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Daoist Nei Gong for Women

Daoist Nei Gong for Women

Roni Edlund | Damo Mitchell | Sophie Johnson

(2016)

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Book Details

Abstract

Although the energetic anatomy of men and women is different, the ancient teachings of Nu Dan, a separate branch of internal alchemy for women, have been lost in the literature over the centuries and only survive through practice in the lineages. This book takes a detailed look at female energetic anatomy, exploring how it is different from its male counterpart, and explains and describes the specific practices which support the unique strengths and challenges that the female energy system presents. Previously wrapped in secrecy, the teachings in this book include qigong exercises that activate the energy of the uterus and an explanation of how menstruation and a connection to the cycles of the moon can be converted into a tool for Nei Gong development.

Roni Edlund is a Senior Teacher within the Lotus Nei Gong School of Daoist Arts and is Head Instructor of the Lotus Moon Spiritual Arts School. She teaches Nei Gong in the UK, US and Sweden. Roni was the first woman to begin studying the internal arts in the classical feminine way within the Lotus Nei Gong School and she now aims to teach this specific feminine process to more women.

Damo Mitchell has studied the martial, medical and spiritual arts of Asia since the age of four. He is the technical director of the Lotus Nei Gong School of Daoist Arts, and teaches Nei Gong in the UK, Sweden and the USA. He is the author of several books published by Singing Dragon, including Daoist Nei Gong: The Philosophical Art of Change.


I knew I had found a rare treasure for my instructors and students when I read Roni and Damo's Daoist Nei Gong for Women. Thorough, deep and wise, this is a voluminous "must-have" on any serious Qigong/ Neigong practitioner's shelf. It is sure to answer all questions women will have on these ancient health and empowerment practices, as up until now, so few knowledgeable books have been written about them. Women practitioners will now have a deep well to draw from, gleaning wisdom from two of the finest teachers of Neigong in the modern world.
Daisy Lee, Founder, Radiant Lotus Women's Qigong

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Daoist Nei Gong for Women by Roni Edlund and Damo Mitchell 3
Foreword by Sophie Johnson 11
Preface by Roni Edlund 14
Preface by Damo Mitchell 16
Acknowledgements 19
Disclaimer 20
Notes on the Text 21
Chapter 1 - Women and Nei Gong 23
The Differences between Qi Gong and Nei Gong 25
Male and Female PRACTICE Differences 26
Sexual Fluids and Blood 27
Forceful and Soft Qi Quality 28
Centrifugal and Centripetal Energy Movement 29
Lower and Middle Dan Tien 29
Solar and Lunar Influence 30
Base Desires and Emotional Connection 30
The Developmental Process of Nei Gong 31
Who Should Not Practise Nei Gong? 33
Stages of Female Nei Gong 33
1. Conditioning and Preparation of the Physical Body 34
2. Regulation of Breath and Mind 34
3. Regulation of the Menstrual Cycle 35
4. Extraction of Jing from Tian Gui 35
5. Awakening the Energy System 35
6. Awakening of the Heart Centre 36
7. Attainment of Internal Vibration 36
8. Conversion of Qi to Shen 36
9. Conversion of Shen to Dao 36
Yin and Yang 37
The Daoist Woman 38
Yin and Yang in Women and Men 39
Alignment with the Forces of Heaven and Earth 42
Chapter 2 - The Female Body 43
The Three Prime Bodies of humans\nThe Physical Body 44
The Energy Body 47
The Consciousness Body 47
The Three Treasures 48
A Further Look at Jing 49
A Closer Look at Qi 55
The Nature of Shen 56
Three Aspects of One Substance 56
Blood and Female Spirit 57
Tuning in to the Three Bodies 58
The Energy Body 59
The Acquired Energy Body 60
The Congenital Energy Body 67
Miscellaneous Components of the Energy Body 81
The Consciousness Body 87
In Conclusion 89
Chapter 3 - Breath and Sound 90
Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide Exchange 91
Regulation of the Emotional Mind 91
Acquired Qi Intake and Flow 92
Internal Pressure of the Torso 92
Translation of Mental Awareness 93
Breath and Sound Work 94
Awareness 95
The Use of Attention 95
The Use of Intention 95
Observing the Breath 96
The Relaxation of Body and Breath 97
Emotional release\nThe Release of Physical Imbalance 98
The Release of Emotional Stagnation 98
Energetic Shifts 99
The Connection of Breath to Energy 99
The Fluctuations of the Acquired Mind 101
Beginning to Work with Sound 103
Practising the ‘Ah’ Sound 106
Practising the ‘Om’ Sound 108
Practising the ‘Hong’ Sound 110
Stages of Progression for Sound Work 112
The Attainment of Internal Sound 114
Conclusion of Sound Practice 115
Chapter 4 - The Moon, Menstruation and Menopause 116
The Moon 117
Human Beings and the Moon 117
The Moon and the Thrusting Meridian 119
Tian Gui – Menstrual Blood 122
The Moon’s Cycle\n 122
The Yang Phase 122
The Yin Phase 126
Menses and Emotional Cleansing 127
The Five-Phase Elemental Cleanse 130
The Water Element Cleanse 131
The Wood Element Cleanse 131
The Fire Element Cleanse 131
The Earth Element Cleanse 131
The Metal Element Cleanse 132
Summary of the Menstrual Cycle 132
Moon Gazing 133
The Practice 134
Changes to Menstrual Cycle 137
Slaying the Red Dragon 138
Menopause 139
Menopausal Symptoms 141
The Second Spring 145
In Conclusion 147
Chapter 5 - Lotus Moon Qi Gong 148
Dark Moon Qi Gong 148
Three Circles around the Moon 154
Rotating the Moon 164
The Mysterious Crucible Mudra 167
Chapter 6 - Structuring the Body for Standing 171
The Wuji Posture 173
The Feet in Wuji 175
The Knees in Wuji 179
The Kua in Wuji 183
Spinal Alignment in Wuji 186
The Shoulders, Arms and Hands in Wuji 188
The Face in Wuji 190
Practising Wuji 190
The Hundun Posture 191
Alignments for the Hundun Posture 191
Using the Postures 194
Chapter 7 - The Small Water Wheels 196
Locating the Lower Dan Tien 196
Awakening the Lower Dan Tien 201
Centre of Mass to Lower Dan Tien 203
Awareness on Lower Dan Tien Region 205
Leading the Breath to the Lower Dan Tien 205
How Long to Continue with this Practice 206
The First Small Water Wheel 208
The Inner Orbit 211
Pelvic Floor Pass 214
Lumbar Pass 214
Scapula Pass 214
Occipital Pass 214
Crown Pass 214
Spiritual Eye Pass 214
Mouth Pass 215
Throat Pass 215
Chest Pass 215
Abdominal Pass 215
Dealing with These Issues 215
The Logic of the Inner Orbit 216
The Completion of the Small Water Wheel 218
The Reverse Orbit or the Wind Path 219
The Girdling Meridian Circulation 222
The Side Branches of the Thrusting Meridian System 224
Circulation of Qi into the Limbs 225
The Rejuvenating Effects of the Small Water Wheels 226
Chapter 8 - Heart-Centred Practice 228
What is the Middle Dan Tien? 229
The Five Spirits – a Model of Fractured Consciousness 230
Shen 231
Hun 231
Yi 231
Po 232
Zhi 232
Emotions or Virtues 233
Excitation to Contentment 234
Anger to Patience and Understanding 235
Worry to Empathy and Compassion 236
Sadness to Bravery and Conviction 237
Fear to Wisdom and Clarity 237
Emotions as the Glue of the Acquired Mind 238
Working with the Middle Dan Tien 239
The Light of True Shen 243
The Opening of the Thrusting Meridian 243
Addiction to Internal Sensation 246
The Division of the Two Poles 247
The Spiritual Antenna 248
Spiritual Skills 250
The Large Water Wheel 250
Internal Skill Is Not Enlightenment 252
Conclusion 254
Spontaneous Energetic Movement 255
Progression into Nei Dan Training 258
Appendix 1 - Menstrual Imbalances 260
Appendix 2 - The Ten Lunar Months of Pregnancy 265
Glossary of Pinyin Terms 272
About the Authors 279
Index 280