Certification
On-Going
Recipe: Fall Favorite
Butternut Squash, Apple and Sage Soup
- Roast a medium butternut squash at 375 for about an hour (halve and scoop out seeds, place open side down in baking dish.)
- In a soup pot, Saute 1/4-1/2 an onion in oil or butter about 5 minutes. Add two to three fresh sage leaves (or a Tablespoon dried sage) and saute 1 more minute.
- Peel, core and dice 1-2 granny smith apples. Add to pot.
- Scoop squash out of skin and add to pot.
- Add 1 quart broth (vegetable or chicken to your liking.)
- Simmer 15-20 minutes
- Add salt and pepper.
- Allow to cool and then puree.
- Adjust seasonings to taste.
Optionally: add ginger, turmeric, curry powder, cayenne, pumpkin spices or any flavor profile you like to create flavorful variations.
Fabulous served hot with fresh bread and the garnishes of your choice.