The first level of internal alchemy training is one of self – healing and of balancing, growing, circulating and restoring internal energy. We will work towards this through the practice of Internal Alchemy Meditation, integrated with Damo Qigong. We will also include additional Qigong to complement and support the main practice.
Damo Qigong and
Taoist Internal Alchemy
Damo Qigong is an ancient series of movements, postures and mudras which facilitate the ‘laying of the foundation’.
Damo Qigong is integrated into the meditations. It unblocks and opens the energy meridians; releases blockages in the internal organs; stimulates energy flow; leads to the spontaneous opening of the core energy channels and arising of the Qi; all of which are essential to the advancement in internal alchemy practice.
We will meet for meditation before breakfast and after dinner and each session will be 1 - 1½ hours. At the beginning of the course, meditations may be shorter, but will in any case, lengthen progressively throughout the course. There will also be a third meditation during the day, approximately every second day initially. The ‘pattern’ will be adjusted to suit the energy of the group, however three meditations a day is the likely pattern of the latter part of the course.
You should expect to be in meditation for 3 - 4½ hours per day, although by the end of the course, probably longer.
Meditation is cross-legged, on mats / pillows. If you cannot sit cross legged on the floor, chairs will be available. It is advisable to prepare your body as much as possible ahead of time, since cross legged/half or full lotus position provides a stronger ‘base’ for practice.
Dao Yin
This includes practices to prepare us for the meditations, as well as Daoist Yoga exercises to cultivate Qi, and strengthen and revitalize the body
Qigong
This includes:
- Dynamic stretching exercises to release the body and stretch the tendons
- Self massage
- Qigong to open the joints and work the internal organs
- Inner smile and 6 healing sounds to balance and harmonise emotions
- opening the energy gates
- Breathing
- Specific Qigong sets eg Heaven and Earth , seated 8 Brocades, Dragon Tiger Qigong
Mystical Qigong
We will also practice Qigong in and with Nature, as we will be in a beautiful mountain environment.
Tao Philosophy, Internal Alchemy Theory
During the course, we will aim to cover the core, essential theories of the Taoist world view, and of Internal Alchemy in order to provide an appropriate foundation on which to build your practice.
We will compliment this with extracts from texts such as the Tao Te Ching, the Chuang Tzu and other well known texts, which exemplify the ‘living Tao’.
Since Taoism is not just a series of methods or exercises, but rather it is a way of living life, of seeking harmony and balance within ourself, between self and nature, and between self and others, we will at times have an informal ‘open forum’ to consider and discuss how Tao applies to our daily life.
- 6:00 – 7:30 Meditation
- Breakfast
- 9:00 – 10:30 Theory or Qigong
- 11:00 – 12:30 Meditation or Qigong
- Lunch and afternoon hiking/resting/swimming/etc
- Dinner
- 20:00 – 21:30 Evening meditation practice