"The Art of the Straight Line: My Tai Chi."
It's not the book I expected. I thought it was a diary, or long narrative, from Lou Reed. It's not. Seems Lou wanted to write a book about his practice of Tai Chi, but he never got around to it. He was way too busy with music and the practice of Tai Chi which he did right up until his death.
Most of the book is a collection of other voices, those folks who Lou collaborated with, those he inspired, those who inspired him. It is a beautiful book and testament to an incredibly, complicated, compelling, fiercely-creative life.
Lou was married to Laurie Anderson, an American avant garde artist. What a fabulously uncommon, extraordinary couple. It is so gratifying to know that they found each other. Two strange, beautiful, exotic birds.
They had Three Rules for Living:
1. Fear No One.
2. Always Have Your Bullshit Detector On.
3. Always Be Tender.
So. So. Good.
Reading a book about Tai Chi, without ever having practiced Tai Chi might be a bit like reading the Kama Sutra without ever having practiced sex. Kind of oddly mysterious.
I often talk about Mojo, you know, a magnetism, an energy. I realized I really have been talking about Chi, as in "your life force, the energy that flows through you and through everything. It is that which gives you life."
Right. I do know what Chi is, I have experienced it, I experience it all the time. It flows thru me when I am fully alive, aware, awake and engaged in being a human being in the Universe.
Yes. For me Mojo = Chi.
I don't actually practice Tai Chi, but there are many things I do practice that opens me to Chi: meditation, walking, listening to, and playing, music, eating nutritious, healhty food. Simple, soul-enriching, life-affirming things.
We also own a Chi Machine. Which I use just about every day when I am home. It's a very passive way of waking up Chi. But it works, and you know, it's not cheating.
Anwyay, so much of the book totally resonates with me. It's a good read. Recommended.
