Spirit Clear
Yang Jun (2024 p.32) uses a lovely phrase 'spirit clear' when discussing Tai Chi practice:
'Looking for the progression of the practice, in the classics they have already set down the movements formula, then you reach into energy understanding then it becomes spirit clear.'
From an Embodied Tai Chi perspective we mentally learn a traditional sequence of postures and movement. We focus our mental intention on the action of each posture. If we substitute 'energy' with internal awareness of sensation and feeling then our practice becomes somatic or embodied. Practice can then result in a sense of calm most likely to happen in an often repeated sequence of movements.
However you can’t make this last stage of practice happen, it comes about through wu wei - not trying. The sense of calm can be accompanied by a more natural effortless flowing movement or a sudden moment of intuitive insight. 'Spirit clear' would be a good description. Our logical thinking mind being distracted with the intention and attention of our movement allows space for insight, intuition, epiphany an inner voice associated with our soul or spirit to momentarily enter into our consciousness. From a Jungian perspective it may be said to be the introspection of the soul withdrawing from a materialistic world (Mehrtens 2024).
So it can be said that the practice of Embodied Tai Chi may have three stages: learning external physical postures, experiencing the inner physiological self that may in turn result in a spirit clear perception of self, nature and other beings.
David Hunt 25th November 2024
Note; it is problematic defining the term soul or spirit as they have been attributed different meanings or even used in the same context. For the purposes of this article I have suggested they simply relate to your inner voice, the voice reading this article as opposed to a physical part of your body.
Reference
Mehrtens Sue (2024) Jung on Soul Tending; https://jungiancenter.org/jung-on-soul-tending/#_ftnref4 , accessed 25th November 2024, Doc; Spirit Clear
Yang Jun (2024) Yin and Yang: Tai Chi Internal Arts magazine no.72 October 2024, Interview with Yang Jun by Ken Symon, Tai Chi Union of Great Britain