Happy Chinese New Year, Rooted Alchemy community. As we transition into the Year of the Fire Horse, it’s worth taking a moment to reflect on the Year of the Wood Snake we’re leaving behind. I was born in the Year of the Snake—specifically a Fire Snake—so the fact that Rooted Alchemy began during a Wood Snake year is not lost on me. It feels meaningful that this community started during a time associated with growth, coiling potential, and quiet development beneath the surface. Now we step into the energy of the Fire Horse — expression, freedom, vitality, and forward movement. In Five-Element theory, Wood generates Fire. Wood grows, gathers strength, and then becomes fuel. Fire illuminates, warms, and transforms. In that sense, this transition feels very natural — what we rooted and cultivated now has the chance to ignite and express itself. If we look at the Snake and the Horse themselves, there’s an interesting common thread. Both animals move from their center. Both are deeply connected to their core and capable of fluid, adaptive mobility within their environment. In Tai Chi terms, they embody connection to the central axis — the Tai Chi line — and the ability to integrate smoothly with what surrounds them. This is exactly what we cultivate in practice: stability without rigidity, freedom without chaos, movement that is both rooted and alive. Wood energy puts down roots. It draws nourishment from the ground and establishes structure. Our community has been doing just that — quietly taking shape, building foundations, and growing stronger together. Fire energy brings warmth, visibility, and momentum. As we move into the Year of the Fire Horse, may that fire energize our practice in a sustainable way — not a flash that burns out, but a steady flame we can carry throughout the year. I’m genuinely excited to see where the Rooted Alchemy Tai Chi and Qigong community goes during this dynamic and auspicious cycle. Happy New Year, everyone. Gong Xi Fa Cai.

Cheers! Gan Bei! Empty your cup! The empty cup analogy is one that I thoroughly enjoy and is universal to so many practices and experiences. I can remember my teacher in Beijing explaining his personal relationship to this concept and how it gave him the motivation and focus he needed to be the type of person, martial artist, teacher and friend he wanted to be for those around him. The empty cup tells us that if we go into a situation with our mind and thoughts full of expectations we will often miss the the part that we should really be present for and looking to take away with us. I have always felt there is an intention present we when contemplate analogies and metaphors such as this, one that can be felt in context with our own personal experience. Coming into our practice with the intention of becoming a student rather than a master, studying rather than memorizing and simply looking to be more present with our practice helps us look to our own cup. Both how we are crafting it and with what we want to fill it. In a practice such as tai ji and qi gong we are bound to have expectations, yet we can use these expectations to help shape our intention and practice as we learn more about the method and the study. The famous tai ji teacher Cheng Man Ching was once asked how long it would take to learn the long form. He replied, “two years”. The student then asked him how long it would take if he trained really hard. Without much hesitation Professor Cheng said, “three years”. He of course knew that if the student thought that training harder would somehow “hack” the method, his cup was definitely not empty, and probably had a few cracks in it. My teacher in Beijing had a great way of looking at it. He said of course you have to empty your cup, but then what:). In the beginning you don’t actually have a cup, it is more like a teaspoon you empty to fill a cup. Then when the cup is full use your cup to fill a pitcher. When the pitcher is full you use the pitcher to fill your reservoir digging deeper until you find an endless spring so that when those around you need a drink, you will have the strength and energy you need to be there for them.

Happy New Year everyone!

Rooted Alchemy update 🌿 Our Tai Chi sticks have arrived. Each one is handcrafted, shaped by hand, and carries its own unique character. No two are the same, just like the practice itself. We are excited to offer these to our community first and pair them with a Tai Chi stick course so you can train with intention, structure, and depth. Comment below if you are interested in a Tai Chi stick with the Tai Chi stick course.

What type of shoes do you like for Tai Chi practice?