Simon V.

Heaven is the furnace and Earth the cauldron, in daoist alchemical lingo, I’ve learned recently. In between are the ingredients we work with: kan and li, the five elements.
It’s very similar to western alchemy.

I take heaven to mean the energy of the deepest sense of vital presence at the root of our awareness, which is also the source of…[Read more]

I’ve heard it called the wave–the first variation of this exercise I learned. But ocean breating sounds even groovier as a name for an ancient exercise, to be sure : )
Simon

I’ve heard it called the wave–the first variation of this exercise I learned. But ocean breating sounds even groovier as a name for an ancient exercise, to be sure : )
Simon

You said you only occasionally do the microcosmic orbit.

I would recommend doing this more often, several times a day, starting and finishing with collecting energy at the lower dantien with deep relaxed breathing; it takes regular practice to really find out its benefits. The orbit promotes recycling of jing, which no physical practice alone…[Read more]

You said you only occasionally do the microcosmic orbit.

I would recommend doing this more often, several times a day, starting and finishing with collecting energy at the lower dantien with deep relaxed breathing; it takes regular practice to really find out its benefits. The orbit promotes recycling of jing, which no physical practice alone…[Read more]

What I meant by a simple exercise was for example slowly raising the hands up as you breath in, while straightening from a slight crouch, then slowly lowering hands to the sides while breathing out, and also focusing on the feet at this breathing out stage. Repeat for ten to fifteen minutes–doing it for less time would mean not really…[Read more]

What I meant by a simple exercise was for example slowly raising the hands up as you breath in, while straightening from a slight crouch, then slowly lowering hands to the sides while breathing out, and also focusing on the feet at this breathing out stage. Repeat for ten to fifteen minutes–doing it for less time would mean not really…[Read more]

This is not lost in western alchemy…
A key tenet of alchemy is that the process is not just to ascend, but also to descend, and so on, to refine the coarse with the subtle, in an endless cycle/process of “distilation” and formation of a stable higher awareness state (philosopher’s stone), which state is meant to have and is measured by,…[Read more]

This is not lost in western alchemy…
A key tenet of alchemy is that the process is not just to ascend, but also to descend, and so on, to refine the coarse with the subtle, in an endless cycle/process of “distilation” and formation of a stable higher awareness state (philosopher’s stone), which state is meant to have and is measured by,…[Read more]

In my experience teaching family members very basic qigong exercises has resulted in remarkable positive results in terms of overcoming sickness.

In my experience teaching family members very basic qigong exercises has resulted in remarkable positive results in terms of overcoming sickness.

If you’re not working out already, I would suggest doing exhausting physical exercise before bed.

If you’re not working out already, I would suggest doing exhausting physical exercise before bed.

These strike me as excellent observations.

Our Western cultures are so into sanctioning and discipline, on getting it right, preferably the first time, that it can get in the way of the excellence that is allegedly being aimed at.

We give children second and third and fourth chances all the time. “That’s ok sweetheart, no sense crying over…[Read more]

These strike me as excellent observations.

Our Western cultures are so into sanctioning and discipline, on getting it right, preferably the first time, that it can get in the way of the excellence that is allegedly being aimed at.

We give children second and third and fourth chances all the time. “That’s ok sweetheart, no sense crying over…[Read more]