To follow the Tao is to walk the way of natural reality.
By observing nature, Taoist sages came to understand the principles of the universe and their effects on human nature, and devised a complete system of exercise, meditation, nutrition, divination, medicine, sexual healing.......whereby we can harmonise and balance with the universal energies to live in accordance with nature and the universe.
Taoist practices offer a wonderfully creative complete system to improve the quality of our life.
Spiritual cultivation occurs within our daily lives, without the need to retreat from family life, and we learn to use the challenges and opportunities that arise to further our evolution.
The forces that influence the cosmos are the same as those which affect nature and our bodies.
Interestingly enough, there is currently exciting scientific research on the neuroplasticity of the brain and how our thoughts and emotions change the physiology of the brain and affect the brain-body connection. By developing compassion and practising regularly we affect our health and potential in a positive manner.
Together these techniques enable us to recycle our emotional energies into virtues, enhancing our life force. They enable us to become more aware of our body and our inner being.
The Inner Smile is a powerful internal healing and transformative meditation. The Inner Smile enhances the energy of the organs and glands, our life force in general, and stills and focuses the heart and mind. It makes us more aware of our body and inner being, because we learn to communicate with our organs, glands, spine and other specific parts of our body, as well as our soul. Taoists discovered that consciousness is rooted not only in the brain, but also in the vital organs and in a more subtle sense, in each of the cells. The Six Healing Sounds are cooling, dispersing and harmonising. They can be used all together, or for individual organs. Iron Shirt Chi KungIron Shirt Chi Kung Standing postures develop rootedness, and internal exercises develop the chi belt and strengthen and purify the abdominal organs, fasciae and tendons.
Tai ChiTai Chi Chi Kung, an early yang form emphasizing the connection between the mind and body and developing inner power. This form is relatively simple to learn and requires only a few feet square in which to practice. There is a circular repeat of 13 movements to each cardinal direction. By moving efficiently we conserve vital energy. This form may be used to purify and strengthen the organs, to strengthen the bones and to harmonize oneself with universal energies.
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The Microcosmic Orbit
The Microcosmic Orbit is an energy route around the body. We are all born with an open Microcosmic Orbit route. Stresses can lead to blockages in the flow of Chi around the body. By consciously reopening the Microcosmic Orbit we can improve the efficiency of our energy consumption and harmonise the flow of Chi around our body. Life force energy is guided up the back channel and down the front channel, harmonising the earth and the heavenly principles, and facilitating spiritual growth within this plane of existence. This circuit connects our physical, energy and spirit bodies and can ultimately be used to fuse these into one immortal body.
Taoist BreathingUpward Draw/Big DrawWhen the heart is hidden in deep water, the root of the spirit will be exquisite beyond measure (cleary).
We learn to nourish the body by cultivating generative energy (Jing Chi). We learn how to refine our sexual energy into life force energy and spirit energy Chi PackingIron Shirt Chi Kung 2
Jade CircleTaoist practices for women
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