Purpose: Extending the physical nature to spiritual nature Center: Lower Tan Tien with energy reaching to all points Goal: Enjoyment of the cosmology of natural movement: “I move, so the universe moves.”
Overview: Cosmic Tour Ba Gua was developed according to the principles within the Book of Changes and the Unchanging Truth, also called the I Ching and exemplifies the eight great manifestations of nature: heaven, earth, fire, water, rain or lake, thunder, mountain, and wind or wood. Practicing the circular steps of the Cosmic Tour is a great way to enjoy and benefit from the philosophy of the I Ching besides reading and studying.
The original Cosmic Tour was first developed as walking meditation. You walk for a while and then you do gentle movement. Then you relax and walk again, and follow another set of movements. There are 8 different movements or transformations in the Cosmic Tour. Each movement symbolizes one of the eight main hexagrams, and each major transformation has eight smaller transformations, which define its essence. Practicing Cosmic Tour brings enduring strength to your life, while learning and experiencing the meaning of each hexagram.
Cosmic Tour is not only a physical movement, but also a language for spiritual communication where you learn to unite and develop your whole person, just like a dancer being at one with the colored silk streamer she is waving, or a tai chi sword exponent being at one with his sword. In Cosmic Tour you move your whole body, not only on the physical level but also at more subtle levels.
In Cosmic Tour, the circular movement resembles spiritual maturity. A mature person does not hit an obstruction but will go around it to avoid friction or damage. The circular movement is the cosmological framework for the universe and life. Because the orbits are defined, heavenly bodies do not collide and thus find endless life and infinite transformation.
It takes approximately 20 minutes to perform Cosmic Tour Ba Gua Zahn. Refer to Mastering Chi, Strength from Movement and the companion video Cosmic Tour Ba Gua Chuan by Hua-Ching Ni. Both are available at Tao EShop.
