Although the Dao is beyond space and time, our outer world is constantly changing, and we can use the energies of each year to improve ourselves and our alignment with the Dao. This is the year of effort and commitment Build your House.
Wood Dragon Energy: House Construction
Last year I suggested big changes and taking risks to achieve your goals. Now is the time to work hard towards your future. Whether financially, personally or spiritually, now is the time to build the foundations that will become your life. If you put in enough effort this year, you will be able to overcome your limitations. To quote the Doors, it’s time to “break through to the other side!” Whatever foundations you have already built, use them to advance to the next level.
As you try to create a better future for yourself, don’t forget to balance yourself and your environment. Think carefully about what will help you grow and don’t get too excited. It is much easier to get temporary pleasure from the idea of doing something than to put in the necessary consistent work. Beware of laziness and lack of focus. You may want to be controlled by others, but you are the engineer of your own destiny.
When it comes to practicing the inner arts, take stock of your weaknesses and learn to strengthen your strengths. Figure out what you need in practice and learn to develop it.
Geo-political landscape
Weak leadership is seen in various nations that continue with emotional packages instead of solutions during this year. With the highly divisive US presidential election approaching, where Donald Trump and Joe Biden are the frontrunners, don’t let your emotions rule, but work on the practical effects. We had storms that caused flooding in the streets. It’s one thing to do nothing, and another to let emotional paralysis inhibit your ability to act.
The Wood Dragon manifests this year and realize what you want pragmatically from the government and figure out how to implement it. What has your political representative done to actually improve things? not the same but better? If they didn’t do something, it won’t help build the house.
AI: Useful tool or destructive force?
AI has grown exponentially over the past few years. From their ability to gather massive data and predict actions, new AI tools can create dissertations and create any image you can dream of (including the featured image of the article), write computer code, and more. Taoists have always been practical about new technology, but they have always known how to stay true to themselves and not let technology change who they are. In addition to cutting jobs, AI makes it harder for people to take responsibility for their actions. Make sure you still have intent and awareness and consent to the AI and the material used to create it. Beware of false gods. If you use these tools to help build your house, you can be sure that you’ll still steer the ship.
Energy Arts Training Center Update
The Energy Arts Training Center our physics school in Longmont, Colorado. It is our central hub as a tantien for the entire Energy Arts community.
We are pleased to welcome even more people to our space and teach more students personally, which is essential for the in-depth learning of our material.
Many of you have already experienced what we call our “virtual school”. Energy Arts live. This program gives students access to both live streams and recordings of all classes and guided practices taught at the Energy Arts Training Center. We’re halfway through the session, and you can still join!
The best way to get the most out of your regular exercise is to do it regularly. There are so many benefits to Taoist art and we wish you the best for your practice.
Upcoming events
This spring the three-day workshop in Taoist breathing meditation. A workshop will take place this weekend March 8-10 (Friday-Sunday).
Tin June 10-30 This year again, I will organize my summer events on several topics that I think are extremely important: Wu style Tai Chi, the swings of Qigongand the long-awaited The Taoist Meditation Practices of the Daodejing. Lead instructor Craig Barnes will teach the complete Wu short form. Qigong Swings are an effective way to release stagnant chi in the body and improve circulation. Over time, the swings were distilled into the 3 main swings of the energy gates from the entire process, which contains about twenty. In the final week, we will delve into the meditation practices of the Daodejing in line with my recently published book. In order to get the most out of this summer’s teachings, I strongly encourage you to start learning the Daodejing: The Oral Tradition and attend all 3 weeks to build and refresh your qi and inner focus during this final week.
Special Notice: Daodejing (Print Edition)
In the last state of the Dao, I mentioned the publication of my new book, Daodejing: The Oral Tradition Kindle version. I am happy to announce that it is finally available in paperback.
This book has been years in the making. It provides a comprehensive look at the Dao De Jing from the perspective of the practitioner Through a series of conversations between Dr. Alan Peatfield and myself. It has a lively, direct and conversational tone, yet reaches deeply into the wisdom of the ancient text.
It has always been our intention to create a paperback edition and we have received many requests to do so. Great care has been taken to transfer the same material into a manageable and readable single-volume format. The only editorial changes are the addition of a few photos (including some previously published photos of Liu Hung Chieh when he was young and before his association with me) and a one-page introduction to the paperback edition.
I hope you check it out. The book is available in both print and Kindle versions.
Conclusion
I would like to thank everyone in the wider Energy Arts Community, especially those who continue to support the longevity of this Taoist lineage by attending our events and participating Energy Arts live program. I wish everyone a strong and stable Wood Dragon year. Work hard to build the house this year! I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible and to being able to train in the new year.
In recognition
Bruce Francis
Founder, Energy Arts
