Additional Information
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 |