When I was in my early 20′s I met a person who introduced me to Chinese philosophy; I learned T’ai chi and how to use the I Ching. I read the “Tao te ching” by Lao Tze – over and over again in my efforts to understand the meaning behind the words. I could grasp that I was on to something bigger than I had hitherto known, but I couldn’t wrap my head around it – make it my own. I copied the book, by hand, into a note-book that still is with me, 26 years later. I have since that time studied Chinese philosophy and healing as part of my profession. During these years I had a yearning to actively live the Tao, but I didn’t know how until, 9 months ago, I realized that the time had come.
Preparation: The thought to live the Tao has been with me all the time; I tried to figure out how to do it and finally decided that this is not possible – actually, it is the total denial of Tao – so I allowed it to happen, trusting that I would know when the time was right. During these months I have studied different translations of the Tao, I have come across books and websites of people who have actively lived the Tao. But nowhere did I find myself; the ordinary person in an ordinary life. I believe the Tao is a way of living every kind of life – not just a “holy” life. The people I have studied that lived the Tao all took time off and went into retreat to really get into things. I can’t do that, I will live the Tao in my every-day life which is far from easy at the moment:
- Single mother with one teenage child at home and 3 more scattered through Europe.
- Recently arrived in a new country with no guarantees; creating a new life.
- Learning to exist with 2 new, foreign languages and learning them quickly!
- Starting up a business.
- No economy at all and no job, but I have a house and a car.
- Tomorrow I will be 49 years old.
- I am an aromatherapist.
I am like everybody else; I have worries and fears, I struggle to make ends meet. I support my daughter through this very tough time in her life. I worry about my newly grown children out in the world. All in all I feel like I am riding a banana-peal on a piece of ice in the middle of an ocean. 
Living the Tao is a challenge, it is also an enhancement of my life, learning to live in trust and peace, no matter what.
Anna,
Have you read Deng Ming Dao’s “Everyday Tao”? It takes you through 365 days of living the Tao, with a meditation for each day, and is the book I credit with changing my life. I have blogged about most of it on my blog, Rambling Taoist cites it sometimes too.
I think it is the best source for really making the effort every day to live the Tao (although you actually can’t help but to live the Tao; the real trick is the awareness of it. )
Enjoy your journey! Namaste!
Thank you for visiting me
I will check out Deng Ming Dao, don’t know this.
Fascinating…
I don’t know a lot about Taoism but like you, am learning.
As a first step, I practise/learn Tai Chi.
Merri; The thing is it is easy “in the head”. The point is living it all the time. Finding the connections to that which happens in life, trusting…
And good luck to us!
Thanks for visiting
I am new to wordpress so I happened to find your blog and will endeavor to add more to my blog. I too, love the Tao Te Ching. Wayne Dwyer’s rendition is also a good source.
I looked at your blog, yes just starting.
Interesting to hear from a fellow massage-therapist. I looked at Wayne Dyer. Trying to find my own feet, telling my own story. Please check back.
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