STATE OF THE DAO 2025: Year of the Wood Snake

by | Jan 28, 2025 | State of the Tao | 8 comments

While the Dao transcends space and time, the world around us is always in flux. Each year brings its own energies, and we can harness them to grow and better align ourselves with the flow of the Dao.

This is the year to be guided by intelligence and discernment.

 

Wood Snake Energy: Mind Over Emotions

 

Last year, I encouraged you to put in the hard work to build your future. Now, it’s time to take a more thoughtful and efficient approach to that effort. Start by identifying what needs to be done, then prioritize it. But to truly embody the energy of the Wood Snake, it’s important to move forward with calm and stability. Before making any decisions, take a moment to center yourself and gain clarity. Let your mind focus on well-thought-out plans that are based on reason, not emotions.

You should bring the same energy to your internal arts practice. Identify what you think is most important in your practice and focus on that—avoid jumping around. Use your wisdom to prioritize what truly matters, and practice in a steady, methodical way. Stick with it consistently so that by the end of the year, you’ll have achieved your goal.

 

Geo-Political Landscape

The world is at a crossroads, with the potential for both great progress or significant hardship. As individuals, there’s only so much we can do in the current geopolitical landscape. It’s important to stay grounded and know what you can control versus what you can’t. If you feel the urge to respond to global events, do so in a way that creates a meaningful impact, even if it’s small. And make sure your actions are guided by clear thinking, not emotional reactions. But before you take any steps, be sure you have all the facts.

We live in a world flooded with information, often conflicting, making it harder to separate truth from misinformation. In ancient cultures, there was a strong focus on developing critical thinking—on not being too easily swayed. Today, many struggle to tell what’s real, what’s not, and most importantly, what lies in between. We need to become more comfortable with uncertainty and learn to navigate the gray areas. Use your rational mind to assess different viewpoints and decide where you stand. If we want to rise to greater heights, we must listen to one another and think more logically, not just react impulsively.

 

AI: Discerning What’s Real and What Isn’t

 

Last year I talked about the growth of AI (artificial intelligence) and its possibility to take away people’s responsibility as it replaces tasks. However, AI does not just pose dangers to its users but also to its consumers. It now has the potential to become the greatest propaganda tool in history. The ability for people to make rational decisions and not be swayed by emotions will get much harder when one can’t distinguish between true and false. As this technology keeps improving, start seeing if you can discriminate between what is real and what is AI-generated (including the photos in this blog).

Energy Arts Training Center Update

The Energy Arts Training Center is our main school located in Longmont, Colorado, and it’s the heart of our entire Energy Arts community.

Lately, we’ve been putting a lot of energy into growing our instructor training programs. Last month, we had a fantastic Dragon and Tiger Instructor Training led by Senior Instructor Craig Barnes, and it was a big success! We had a great turnout, and now we even have those certified instructors running guided practices at the school. We’re also really excited about our upcoming Heaven and Earth Instructor Training this summer! 

We’ve also made some exciting upgrades to our physical space! The Training Center now has a brand-new roof, and in keeping with our commitment to being in harmony with nature, we’ve installed solar panels. You could say we’re now “Yang powered!”

In addition to our physical school, we also have Energy Arts Live, our virtual school. This program allows students to access live-streamed broadcasts and recordings of every in-person class and guided practice we offer at the Energy Arts Training Center. We currently cover a wide range of practices, including Tai Chi for Meditation, Bagua, Qigong, and more. You’re welcome to join us! 

The best way to get the most from your practice is by making it a regular part of your routine. The Daoist arts offer incredible benefits, and we’re wishing you the best as you continue on your journey.

 

Upcoming Events

 

In less than a month I will be teaching the Power of the Taoist Arts alongside Master Ly Hong Thai. This is the first collaboration we have done of this kind and I hope to see you for this weekend workshop to be held on February 22-23 (Sat-Sun). 

This Summer, we will be hosting three Heaven & Earth Qigong courses: an instructor training, a beginners/ intermediate course, and an advanced training where I will go into deeper aspects of this form I have never taught before. Our events will span over four weeks and I’m excited for the multiple Senior Instructors who will be there to teach and assist students. Heaven and Earth Qigong is a powerful qigong form that allows students to get into the deeper levels of Neigong.  In-Person registration is now open! Check out summer courses here.

I’ll also finally be going to Europe this fall… so stay tuned for more details.

 

Conclusion

I would like to thank everyone in the wider Energy Arts Community, especially those who continue to support the longevity of this Daoist lineage by attending our events and by participating in our Energy Arts Live program. May you progress with clarity and wisdom this year of the wood snake! I look forward to seeing and training with as many of you as I can in the New Year.

In appreciation,

Bruce Frantzis

Founder, Energy Arts

8 Comments

  1. Ger

    Your teachings I appreciate very much thank youbso much HAOLA HAO

    Reply
    • Kevin

      Thanks for the updated state of the dao and how best to use the energy of this year to help us move forward.

      Reply
  2. Lisette

    I am currently beginning your Inner Dissolving practice, thank you for sharing your wisdom. Gong Hei Fat Choi!

    Reply
  3. Irini Sanikou

    Thank you for all your work through the years!

    Reply
    • Martin

      Thank You for all the meaningful insights and wisdom that is making this world a better place!

      Reply
  4. terry condor

    definitely the most comprehensive lineage teaching , I have encountered in my 40 yrs of internal arts practice! Priceless WISDOM….thank you

    Reply
  5. Bob Schrei

    Hi Bruce, it’s Bob Schrei here from Santa Fe. Great to see you doing so well.
    I studied Dragon Tiger with one of your teachers in the midst of recovering from a cancer diagnosis six years ago. In a couple of months I will officially be “cancer free”. Thanks so much for your good work over the years and all the people you have helped. I have friends in Longmont in the Rolfing community so maybe one day I will see you there. All the best in this year of the wood snake.

    Reply
  6. Just another student of life

    Like the focus and approach in life’s decisions and training. It helps me with ongoing and current choices. I will adapt my training, definitely inspiring stuff. Ush Si Gung

    Reply

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