What a year of complete transformation it's been for the Lotus Tree! New Developments in life and home, shift and consolidation of locations to integrate Hampshire and London as training bases ; restructuring of curriculum, specialist interest groups have all arisen organically out of this year's practice as fruits of cultivation. We go into 2008 Year of the Earth Rat reflecting the inner/outer developments of the group practice needs and interests more specifically, with a training schedule that hopefully optimises the learning curve best suited for supporting and furthering students' needs and specific interest groups. Many new practice classes opening up to support monthly regular training, Qi Gong and Nei Gong Arts, Text Study and Life Practice, Structure/Alignment and Rooting, Solo Cultivation, Outdoor Practice, Retreats.
Overview of London and Hampshire Courses
Much of the Lotus Tree Beginners Qi Gong classes are now based in Fareham Hants along with the Seasonal Outdoor and Summer Retreat Practice in the beautiful Meon Valley, also in Hampshire. The advanced Qi Gong and other courses are in London. London has gone through many changes and has now consolidated into a advanced practice group after many years and is not open to beginners. Depending on interest, it may be that another cycle of beginners classes will open in London some time in 08, although there are opportunities in the meantime to arrange private tuition with me in London or Hampshire. You have all been conscious, helpful with feedback, full of goodwill and have adapted so willingly to the upheaval and process that is change as we shifted the timetable around. Thank-you! You all continue to be instrumental in the way The Lotus Tree learns and develops as a school of practice for us all.
Even more important now to check every month for London monthly Monday class dates as well as Fareham Monthly Friday class dates as there will be a few anomalies later in Spring /Summer term when dates change occasionally whilst I am away. Where ever possible there is a substitute class particularly in London.
Different Approach
I am targeting the London advanced group towards small intensive practice groups in each field that we open up from the twice monthly classes to I-Ching Text study, Solo Cultivation, Structure, Rooting Alignment, Outdoor work, Solstices Equinoxes, Retreats. As most of you know the work in each field is now becoming intergrated and interactive. Solo cultivation as an example is appearing more and more in both monthly and structur/alignment/rooting classes. It is a real and honest chance for students to commit to what they want to focus on in 08 to deepen their practice and let me know swiftly and efficiently. If your interest expands then the other workshops are available, but the time has come for all of us in practice to focus, decide and put aside commitment to dates throughout the year that you intend to attend. The major difference in 08 that acknowledges and develops this advancement of student training in London; is that I am not looking to garner large collective group interest in each field before a workshop goes ahead. I want to establish small, real and realisable working groups in each field of interest. Groups that have the space to deepen and move forward in their work unhampered, and a chance to have continuity in their field.Then we can monitor the effects of each practice.
Practice/Work Consciousness
Each aspect of the curriculum has it's own "Gong" work consciousness and marrying the difficulty to get on the inside of that practice is essential, necessary and part of cultivation. Practice as you all have realised successfully this term has to be wanted, found and opened by the Self. It cannot be given or cushioned. Only you know how you dissolve resistance and cultivate Gong best. From Shen Qi to all aspects of practice and private sessions, a supported system of learning is available and the tools to help guide you in long term training. The length of time, quiet enthusiasm and perseverance of practice that all of you have is a wonderful testament to that motivation, that Gong; past all changes, adaptations, timeout etc...whatever you felt was necessary. The Lotus Tree can and should only stand by the reality of what needs to be taught in terms of real interest, real numbers, real development of courses.based on student interest and committment.
London Qi Gong
With all elements of the weekly classes in London advanced classes now shifted into their own specialist study classes eg, Shen Qi, I Ching Text study; I too am really looking forward to using the freed up time to increase Qi Gong Practice to a full two hours and to include a fuller sitting meditation/Neigong session... and finish on time! In the new year, the beginning of London monthly Qi Gong classes is a chance for an interactive practice clinic. It a chance to consult and pick up adjustments and to field individual queries on personal practice. Shen Qi and I Ching text study has developed organically into it's own class as part of separate life cultivation classes.. It has become one of the most successful and strongest group cultivation practices and the requests for deeper study have been consistent. Attendance and numbers in class have been consistently excellent all term and I have really felt inspired in working with you all moving forward into touching new material with some groups. The progress has been amazing to watch! This has been immeasurably helped by the conscientiousness of arriving to class on time and the sensitivity to not disrupt the group Qi has made a huge difference; emphasising the importance of having the correct conducive enviroment; essential for study.
Hampshire Qi Gong
My main wish in 2008 is to expand classes and beginners training possibilities in Fareham and support a deeper training structure with maybe some supplemental weekend courses in structure, alignment and rooting study and possibly some text work. The potential and dedication within this core group needs to be opened to a fuller training experience after the introduction of basics in the last few years. I look forward to both groups from London and Hants meeting more on retreats and outdoor work throughout the year. It is very fulfilling to see the exchange between students, particularly to see Hampshire students in London courses.
Summer Retreat and Outdoor Practice
summer retreat
Last year's Summer Retreat at Gaunts House Dorset was such a success that we shall consolidate this annual opportunity in 2008.
I want to encourage very simple retreat experiences in future, allowing the real beauty of the practice in nature to come through alongside the experience of simplicity in the living enviroment. We want to clear the baggages of mind that one starts a retreat with and give us a chance to have a full, meditational and unobscured practice experience.
In 2008 we start this unadorned but functional process in The Pastoral Centre in Wickham near Fareham. The centre is run by Sister Frances and a group of Franciscan nuns on behalf of the community. The big house, grounds and location to the Meon Valley and South Downs is great for our needs. The sisters have been so engaged and willing to give us the best they can. There will be good single ensuite rooms for everyone, food and our own practice room and lounge separate from other groups working and relaxing there.
Once again I want to establish a small realisable group here who enjoy outdoor work, want to cultivate the requirements and resilience to experience a retreat enviroment of practice and all that it brings up and can deal with simple comfortable but basic conditions. There may be opportunities to go back throughout the year for possible overnight stays to revisit our places of practice throughout key points of change in seasons (like the Samhain or Winter Solstice). I am really excited about the prospects of working this new way; a more practice orientated way. It will take a few years to organically work through into routine but hopefully it will be fruitful.
Spaces
I like to do as much of the work at Violet Hill Studios and Aschcroft Arts Centre as possible; but it may not always be available. If you know of any spaces that suit a small group for top up evening/day, half day or weekend practices that you come across on your travels I'd very much appreciate your sending details so I can build a database of spaces.
Thanks
Special thanks to Pauline Groman at Violet Hill Studios for doing such an amazing job in supporting and helping me put together a new timetable of work; no mean feat when the Studios are constantly booked up. Her amazing flexibility and ingenuity in finding ways around things is truly skilled; as well as her art in creating, supporting, organising and administering the infrastructure that all this rests on in London.
Also Thanks to Julie and John at the Ashcroft Arts Centre for their patient and helpful presence in booking and caretaking our needs before and after classes.
Huge thanks to Sifu Myles Dunlop for his continued committment, dedication and attendance to my request for observation and feedback as a teacher. In the last 18 months he has diligently attended both London and Hants classes. I only asked for a quick pop in now and then to give some critical feedback on the material and to share some practice experiences with the students! His appraisal of my work has been vital in my development as a teacher and Kung Fu student. These days he attends the classes for practice and enjoyment of the group Qi; we welcome him and all new students last term.
ZM Designs continue their invaluable work in keeping the website updated, lively, colourful and dynamic as well as technically maintained and compatible in ways I cannot even begin to understand. In the process I learn ever easier ways of reaching deadlines. They have become a crucial part of the Lotus Tree administration and even more so in 2008, as students rely on the website increasingly for information on completely new, revised and updated routines and timetables. Many, many thanks! I can't recommend them enough for efficient, thoughtful bespoke services at competitive prices too! I know they have skills well beyond Lotus Tree website upkeep; so whether you have simple or specialist website needs, they are the team to consult!
Finally but not least, thank you all students and friends in practice in London and Hampshire; who have supported myself and the Lotus Tree in a myriad of small loving important ways from email contact, affirmations, jokes, messages, Grazia magazines when I was incapacitated for a few weeks in July last year, to accomodation, counselling, hugs and dinners and email feedback as well as the expert advice given from your own fields and specialisms in 2007 whilst I went through the complete transformation of home, house and work. It is such an underlying warm, fun and quirky space we share in practice together year after year. It's been a fantastic term's work. I look forward to 2008 Year of the Earth Rat with you all.
Nilima Raichoudhury.