Course Content
Welcome
Welcome to "An Introduction to Qi Cultivation: The Fundamentals of Qigong and Internal Alchemy"! In this section, I'll share my personal journey into Qi and introduce you to the lineage from which this wisdom originates. We'll also go over the course structure and what you can expect. Let's embark on this journey of internal alchemy together!
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Qigong Warm Ups
Qigong practice has its own unique forms of warm up, including exercises which focus on joint rotations to improve the flow of energy, and the practice of shaking.
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Posture Notes & Balancing Exercises
This section contains preparatory posture guidance and post-practice balancing tools. The posture notes for standing and seated exercises are designed to improve alignment, balance, and energy flow, and the post-practice balancing tools are designed to ensure that any stored tension that may have occurred during practice is alleviated.
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Enlivening the Organs with Energy
In Taoist practice, the internal organs are regarded as particularly important places to focus Qi, because they are places in the body where key internal processes take place, as well as the place where our emotions are stored.
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Earth and Sky Breathing
The following meditations use the mind to extend the energy body beyond the confines of the physical body. As you do this, you open yourself to a whole palate of feelings that go beyond normal experience.
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Generating the Qi Ball
The Qi ball is a foundational concept in energy work: the idea that we can generate a quantum of energy which then is, and has, a force of its own which we can direct as we will.
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Working with the Qi Ball
Once we have generated the feeling of a Qi ball in the body, we open up a series of practices that, utilising the quantum of energy represented by the Qi ball, serve to further enhance the ability of the body to attract, store and command energy.
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The Microcosmic Orbit
This is a foundational Taoist exercise for health and wellbeing, otherwise called “circulating the light”.
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Working with Qi pressure & “Cooking” Qi
This set of exercises involves compressing and refining energy within the lower tan tien, transforming it into a more potent and concentrated form for enhanced vitality, resilience, and internal power.
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Inner Alchemy
By working with light, breath, and focused intention, we engage in the ancient art of inner transformation, taking a step closer toward our highest potential as beings of energy and consciousness.
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Absorbing Qi from Nature
External Qi absorption techniques harness the abundant energy from nature allowing practitioners to replenish, refine, and harmonise their internal Qi for greater vitality and balance.
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“Empty Force”
In this Section, we begin the sacred work of returning to ourselves — drawing our awareness inward, listening to the subtle movements within, and learning to gather and circulate our innate energy.
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Meridian Slapping
I call this practice "Better Than a Coffee", because it provides a full-body energetic stimulation, but without any side effects!
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Seeing the Qi
It is also possible to see the Qi visually!
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An Introduction to Qi Cultivation: The Fundamentals of Qigong and Internal Alchemy
About Lesson

Virtue Cultivation Practice

 

As mentioned in the introduction to this section, according to Taoist theory, the organs are not only responsible for physical functioning, they also are responsible for our emotional states. There is a particular positive emotional state and negative emotional state associated with each major organ. They believe that if our internal organs are functioning well, then our emotions will be positive and balanced; but if there is a dysfunction in one of our organs, then we will experience the concomitant negative emotional state of that organ.

 

As a result, the Taoists believe that we can help to heal disorders in our organs by working on the positive emotional states, or virtues, associated with those organs.

 

 

An interesting feature of this understanding is that one can work on negative traits indirectly by focusing on the positive traits associated with the same organ. For example, to manage fear, work on gentleness; to manage anxiety, work on openness and trust; to manage anger, work on kindness.

 

The following exercise creates an internal feeling of peacefulness and calm through the acknowledgement of the different virtues with respect to their “seats” in the bodily organs.

 

This practice is designed to nourish the internal organs while cultivating the positive virtues associated with each one. By combining the Inner Smile technique with affirmations, we reinforce the connection between our body, emotions, and mind, fostering a deep sense of balance, harmony, and self-awareness.

 

Practice Guide

The exercise is provided in the video below.

[INSERT VIDEO]

 

A written description of the exercise is provided at the Exercise Files tab.

 

After you have completed the exercise, write down in your journal what happened for you during the practice.

 

The video contains the short form of the exercise. You may want to practice the longer form of the exercise which then goes on to include the Yin organs as well, with the associated affirmations:

  • Small intestine – “I am joyful”;
  • Large intestine – “I am righteous”;
  • Gall bladder – “I am generous”;
  • Stomach – “I am open and trusting”;
  • Bladder – “I am calm”.
Exercise Files
Virtue Cultivation Practice.pdf
Size: 66.16 KB