Yay!!! What an amazing several days! My husband Nate is a long time student and disciple of Harrison Moretz, Taoist Master and founder of the Taoist Studies Institute (TSI). This past week marks a magnificent and even magical fruition of some of Harrison’s amazing life’s work and over 4 decades of cultivation. 28 Taoist Masters and high scholars from Qing Cheng Mt in Sichuan, China flew here to perform a 3 day consecration ceremony at Xuan Xiu Gong, his retreat center in Snohomish. Nate, Orion and I got to meet them all Wednesday night at TSI, and went up to Xuan Xiu Gong on Thursday for the final day of preparations before the official ceremonies began on Friday morning. They are all such happy, bright, vibrant people and I LOVE LOVE LOVE speaking with them in Chinese! And I LOVE listening to their Abbess talk (we call her Shiye 師爺). Wisdom, humor, aliveness, strength, solidity and warmth all radiate from her. She is sharp, poignant, witty and has me listening to her spontaneous teachings with my whole heart and body. She’s been one of Harrison’s main teachers for 14 years now.
The fact that ALL 28 of these Taoist Masters are here is a miracle! Shiye was telling me they don’t leave their mountain much and she does NOT like to fly in planes. But she loves the fresh sweet air here, and says the Qi and air at Xuan Xiu Gong opens her heart. She shared how important it is to be in nature and to practice in nature – as the Qi – energy and information – will flow in, and with cultivation, you will naturally start to know things you never “learned”, be able to do things no one ever “taught” you; wisdom and health will flourish in your being.
Xuan Xiu Gong has been transforming fast over the past month especially, with volunteer work parties everyday. And with the arrival of the Taosits, the final preparations and transformation was swift, fun and magical. They brought with them so much to consecrate this new temple, including 79 large “flags” with beautiful Taoist sayings. You’ll see these all along the paths and around the temple in the pics — it was so fun to help set these up with the monks and nuns! 🙂
This 3-day ceremony, called 開光 or “Opening Light” is important in the consecration of a new Taoist temple, as it establishes the connection of Xuan Xiu Gong as an official temple in the 全真龍門 Quan Zhen Long Men lineage. Being here as a part of this ceremony is a huge blessing — the energy and spirit of Qing Cheng Mountain is now connected with the sweet energy and spirit of Xuan Xiu Gong – seeing the candles burn, hearing their chants, the symbols and flutes playing and the ritual master writing sacred text in the air is magical and has me here and in China all at the same time.
On the last day, in the relaxation and rest time after lunch, Shiye launched a spontaneous “talent show” where she called out several of the various masters there to do a demo of their qigong, taiji, and bagua, and one young woman played Chinese violin. It was amazing to see these masters and the harmonious, effortless flow of Qi through them and the stillness in their heart/mind as they moved — moving as if floating like rising clouds over our green mountain forests. Harrison performed with Shiye beaming – exclaiming as he closed, “His skill level is so high and his heart/mind so still.” She then turned to Nate and said, “Ni, ni hui shenme?” You, what do you know to perform?” So Nate was honored (and pretty nervous!) to offer some Bagua in front of Shiye and this awesome delegation of Taoist masters. Yay Nate! 🙂 He did great!! And Orion’s sweet eyes were transfixed on his Daddy the whole time :).
Speaking of Orion, all the women Taoist masters LOVE Orion! He has so enjoyed being with these beautiful beings and in the space of ritual, ceremony, chanting and fellowship. On all the breaks and shared meal times, many of the women come to hold him, tickle his toes and delight in his wiggles and sparkly eyes and smiles — and to take “selfies” with him on their phones!! 🙂 Haha 🙂
And yesterday, the last of the 3-day ceremony, Shiye, the Abbess, offered to give Orion a Taoist name in their lineage. Oh my Goodness! What an honor!! She also assigned one of the Taoist Masters, Zong Li De, on Qing Cheng Shan to be his teacher! We shared his birthdate and then she did her special calculations and used her inner knowing to give him a most beautiful, powerful and blessed name, 宗宏 Zong Hong. She then chuckled and said he’s the first baby of Xuan Xiu Gong :)…
I am so grateful to her, to all these amazing Taoist Masters and Scholars who have traveled here for this magnificent ceremony of connection, and so grateful to Harrison, Shoko, and my husband for introducing me to this community and lineage and the whole TSI community. And I’m so grateful my twin sister Lynn is here and has been with us on days 2 and 3 of this beautiful ceremony!! 🙂
May you enjoy this magnificent fruition and blessing through the images in these pics!!!
