GEELONG BONSAI CLUB INCORPORATED MONTHLY NEWSLETTERAPRIL NEWS 2016

APRIL MEETINGWORKSHOP

May I remind you to bring a tree or trees to work on and seek the help of the club's mentors.

Trust everyone has had a happy Easter and have been to the shows over the weekend in Bendigo and Mornington. Please note there have been changes made to the Saturday workshops with Joe and Quentin. Remember there are only eight morning and afternoon spots available and I suggest you decide early if you intend participating.

Look forward to seeing you at our April meeting and a reminder if you haven't renewed your membership it's time to consider doing so.

MARCH CLUB EVENTSShow Bench

Matt Robbison Demonstration

Joe Morgan-Payler Workshop

APRILSHOW BENCH

Tree of the month –Cedars and Mini’s

Style of the Month –Informal Upright and don’t forget!

“Your Choice”, --anything that looks especially good to you at this time of the year.

HOW THE SHOW BENCH WORKSEach month there will be a “Tree of the Month” and this can be any style. There will also be a “Style of the Month” this can be any species. The section “Your Choice” can be any species and style.There will be three sections. Novice, Intermediate, and Open. Judged as follows:

1 point will be awarded for every tree shown. 3 points for the best-judged tree in that section. 2 points for the second tree. 1 point for the third.

The “Your Choice of tree” is open to all sections. All trees presented must be in show condition, i.e. clean pots, trimmed etc. Then at the A.G.M. in March, there will be a prize for the Winners of each section.Please be aware to display trees at the show bench they need to be in bonsai pots. Others to be placed elsewhere. Check with Jason who does the monthly judging for more information.

Bonsai Happenings for the DiaryVictorian Native Bonsai Club 9th-10th April : Native Club Exhibition, Domain House, Melbourne

QUENTIN VALENTINE WORKSHOPSSaturday 16 April 9.30am and 1.30pm at our clubrooms.

29th AABC Convention 2016National Bonsai Convention Hobart, 20th – 23rd May 2016Hosted by Bonsai Society of Southern Tasmania.

QUENTIN VALENTINE WORKSHOPSSaturday 18 June 9.30am and 1.30pm at our clubrooms.

25th –30th June : Bonsai Society of Victoria Inc. exclusively presents workshops & demonstrations by Taiga Urushibata, renowned bonsai artist and demonstrator from Japan.

9-10th August WORKSHOP PRESENENTATION - GAVIN DALGROSSOPart 1 "Drawing Bonsai as a design aid" Workshop and drawing basics.Part 2 "Elements of Design applied to Bonsai Styling" Presentation/discussion.

JOE MORGAN-PAYLER WORKSHOPSaturday 13 August 9.30am and 1.30pm at our clubrooms.

The South Australian Bonsai Society IncBonsai Exhibition8th-9th October 2016Our October 2016 Annual Show open 10.00am to 4.00 pm both days Admission: $4.00 for Adults-Children under supervision Free. Goodwood Community Centre, 32 Rosa Street Goodwood, behind the Goodwood Library

JOE MORGAN-PAYLER WORKSHOPSaturday 15 October 9.30am and 1.30pm at our clubrooms.

GBC Annual Show 12th-13th November 20169th-10th November 2013 at the Masonic Hall, Regent Street, Belmont.A magnificent display of Bonsai and a well stocked trading table that offers Bonsai requisites for sale, including pots, tools, wire, books including trained and semi-trained Bonsai and nursery stock. Continuous demonstrations of shaping and repotting of bonsai each day. Meet and talk with Geelong’s top Bonsai exponents. Light refreshments available.

BONSAI ACTION FOR APRILThe weather should be cooling down now and trees will not need so much shade. Continue to turn your trees so that they get sufficient light on all sides. Make sure you give your trees enough space to grow without growing into the trees in other pots.Continue to check all the wire on your trees, and remove any that is digging into the bark. If wire has already marked the tree remove the wire immediately and leave the tree to grow on without pruning.Most trimming should have been finished by now. Every two years or so however, it is a good idea to trim back pines reasonably hard in autumn. The current year’s growth can be cut off, leaving perhaps a few needles at the base. Buds will develop below the cut and subsequent growth will be more compact and the needles will be smaller. Deciduous trees can also be trimmed back to their minimum proportions after leaf fall. Evergreen trees will shed some of their old foliage at this time so cleaning away dead needles and leaves will improve their appearance, allow more air circulation and improve hygiene around the trees.

This is a good time to give your plants a feed to encourage autumn fruit or spring flowers as there is still some time before the cold weather really sets in to stop plant growth. Continue to give weak doses every two to three weeks, especially of organic fertilizers that are high in potassium and phosphorus to discourage winter die back.Some trees may be potted during Autumn. These include evergreens and some of the Cypress species such as Cypressus, Picea, (spruce), Taxus (yew), and Pines. Azaleas may be potted during April. Pinch back new shoots on Cedars, Junipers and Spruce to maintain their outline.It is now too late to prune trees that flower in spring, such as camellias and early flowering varieties of Azaleas and Prunus.

An Autumn Tip

Autumn is a time to assess your bonsai, and any that are not vigorous enough or looking rather ‘sickly’ are better attended to rather than running the risk of losing them during the winter. Check whether the problem is the result of something else rather than a gluggy growing medium.

However, if this is the reason, the first step to increased health will be to improve the potting mix. One that allows quicker draining and thus increasing the amount of air around the root system.

If it would be totally unsafe to remove the ‘soil’- poke a thick potting stick around the root ball in several places and wriggle it so that the base of the column is as wide as the top ( in other words, the hole should not be cone-shaped ). Fill these with a course sand or gravel to facilitate excess moisture to drain away which will be more healthy mix for the cold, non-growing months.

If a bonsai is in very bad condition, then more desperate methods are required to give the plant a better chance. Totally remove all the original mix and fill with sand/gravel and a small portion of humus. Do not remove any foliage at this stage, but in the chance of some photosynthesis being able to still take place, spray with some foliar fertiliser. If the plant survives, pruning and regular fertilising can proceed after the start of the growing season.

April Action Summary

growth slowing down now.leaves deciduous last splash of colourprune pine branchesRe-pot evergreen trees now as weather cools if too busy in spring

shapepinch back new shoots on junipers, cedars etc for inner growth

trimpinch back new shoots on junipers, cedars etc for inner growth

weeds eradicate, especially liverwortwire check for damage and remove or rewire

APRILPLANT PROFILEUlmusparvifolia - Chinese Elm

The Chinese Elm is a small to medium sized tree originating in China, Korea, Taiwan and Japan and is considered to be the best and most popular species of elm for Bonsai.

It has grayish bark that flakes off in rounded plates when mature and small, short- stalked leaves, oval with a pointed tip and toothed margins, bright green on the upper surface and lighter green underneath. The Chinese elm is normally deciduous but in warmer climates will not drop it leaves.

It is suitable for all styles of Bonsai. The long stout flexible roots mate it particularly suitable for ‘clasped to rock’ styles.

Position:- Full light and sun, but protect roots from frost. Move to semi shade on especially hot windy days to avoid leaf scorch.

Feeding:- When leaf buds have opened, feed once a week during the first month then every two weeks until late summer. A slow acting organic fertilizer or half strength liquid feed is advised for plants growing in shallow bonsai pots.

Watering:- Do not allow the soil to dry out between watering at any time. Water as often as necessary in very hot weather. Watering may be reduced as the weather cools off.

Repotting:- Early spring or autumn with 70% good quality potting mix and 30% coarse sand.

Pruning:- In spring trim back new shoots to one or two sets of leaves. Repeat as needed in mid summer.

Propagation:- From softwood or hardwood cuttings in early summer. Root cuttings taken in winter will do exceptionally well.

THIS N THATSALES ORDER FORMIn 2016 there will be no commission to pay the club for workshop night salesOne needs to be financial to do so.

SUGGESTION BOXPlease take the time to consider your ideas of how to improve the way we do things to make our club even more than what it is today. Ideas also about topics during the year you would like discussed, speakers to invite, number or workshops versus speakers etc.

GBC WebsiteNathan Rhook has taken over managing our website and all things social Media from Daniel Novakovic. A sincere thanks to Daniel for all he has done gettingour club's profile into the Content will always be the challenge and please submit relevant information to Nathan.Go to www.bonsai.org.au

THE National Bonsai &Penjing Collection of Australia (NBPCA)about 85 trees on display many of which can be seen on its website (www.nbpca.com.au)

BONSAI TIP OF THE MONTHTo prevent insects fromgetting a foothold amongyour trees. Simply wipe a cloth soaked insolution of Baygon (Insect &Ant) on the base and sides ofpots. This works for eitherglazed or unglazed pots. Repeatafter six months.

THOUGHT OF THE MONTHYour task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTHThe Bonsai Guide

www.thebonsaiguide.com contains 198 photographs of bonsai taken at various exhibitions and back gardens of enthusiasts all over the world. See if you can find the photograph’s of one of Bob’s wonders. They can be viewed by scientific name, English name, people guide and bonsai features guide.

BONSAI NURSERY OF THE MONTHBonsai & Beyond – more than just a nursery – www.bonsaiandbeyond.com

BONSAI TRIVIA OF THE MONTH1889 - Norio Kobayashi was born.  [He would go on to edit and publish the very influential periodical Bonsai.  In 1930 he would write The Study of Bonsai, and six years later would also have published Contemporary Bonsai and their Care and Study and cultivation of Satsuki azaleas, all in Japanese.  He would be a lecturer at the Tokyo College of Gardening.  Kobayashi would be one of the founders and major executives of the Kokufu Bonsai Association, a private organization which would hold an annual exhibition emphasizing creative bonsai at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno Park beginning in 1934.  In 1951 the Japanese Travel Bureau in its Tourist Library series would publish his Bonsai -- Miniature Potted Trees in English.  Nine editions of this highly respected book by this acknowledged authority would see print by the end of that decade alone, quickly finding its way to the West and enlightening the bonsai students there.  One of its readers was the up-and-coming California teacher John Naka, who would begin exchanging letters with Kobayashi in 1963.  That November, acclaimed for his success in helping to bring bonsai up to the level of a cultural art, Kobayashi would be granted a Medal of Honor with a Yellow Ribbon by the Japanese government.  He would invite Naka to visit the Kokufuten, and the latter would do so in early 1965.  While there, Kobayashi would meet with Naka several times and introduce the American to leading figures in the world of Japanese bonsai.  He also would encourage Naka to use American plants as bonsai material and not rely on the plants traditionally used in Japan for dwarf potted trees.  Kobayashi would retire from editing and publishing the periodical Bonsai after 518 consecutive issues.  He would die in 1972 at the age of 83.]   (Personal e-mail from Yukio Murata to RJB Apr. 22, 2006; Kobayashi, Bonsai -- MPT, 14th printing, 1966, Editor's Notes, pp. 5-6, 24-25; Connie Rosade's column in Bonsai Journal, ABS, Vol. 2, No. 1, pg. 17)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION(S)My bonsai's leaves are yellow/brown, what do I do?

The problem could be caused by one (or more) of several things. Watering. This is the usual cause of the symptoms you are encountering. A bonsai should be kept evenly moist, it should feel like a sponge after all the water has been squeezed out of it. You may not be watering it enough. Light: Not enough exposure to light will cause this problem.

The roots may be rotting because the tree needs transplanting, or there is no drain hole in the bottom of the pot. Remove the tree from the pot and look at the roots. If they are black and mushy, stink and/or are soaking wet you have root rot and the tree must be transplanted to save it.

Location: Many bonsai sold commercially as indoor bonsai are not indoor bonsai. They must be outdoors unless you enjoy watching a tree slowly die.

Could be suffering an insect attack or a fungal attack. Check the underside of the leaves for very small insects no bigger than the head of a pin or fine webbing. Check the leaves for little dots that seem soft and mushy in the middle. This would signal a fungus attack.

Tree is going dormant just like the big ones in the woods because of the time of year,

How to Befriend a Tree

Beginning practitioners of Chinese internal organ massage (Chi Nei Tsang) are taught how to commune with trees. Shouldn’t this be part of everyone’s education?byMantak Chia

“Chi Nei Tsang: Internal Organs Chi Massage”, Mantak and Mannewan Chia’s manual for practitioners of traditional Chinese medical massage, is yet another fine fruit of Chinese Taoist cosmology. Mao retained Traditiional Chinese medicine while otherwise industrializing his country, which allowed China to continue its multi-millenia tradition of developing this great clinical science unencumbered by Communist dogma (while also spreading it throughout the Western world). That a large percentage of potential in-patient visitors to Chinese hospitals are almost immediately discharged on the basis of a chi massage argues for what a serious and effective medical methodology it is. How playful and profound the artful science of Chinese internal organ massage actually is can be at least partially appreciated through the exercises presented below.

COLLECTING TREE ENERGY

1. The Healing Abilities of TreesTaoist Masters observed that trees are tremendously powerful plants. Not only can they absorb carbon dioxide and transform it into oxygen, but they can also absorb negative forces and transform them into good energy. Trees strongly root with the Earth, and the more rooted the tree, the higher it can extend to Heaven. Trees stand very still, absorbing the Earth’s Energy and the Universal Force from the Heavens.

Trees and all plants have the ability to absorb the light of the energies and transform it into food; in fact, they depend on light for most of their nourishment, while water and earth minerals make up about 30% of their nutritional intake. Trees are able to live very long lives.

a. The Tree as Healer and FriendTrees are the largest and most spiritually advanced plants on earth. They are constantly in meditation, and subtle energy is their natural language. As your understanding of this language grows, you can begin to develop a relationship with them. They can help you open your energy channels and cultivate calm, presence, and vitality. You can reciprocate by helping them with their own blockages and devitalized areas. It is a mutually beneficial relationship that needs cultivation.

b. Choosing a Tree to Work WithThroughout history human beings have used all parts of the tree for healing and medicine. The best trees for healing are big trees, especially pines. Pine trees radiate Chi, nourish blood, strengthen nervous systems, and contribute to long lives. They also nurture souls and spirits. Pines are the “Immortal Tree.” Early Chinese poetry and painting is full of admiration for pines.

Although pine trees are often the best choice, many other trees or plants can be used. The larger trees contain the most energy. Among the most powerful are trees growing near running water. Some trees feel warmer or hotter than others; some feel cooler or colder than others. Practice distinguishing the varying properties of different trees.

1. Cypress and cedar trees reduce heat and nourish Yin energy.2. Willow trees help to expel sick winds, rid the body of excess dampness, reduce high blood pressure, and strengthen the urinary tract and bladder.3. Elm trees calm the mind and strengthen the stomach.4. Maple trees chase sick winds and help reduce pain.5. Locust trees help clear internal heat and help balance the weather of the heart.6. Banyan trees clear the heart and help to rid the body of dampness7. Cinnamon trees can clear coldness from the heart and abdomen.

8. Fir trees help clear up bruises, reduce swelling, and heal broken bones faster.9. Hawthorn trees help aid digestion, strengthen the intestines, and lower blood pressure,

10. Birch trees help clear heat and dampness from the body am: help to detoxify it.11. Plum trees nourish the spleen, stomach, and pancreas and calm the mind.12. Fig trees clear excess heat from the body, increase saliva. nourish the spleen. and help stop diarrhea.13. Ginco trees help strengthen the bladder and alleviate urinary problems in women.

You do not need to go far out into the forest to find an appropriate tree to work with. Trees that are used to having people around understand our energy and are actually more accessible and friendly than those far out in the wilderness. City parks and suburban yards are filled with powerful and accessible trees that would love to have closer relationships with the humans that dominate their environment.

There is a certain size range within which trees are most accessible to human beings. When a tree is too small, it does not have enough energy to make much of an impression on you. When the tree is too big, you have the opposite problem, so it takes more persistence to get large trees to take an interest in you. As a source of healing energy, it is best to choose a large, robust tree from within the accessible size range. For playful interaction it is best to choose a small to medium sized tree. While it is not necessary to climb the tree to develop a relationship, it does open up a whole new world, Climb gently and carefully so as not to harm the tree.

c. Establishing Communion with a TreeThere are certain methods to approaching, interacting with, retreating from and taking leave of a tree. By following specific steps you create a ritual of silent communion that both you and the tree can understand, and so increase the potential for harmonious interaction. The steps were derived from observation of the natural course of events in subtle energy communion, and apply to communion with just about anything: tree, rock, human, or animal, although the following is concerned specifically with trees.

First of all, each tree, like each person, has a personality, desires, and a life of its own. Trees differ widely in their taste for human contact. Some are very generous and want to give you all the energy you can take. Others are weak or ill and need your comforting and healing energy. Some are just friendly souls who enjoy human company. Others are quite indifferent to you. You can learn and grow by working with all of them. Try to be open and respectful, rather than pressing the trees to serve your own purposes. In this way they will provide you with more than just another source of Chi: friendship, playful expression, and love.

Trees operate on a longer time scale than do human beings. You can help to bridge this gap by returning again and again to the same tree, so that a relationship develops. Visit regularly so that the tree knows when to expect you and can look forward to seeing you. You may have the distinct impression that the tree really misses you when you are gone for a longer time than usual.Spiritual communion with trees resembles resembles love more than any other human activity. As such, a quality of sensuality and tenderness should be present. You do not always have to be in control of the situation. Allow some time to just relax and melt into the communion. Let the tree lead you into the wonders of its own inner life. Working with trees in this way can help to ease sexual frustration. You may find that some of the practices presented here can be easily adapted for use in lovemaking.

2. Practicing with a Tree and the Earth’s Force

a.Use the Palms to Absorb Yin Chi and Help Balance Yang Energy (Figure 2-29)Morning to noon time is the best time to practice with a tree.

1. Assume a Position. Stand or sit one or two feet in front of a tree.

2. Open Yourself to a Tree. Relax and center yourself. Feel your boundaries soften. Allow yourself to become more receptive and somewhat vulnerable, ready to make contact with the tree. Feel your energy field open like a flower, neither emitting nor absorbing energy, just becoming open and available (Figure 2-30).

3. Offer a Welcome. Extend your arms and face the palms of your hands toward the tree. Extend your energy toward the tree with a friendly ‘offering” attitude. When the tree responds by extending its energy to you, accept it, breathing it into your body with an attitude of “welcome.” Use your mind and eyes as follows. With the lower part of the eyes, concentrate on the tip of your nose. With the upper part of the eyes, look at your palms and at the tree.

Let your intuition guide you as you respond to the tree again with another “offering” gesture. Proceed with several of these exchanges. Take your time and really feel what is happening.

Use the left palm, the mind, and the upper part of the eyes to absorb the Chi.

4. Parallel Tracking. Remain centered within yourself, neither approaching nor retreating, and simply observe the subtle relationship between you and the tree. Use meditative concentration to become very absorbed in your connection with the tree, without actively trying to change or analyze what is going on. Do not try to deepen the communion or lessen it. Control your own energy and watch the tree while the tree controls its own energy and watches you. This is known as Parallel Tracking. Such a neutral state may occur several times during a session at deep as well as shallow levels of intimacy.

5. Draw and Hold Close. Allow the energy field between you and the tree to intensify, thicken, and contract to Draw and Hold Close the two of you together. There may or may not be physical movement involved. The sensation is that the two of you are being enfolded in a cocoon of energy while more and more of your inner cores are exposed to each other. Finally you hold each other in an embrace of deep intimacy.

Drawing and Holding Close often happens spontaneously as the offering and welcoming escalates to become circulating and sharing, or as the circulating and sharing moves to deeper and deeper levels.

6. Guide the Chi. As with all Healing Tao practices, it is necessary that you train your eyes and mind to move and guide the Chi. This practice is also useful in training yourself to recognize and be aware of the quality of the tree’s energy. Feel the tree’s energy when it enters your body. As you send it out to the tree, combine it with Human Plane (Cosmic Particle) Energy. Notice how the energy feels when it returns to you from the tree: enhanced with a cool, healing quality. Notice also how the quality of the energy changes after nine, eighteen, 24, and 36 cycles.

Move the upper part of the eyes to guide the Chi slowly up the inside Yin side) of the left arm, to the left shoulder, the left side of the neck, the left ear, and the crown. From the crown move the Chi down the right side to the back side of the right ear, to the right neck, the right shoulder, inside the right arm, to the right palm. Project the Chi out into the tree trunk. Absorb the Chi again in a circle (the Yin Energy Circle): 36 cycles for men and 24 cycles for women. (Figure 2-30)

7. Extend to a Deeper Level. Now begin to exchange energy with the tree on a deeper level. To share with the tree on a deeper level means to place a particular part of your body in contact with a particular part of the tree’s body, and breathing the energy back and forth between them. To circulate now means guiding the energy along a path which passes through both of your bodies and returns to its starting point. You can guide the Chi as in (6) above. Eventually you will discover many different patterns are possible.

8. Drawing and Holding Back to End Gracefully. Drawing and Holding Back is very important. It prevents you from absorbing more energy from the tree than you can harmoniously utilize. It also prevents you from draining too much energy from a small or weak tree, or leaving such a tree with too much of your unprocessed negative energy. In addition, it seals off the connections you have made with the tree so that energy is not leaked into the environment after you leave. All in all, it makes for an aesthetically complete meditation and shows respect for the tree. When you have had enough and wish to begin your return to normal consciousness or just to a less deep level of communion, try to do so slowly and gradually so as not to disturb the beauty of what you have just shared. The sensation is one of gradually returning to yourself, sorting out the energy that belongs to you from the energy that belongs to the tree, and re-establishing the boundary between you.

It is important to note at this time that if, after you have done the healing, you still feel a lot of energy in your hands, close the crown point to seal it so that your healing energy will not continue to flow out.Trees have a great liking for human contact and you will probably be ready to go long before the tree is ready to have you leave.

a. You need to gradually withdraw your attention from the contact, and turn your attention more upon yourself.

b. As you do this, much of the shared energy will be drawn into your body. When this happens, just “push back” at the stream of tree energy to prevent most of it from entering your body while allowing your human energy to return.

c. Then, when your polarities reverse, allow the tree energy to flow back into the tree, but keep your own conscious energy within your body.

d. After a couple of exchanges, the tree will get the idea and begin to cooperate with you. In a little while you will be fully back in your own body and ready for the closing.

e. To disengage from a powerful circulation pattern, gradually focus your attention on the navel area, the place to end the meditation. As the energy collects there, allow any excess to flow into the tree.

f. If the tree tries to feed you energy from another point, push back at this flow in the manner described above.

g. Eventually the pattern will cease, and you will be sharing energy with the tree at the selected point. Now you can sort out what energy belongs to you and what belongs to the tree to complete the drawing back.h. When you are very deep into communion with a tree, you will probably have “too far to go” to draw back in one step. Instead, after a partial drawing and holding back, resume circulating and sharing, but in a less intense manner. Gradually, after several of these steps, you will some wholly back to yourself.

9. Closing. Always end with a closing. The closing is a precise and somewhat abrupt gesture which breaks the connection, locks into place any healing that may have occurred, and imparts a feeling of good will, all within a second or two. The closing may be a movement, a sound, or just a change in the subtle energy field, such as the clap of the hands, or a nod of the head. A smooth movement of a fist in an upward arc, ending with a little downward punch is very effective. The sounds “Ho” or “Amen” used to end prayers are also examples of closing gestures. So is a firm handshake, or a little squeeze at the end of a hug. Follow this with a little wave of the hand, or a quick kiss on the trunk to complete your closing.Sections (7), (8), and (9) above are used to intensify, slow down, and end the exercises below and can be used at any time to end your communication with your selected tree.

b. Use the Fingers to Absorb Yang Energy to Help Balance the Yin Energy (Figure 2-29)

1. Stand approximately one to two feet in front of a tree. Move slowly and smoothly, gradually approaching the tree. Feel the field of energy surrounding you become thick like honey.

2. Extend your arms out toward the tree with your palms facing the tree and your fingers extended.

3. As you slowly adjust your position to be closer and closer to the tree, less “honey” separates you from the bright energies found at its core.

4. Similarly, your own radiance is revealed to the tree.

5. At the same time the honey-like energy surrounding you acts like a protective cocoon, and your awareness of the outside world fades. As you arrive at the tree and wrap yourself around it in a big hug, your radiant energies link up with each other and you may lose yourself for a few moments in the bliss of union.

6. After making contact in this way, you may need to hold still for a while until the new, deeper connections between you and the tree stabilize and simplify. Soon you will find yourself in the state of parallel tracking described previously from which circulating and sharing will develop.

7. Feel the energy of the tree first. When you feel the tree’s Chi, use the mind, eyes, and lower part of the eyes to concentrate on the tip of the nose. The upper part of the eyes looks at the tips of the fingers and the tree.

8. Use the left fingers, the mind, and the upper part of the eyes to absorb the Chi inward.

9. Move the upper part of the eyes slowly to guide the Chi up the outside (Yang side) of the left arm, to the left shoulder, the left side of the neck, and the left ear to the crown. Move the energy down the right side beginning with the back side of the right ear, to the right neck, the right shoulder, outside the right arm, to the right palm and fingers. Project the energy out from the fingers, combine it with Cosmic Particle Energy, and guide it into the tree trunk. Absorb it again in a circle. Men repeat the cycle 36 times; women repeat the cycle 24 times. (See Figure 2-30)

10. If you wish to end the experience at this or any point, follow the procedures of (a)(7), (8), and (9) above to intensify, slow down, and finally break your connection with the tree.The Yang Energy Circle will help you become more sensitive to chronic and more superficial pain as well as the energy in the Yang organs (large and small intestines, gall bladder, bladder, and stomach).

c. Use the Palms to Absorb Tree Chi; the Yin Side

1. Sit or stand approximately one to two feet in front of a tree.

2. Extend your arms out toward the tree with your palms facing the tree. (Figure 2-31)

3. Feel the energy of the tree first. When you feel the Chi of the tree, use your mind, eyes, and palms to absorb the Chi through your palms. Move the Chi up the inside (the Yin sides) of both arms to both shoulders, both sides of the neck, and the left and right ears, to the crown. From the crown move the energy down the Functional Channel to the mid-eyebrow, throat, heart, solar plexus, navel, and the cauldron behind the navel.

4. Continue to move the energy down from the cauldron to the perineum, to the soles of the feet, and then approximately ten feet into the ground.

5. Bring the energy up to the roots of the tree, then up into the tree trunk. Feel your energy flow through the tree, then emerge from the trunk into your palm. Repeat the cycle nine, eighteen, 24, or 36 times.

6. Practice sending your energy through the tree trunk from the right palm, through the tree, to the left palm, and from the left palm, through the tree, to the right palm. Men should practice for 36 cycles; women should practice for 24 cycles. It is most important to feel your energy penetrate the tree.

7. Practice distinguishing different parts of the tree. Start with the upper trunk. Send your energy into the trunk and feel it reverberate. Slowly kneel down to practice with the lower trunk. Then practice with the roots of the tree. Feel and exchange the force with the tree.

d. Absorb Tree Chi through the Crown

1. Stand approximately two to three feet in front of a tree with your arms at your side. Feel the tree’s aura. (Figure 2-32) If you do not feel it, you can move in closer.

2. When you feel the tree’s aura, use your crown to absorb the energy. The tree’s balanced energy can feel very gentle and soft and have a very powerful healing effect.

3. Draw the tree energy into your crown and let it flow down through the Thrusting Channels or through the Functional Channel to the perineum, then down to both feet. Move the energy out through the soles of your feet into the ground. Bring the energy from the ground to the roots of the tree, then up its trunk.

4. Feel yourself absorb the Earth Energy and the tree energy. (Figure 2-33) Feel them purify your energy, removing negativity and sick energy. When you feel it emerge from the trunk of the tree, absorb the Human Plane (Cosmic Particle) Energy, and return the energy to your crown. You will feel the combined energies nourish your brain, glands, and organs. Repeat the process nine, eighteen, or 36 times.

e. Share with the Tree from the Heart

In this pattern tree energy is run through the arms and heart center. It may be used to clear a healer’s arms of sick energy accumulated in work, or just to open the heart.

1. Assume any comfortable position in which your hands can easily reach a branch.

2. Reach one arm out to touch the tree with the palm or fingertips. Feel the vital energy just under the bark and make contact with it, allowing some time for the contact to develop.

3. After a while you will feel the sharing begin as a gentle breathing back and forth between your hand and the tree.

4. Gradually extend the process until you are breathing energy through the entire length of the arm, back and forth from your heart center to the tree. Let this back and forth sharing go on for some time.

5. Next, get the other arm involved. It may rest on the same branch, near the other hand, or it may rest on an entirely different branch.

6. Allow the tree energy to flow in along one arm, mix with your own energy in the heart center, and flow out the other arm. Every so often reverse the direction of flow in one or both arms.

7. For a deeper experience try extending the flow from the heart down to the navel, letting it go from tree to heart, to navel, and back.

8. Where does the energy go after it leaves your hands and enters the tree? By following it with your mind, you will begin to discover more about the subtle anatomy of the tree.

9. You may find blocked or congested areas that you can work on by running energy out one hand and into the other. Feel the tree’s response to your efforts, and let intuition guide you.

f. Absorb Earth Energy

1.Create warmth in your navel and bring the energy up to the crown.

2. Project the Chi out into the top of the trunk of the tree. Enter the tree and feel that you have a connection with it.

3. During this process you can stand farther away from the tree (ten to thirty feet). As your practice continues you can project your energy easily from far away into the tree. Let the tree take in your negative or sick energy. The energy you receive back will be balanced.

4. Let your energy flow down the trunk of the tree to its roots and into the Earth. (Figure 2-34) Let the Earth Energy purify your energy. Bring this combined energy up through the soles of your feet to the perineum, then up through the Thrusting Channels, or through the Governor Channel running up the spine. Let the energy flow up to the crown and project it outward again. Repeat the process nine, eighteen, or 36 times.

The more you repeat the process, the more your energy will refine and increase. You will notice the Thrusting Channels and the Microcos¬mic Orbit are cleaner and brighter. Once you have established a good connection with the tree, you can send your sick energy to the tree from a far distance to refine your energy or improve your health.

g. Meditate While Sitting Under a TreeOnce you have developed the ability to feel the tree’s Chi, you can sit under the tree and meditate. Draw the tree’s energy into you through the stations (points) of the Microcosmic Orbit. (Figure 2-35)

HOUSEKEEPING Member Profile – Volunteers required Book Review – Volunteers required

.Meeting setup/tidy-upThe hall will be open from about 7pm to set up tables and chairs. As is the case for each of our meetings, extra hands to help set up are always welcome, as is help appreciated at the end of each meeting to pack away afterwards. Those who regularly assist would very much be pleased if more of us lent a hand.

GENERAL BUSINESSGBC LibraryA extensive library of bonsai books, magazines/journals, DVDs are available (as part of membership benefits) for use by members. Borrowed items must be returned in the month following their removal for loan. Non-financial members aren’t eligible to borrow from the library and borrowing privileges may be revoked for members who do not respect the borrowing process. See John and Steph Dearnly our Librarians

MembershipsDue annually at our December Annual General MeetingPlease renew asap - membership form is attachedIndividual $20.00 Family $30.00 Students & Pensioners $15.00

Meeting setup/tidy-upThe hall will be open from about 7pm to set up tables and chairs. As is the case for each of our meetings, extra hands to help set up are always welcome, as is help appreciated at the end of

each meeting to pack away afterwards. Those who regularly assist would very much be pleased if more of us lent a hand.

Meeting/Events Calendar & AgendaA copy is available at the meetings and is enclosed in this newsletter.

Calendar &How the Show Bench Works?Each month there will be a “Tree of the Month”, ‘Style of the Month’ and ‘Your Choice’ and this can be any style. Detailed notes sheet is available from the Club, and copies will be provided at the meetings

Wearing of BadgesReminder to please wear your badge at our meetings.It is a requirement to be able to claim the door prize if you are the winner.

Mentors:-If any club member would like to volunteer their time as a mentor to other club members, please put your name down on the mentors list at the next meeting. Likewise if any club member would like to like to have the help of another person outside of club meetings.

NEXT MEETINGSMonday 11th April 2016Workshop meeting.

Saturday 16 April Workshop - Quentin ValentineMonday 9 May General Meeting – Demonstration Trevor Wicks

GBCI CLUB DETAILSEstablished 1980 Registered 1984 (#A2342S)Please address all correspondence to:The Secretary Geelong Bonsai Club Inc.P.O. Box 1175, Geelong, Victoria, 3220President Paul Buttigieg 0412 604 211 geelong@bonsai.org.auVice President: John Dearnly - dearnley1@bigpond.com/0407 342 928Secretary:Treasurer:Show Managers: Jeff O’Toole jmsj@iinet.net.au/0408 376 006

Michael Tukavkinmack_187@hotmail.com/0488 757 879Librarian: John & Steph DearnlyNewsletter Editor: Paul Buttigieg 0412 604 211 geelong@bonsai.org.auSales Table: Committee: Nathan Rhook Website - nmrhook@gmail.com/0428 976 060Committee: Zoe Shieds Member liaison - z-shields@hotmail.com/0401 615 065Committee: Graeme Keller Publicity- gramare@optusnet.com.au/0425 791 139Meetings are held at Grovedale United Services Memorial Hall, Reserve Road Grovedale at 8pm on 2ndMonday of the month. No meeting in January. Meetings in 2012 on the second Monday of the month except November which is the first Monday because of the show.

PO Box 1175 Geelong VIC 3220 Registration No: A0001342SPresident: Paul ButtigiegVice President: John DearnlySecretary: Membership Secretary: Treasurer:

Geelong Bonsai Club Inc2016 EVENTS CALENDER

THIS PROGRAM IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE BY THE COMMITTEE IF NECESSARYDAY DATE PROGRAM

Monday 8 February General Meeting – workshop/committeeMonday 14 March (Labour Day) General Meeting Demonstration - Matthew Robison

Saturday 19 March Workshop – Joe Morgan-PaylerMonday 11 April General Meeting – Workshop

Saturday 16 April Workshop - Quentin ValentineMonday 9 May General Meeting – Demonstration Trevor WicksSunday 14 May DigMonday 13 June (Queens Birthday) General Meeting – Workshop

Saturday 18 June Workshop - Quentin ValentineMonday 11 July General Meeting – Demonstration Quentin Valentine

Sunday 31 July Nursery CrawlMonday 8 August General Meeting – Demonstration/WorkshopTuesday 9 August Workshop Presenter - Gavin Dalgrosso

Saturday 13 August Workshop - Joe Morgan-PaylerSaturday 20 August Creswick Dig with Ballarat ClubMonday 12 September General Meeting – Demonstration Trevor WicksWednesday 21 September Show Committee meetingMonday 10 October General Meeting – Workshop

Saturday 15 October Workshop - Joe Morgan-PaylerMonday 7 November General Meeting - Show WorkshopSat – Sun 12 – 13 November BONSAI CLUB ANNUAL SHOWWednesday 30 November Committee meetingMonday 12 December ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Critique/Christmas BBQ Party)

ANNUAL SHOW BENCH ACTIVITYDATE TREE OF THE MONTH STYLE OF THE MONTH

April Cedars and Minis Informal UprightMay Autumn Foliage Twin or Multi-trunkJune Pines and Junipers Full or semi cascade or MinisJuly Deciduous Species Formal UprightAugust Any Evergreen Windswept or slantingSeptember Olives Root over rock/rock plantingOctober Flowering or Fruiting Literati or BroomNovember Maples and Liquid Amber Shari’s – Jin’s and DriftwoodDecember Composite Leaves (Ash, Wisteria) Your Choice (Anything)