Spirit

When the principles of Tai Chi have been enumerated and elaborated by past great Masters, the one that generally precedes the others is spirit. Lightness of spirit. Or, as it has been practically expressed: head suspended, active crown. If the body is relaxed, the spine loose and vertically aligned, the head suspended as though from above, and the whole being conditioned by the practice of central equilibrium, then on sinking into a leg energy will naturally rise up that leg, up the spine and to the head-top from where it will exit the body and fly upwards. As this happens the eyes will shine with spirit. This is a totally natural process. It requires no effort, just alignment. If, for whatever reason, the body is not correctly aligned then spirit can still be generated, roused, utilized, often by an act of will or temper, but that spirit will always be tainted with aspects of ego – it wont be truly free, and it wont truly connect. If we impose we reject. If we shrink we neglect. The secret is to be simply present with central equilibrium: or as Buckminster Fuller beautifully put it: "The value of unity is two."