Tensegrity Seminars

Culver City - November 1995 [ 1995 Index | Previous | Next ] To:   The Ixtlan Mailing List Date:   15 Nov 95 22:37:54 EST On Friday, Nov. 10, Bob P. and I walked slowly across the Culver City High School campus toward the cafeteria. We were early arrivals and no one else was visible. It was twilight, almost dark. As we approached the cafeteria, I saw two women standing about 5 feet apart. As I drew near, I had the uncanny feeling that I was about to cross a threshold, and these women were the guardians. They were expressionless, but as I came close they smiled. I relaxed, taking that as a good omen as I passed them. For the rest of the workshop, I felt that I was participating in some ongoing mythical drama, protected within the bubble marked by the sentry positions. Friday night we had a lecture followed by Tensegrity practice, a pattern that repeated during each of the following morning, afternoon, and evening sessions. As about 150-200 people sat on cushions surrounding a small rectangular platform, an entourage entered from the entrance on the left. Up leapt a beaming Carlos Castaneda to the stage. I could hardly focus on his face. He was not at all what I expected. He was very short, lean, grey-haired, almost 70 years old. In contrast to the Carlos in the books, he was warm, jovial, funny, and confident. He looked like a huggable old man. Several people did hug him after he left the stage. He was very enthusiastic about these workshops, full of praise at the progress being made by the participants. He weaved through the crowd as we began the Tensegrity instruction, urging us on with expansive hand movements. It occurred to me that for us, Carlos had become don Juan. I won't go into the content of the lectures in this article, just briefly sketch what happened. We were to hear Carlos lecture 3 times that weekend. We also heard lectures by Florinda Donner-Grau, Taisha Abelar, Carol Tiggs, and the Blue Scout (her first appearance at a workshop). FDG looked like a little pixie, very diminutive and very short, almost white hair. Taisha looked the oldest by far, and a deep sadness was etched in her face. I learned the reason when she related the story about Manfred the dog warrior, and how most of her being crossed over to serve as a beacon, leaving only a shell behind in this world. She is a woman of great inner passion. Carol was a big surprise - she looked no more than 35 years. In contrast with the other witches who spoke in slow, deliberate, and academic terms, Carol was a motor mouth who seemed totally ordinary - her speech could have been that of any average person at work or perhaps a neighbor. The only difference was that the content of her speech was totally outrageous by ordinary standards. The Blue Scout was about 23, who at times was nervous and other times confident and eloquent. All had short hair. The Chac Mools were magnificient in their various uniforms and total dedication to their task. Every session they wore different matching uniforms. They worked me very hard in learning 3 major passes (Recollecting dispersed energy with the hands and feet, Two energy circles, and Sending and Receiving energy) as well as eight minor passes arranged by Silvio Manuel. Many people had been to many previous Tensegrity practice sessions, and I had to struggle to keep up with the rest, who seemed to perform the movements at a dizzying pace. Taisha said that while we were practicing the Silvio Manuel passes, that she saw a huge boulder face pressed against the glass double doors at the cafeteria entrance. Taisha identified the face as the spirit of Silvio Manuel, looking in on us. During the last session Carlos showed up in a suit and talked for two hours. This time chairs were on the floor, and many people dressed up for the occasion. I still was wearing my sweat shirt and pants. Carlos said on the last night that they hit us with every thing they had. It is the job of the Nagual to crack the sealed chamber in which we reside. They applied constant pressure on us by keeping us long hours, demanding our attention during long lectures, and pushing us to learn complex movements. They taxed our bodies and minds in alternation. These people are totally serious practitioners. They live a life that is totally outside the rules of ordinary social life. It was weird and exciting to come into contact with that kind of wild energy. The key to the workshop is full participation and attention to what is going on. Some people go to hear the lectures and give lip service to the Tensegrity practice. This attitude falls short of what they demand and will leave one only on the periphery of the action. One of the witches said that the discipline of a warrior demands that one place their full attention on whatever is in front of them. Carlos honed his attention during a period of one year when he had to listen to a drunk talk to him every morning for an hour as he left his apartment. He had to give the drunk his full attention. Certain themes were stressed again and again in the workshop. Attention is one theme. Another big theme is the relentless attack on the ego. There are many opportunities for ego to manifest during the workshop, and the Chac Mools know them all. As we filed out after the final session I passed again through the boundaries marked by the guardians, and barely felt the sorcerers world recede, as the normal world again asserted itself. I spent much time having great discussions with Bob P. and Mark G. They were the most wonderful companions to have at the workshop. After the last lecture, Bob P., Mark G., Rich J., Janie , Greg S., and Carl J. came to our large motel room and we went through the movements, writing down the component actions. I didn't buy one of the many Tensegrity T-shirts on sale alongside the videos. Maybe next time. It was one of the most remarkable weekends of my life. I continue to feel the pressure generated by their actions. Now I gotta go and practice the Tensegrity movements before I forget them. -jack [Added note: This was the weekend Rich J. approached Bob P. to have a mailing list created for Cleargreen and the practitioners of Tensegrity. After some discussion they decided to call it the Tango mailing list. Bob would set it up and run it for a few months and then hand it over to Rich.] [ 1995 Index | Previous | Next ]

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