Stix by Jim Toole

It was a beautiful day and I was just cruising the beach (as I love to do on weekends) when I spotted a group of people playing some kind of game. It looked like juggling, but it wasn't at all. Each person had a colored stick in each hand, and were twirling, spinning, and flipping a baton in some amazing way. Just then I noticed that some people were friends and they invited me to join them. I didn't know it then, but this was to be the start of a new adventure for me. My first question was, "What are those things?" My friend told me they were called Stix and introduced me to a really nice guy by the name of Buck. Buck put a controller stick in each of my hands and balanced a baton with leather ends and tassels on the end of one. He then showed me how to do the basic "tic toc" move, told me to play and, "have fun". That is just what I did! In fact, I had a ball! I was like a kid with a new toy. Actually, with the music in the background, I was bouncing, twirling, and spinning in a way that allowed "my child" to come out and play bigger and better than he had in a long time. I was to find out in the weeks to come that there was a lot more complexity to the Stix than I thought. I played and practiced my Stix first on a weekly, then almost a daily, basis. Each time I picked them up I learned not only about something new I could do with them, but what they were doing for me. Sure I was learning different tricks, but I was getting energized every time I played with them. In fact, the more I played, the more fun I had and the more energized I got. During this time I developed a close relationship with Buck Levine, the guy who showed me almost all I know about Stix. He distributes the Crystal Stix locally. What I liked about Buck is that his true purpose is to introduce as many people as possible to Stix, knowing how much everyone can benefit from them. Another person who knows about the Stix is Bill Vestal. Bill is the high-spirited man who developed and distributes Stix of Colorado. While he was in Sarasota on a trip, I got a chance to learn some great moves, but more importantly some of the meditative aspect of doing Stix. He explained how the mechanics of doing Stix occupies the left (analytical) side of the brain, leaving the right (creative) side free to play. Or as Bill puts it, "It's like throwing the ego a bone and the rest of you is free to be." At this point Stix took on a whole new meaning to me. While doing Stix my mind would clear itself of all the thoughts rolling around in it. As a result of my mind being so free and focused on flowing with the Stix, this "game" became very meditative. Stix went from being just a toy, allowing me to clear my mind, to an external, active meditation, become sky high, and of course have lots of fun anytime I picked them up to play. Since then I have enjoyed learning about and playing Stix with Buck and all of his friends. As a team, Buck and I have visited schools, hospitals, variety shows, and festivals (like the Medieval Fair and Sarasota Arts Fair). Buck loves the idea of men (and women) of all ages allowing the music and magic of the Stix to let them laugh and play. My favorite time is when teaching children, but of course we (both) never get enough of lifting our spirits into flight...