Trust

Spiritual work is all about stripping away the ego – laying yourself bare before God.

The ego must be replaced by love, and the foundation of love is trust.

You will not have the courage to do the work properly if you cannot trust.

Trust is an aspect of relaxation. Relaxing into relationship.

The constant presence in our life is Earth, and it is the Earth that we must firstly begin to learn to trust and love and connect with before we can do the same, in a strong and meaningful way, with others, including God.

Without the proper presence of Earth in your body and energy, the love you give and offer will be tinged with need and anxiety – will not be freely given – no matter how magnanimous and generous you appear.

This is why we sink and relax in Taiji – to develop a root, a connexion with the eminently neutral Earth, who has no preferences, bias or side, and who is always physically and energetically present, so much so that we forget her, and take her, and our connexion with her, for granted.

Without a good firm connexion with the Earth not only are you not as potent as you could be, but in some fundamental way neither are you trustworthy: others cannot unconditionally relax into you.

The Earth is stronger and more reliable than you can ever be. If you allow her to support you as she wishes to do, then you begin to take on her qualities. Then, and only then, can others let you support them.

This is why a Taiji School must, first and foremost, encourage and admit nothing but trust. No cliquiness, back-biting, gossip, etc.

Not only must everyone in the school trust and love each other, but they must also be honest and open with each other, so that any annoyance, anger, irritation, dislike, mistrust can be aired and dealt with as soon as it arises.

Honesty with yourself is even more important. This means knowing how you feel, and knowing why you do what you do. Your motives should be simple and clear, not only to yourself but also to those with whom you work and share. Naked before God.

Nothing should veil or weigh down the heart.

In this sense, trust means a healthy two way communication – to be totally present and totally involved with the object of trust. No manipulation and no unspoken motives. The only motive is the desire and need to love.