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Owned by Kirby
Rooted Alchemy makes Tai Ji and Qi Gong accessible, artistic, and enjoyable—helping people transform their inner world through ancient practice.
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264 contributions to Rooted Alchemy
8d •
8 Brocades- Archer
Hello Sonny, in the Eight Brocades, you do the Archer form with closed fists. With my previous teacher, it was done with an open hand. That is, the front hand with thumb and index finger open (index finger pointing up). What makes that difference?" @Kirby Mannon
3 likes • 6d
@Johanna Versteden Good question! Almost all the variations except our standard use that stylized palm position for pulling the bow. The reason for that position has to do with connecting to internal energy channels and is the influence of some martial arts practices that use that position in there training as well. I like to begin with the symmetrical and balance used of the hands so that more awareness can be naturally drawn back towards center. There is a habit of over flexing the wrist and hand when doing that hand position so first working on the basic opening and closing will help down the line. The other variations I teach use the open hand as you mentioned. When I introduce it I usually include some tips on how to work with and connect it to basic open and closing☯️
2 likes • 1h
@Johanna Versteden as I was taught, all energy channels are stimulated during every movement and that the movements just represent potential forms and shapes of how to direct it. In this way the qi can circulate more freely wherever it needs to go. By focusing too much in one channel or another we may be inadvertently be putting too much expectation in place of intention. I think a good topic for a future qi talk or post should be some basic information and guides in relating to things like channels, points, vessels and other concepts from the practice’s point of view.
23h •
So far (day 3) so good
A few appointments this week have interrupted my practice, however I've just completed Day 3 and I'm feeling good and looking forward to Day 4. My knees and calves are being stretched, also I can feel my shoulders complaining....a little! Doing Qigong just feels right, I'm sure I'm sleeping better at night because of my practice. Also, I attended the online live classes for Qigong AND Tai Chi. I got a bit lost in places with Tai Chi, but I want to do more so I'll join the live classes again. It's also good to see others of the community there too. Ashley🙇♂️ (Just call me Ashley, I see I wrote it twice in my profile; is there a song with that in the title?)
1 like • 20h
@Ashley Ashley Way to be consistent and observant in your practice! Tai Chi practice by nature is very circular so it is normal to feel like you are stepping into something that is already gong on. Over time and consistent practice the familiar aspects will start to show themselves more and more. This nature of the practice creates a really rewarding learning environment over time we can all share. I learn so much from new students as they enter and begin to cultivate their tai chi as their observation of practice encourages me to observe mine more as well. Keep it up!☯️
1d •
Today's thought from the Tao Te Ching~
The supreme good is like water, which nourishes all things without trying to. It is content with the low places that people disdain. Thus, it's like the Tao. In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present . When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you. "Be Water my friend" 💦
1 like • 20h
@Laura Jeffreys beautiful! Thank you for sharing! 🌊☯️
5d •
Days 1-3 Repeated
So I'm in Scotland's Western Highlands and Islands for a long weekend, having come up on the overnight sleeper train to Fort William. I paused the 7-Day Challenge at Day 3 on Friday, so I'm repeating Days 1, 2, and 3 while I'm up here, and resume at Day for when I get home on Tuesday. I do Day 1 in the harbour, it's quiet, not many people around. A beached lobster boat carries my daughter's name "Rebecca". I do Days 1 and 2 by memory: the air is sharp and clean, carrying the scent of Atlantic sea salt and kelp. In the fifty or so minutes I practice, the winter sun shifts over the foothills which part of the town clings to, the earth shifting yellow to red ochre patched with lichen grey-green as the shadows lengthen, the northern water an inky black shimmering gold and silver, slightly viscous in its coldness. The sharp air awakens my lungs, my blood, the flow of Qi; but my cold weather gear is restrictive, and my feet in running trainers struggle to ground in the shifting shingle. The tide is ebbing in, lifting Rebecca on her mooring. Some fishing boats start into port, not wanting to get in their way, I shift location. I do Day three facing west into the setting sun, shining primrose-gold through gunmetal clouds. Ahead of me are the isles of Eig, Rhum, and Skye: Skye's central mountains are snow-capped. Going west across the Atlantic, next stop Nova Scotia. As my gaze follows my hands the sea sunset shimmers, occasional seal and dolphin break the water making wake. This is the first time I've practiced out in nature. Facing west, I've taken off my North Face puffer jacket, gloves and scarf, just trainers, jeans, t-shirt and woollen jumper. Qi warms my body, only my hands feel cold in Wu Ji, Monkey, and Post. I'm reminded of teenage me, must have been what, '74, me 14 or 15? Overawed by terribly precocious Golden Flower meditations I wandered sensing, for the first time in my life, the Unity of Being. The feeling was sublime but uncanny, scared the hell out of me. I never practiced it again. Trying to run before I could walk. The story of my life. Perhaps now at 66 I am ready for it. Nearly. Or perhaps not.
0 likes • 2d
@Mike Diboll I really like the idea of a movement vocabulary and skillset, it's something my teachers would talk about as well related to how we train. I had another teacher who equated the concept of "qi" to memory. The more you practice the more 'memory' of practice you have of practicing creating more access to potential energy "qi". That "qi" or movement potential will be related to the method and volume of practice. A simple way to put it is, if you never move fast you probably won't be able to move fast well, but if you want to move fast well training that might not look like what you think it does if you want access to skill when you need it. Chen Tai Ji had a fast form, but many Yang styles never adopted it. Grandmaster Tchoung created not only a fast form, but we also have a natural stepping form. Much of this is very aligned with the natural taoist concepts of training, I think as the method was taken more and more out of the original environment he found it very beneficial to embed some of those things into specific forms he could teach people.
1 like • 20h
@Mike Diboll How much to rest is really a good question and is something I definitely struggled with when I was much younger. In arts like qi gong we can really use our intuition since the classics do say that if you practicing with the right intention, which is simply for health and wellbeing, than it is difficult to practice too much in theory. In reality it is important to listen to our body so I now I like to think of rest in different ways. I have active rest and passive rest, short term rest and long term rest. The hardest for me is passive rest, where you just do nothing:). I read book that talked about the value of rest and used wave theory based off the fibonnacci sequence to plan the periods for elite athletes. Rather than be that specific, I try to bring variety and consistency into my rest just like I do my training. Intentionally plan a day off every once in awhile, shorten a session now and then or simple things like that, but really do just follow your instincts☯️
1d •
Celebrating a 31-day Streak!
From the 7-day challenge to the 10-day challenge to a 31-day Tai Chi & Qigong streak! Thank you Rooted Alchemy for getting me on a challenging and rewarding path.
1 like • 20h
@Keven P That is so great and no small feat! Way to go☯️
1-10 of 264
@kirby-mannon-7387
Call me Sonny:) "Student always, teacher sometime." I am a teacher of traditional Chinese Martial Arts, Qi Gong and am a lover of movement.
Active 1h ago
Joined Oct 1, 2025
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