THE BEAR
The Crane is light and ethereal. The Bear is heavy and rooted. The essence of the Bear Frolic is to feel sunken, stable, heavy, and ponderous. Your movements should be easy and fluid as if you have no bones. Lightness, agility and alertness are concealed within.
The bear can amble about slowly or charge with surprising speed.
The Bear Stance is a wide, low horse stance, with feet turned out 45 degrees out Find a stance that is comfortable and causes no strain. The eyes have a quiet relaxed gaze. Qi is sunk in the lower dantien (LDT).
1. Bear Turns: Palms up holding 2X4, twist R on b-out, b-in C/ROS
2. Bear Pushes Behind: Same push R hand out b-out behind, b-in C IROS
3. Bear Pushes Down: Same but push R hand to lower R corner on b-out/b-in C/ROS
4. Bear Offering: Palms up MDT b-in, turn R b-out, R arm up shoulder, L arm to middle of R forearm/ C b-in/ ROS
5. Bear Push: Begin same b .. in, b-out turn R both hands push R like wall C b-in/ROS
6. Bear Circles; Push R, circle down and around to L, heavy paws when upright/ROS but breathe naturally
7. Bear Pushes Back: Push F, down all 4s, circle R, heavy paws, push back to RI ROS
8. Bear Lumbers: step R foot, lean hands on thighs, spiral twist R, SW open R toe/ROS
9. Walking Bear Offering: R hand MDT, L hand LDT and R foot forward/ open R foot step SW/ROS
10. Bear Plucking Berries: R hand offering> L hand plucks R fingers as L foot T steps, step back with R foot as L hand offering/ ROS
After practicing the Five Animal Frolics, it is recommended that one do standing meditation or walking then Sitting Meditation for a few minutes to reap in the full benefits from this qigong practice.
“The Five Animal Frolics° was written by Kenneth Cohen and excerpts were taken from his book, The Way of Oigong, and from his video tape on the Five Animal Frolics. The movement descriptions are short hand notes prepared by Dove Govrin.
The qigong form, The Five Animals Frolics® was taught to Kenneth Cohen by taichi and qi gong instructor Dan Farber of Kentfield, Ca. who shared this wealth of information to Dove.
BEAR MEDICINE
By Madisyn Taylor
We can incorporate bear energy into our lives by remembering to take time to go inward, to rest and rejuvenate in daily mini hibernations.
When the image of a bear enters our consciousness, we may first notice their size, strength, and power, but beyond their physical attributes lay many traits that can guide us deeper into our experience of life. Their abilities as hunters and powerful protectors of their loved ones are well known, but you may also envision them on a quest for variety as they seek out the flavors and scents of the world, first fishing, then enjoying berries, or braving angry bees to indulge in honey. But their hidden strength lies in the bear’s ability to travel between the physical and spiritual worlds, a talent that is recognized all around the world by those who live in harmony with nature.
One way that bears access their inner world is during hibernation when they find a safe and womb-like environment to let their physical bodies rest while their spirit travels. They travel through time, mentally digesting and learning from their experiences, but they also travel beyond the realm of mind and body into the dreamtime, where they are able to be rejuvenated by the source of all life. In this sacred space, they are connected to physical, mental, and spiritual realms all at once and can find the balance that they need to reenter world.
Polar bears don’t enter a deep state of hibernation like other bears, but instead fluidly cross between realms on the physical plane as well the spiritual. Their reflective, translucent fur makes them difficult to see as they move across the frozen ice, blending into terrain covered with snow, making them seem like they are shimmering between dimensions. They move as easily in water as on land, agile and able in both worlds. They can remind us that we are one with our environment, inseparable from it. They teach us that while we can take time apart to connect with spirit, we can also carry that awareness with us as we move through life, making the spiritual indistinguishable from the material. By aligning ourselves with bear energy, we fully embody the best of all worlds.