MMTCA January Newsletter 2025

 

Wu Jianquan, grandmaster of Wu Style Taiji Quan. Possibly the earliest photo of a grandmaster performing Taiji Sword.

 

“It is no bad thing to celebrate a simple life.”

~Bilbo Baggins

 

Happy New Year! More like Happy Epiphany! I wish you a happy and healthy 2025 filled with wonder, magic, learning, love, health, awe, and lots of Taiji!

 Chinese New Year is on January 27^th this year. We are entering into the year of the Wood Snake, full of wisdom and power! We will be celebrating in early February. More details to come.

Classes and curriculum will remain the same until after our CNY celebration, then I’ll have some new studies including Willow #4, Wudang 13 basic sword techniques, more Sanshou, Bagua Sensitivities, and Xingyi two-person forms and training just to mention a few upcoming classes.

Book suggestion (an easy one!) =

 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/margo-bock-and-ray-hayward-and-julie-cisler/harmony-in-motion/paperback/product-84k78q9.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Thank you, Margo and Julie, for bringing this collection to life! And I bow to all the contributors and helpers. Namaste!

I received a few requests for beginner classes. I’m not ready to open up any classes to new students, the progress I saw last year was amazing, so I’ll keep focusing on the current students and studies. I can refer to you a few people who I trust to teach beginners:

Julie Cisler- Minneapolis

John Stitely- St Paul

John Feely- Stillwater

Mike Cain- Rochester

Wanda Koehler- Northfield

 

Paul Brennan Translation= An amazing collection of quotes, lessons, and training ideas from some of the very best Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua masters of the last century, and before! This is a MUST READ!

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2013/04/29/the-voices-of-sun-lutangs-teachers/

 

I am beginning this year full of hope, health, and gratitude. I am hopeful to teach and share the highest level of information I’ve ever taught, experiencing the best health in my own body-mind-spirit, and living full of gratitude to those who come to learn, practice, and share these amazing arts and practices.

 -Sifu Ray

 

“If you’re not in the arena also getting your ass kicked, I’m not interested in your feedback.”

~ Brene Brown

 

Contact info

my phone- 1-218-341-9894

 

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

 

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

 

 blog= rayhayward.com

 

website=  mindfulmotiontaichi.com

 

facebook= Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

 

                Ray Hayward Enterprises

 

YouTube= Ray Hayward, the Inspired Teacher

 

                 Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

 

Twitter- Ray Hayward 1988

 

my books at Lulu= lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward

 

my books on Amazon= amazon.com/author/rayhayward

 

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

 

School shirts-        https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

 

My address,

5140 W. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437

 

 

#rayhayward#taiji#taichichuan#bagua#xingyi#sword#qigong#yichuan#wudangsword#qinna#standingmeditation#taoistmeditation#taoistlove#semenretention#masterttliang#wailunchoi#mindfulmotiontaichiacademy#rayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#rayhaywardblog#sanshou#prayingmantis#karambit##pushinghands#fajing#imsak#rosslynchapel#druidry#lulubooksrayhaywardauthor#patreonrayhaywardtheinspiredteacher

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The passing of Mary Spain, my Druid Mentor RIP ...

 

I met Mary Spain when I graduated the Ovate Grade and into moved into the Druid Grade of the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, or OBOD. I had such great experiences with both my Bardic mentor, and my Ovate mentor, that I knew I would ask for a Druid mentor when I got to that grade.

Mary Spain was my Druid mentor for not only the time that I was working the lessons in that grade, but I kept corresponding with her for the last fourteen years since my official "graduation." Mary not only gave help, guidance, advice, and encouragement for my Druid studies, she also helped me navigate some problems I was having in the Grove I attended, and subsequently, the formation of my own Seed Group.

Mary also shared with me, in letters, never emails or texts, about her life in London. She wrote about her garden, the weather, and her cats. In this way, we became pen pals and friends. When I went to Glastonbury for the 50th anniversary of the founding of OBOD, (I was the Druid of the East) the person I wanted to meet the most from the Order was Mary Spain. I had met Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm a couple of times in the US, but I really wanted to meet Mary.

When I got to Glastonbury, the first thing I asked Stephanie was where is Mary Spain? Stephanie said, "She isn't here. She never comes to these things. She's a psychic and an empath."

I continued to write to Mary, and included little tokens of my appreciation and affection. Items that would fit in an envelope. I sent her Yule cards handmade by my friend Rita, and Mary loved them.

One humorous incident happened just a few years ago. I got a letter from Mary, with her introduction of herself and her encouragement for starting the Druid grade! All you Druids know what I mean, something along the lines of, 

"Welcome to the Druid Grade. Here you will experience magic and wonder, and many useful lessons. Go slow, take your time, for it will be over all too soon."

I was a little taken aback, I had received these pearls of wisdom years before. Had she confused me with someone else? Was she getting senile? Yet they resonated so deeply that I took them to heart and started to rework many of the lessons from all three Grades.

Two days later, I got another letter from Mary. Mind you, these were airmail, postage stamp letters, so they take time, energy, and attention to post them. Mary wrote to apologize for sending me a "New Druid" letter and asked for my forgiveness! She had to have sent it out the day after the previous letter. I immediately wrote back and thanked her for her excellent advise about taking time and experiencing magic and wonder.

The email notifying me of her passing out the West Gate to the Summer-lands came just as I was preparing her Yule card. Now I will experience Yule with her, in Minnesota.

Thank you my good and faithful Tutor, Mentor, Friend, and fellow cat lover. See you in the Summer-lands...

Love,

Abaris  / | \

MMTCA December Newsletter 2024

 

 

"Xingyi is the ground, Bagua is the sky, and Taiji is mankind. The three substances of sky, ground, and mankind are merged into a single whole, mixed into a union with no meaningful distinctions. After practicing for a long time, there is fluency in both movement and stillness, and clarity as to the reasoning of the method. Ah, what a thing it is to have Xingyi, Bagua, and Taiji!"

-Sun Lutang

 

Merry Hanaramayulekwanzmas!! Welcome to the darkest part of the year! A great reminder to go inwards, dress warmly, and do some inner work.

 

Our schedule remains the same until December 21^st, my last class of the year. We’ll be closed December 24^{th  and} December 31^st. I’ll have practice sessions open for the 26^th and 28^th. No zoom the 25^th, 26^th, or the 1^st of January. Classes for 2025 will begin on January 4^th. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out.

 

The curriculum will stay the same until after Chinese New Year.

 

Monthly zoom Pushing Hands class will be Monday, December 9^th.

 

Speaking of zoom, after the break I’ll be reviewing the sequence of the Long Form and will begin a series of refinements. 2025 zoom Solo Form classes will resume January 8^th. The Thursday Hybrid class will also resume after the break on January 9^th.

 

"We humans are wired to give direct aid to those we can walk to see."

-      Kathleen Feehan

 

A heartfelt thank you from both me and the parishioners at St Sahag to the painting crew that came in and painted the dance studio in under three hours!! It looks amazing, and it’s so BRIGHT! There are two hallways that need some paint and I’ll reach out again for volunteers. Namaste! Thank you:

Tyler

Jeff

John F

Rose

Rick

Matt

Kristina

John S

James

Robbie

Margo

Conor

Rondi

Dave

Paul I

Bad Dan

 

Book Suggestion= This month it’s a shameless plug for MY books. Go to Lulu. com and search for my name or click on the link below.

https://www.lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward?srsltid=AfmBOoqtZdHg-yOpwq71VgREom_XEy4CeftT9uVivFJS5eh8Pk-lY9Ce

 

Brennan Translation= Ji Jiguang’s Spear Chapter

https://brennantranslation.wordpress.com/2024/11/13/qi-jiguangs-spear-chapter/

 

The 40^th Anniversary book is done and getting its final formatting. The Pushing Hands manuscript is edited and being read through with great care and patience! Thank you Rondi and Michelle! I’ll send out a separate email and blog with info when they are available for purchase. I’ll also schedule a book signing and party.

 Another shameless plug, my Viking ax and knife source, Ragweed Forge. Tell Redbeard I sent you!

https://ragweedforgestore.com/products/condor-norse-dragon-seax-knife?_pos=10&_sid=b24578675&_ss=r

This is the last newsletter of the year. It has been a wonderful year filled with so much Taiji and more. I’ll be sending out a year end blog with details but for now, thank you for a great 2024!

-Sifu Ray

 

“Bad artists copy. Good artists steal.”

-Pablo Picasso

 

(I’m off X for now, nothing personal or political, just my site got hacked.)

Contact info

my phone- 1-218-341-9894

 

email= skrayhayward@gmail.com

 

my Patreon page= patreon.com/rayhayward

 

 blog= rayhayward.com

 

website=  mindfulmotiontaichi.com

 

Facebook= Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

 

                Ray Hayward Enterprises

 

YouTube= Ray Hayward, the Inspired Teacher

 

                 Mindful Motion Tai-Chi Academy

 

my books at Lulu= lulu.com/spotlight/Ray_Hayward

 

my books on Amazon= amazon.com/author/rayhayward

 

Instagram= Ray Hayward, or, ataoistsufitemplardruidviking

 

School shirts-        https://www.zazzle.com/single_whip_chakra_tee-235016484610969225

 

My address,

5140 W. 102^nd St

#307

Bloomington, MN

55437

 

 

#rayhayward#taiji#taichichuan#bagua#xingyi#sword#qigong#yichuan#wudangsword#qinna#standingmeditation#taoistmeditation#taoistlove#semenretention#masterttliang#wailunchoi#mindfulmotiontaichiacademy#rayhaywardtheinspiredteacher#inspiredteacher#rayhaywardblog#sanshou#prayingmantis#karambit##pushinghands#fajing#imsak#rosslynchapel#druidry#lulubooksrayhaywardauthor#patreonrayhaywardtheinspiredteacher