Hail to the Mothers

Happy Mother's Day to All the Mothers in the World
Past, Present, and Future

The following picture was taken in 1977.  From left to right:  Karen Eubanks Garofalo (my wife) , Alicia June Garofalo (my daughter) , and Bertha June Garofalo (my mother).  My mother was born in 1921 and died in 1994. 

The following photograph was taken in 2012.  From left to right:  Katelyn Alice Flinn (my grandaughter), Alicia June Garofalo Flinn, and Katelyn Alice Flinn (my granddaughter).  

The following photograph was taken in 1946.  From left to right: Michael James Garofalo (my father), Michael Peter Garofalo (me), and my mother, Bertha June Garofalo. 

Rock Me Mamma

I think the song Wagon Wheel was written by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor of the Old
Crow Medicine Show Band. 

Here is an campy adult version of Wagon Wheel by the Old Crow Medicine Show.

Here is a version of Wagon Wheel by Darious Rucker:

Eight Treasures and Lohan Hands Qigong

Lately, I have been reading books that discuss Shaolin Qigong methods.  The exercises in the 18 Lohan Shaolin Qigong overlap with many in the Eight Section Brocade.  I have been adding movement sequences from the beautifully color illustrated book by Shifu Shi Yan Ming of New York.
I added a few new Swinging Arms exercises to my routine.  

The Shaolin Workout: 28 Days to Transforming Your Body and Soul the Warrior's Way.  By Sifu Shi Yan Ming. Rodale Press, 2006. Index, 293 pages. ISBN: 1594864004.  VSCL. 

18 Exercises to Help You Live a Longer, Healthier, and Happier Life.  By Marcus Santer.  193 pages, 2020, Kindle EBook.  VSCL.

Shaolin Qi Gong: Energy in Motion.  By Shi Qinggui.  160 pages, 2008.  VSCL.  Includes DVD.

Shaolin Temple Qigong  By Michael P. Garofalo

Qigong Practices  By Michael P. Garofalo

The Art of Shaolin Kung Fu: The Secrets of Kung Fu for Self-Defense, Health and Enlightenment.   By Wong, Kiew Kit.  Charles E. Tuttle, 2002.  215 pages. ISBN: 0804834393.  VSCL. 

Here is a Blog repost of mine from May 2014 about the Eight Treasures Qigong:

I frequently teach the Chinese Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung exercise and fitness routine in my Taijiquan class and my Yoga class.  Naturally, I include many comments about Shaolin and Daoist fitness and healthy living concepts. 

This Eight Treasures exercise and fitness routine has a varied and long history with ancient roots back to the Animal Frolics Dao-yin exercises of 300 CE.  Some of the Eight Treasures exercises involve toughening, courage, and fighting and were used in military exercise and conditioning drills.  Many versions of the Ba Duan Jin include 12 exercises or more.   

One recent book that provides good documentation on the history of Chinese exercise practices (Chi Kung, Qigong, Neigong), including five illustrated versions of the Eight Section Brocade, is:  

An Illustrated Handbook of Chinese Qigong Forms from the Ancient Texts  Complied by Li Jingwei and Zhu Jianping.  London, Singing Dragon, 2014.  No index or bibliography, 325 pages.  ISBN: 9781848191976.  Many excellent line drawings are included to illustrate the postures.  VSCL. 
 
Back in 2002, I created the webpage titled:  The Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung.
  

The Ba Duan Jin Qigong form includes eight basic exercises to help you keep limber, become stronger, improve your balance, and increase your stamina.  There are opportunities for squatting movements and postures to strengthen the legs.  

  The entire Eight Beautiful Tapestries Chi Kung form is normally done while standing, although there are some versions done in a seated posture for meditative purposes or for frail persons. 

There are numerous versions of this popular Chi Kung form.  There are many good books, instructional DVDs, and UTube videos to choose from on this topic.  My webpage includes a long bibliography on the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung with citations for resources, links, videos, books, and instructional DVDs on the subject.  

  I make a number of comments about each of the eight movements, including comments about the movement variations, physical training targets, muscles worked, attitude, internal alchemy (Neidan), benefits, options, comparisons with yoga asanas, and breathing patterns.  

 

I offer my own version with fairly detailed comments on each of the eight movements.  Here is my one page class handout for the Eight Section Brocade Chi Kung class.  


"The name “Ba Duan Jin” has been found as early as the Northern Song Dynasty. According to Hong Mai's (洪邁) Yi Jian Zhi (夷堅志, Song Dynasty), Zhenghe Seventh Year, Emperor's Chief Secretary, Li Shi-Ju, lived a simple life.  He spent a large portion of his time in his mediation room practicing Daoist Monk’s exercises expanding like a bear and stretching like a bird. In the early hours, he is often found breathing and massaging, practicing the so-called Eight-Section Brocade (Ba Duan Jin). This passage reveals that Ba Duan Jin has been developed and practiced since the Song Dynasty as a general health-keeping regime. 
    Both sitting and standing forms have been found in the history of Ba Duan Jin (八段錦),. Standing forms were developed into two schools (northern and southern styles) in the Qing Dynasty. The Northern School, said to have been passed down by Yue Fei (岳飛), has tougher forms, and the Southern School, claimed the lineage from Liang Shi-Chang (梁世昌), focuses on softer trainings. Quite a few verses has been passed down during the period from Song Dynasty to Qing Dynasty, but all verses for the standing forms have evolved from the passages recorded in "The Chapter of Wonders, Pivot of Dao" (道樞·眾妙篇, Dao Shu, Zong Miao Pian, Song Dynasty) and verses of the sitting style from the forms recorded in "TheTen Books of Daoist Practices" (修真十書 Xiu Zhen Shi Shu, Ming Dynasty ).  or "The Methods of Curing"(活人心法, Huo Ren Xin Fa, Ming Dynasty). Sets Ba Duan Jin forms are not always limited to the number of eight. The number of forms in a set range from a single form to tens or as many as a hundred; nevertheless, they are all exercise regimes designed for health-keeping, preventive, and therapeutic purposes, and, liberally saying, all exercise regimes designed for such purposes are part of the Ba Duan Jin system."
-   Lee Chang-Chih,  A Brief Introduction to Ba Daun Jin.  "Reinterpreting Ba Duan Jing From the Theories of the Eight Extra Meridians" 2005 

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu, Chapter 62

Dao De Jing, Laozi
Chapter 62  

"Tao is the secret guardian of all things.
It enriches the good man and portends the evildoer.
Its counsel is always in season; its benevolence is always in demand.
Even those who are not good it does not forsake.
Therefore, when the Emperor takes his throne and appoints his nobles, he who comes before him bearing the insignia of a prince and escorted by a mounted retinue is not to be compared with one who humbly presents this Tao.
For why did the ancients hold it in such esteem?
Was it not because it could be had without much seeking, and because by means of it man might escape from sin?
For this it was esteemed the greatest thing in the world."
-  Translated by Walter Gorn Old, 1904, Chapter 62  

"Tao is the source of all things, the treasure of good men, and the sustainer of bad men.
Therefore at the enthronement of an emperor and the appointment of the three ministers, better still than those who present jewels followed by horses, is the one who sitting presents propounds this Tao.
Why did the ancients prize this Tao?
Was it not because it could be attained by seeking and thus the sinners could be freed?
For this reason, it has become the most valuable thing in the world.
Good words will procure one honour; good deeds will get one credit."
-  Translated by Ch'u Ta-Kao, 1904, Chapter 62  

"Tao is the hidden refuge of all things,

To the good man his richest treasure brings,

And to the bad in guardianship it clings.

Its beautiful words buy honor by their use,

Its noble deeds lift people from abuse,

And even the bad, are they from it cut loose?

So when the emperor, chosen to his throne,

Appoints three great ones, by high titles known,

If one of these should come to him, alone,

Holding the jade-screen, with four homes fleet,

He would be less than one on lowly seat

Who could the lessons of the Tao repeat.

Why did the ancients prize this Tao so much?

Was it not because it answered every touch,

And that the sin-bound, even, escaped thereby?

So it is most prized of all beneath the sky."
-  Translated by Isaac Winter Heysinger, 1903, Chapter 62


道者萬物之奧.
 善人之寶.
 不善人之所保.
 美言可以市.
 尊行可以加人.
 人之不善, 何棄之有.
 故立天子置三公, 雖有拱璧以先駟馬.
 不如坐進此道.
 古之所以貴此道者何.
 不曰以求得, 有罪以免耶.
 故為天下貴.
 -  Chinese characters, Tao Te Ching, Chapter 62    

dao zhe wan wu zhi ao. 
shan ren zhi bao.
bu shan ren zhi suo bao.
mei yan ke yi shi.
zun xing ke yi jia ren.
ren zhi bu shan, he qi zhi you.
gu li tian zi zhi san gong, sui you gong bi yi xian si ma. 
bu ru zuo jin ci dao.
gu zhi suo yi gui ci dao zhe he?
bu jue yi qiu de, you zui yi mian ye.
gu wei tian xia gui.
-  Pinyin Romanization, Daodejing, Chapter 62 

"He who has the Tao is the refuge of all beings.
He is the treasure of the good man,
He is the support of the man who is not good.
Beautiful words through Tao gain power,
Man, by following it gains steadfastness in action,
But, by the evil man, its possession is ignored.
The Son of Heaven sits enthroned,
His three Ministers are appointed.
One carries inj his hand a tablet of jade:
Another is followed by a mounted retinue,
But the one who is most values sits quietly, and offers as his gift this Tao.
How was the Tao prized by men of Old?
Daily they sought for it.
They found it, hid within the Self.
It gives a way of escape to the guilty.
Therefore it is prized by all men."
-  Translated by Isabella Mears, 1916, Chapter 62  


"El Tao es el Depósito oculto de todas las cosas.
Es un tesoro para la persona honrada, es una salvaguardia del error.
Una buena palabra encontrará su propio mercado.
Una buena obra puede servir como regalo para otro.
Que un hombre haya errado el buen camino no es razón pra ser apartado.
Por ello, en la Entronización de un Emperador, o en el nobramiento de tres ministros,
     deja a los demás ofrecer sus discos de jade, precediendo a sus cuadrillas de caballos.
Es mejor para ti ofrecer el Tao sin mover los pies.
Por qué los antiquos apreciaban el Tao?
No es porque, en virtud del mismo, el que busca encuentra, y la culpa es olvidada?
Por esto es un tesoro inigualable para el mundo."
-  Translated into Spanish by Alfonso Colodrón from the John C. H. Wu English translation, 1993, Capítulo 62  


"The Way is the myriad creatures’ refuge.
It is that which the good extend,
And that which defends the bad.
Eloquent words can win promotion.
Eloquent actions can elevate.
Even if a person is bad, should one reject them?
When the ruler is installed
And the three great ministers appointed,
Though jade disks
And four-horse teams are offered,
It’s better to grant the gift of the Way
Without stirring from one’s place.
Why was the Way valued of old?
Was it not said it brought achievement,
And mitigated the punishment of the guilty.
So it was prized by the realm."
-  Translated by A.S. Kline, 2003, Chapter 62  

Chapter 62 of the Tao Te Ching

Chapter and Thematic Index (Concordance) to the Tao Te Ching

English Language Translators' Index

Ripening Peaches: Taoist Studies and Practices

Taoism: A Selected Reading List 

 

Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 4

 Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 4

Day  4    Thursday, May 9th

I left my cabin arond 6:30 am and drove home to Vancouver.  Clear skies and warmer.
Little traffic until reaching Shelton.

Here are some more photographs of my campground and Dosewallips River area.

I will be posting my comments and notes, as well as my own photographs to this blog after May 9th.  Internet reception varies in these mountainous locations. 

Exit Yurt by 10 am. Breakfast at.

Drive home to Vancouver, WA.  

Settled into my yurt at Dosewallips.  

Walked around the State Park with my Day Pack.  I place my Sling Bag inside my Day Pack. Used my old long staff as well as my cane.  Cool.

I will be Yurt Camping at Dosewallips State Park on the Hood Canal near the village of Brinnon, Washington.  I will arrive Monday, May 6th and leave for home on May 9th, 2024.

I will drive USA Interstate 5 from Vancouver, WA to the junction with US Highway 101 at O;ympia. 
Olympia to Shelton, 101, WA
Highway 101 reaches the Hood Canal at the Skokomish River  
Shelton to Hoosport, 101, WA
Hoodsport to Brinnon, 101, WA

I plan to visit and shop in the town of Shelton, breakfast at the Little Creek Casino and Resort, drive around in the area, visit the library, and walk a little. I hope to visit the Skokomish Twana Native American Museum near the Skokomish River.  Then on to: Potlach, Hoodsport, Brinnon, Dosewallips.

Vancouver WA  110 miles north to Olympia

Olympia WA  23 miles north to Shelton

Shelton WA  41 miles north to Brinnon

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport WA

Liliwalup

Hamma Hamma

Duckabuch

Brinnon WA

Dosewallips State Park WA  39 miles north to Port Townsend

Dosewallips SP Images  13 miles north to Quilcene

Dosewallips SP Campground

Dosewallips River Images

Dosewallips Oyster and Clam Harvesting

Quilcene

Dabob Bay

Port Townsend  215 miles south to Vancouver

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 7 am, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  Campfire chats and a little practice sharing.

The best book I used to study general travel options for the Hood Canal
for my trip in May 2024 was:
Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame.
Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Books I have found useful in my study of the Native American People of Olympic National Park (fournded in 1938) include:

Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame. Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Images of America: Hood Canal.  By Michael Fredson. Arcadia, 2007.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula|: Who We Are.  By the Olympic Prninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2015.  This book covers S'Kallam, Skokomish Twana, Sqaxin, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah Native Americans in the area. 

The Olympic Peninsula. By Ericka Chickowski.  Moon, 2009.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  By Allan and Elizabeth May.  Longstreet, 2000.

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 6 pm, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Images from the Internet

Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 3

 Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 3

Day 3

I drove north to Quilcene.  Stopped at the University of Washington Kinkaid Shellfish Labaratory at Point Whitney.  Drove out to the Marina in Quilcene.  Drove 5 miles up a single lane gravel road to the top of Mt. Walker.  Gas in Quilcene.  Shopped at Whitney's Gardens and Nursery in Brinnon: many Rhodys in bloom. Dinner at Halfway House: 8 breaded Hama Hama oysters dinner.

Here are some of my photos of the area:

I will be posting my comments and notes, as well as my own photographs to this blog after May 9th.  Internet reception varies in these mountainous locations. 

Settled into my yurt at Dosewallips.  

Walked around the State Park with my Day Pack.  I place my Sling Bag inside my Day Pack. Used my old long staff as well as my cane.  Cool.

I will be Yurt Camping at Dosewallips State Park on the Hood Canal near the village of Brinnon, Washington.  I will arrive Monday, May 6th and leave for home on May 9th, 2024.

I will drive USA Interstate 5 from Vancouver, WA to the junction with US Highway 101 at O;ympia. 
Olympia to Shelton, 101, WA
Highway 101 reaches the Hood Canal at the Skokomish River  
Shelton to Hoosport, 101, WA
Hoodsport to Brinnon, 101, WA

I plan to visit and shop in the town of Shelton, breakfast at the Little Creek Casino and Resort, drive around in the area, visit the library, and walk a little. I hope to visit the Skokomish Twana Native American Museum near the Skokomish River.  Then on to: Potlach, Hoodsport, Brinnon, Dosewallips.

Vancouver WA  110 miles north to Olympia

Olympia WA  23 miles north to Shelton

Shelton WA  41 miles north to Brinnon

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport WA

Liliwalup

Hamma Hamma

Duckabuch

Brinnon WA

Dosewallips State Park WA  39 miles north to Port Townsend

Dosewallips SP Images  13 miles north to Quilcene

Dosewallips SP Campground

Dosewallips River Images

Dosewallips Oyster and Clam Harvesting

Quilcene

Dabob Bay

Port Townsend  215 miles south to Vancouver

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 7 am, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  Campfire chats and a little practice sharing.

The best book I used to study general travel options for the Hood Canal
for my trip in May 2024 was:
Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame.
Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Books I have found useful in my study of the Native American People of Olympic National Park (fournded in 1938) include:

Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame. Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Images of America: Hood Canal.  By Michael Fredson. Arcadia, 2007.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula|: Who We Are.  By the Olympic Prninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2015.  This book covers S'Kallam, Skokomish Twana, Sqaxin, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah Native Americans in the area. 

The Olympic Peninsula. By Ericka Chickowski.  Moon, 2009.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  By Allan and Elizabeth May.  Longstreet, 2000.

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 6 pm, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Images from the Internet

Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 2

 Hood Canal: Adventure I, Day 2

Day 2

Breakfast at Halfway House.  Drove up Dosewallips Canyon Road.  Drove up to Lake Cushman from Hoodsport.  Stopped at Hoodsport for coffee, supermarket, and at Hamma Hamma for book, shrimp cocktail, salt.  Hiked around campground.  Dinner at Halfway House: Captain's Fish Dinner.  Campfire till rain puts it out.  

Here are some of my photographs from the area:

I will be posting my comments and notes, as well as my own photographs to this blog after May 9th.  Internet reception varies in these mountainous locations. 

Settled into my yurt at Dosewallips State Park, Brinnon, Washington.

Walked around the State Park with my Day Pack.  I place my Sling Bag inside my Day Pack. Used my old long staff as well as my cane.  Cool.

Weather: Low of 34F, and high of 47F.  Cloudy and 50% chance of rain.  Winds light at 6 mph.

Vancouver WA  110 miles north to Olympia

Olympia WA  23 miles north to Shelton

Shelton WA  41 miles north to Brinnon

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Potlach State Park

Hoodsport WA

Liliwalup

Hamma Hamma

Duckabuch

Brinnon WA

Dosewallips State Park WA  39 miles north to Port Townsend

Dosewallips SP Images  13 miles north to Quilcene

Dosewallips SP Campground

Dosewallips River Images

Dosewallips Oyster and Clam Harvesting

Quilcene

Dabob Bay

Port Townsend  215 miles south to Vancouver

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 7 am, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  Campfire chats and a little practice sharing.

The best book I used to study general travel options for the Hood Canal
for my trip in May 2024 was:
Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame.
Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

I will be Yurt Camping at Dosewallips State Park on the Hood Canal near the village of Brinnon, Washington.  I will arrive Monday, May 6th and leave for home on May 9th, 2024.

I will drive USA Interstate 5 from Vancouver, WA to the junction with US Highway 101 at O;ympia. 
Olympia to Shelton, 101, WA
Highway 101 reaches the Hood Canal at the Skokomish River  
Shelton to Hoosport, 101, WA
Hoodsport to Brinnon, 101, WA

I plan to visit and shop in the town of Shelton, breakfast at the Little Creek Casino and Resort, drive around in the area, visit the library, and walk a little. I hope to visit the Skokomish Twana Native American Museum near the Skokomish River.  Then on to: Potlach, Hoodsport, Brinnon, Dosewallips.

Shelton WA  - Images

Shelton WA  - Information

Hood Canal, Fjord, WA

Lake Cushman, WA

Skokomish Twana Native Americans

Skokomish River, WA, Images

Union WA

Hoodsport WA

Brinnon WA 

Dosewallips State Park WA

Four Days in Grayland  Camping at the Beach
Yurt Camping in the Coastal Pacific Northwest by Michael P. Garofalo.

Books I have found useful in my study of the Native American People of Olympic National Park (fournded in 1938) include:

Olympic Peninsula with Olympic National Park. By Jeff Burlingame. Moon, 5th Edition, 2024.

Images of America: Hood Canal.  By Michael Fredson. Arcadia, 2007.

Native Peoples of the Olympic Peninsula|: Who We Are.  By the Olympic Prninsula Intertribal Cultural Advisory Committee.  University of Oklahoma Press, 2015.  This book covers S'Kallam, Skokomish Twana, Sqaxin, Quinault, Hoh, Quileute, and Makah Native Americans in the area. 

The Olympic Peninsula. By Ericka Chickowski.  Moon, 2009.

Longstreet Highroad Guide to the Pacific Northwest.  By Allan and Elizabeth May.  Longstreet, 2000.

Tai Chi Chuan at the Beach: Please join Michael P. Garofalo for a Taijiquan Meetup/Gathering/Retreat at Dosewallips State Park, 6 pm, Yurt C.  I hang a kite on my Yurt that is shaped like a Salmon Fish.  

Four Days at Grayland: Extensive Travel Guides, Yurt Camping notes, local cities and villages, reports, commentary, Yurt Camping Information, Native American Information.  Yurt camping on the coast in Oregon and Washington.  

Images from the Internet