Taoist Energy Arts, Psychotherapy & Spiritual Development

— A central dilemma for spiritual seekers, and perhaps for all human beings, is learning how to live with one part of our awareness rested into the profound stillness of the unconditioned mind, while simultaneously being fully engaged in the unique context of our lives. This is an art that requires years of practice. To accomplish this balance of stillness and movement we must be deeply rooted in the paradoxes of human existence. We must recognize ourselves as both form and formless, as a unique event in time and space, and also a timeless essence that transcends physical, psychological and cultural conditions. We must understand ourselves as beings with biological, psychological and cultural conditioning, and also as timeless wells of emptiness from which creation has mysteriously sprung.  The practitioners that I have known that have embodied this moment of creation when emptiness flows into form and form into emptiness have a particular kind of energy about them. They transmit a timeless presence and transcendent quality of Being while simultaneously being fully focused, clear and deeply available in every moment. They are luminous, flowing, relaxed, fully present in the complexity of every context, and see the world with an admirable sense of objectivity. They are not "stuck"…. Writes Michael  Valeria Teles interviews Michael Robbins — He is a psychotherapist, Taoist teacher, poet, and visual artist who works in Somerville Massachusetts. Michael has studied and taught the Taoist practices of Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Nei Gong and Taoist meditation for more than 4 decades and continues to study these arts with high level masters whenever he has a chance. As a psychotherapist he works with individuals, couples, families and groups, leads retreats both in this country and in Europe and supervises therapists in his unique integration of body-oriented, systems informed, existential/psychoanalytic and spiritually based therapy both virtually and in person. He has published two book chapters and many articles on a variety of topics as well as two books of poetry all of which are available on his website. As a visual artist he has exhibited his work in a variety of venues. He is also a student of the Austrian mystic Thomas Hubl, and a member of the Ridwhan School founded by A.H. Almaas.   To learn more about Michael Robbins and his work, please visit: michaelrobbinstherapy.com   — This podcast is a quest for well-being, a quest for a meaningful life through the exploration of fundamental truths, enlightening ideas, insights on physical, mental, and spiritual health. The inspiration is Love. The aspiration is to awaken new ways of thinking that can lead us to a new way of being, being well.