Lighthouse Tai Chi®

Knowing where you are going is always important, and knowing your direction in Tai Chi is fundamental to the thirteen principal movements of Tai Chi. The five directions described in Tai Chi are as follows: Going forward, going backwards, looking/moving left, looking moving right and holding centre. These are attributed to the four cardinal points of the compass, North, South, East, West and the Centre.  They can be referenced to the Five Elements and each direction takes on the characteristics of the associated Element. In terms of Five Elements the postures have these overall characteristics: Forward - Fire sudden intense energy/ posture. Backward - Water flow yielding energy/ posture. Turning left - Metal cutting absorbing energy/ posture. Turning right - Wood engulfing spiralling energy/ posture. Holding centre - Earth neutralising heavy energy/ posture. These directions can be applied literally; some schools prescribe facing in a certain direction when starting a f

The weather is improving and Spring is coming with the Equinox.  Pendle Hill is glorious. This is the view from upstairs at the back of our house. Pendle Hill changes mood and sometimes seems very close, at other times far away. It has a mystical quality; disappearing into the mists then energizing the landscape on a sunny day. A follow up to our last blog I made this video at the end of Day 9   Day 10 A perfect day to finish laying the Patio tiles. The porcelain tiles are now setting.  We extended the area to avoid cutting tiles, so it is now 9 tiles by 10. It looks like a chessboard but will be more in keeping with the rest of the garden design once the fences are painted and the cross fence in place.  We're not allowed on it yet as it is not grouted. The fence at the back is almost completed and the roof is secure and ready. Day 11 - The back fence is completed and the posts for the cross fence are set in.  A red stain rather than paint will allow it to fade a little and not nee

This month we are beginning the transformation of our garden, to create a modern outdoor space to allow us to film, train and teach.  As part of our lifestyle blog, we are going to share the journey with you and hope it will be interesting and inspiring for you.  Our North-East facing garden is a little boggy, with clay soil, but is full of colourful plants from the previous owner, which we hope to keep and move to a more manageable location. These include hydrangea, various heathers, three colours of azaleas, various Aquilegias, Centaurus,  Amaranthus Caudatus, sedum  and many others we don't recognise.  The wonderful oak stump carving we commissioned from artist Ric Gibson of Stump Art in Bolton, will become more of a focal point for the garden. The Oak tree was cut down by the previous owner and when we viewed the house, we both kept seeing the face of a Green Man looking back at us. We wanted a smiley face for the carving, so the neighbours' children would not be scared and