As I was reading the post, it reminded me weirdly of thermophilic organisms and how miraculous they are... (I'm currently reading up on composting poop, just so you know where my mind is at lol)... The fact that organisms can not only live but literally thrive in conditions like this for the sake of the bigger picture and their own health and the health of the world is just so beautiful to me. They are phoenix energy embodied, burn it down to cleanse and build anew.
@riverflows we get lots of fires in Colorado too, every year there are fires, and the first trees to grow back are quaking aspen due to their vast underground root network (like bamboo, or mint in the garden). But even before the aspen pop up, there are morels galore in burn areas. They are part of the transformation process, not shocking as mushrooms are forever embodying purification energies. But it's amazing how I can visit an area in Colorado one year, then go back 5 years later and even the views from the mountainsides have changed, as now suddenly, there are trees. (another greta thing about fire energy is after some time, you are always offered some new perspective on the world ;))
Another thing I love about aspen is that they just love showing off their origins in the fall as the leaves change. If you've never seen an aspen forest in autumn, wow, I really recommend it, they literally glisten with fire energy. I'll post a pic if I can find one.
Sorry it's a tangent, but the shaman in me dives straight to nature whenever energies are talked about. Haha
Of course this would apply to all purification practices, but especially Taijiquan comes to mind.
Tai chi also has tons of fire energy, right from the get go of training in basic standing posture. We call it riding the dragon, you basically sit and ride until your legs give out. Best practiced with someone who can correct your posture because I'm sure you can infer that with such energies as that you best have decent alignment haha but even 10 minutes a day of this exercise you notice transformation in a week or two. And it is deeper of course than just strengthening muscle, it affects your connective tissue on a deep level, opens your pelvis to allow suppleness (thereby increasing usable sexual energies, as you mentioned another fiery thing), and of course "steaming the rice" aka chi flow and cultivation, which is part of the basis of Taoist alchemy :) I could literally go on forever but those are the thoughts that come to mind!
... Fire also needs oxygen, aka space, in order to do its work. I've learned a lot from fire especially in my personal relationships. (metamoos comment below got me thinking too) as often the best thing in a relationship of any kind (but especially with self) is allowing for space. If you don't give space to transformation, it will take it eventually anyway, and burn the whole works down.
Your comment is one of my favorites ever, super insightful and so spot on.
@phillyc this is a terrific post, I'm resteeming!
Xx ToL
aspen remind us of their fiery origins in the autumn as they show us their true nature as purifying and rejuvenating spirits of the natural world. They also like to remind us of the grounding current that runs through the nature of impermanence. Change is scary, it's devastating, but they say, no worries people folk, it's going to be OK, develop your root system and allow the tongues of flame to burn your old shell down.
... I love this pic, you can almost see the shadow of the flames that created it. Ugh. Nature!!
(source: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/beauty/aspen/ecology.shtml )
Such a great response. This thread is going bananas 🍌
I definitely agree that stance work brings a lot of heat! Sounds like your training certainly doesn't skimp. Can't say I've ever done horse stance until I fell down, I would probably just go until shaking a lot then waddle around for the next while. Doing intense asanas and stances has a really refreshing effect on the mind!
I would like to see these trees, and smell them. In NZ we don't naturally have many deciduous types (Im hoping that means the ones that change seasonally).
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Haha I stood till I fell only once, then once I felt my threshold, I didn't push myself that far ever again. Tbh I thought it was a bit extreme but a classmate of mine used to stand till she fell all the time. She's a fantastic practitioner now tho, I don't know many people stronger than her so ::shrug:: maybe it is the way to go?
You will feel the dragon as soon as you start to shake! That's awesome. Does the heat ever come out of your palms? That's when I know I'm doing it right!
Oh my gosh you write the best comments ever! @phillyc, love how this post created real dialogue - the best think about steemit!
those aspens - beautiful.
YOu are so quotable, my dear!!
Oh gosh, yes, compost!!! In the spring my compost is BOILING hot, all those microbes breaking it down to create what I call brown GOLD! Which in turn helps the plants grow again - a constant cycle!
Ugh I can't wait to start composting on a regular basis! Do you guys throw your poops in there? It's supposed to make it even more efficient.
I'm starting to think that composting is a form of alchemy. But I'm also starting to think... What kind of change isn't? I need to start reading more of @alchemage.
It's hilarious cos I think the same about your stuff. It's quotable AF!