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Ways To Wisdom
People think I never lose my balance; I do. I just regain it quicker than most. - Aikido Master
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Autumn Beach Retreat
It’s Autumn at BIOM, as giant maples let loose their leaves into spiraling October breezes and swirling November winds, landing at their their feet in mounds of Winter mulch. This is our signal that it’s time to throttle back and start shifting our focus inward, like the trees: centering, concentrating, and rooting the growth we experienced throughout the Spring and Summer. Time for the BIOM Autumn Retreat.
“Tai Chi by the Sea” was the theme of our Autumn Beach Retreat. We came together on a Long Beach along Washington’s beautiful and inspiring Pacific coast. For three days and nights we encamped in comfortably quaint surf side cottages, a short stroll to the ocean’s edge, where we danced the dance of Tai Chi, conducted by waves of surf, wind, and sunshine.
Later we retreated back into the cottage for some Chi Kung, conversation, Insight Journaling, and some much needed ‘downtime.’ In balance, we cultivated camaraderie and enjoyed the feeling of Self reliance.
Staying Healthy in Autumn
In this episode of Seasonal Health Tips, Kitty talks about how the Metal element of Autumn affects your health, and how to stay healthy during this season of cooler days and longer nights.
A BIOM seasonal getaway is a ‘treat’ that lasts from season to season. Because by practicing what you learn and experience at a BIOM retreat you can continue to ‘re-treat’ yourself at home, until the next seasonal getaway comes around.
So plan to treat yourself to BIOM’s upcoming Winter Retreat, where we’ll be focusing on: The Way In ...
And as always ...
Wishing you health and well being,
Kitty and Michael
Contact Kitty to find out how you can participate in a BIOM retreat: email ~ (206) 842-6936
The Summer Dojo
It’s been very dry this summer in the west, fires raging far and wide; not to bad at BIOM though where wise trees know how to survive summer drought and winter wind.
A hoe
standing without a farmer
the heat!
– Shiki
But there have been hot days and the dojo has moved outside beneath giant maple, cedar, and fir — hot in the spaces where the sun streams down and heats the gravel mat. And the summer forest dojo sweat recalls memories of the summer city dojo, two stories above the boulevard traffic and its wafting exhaust filling the stagnant summer city air - many young years ago.
Spend enough time in the dojo and you’re transformed, and transported, like a seed, floating, until it arrives at a place to root ...
A dojo in the woods, beneath giant maple, cedar, and fir; a well ‘en-Tao-ed’ place.
Enlightenment in the Tai Chi Garden
Cramped up and entangled with project timelines, my garden began to wither from lack of attention during these hot months of August. Remembering, then stepping back, into my ‘sacred space’ I tended my garden with conscious attention for a couple of days.
Refreshed, my creativity is ripe for the picking. And once again, I’m reminded that “Enlightenment” is like a light switch: I have to turn it on to see the Light.
“Sacred space and sacred time and something joyous to do is all we need. Almost anything then becomes a continuous and increasing joy.” — Joseph Campbell