In many spiritual traditions we are often encouraged to take retreats, to leave the chaos of the world for a while, to transcend it if you will, and sometimes even to escape it.

After spending time away on a mountain top or retreat center, I would find myself wanting to hold on to that "state" afterward, where everything just felt easy and free. And it never EVER worked. Life always happened again, and I always felt disappointed, blaming the world and it's people for my loss of peace and tranquility.

When I became  a student of Master Ou's in 2004, he proposed something very different: perhaps the purpose was not to transcend this world, but to retreat in order to come back and engage with it and make it better, communicating with the world now from a place of gentleness, generosity and connection.

It took me a long time to let go of the need to escape the madness, and I admit it's still a challenge. I am by nature an introvert and enjoy the peace that comes with solitude. The reason I felt so sensitive to my environment was because the things in this world were obstacles, and so I was in opposition. I wanted to run from it.  I believed that worldly  concerns were in my way, preventing me from achieving my spiritual goals.

At some point in dawned on me, these things aren't IN my way, they ARE the way. When I was willing to engage with the world and its stuff, to open my heart to it, the world became friendlier in return. But for a long time I felt so convinced  the other way was true and I continued to use spiritual justification to be intolerant. It was my fall back -- to use "spirituality" to justify my impatience  and fractiousness. It is still a challenge to stay present to this and in some situations I just want to kick and scream, accusing the world.

What I learned from my dear teacher and spiritual guide, Master Ou Wen Wei, is that when we can be tolerant of all things, we can resonate with all things in this world no matter how bad they seem. If we are willing to pause, to broaden our hearts, to embrace the world and its people with love and acceptance, we slowly become the Divinely loving people we were born to be, while remaining vital, enjoying life.

Through this process our Life Force becomes stronger so we don't deplete ourselves but ultimately become happier and healthier, thriving and truly evolving. I would never have believed such a  thing if I hadn't seen it work so many times. If we are tolerant with all things then we can harmonize with them. So each "obstacle" now becomes an opportunity.

The practice of Pangu Mystical Qi Gong has given me the opportunity to experience this level of living, not just existing, but actual living. Master Ou brings his wisdom and love to Raleigh in two weeks, and we are so pleased to welcome him back for his 4th year in the Triangle area. If you haven't met him before, I hope you'll take the opportunity to sit with one of the world's most revered healers.

4:00-6:00 pm, Saturday, March 15

Hampton Inn Crabtree

3920 Arrow Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612

Register here!

Intro Workshops

4035 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 111

Raleigh, NC 27607 Map