By Shawn Cartwright
The Dragon and Tiger have long been totems of internal Kung Fu and symbols of Taoist internal cultivation. The highest levels of internal Kung Fu provide an entry point to Internal Alchemy (Nei Dan) cultivation. Here is a video of Dragon and Tiger free movement performed by Mr. Shawn Cartwright, TCCII Executive Director. It was [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Today is the Summer Solstice. This is the time of maximum Yang, when the first seed of Yin begins to regenerate. Like the Winter Solstice and the Spring and Autumn Equinox, it is an important time for Qigong and Internal Alchemy practitioners.
Today is a day you will reap great benefits from your practice. Spend as [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
“Do nothing and there is nothing left undone” is a pearl of ancient Chinese wisdom inspired by chapter 48 of the Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching) written by Lao Zi (Lao Tsu)
The Dao De Jing is considered one of the most important classics in all of Chinese culture. The book has been utilized by [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Today is Easter Sunday in the west. For those of you who don’t know what this means, Easter Sunday is perhaps the biggest holiday in the western calendar (after Christmas). It is perhaps considered more important than Christmas by the Christian churches (although not by secular retail standards….)
Easter Sunday is significant because it is the [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Nurses, physicists, biologists, business people, yoga practitioners, spiritual healers and others from many different parts of the country and walks of life came together this past weekend to learn about the ancient Chinese art of Qigong.
We just completed our first professional credit course in Qigong. The class was completely full!
The course came about because several [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Today is the Vernal Equinox (Spring Equinox). In Washington DC, we have a beautiful clear day, perfect for spending some time outdoors, with nature.
The Spring Equinox is one of the two days of the year where daylight and dark are equal. In terms of Chinese thought, this represents the balance of Yin and Yang in [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Chinese Internal Alchemy, or Nei Dan, aims to cultivate both Xing and Ming. Xing can be roughly translated as “Essential Nature” and Ming as “Eternal Life.” By essential nature, the Chinese are referring to the spiritual aspects of your being. When you cultivate Xing, you take out emotional garbage and refine your very spirit. We [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Lest you think Guangzhou, China is all about flowers and hot middle-age moms with the fashion sense of a 14 year old, let me tell you about some of the other cool things in the city. There are crazy Chinese medicine men, esoteric Qigong dudes, and “normal” people showing extraordinary proficiency in music, dance, calligraphy [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Beautiful, Deadly, Silent – No, not a catchphrase for a new femme fatale, a hunting tigress, or an excellent Kung Fu move – I’m talking about the mountain of snow here in Washington DC. In case you don’t live in the US, or have been meditating in a cave, the nation’s capital and surrounding states [...]
By Shawn Cartwright
Real Chinese Internal Boxing*, or Nei Jia Quan as it is called in Chinese, is designed to get you home alive. It is not designed for sport or for entertainment.
But there’s more to it than that. Much more.
One thing most people don’t realize is that these arts are not just for fighting. It is true [...]