The first stage of Taiji is developing a root. What makes it so difficult is that there are no thoughts underground, just energy, so the student must first train her mind to listen to/for energy rather than thoughts/words. And, as my teacher never tired of repeating, there is only the first stage, constantly reiterating, eternally returning. Human beings don't have the capacity to go further. We must wait, to be reborn as cats or trees or whatever, to go to the next stage, whatever/wherever that is.