The Kookaburra and the Worm

by Chris Everett
(Drouin, Australia)

Tai Chi and the Kookaburra

Can we come up with an Aussie flavoured "legends" that relate to Tai Chi, its philosophy and practice? Throughout the history of Chinese martial arts, there have been many legends of sages and masters who gained incites from observing nature. Can we do the same today?

We have a pair of Kookaburras regularly visiting our garden. They sit on fence posts and up in trees appearing to be in studied concentration staring downward.

I wonder at their stillness and try to imagine a Kookaburra's view of the world. Do they see the grass, leaves and soil the same as I do? Are the colours the same? Are they able to magnify the world down there and see more than I do? Is their hearing so acute that even from high up they can hear worms underground like a blackbird does?

I found myself wondering all these things as I sat still watching the Kookaburra who was sitting still watching the ground below him. Then his focus seemed to switch from general to a pin-prick. He alighted, his eyes, beak, and body dived into a spot below the ground. His beak drove into the ground and stayed there. After a pause he drew his head back a little, his beak still underground. Another pause. Then another tug upward and I could see he had a worm. I could only see about an inch of the worm.

The Kookaburra stopped pulling as if he was waiting. Then after about half a minute he tugged again. Stopped and waited. After another half a minute he tugged again repeating this process many many times.

Finally when the Kookaburra was stretched his full height with his neck and beak extended, the end of the worm popped out and with a very deft flick of his beak the worm was swallowed.

As the Kookaburra returned to his perch in the tree I thought it would be fun to share this experience with all of you.

There are many Chinese legends of sages who gained incites from observing nature so maybe we can follow suit and come up with Aussie flavoured "legends" that relate to Tai Chi!

Some ideas I think we can draw from this story:

- Through stillness and focus we can reach our goals.

- Patience and yeilding is better than speed and agression.