The Dragon's Head Blog

  Brief the dragon legs Prepare the temple and start chanting Chanters and public offerings Enliven the dragon, bring on the confetti Speeches from distinguished guests All join in the sutra Presentation of photo contest winners Tidy up, cards displayed, walking tour

This is working together … It’s not a question of ‘What did you do? What did you prepare?’ It’s always a ‘We did it together. We got the time right together.’ My biggest lesson has been that there are always problems, but that there are always five solutions for each problem. You just have to […]

You are getting into a rhythm. Talking to people from all over the world, practising together, session of Taoist Tai Chi® practice, the meals, the meetings where you are given the opportunity to learn how we do things in the society. It’s basically the whole package. What happens is that your body starts to loosen […]

On an overcast day in Canada’s most multicultural city participants from the Bathurst location of the Toronto branch, ably abetted by fellow participants from other Toronto locations, came together to parade the nine-person dragon at two events on July 22, 2017.  First we gathered at the Bathurst location and walked to a nearby park, Wychwood […]

When we were in a group and practicing a dan-yu, we worked together and helped me very much. It helps with the move when the whole group has the same timing and go together. For me, when Tony was working with me it was interesting the way he asked questions, explaining the changing and the […]

It’s like home, coming back home, and it’s very fun to meet again many people from all over the world who have come to the workshop. This year I feel more the family aspect of the society. Really like everybody is together. It’s easy to speak to everybody and to work together. When the directors […]

It is nice that you can actually do something practical for a loved one who is no longer around; that you are still able to communicate, to have a connection with that person. Participating together makes the festival really special; you build that connection as a group in order to help loved ones that have […]

One focus of Fung Loy Kok Week, held this year at the International Centre in Orangeville, is to cultivate stillness – to deepen our practice, to carry it into the world, and to help others. Another is to prepare us for the All Souls Festival at the end of the week. The program for the […]

  Last Thursday participants from the Québec City branch went to the Tall Ships Regatta to enjoy the festivities and do a few demos. Demos at the harbour may well become a summer tradition as the tall ships visited the area last year and we were there. After the demos we visited some of the […]

This is meditation … Being in the kitchen gives you the chance to stop the busy thinking and go into the moment. You need to be aware ­– keeping yourself open and focused at the same time. After ten days, you start to become a little bit of everyone else, not being so much in […]

The All Souls Festival is a major event in the tradition of Fung Loy Kok Taoist Tai Chi® practice, and took place at the International Centre  at the end of a week of chanting and quiet contemplation. Each year the gate of the realm of the dead is opened for the first half of the […]

The International Centre looked stunning today as participants took part in the All Souls Festival, welcomed visitors to an Open House, and continued preparations for CIT Week, the 10th Anniversary of the Grand Opening of the Three Religions Temple, and International Awareness Day. It was the penultimate day of the International Centre Anniversary Photo Contest […]

Get snapping – it’s the final week for entries in the International Centre Photo Contest, with the deadline extended till July 30. This allows for an Open House at the International Centre on July 29 for people to take photographs of our beautiful home on the same day as the All Souls Festival at the […]

A decade ago I was appreciating a deep sense of privilege; the opening and closing of 10 altars each day, chanting 21 sutras over three days, sharing the event with guests from Fung Ying Seen Koon, Yuen Yuen, and Chi Wo Tan.  Mr Sung’s presence, advice, bright eyes and energy (102 years old at that […]

When the traditional red envelope was presented to Fung Loy Kok Institute of Taoism president Marsha Eberhardt at the end of the national program in Kingston on June 11, it capped 10 days of intense activity that gave most Kingstonians a taste of Taoist Tai Chi® arts. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the branch, participants […]

The Grand Opening in 2007 was my first visit to the International Centre, near Orangeville. With a broken kneecap (due to a fall in a workshop a few weeks earlier), my leg fixed in a cast, it was still an amazing experience. Meeting all these people from around the world, watching and taking part in […]

I have been practicing Taoist Tai Chi® arts  for six years so I was not present at the opening ceremonies of the expansion of the International Centre in Orangeville. However, it is our custom to share stories and the ones I have heard have given life to that day. The story of when the clouds […]

The Canada Day Parade (part of Port Credit’s Paint the Town Red event) in Mississauga got a boost for the third year in a row with the appearance of Fung Loy Kok’s 22-leg dragon, enthusiastically enlivened by more than 40 FLK volunteer dragon legs, followed by a brigade of participants twirling umbrellas and waving Canada’s flag on […]

I have fond memories of the opening of the Three Religions Temple 10 years ago. It was my first visit to the International Centre near Orangeville, Ontario. I was very excited to see the new Temple and to be present for its grand opening. I had been practicing Taoist Tai Chi® arts for four years […]

Stratford Branch celebrated Canada’s 150th anniversary with an early morning demo and by playing with the dragon in the evening parade.