When Cullen McManus first encountered Tai Chi, it was not through a lifelong plan or a neatly defined path. Like many meaningful things, it entered his life quietly—through curiosity, timing, and need. Cullen, Daoist Gate Beverly’s Scholar for 2025–2026, was introduced to Tai Chi and Qigong through an elective course at Salem State University taught…
Defining these hallucinations as “demons” is to express that they disrupt our quiet sitting, and distract from our cultivation. At the same time, it also is a kind of training for our heart-minds, as it helps us take a calm and undisturbed perspective on many things.
Please begin by reading “Standing Meditation for Martial Power” first. The standing meditation practices for health and healing use proper body alignment and relaxation to encourage proper Qi flow and remove physical and emotional blockages. This differs from the martial standing because the whole body is relaxed, with no force or power. Qigong style standing…
