Dragon Year Begins!

Me, in the Caribbean, tuning into the Water Dragon Year. The I Ching Sand Castle was built by Jem, my bride. I am SO happy to be marrying a woman whose inner child has such a playful Taoist imagination! And glad to be marrying her in a Dragon Year – an auspicious, dynamic start. There is still room for a few more folks if you want to come to the wedding in China (see spectacular new Huashan photo below). We’ll be calling in the dragons of all directions from the top of Mt. Hua. If my meditations today are any indication, lots of Dragons will be showing up….

What will the Year of the Yang Water Dragon Bring?

With the second new moon after Winter Solstice on Monday Jan. 23, the Chinese lunar calendar welcomes in the Year of the Yang Water Dragon. Hope you are ready for the exciting ride!

Note: this is NOT my Dragon Year Chinese astrology reading. That will be delayed a few weeks while I finish my Tai Chi – Way of Enlightened Love book on Wu Ji Gong/Primordial Qigong.

The first full month of the Dragon year still begins on Feb. 4, 2012 (Chinese solar calendar, midpoint between winter solstice and spring equinox). So those born between Jan. 23 and Feb. 4, 2012 will be considered by Chinese astrologers to be on a very wide cusp between the 2011 Mettal Rabbit and the 2012 Water Dragon, sharing qualities from both.

Just as I do a meditation on the Western New Year (Dec. 31st at midnite), today I did a Dark Moon meditation to capture the chi from the Asian half of the planet celebrating their New Year. I’ve been on the phone (late at night, 12 hours difference) to China arranging my China Dream Trip for next May, and all the Chinese are hurriedly saying, “Can this wait a week? Let’s talk after the Spring Festival!”.

Today I did the same triple qigong ceremony that I did to initiate the Metal Rabbit Year in 2011. Those ceremonies were so successful (i found the perfect Love Goddess!!!) that I repeated them this year: Deep Healing Qigong, Big Dipper Shamanic Star Stepping, and Wu Ji Gong/Primordial. (The former and latter available on my website; Star Stepping doesn’t yet have a DVD, you have to come to China to learn it).

This time, I energetically created a Black Water Pearl to be a vessel to hold the chi of the spinning Black Water Dragon. And held the intention that I will live in deep alignment with the Black Water Dragon and surrender to its watery wisdom in order to manifest my highest destiny for this year.

Being at the beach myself, I can relate to this Water Dragon. 🙂 It is clearly in charge of having FUN in 2012 – the other zodiac animals will follow its lead. Image from CLSA Feng Shui Index.

Dragon Years are great opportunities to shift your life, to make a leap to a new level of self-cultivation. One of the best ways to do that ii to get with other people on the same track. You’ll find a bunch of folks who love to ride Dragon Chi at Healing Tao University’s summer retreats in Mars Hill, near Asheville N.C.

Apparently folks are really picking up on the Dragon energy, as immediately after Winter Solstice I started getting a lot of summer bookings. Of course, it helps that we haven’t raised the already inexpensive price for 5 years – only $495. tuition or the week, plus big discounts for foreigners, juniors/seniors, instructors, and reviewers. The retreat tuition is subsidized by my non-profit organization, by generous donors and by sales of online Tao homestudy courses. And all of it is tax deductible.

If you want to commute, there is only a $100/week facility fee plus tuition. Every room has its own kitchen (you must bring your own cooking/eating utensils), and this year everyone can buy meals individually rather than committing to a whole week at the Dining Hall.

To book a retreat, you can just click on the webpage copied below. OR visit our website, http://www.HealingTaoRetreats.com, OR call our Dragonette Registrar, Tynne Clifford, at 828 575 3825 (her cell)  OR email her at info@healingtaoretreats.com.

The lineup of master instructors this year is STELLAR. The Week 1 we have my Spiritual and Medical Qigong Fundamentals 1-4 retreat, plus Minke de Vos teaching Medical Qigong to Energy Healers. David Twicken is coming from California to teach a fabulous mixture of Primordial, Macro-orbit, and Bone Marrow Neigong.

Karin Sorvik is back with complete Chi Nei Tsang 1 & 2 training, plus Taoist Dream Practice and Tao Yin (Yoga). Marie Favorito will teach her fabulous Fusion course, plus the top rated Yang private family 13-move Tai Chi Qigong short form.

I have my usual mix of Inner Alchemy kan and li (water & fire) retreats, designed to melt down anyone who happenes to wander into the powerful group cauldron of cosmic chi that we create. Judith Poole has one of the most practical courses for energy healer and healees, Energy Medicine and Energy Psychology. Kazzrie Jaxen is back with an updated version of her Earth Beauty Qigong, perfect for anyone seeking a weekend only.

Week 5 ends with a Big Bang. Lee Holden (of PBS TV fame) is back with more smooth moves and deep qigong – I love his teaching style, he is one of the best. Frank Allen shares his 40 years of skills and deep insight combining Bagua Zhang and the I Ching as a Moving Meditation. Tina Zhang always wows with her Women’s Earth Qigong.

Click on the links below for detailed info about the retreat that excites your Inner Dragon!

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That is the summer lineup. Before that are some Spring seminars to get your chi flowing: Fusion 1 in Asheville March 10-11, just hit reply to book. Fusion 2/3 is April 21-22.

I’m making (first time) a special trip to LOS ANGELES April 7-8 to teach the inside secrets of Primordial Qigong/Tai Chi for Enlightened Love. It’s a certification course as well, for those practicing from the DVD, come get the live transmission. See details below, or contact: Rob Hoffman at robmix@earthlink.net

I’m again teaching Primordial in NYC at the Open Center Sat. April 28, with Inner Smile the Friday eve. The 1-day course at the Open Center will count for Certification if one day has been previously taken.

Flower Mountain, aka Huashan. Seen from a distance it’s dramatic power is evident. Taoists have been meditating here for over 3000 years, and more immortals are recorded as having achieved themselves here than any other sacred mountain in China.

Then, of course, comes the big prize (in my book) – the China Dream Trip May 18 – June 8, with my wedding on June 3 atop Mt. Hua. Just hit reply if you want one of the few remaining spaces!