Taoists consider the shape of clouds above to reflect our feelings and thought forms on earth below. Are YOU grasping the inner pearl essence that illuminates your soul?
Dear Lovers of Dragon Qi,
It’s time to make an assessment. This is the Year of the Yang Black Water Dragon, which began on Jan. 23 (Lunar calendar) or Feb. 4 (Solar calendar). Dragons are considered mythical creatures, although I believe they once roamed the surface of the earth until driven underground. They are now considered by feng shui experts to be “currents of earth Qi (chi)” that flow within the earth’s geographical features in mountains, lakes, etc.
I wrote an essay on this year’s Black Water Dragon as being the inspiration for personal myth-making. (Read that detailed astrological analysis at: https://healingtaousa.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?rm=mode2&articleid=150. You may need to register at top of page to read it).
The whole planet is in the process of re-inventing itself. But have YOU downloaded this energy into your personal life? The gist of my essay is that Taoist cultivation is about aligning with natural cycles and putting them to work.
The fundamental principle: CHANGE YOURSELF before Change is forced upon you by the cycle of outer change. But how to accomplish this?
The patterns of our personality are stored in our personal energy field, known as our Energy Body. You can reach directly into it and change its patterns. This requires some skill, plus some inner will. Most people focus on changing their behavior, which can also work, as it helps re-shape your Energy Body. But it’s changing yourself from the outside inward. So it’s slower and generally requires support from the outer environment.
If you want to explore the Inner Path of Change, I think the best place to start is with the Inner Smile. Before you can change your personal energetic patterns, you have to recognize them and accept them. The Inner Smile is a direct way to communicate with your Soul, which has a neutral or non-attached view of the Personality.
The Soul (ling in Chinese) physically embodies itself in order to explore issues embedded within the Personality (which Taoists call the Xin, or Heart-Mind). But the Soul doesn’t suffer directly from our dramas and traumas. The Inner Smile opens up communication between our Personality and our Soul. This lack of communication is a major cause of suffering. The Inner Smile focuses our free will on accepting responsibility for creating our physical reality, guided by our Soul.
Cover of audio CD recording that offers one way to cover both the Yin (smiling in the body) and Yang (smiling to friends, community, the cosmos).
The next step is gaining energetic skill in balancing the pulsating yin-yang energy that flows from Nature, through our Soul, and into our embodied Heart-mind. My favorite method for this is the Microcosmic Orbit. The most powerful variant is the Spinning Dragon Orbit, my variant of a Wudang practice originally called the Red Dragon method.
This method captures the yin-yang flow of Nature into two major energy channels running up the front and back of the body. Once these are balanced, it becomes much easier to shift imbalances and stress/struggle patterns flowing through other meridians of your Energy Body.
If you are not able to learn this practice live, supported by an energetic transmission from a teacher, I’ve now added it into my Medical and Spiritual Qigong Fundamentals 1 & 2 homestudy course. I sell this course at half price, because I want to make it easy for folks to begin this path that leads to energetic self-mastery. (see: https://healingtaousa.com/ckf1.html)
The homestudy course includes 11 audio CDs and 2 DVDs. One video is Five Animals Plays the Six Healing Sounds and other is a qigong form to Open Chi Flow in the Orbit. It’s designed to make it simple for folks who have trouble meditating internally. You do this form, and the Orbit opens naturally. Later you add in the internal practice of the Spinning Dragon.
I think this Year of the Black Water Dragon is an extremely auspicious year to practice the Spinning Dragon Orbit. I teach the practice twice a year, once in Asheville (this year October 26-28), and once at the first week of summer retreats (starts June 21, 2013). I also keep the cost of these courses very low: $144. for the weekend, and $495. for a week long retreat.
In fact, I haven’t raised the weekend seminar price in 12 years. Many find it so inexpensive, yet so powerful, that they can afford to fly in from around the country. I’ve enclosed a list of local hotels and prices in this newsletter, in caes you are interested.
Whatever path you choose, I wish you greatest blessings on your Way.
» Qigong Fundamentals 1 & 2: Oct. 26-28 in Asheville, N.C.
» Primordial Qigong / Tai Chi for Enlightened Love Nov. 17-18, 2012
» WHERE TO STAY in Asheville?
» Are You Participating in the Earth’s Rebirth?
Oct. 26, 2012 (Fri. eve. 7:30 – 9:30 pm): Asheville, N.C. FREE.
INNER SMILE: Evening Meditation & Talk with Michael Winn.
This evening is part of the weekend workshop, even though it is open to the public. We will mostly smile together silently, relax from the “heart-mind” (xin) level of smiling in the body until the deeper “inner heart” or soul (ling) level of smiling spontaneously arises. I will facilitate this with a transmission of that frequency of unconditional acceptance at the soul level. This is one of the most important and simplest self-cultivation practices you can learn and apply simply to daily life. Increased peace, self-love, and acceptance of others are the reward, with secondary benefits of healing all kinds of illness that is stress-caused.
Location: At Lighten Up Yoga, same venue as weekend workshop. No pre-registration required, free to all.
Day 1: Inner Smile, Five Animals Qigong, Six Healing Sounds, Taoist qigong & alchemy theory.
Visit http://www.healingdao.com/ckf1.html#top (Fundamentals 1 page with full benefits & description of practices, testimonials, etc.)
Day 2: Guided Micro-Cosmic Orbit. This famous Tao meditation unifies all energy centers/chakras into a flowing whole. Process is made simple and physically tangible with the powerful “Open Qi (Chi) Flow in the Orbit” movement qigong. Chi transmission is given to help you open chi flow spiraling in an orbit around your torso.
Includes oral transmission of the powerful Wudang Mountain “Red Dragon” internal method of circulating the orbit (NOT taught in standard Healing Tao curriculum). THIS IS THE MOST POWERFUL & EFFECTIVE ORBIT METHOD I’VE FOUND – during my 30 years search. Included is my method of invoking spiralling Dragon power into the orbit meditation to amplify its power and effortless Qi (chi) flow.
Good for self healing, spiritual centering and balance of all yin-yang meridians of body, and balancing blood and chi. The orbit is also the main pathway used for cultivating spiritualized sexual energy as you progress in your practice.
More info on Fundamentals 2: http://www.healingdao.com/ckf2.html
These two days are packed with powerful practices that can make major shifts in your health and energy level. They are Lifetime Treasures, simple enough to easily share with family and friends.
Open to everyone. This course is THE main pre-requisite to Fusion, Healing Love, Kan & Li. This is the best course to begin with, but also suitable for advanced adepts or people from other traditions wishing to go deeper.
More info on Fundamentals 2: http://www.healingdao.com/ckf2.html
These two days are packed with powerful practices that can make major shifts in your health and energy level. They are Lifetime Treasures, simple enough to easily share with family and friends.
Contact: info@HealingTaoUSA.com or call Jan in office at 828 505 1444.
———————-
UPCOMING FALL EVENTS IN ASHEVILLE:
Nov. 17 – 18, 2012 (Sat/Sun): Asheville, N.C.
PRIMORDIAL QIGONG / TAI CHI for ENLIGHTENED LOVE with Feldenkrais for Effortless Super Learning. Led by Michael, plus recorded guidance by Joyce Gayheart.
Dec. 8 – 9, 2012 (Sat/Sun) Asheville, N.C. (NOTE: This date was incorrectly listed on website as Dec. 1-2 for a brief period)
MEDICAL & SPIRITUAL QIGONG FUNDAMENTALS 3 & 4: Internal Chi Breathing and Bone Rooting with Michael Winn
- Nov. 17 – 18, 2012 (Sat/Sun): Asheville, N.C.
This is where you go when you practice Primordial Qigong/ Tai Chi for Enlightened Love.
PRIMORDIAL QIGONG / TAI CHI for ENLIGHTENED LOVE with Feldenkrais for Effortless Super Learning. Led by Michael, plus recorded guidance by Joyce Gayheart.
Magical, powerful 800 year old lineage qigong ceremony (a.k.a. “Tai Chi for Enlightenment”). Integrates the magic square of feng shui, the dynamic inner coupling of Taoist alchemy, the healing benefits of medical qigong, and the earthly transmission power of China’s original tai chi form!
We gather the directional chi of Heaven and Earth in graceful spirals. This is one of my favorite forms, but requires deeper commitment (20 min. practice length). Combined with Feldenkrais, it opens up many levels of healing energy and ease of movement amazingly quickly.
I go far beyond the DVD during this class, revealing many things about the inner structure of the form, and how to intensify it with toning and focused intention.
For more about the form, and numerous testimonials about how amazing the form is, please see http://www.taichi-enlightenment.com
Cost: $185. ($90. deposit). Reviewers: $125.
Note: The course is the certification course for Wuji Gong/Tai Chi for Enlightenment. You receive a teaching certificate from Healing Tao University. Those seeking certification should have been practicing the form well in advance.
Mantak Chia learned this form from me on a China Dream Trip, and loved it! He has made it a part of the Healing Tao curriculum, so you can also now use this course as hours towards becoming a Healing Tao Instructor. For more info: https://healingtaousa.com/instructorbecome.html
Email if you have questions. Or call Jan to register by phone: 828 505-1444.
Location: Lighten Up Yoga in downtown Asheville.
Contact: winn@HealingTaoUSA.com
We have some local Tao students who rent out a bedroom for $40. per night. Contact Jan at 828 505 1444 for references.
Downtown Inn 120 Patton Ave: walking distance to workshop, close to restaurants. Corporate rate as low as $65, higher in leaf season. If you fly in, but don’t rent a car, this is good choice. Airport taxis: $25 – 35.
Asheville Graceland Art Hostel at http://aahostel.com/. Inexpensive, clean, and walking distance to workshop. Reserve in advance: no walk-ins. avlbooking@gmail.com 828-225-3278. Single rooms are $35-40., add $10.+ per roommate.
Best Western on I-40 has a sauna/pool atrium, 15 minute drive, exit 44 off I-40 (828-667-4501). $69.
Howard Johnson Inn (5 min. drive to workshop, near Biltmore Estate) Older, but spacious rooms. 828-274-2300. $69.
Closest airport hotel: Hampton Inn (828 687-0806). $99-129.
Enka Budget Motel (828-665-2100) $46-65. 15 minutes.
Super 8 Motel (828-505-4648) $49-69. in low season, on Tunnel Rd.
For apartment with kitchen, Extended Stay America on Tunnel Road (828 253-3483.
Ramada Inn downtown (pricey), 3 blocks walking distance.
For wilderness retreat experience, rooms with one wall open to a fairy forest, try Mountain Light Sanctuary. Barnardsville, 45 minutes. http://mtnlightsanctuary.com/lightweave/index.htm
If you let in just a small fraction of the transformative energies flowing through the Earth in its Year of the Black Water Dragon, you will feel your soul en-LIGHT-en!
Blessings on the Way of Cultivating the Inner Dragon,
Michael Winn
“Who takes Heaven as his ancestor, Virtue as his home,
the Tao as his door, and who becomes change — is a
Sage.” — Chuang Tzu, Inner Chapters
“The Tao is very close, but everyone looks far away.
Life is very simple, but everyone seeks difficulty.”
— Taoist Sage, 200 B.C
Register online for on Healing Tao University,
the largest Tao (Dao) Arts & Sciences program in the
West with 25 week long summer retreats featuring “chi kung”
(qigong) and inner alchemy (neidangong) training. For
more info, see http//www.HealingTaoRetreats.com
Or visit http://www.HealingTaoUSA.com, to
order books/videos/tapes from the Tao Home
Study program. Call the Healing Tao USA Fullfillment
center at the Mystical Number 1-888-999-0555 or more
ordinary numbers: 828-505-1444 (-1044, fax), or email
info@HealingTaoUSA.com
Visit http//www.Taichi-Enlightenment.com for a glimpse into
the world’s most magical spiritual tai chi form.
To get Michael Winn’s FREE 130 page ebook Way of the
Inner Smile, with 25 fabulous photos of the world’s
most spiritual smiles, go to homepage http://www.HealingTaoUSA.com and subscribe to “Tao News”. You will receive his “Chi Flows Naturally”
newsletter and be on his most updated elist. You will immediately receive download info.
If you change your email address in the future and wish
to stay on this list, simply re-subscribe to Tao News on our homepage
at http//www.HealingTaoUSA.com
Healing Tao USA • 4 Bostic Place • Asheville, NC 28803 • Tel. 888.999.0555 • www.healingdaousa.com