Testimonial
I attended a week of tuition in Whispering Palms with Lujan Matus. The Whispering Palms training was a watershed experience for me. Many things I learned before just clicked together and it opened my eyes to the scope and depth of the system.
Lujan mentioned how especially Oriental teachers withhold certain teachings for many years, when in fact, they can –and should be learned earlier. This came up during what turned out to be a pre-discussion on the topic of connecting the palms to the Dan-tien. When I asked Lujan how long this will take me –expecting an answer in years, Lujan replied “Two minutes. We are going to do it now.” We did. This connection opened a new world of energy for me. During my two-week visit, this was the first of a few instant game-changers.
Whispering Palms is an energy cultivation practice that also trains certain energy sensing skills. It cultivates a sticky, dense and noticeable energy. During practice I get feedback from it so I can attune my movements to maximize my interaction with it while at the same time following it better.
Whispering Palms has one flow through postures like ‘twisted roots’, the ‘emperor’ poses and ‘golden turtle’ with fluid, spiraling motions. It enlivens and generates energy that one then packs tightly around the body.
Learning about the ’Dragon Gates’ explained why Lujan calls Lo Ban Pai a ‘Dragon Gate system’. This teaching that is so simple and powerful finally got me to understand how physical exercise, energy cultivation and spiritual growth integrate to work together and better.
Another key learning for me was what Lujan calls sincerity of gestures. When one performs the movements sincerely, they work better and you can feel it immediately.
Whispering Palms is like a dynamic meditation, a fully awake engagement with here and ‘eternity’ by using the body/energy /awareness in concert as an enabler and medium for embodying spirituality in reality –not just ‘in the head’. I’ve not come across anything like it anywhere else. I must clarify that it is not a trance inducing practice. It requires full attention, yet moves that attention into silence, and that yields the amazing. Lujan talks about ‘gleanings’, pockets of insight that come and yield their gifts throughout one’s life as relevant situations arise.
As a bearer of the Toltec teachings, Lujan is very clear about how he disseminates a reconstituted teaching. It wells from the same wisdom, but the way it is contextualized yields an entirely different insight and way of application that is very practical. It is firmly guided by connecting to and living from the heart. The reality of experiencing energy makes this a much more literal and practical statement. In the past I often got entangled in mental machinations trying to interpret theoretical or extrapolated Toltec teachings, and now it is clear how often I just got it wrong –especially since my ego was seeking to use the teachings for their own socialized agendas. I thank Lujan for helping me to find the heart and the way to walk.
There are so many other things we discussed and I learned so much. Whispering palms was an eye and energy-opener for me.
Each visit with Lujan has been more impactful and amazing than the one before. Lujan embodies his teachings and his openhearted, friendly and direct manner, his attention, dedication and skill as a teacher creates an incredible space to be, learn and grow in. Over the years my respect and gratitude towards Lujan continues to grow. I recommend taking any of Lujan’s programs because half of the value has little to do with the program you’re on.
Thank you Lujan. I hope to visit again soon.
Henk