The Five Keys of Daoist Qigong
by Devyn Jones
December 15th, 2022
Before jumping right in and trying to learn qi gong its im most important to learn the five keys of daoist qi-gong. Here are five keys of daoist qigong.
#1 Regulating The Breath
The first key is regulating the breathing. In daoist qi-gong there are six types of breathing and 12 levels of breathing. In order to propely do qi-gong you must learn proper breathing techniques. Without proper breathing you will not be able to convert jing to qi effectively, or raise qi to shen. More importantly breathing follows the three rules of daoist qi-gong, breathing must be smooth, soft and inward. The first level of breathing is chest breathing, and mouth breathing is level zero. The body is lined with connective tissue, and fasicae. Fasiace acts a circuits for qi and blood acts like a battery. When you learn proper breathing, you not only learn to bring qi into the body but you also stimulate an exercise the fasiace in the torso and abdomen.
#1 Regulating The Body
The second key is regulating the body. This is speaking about converting Jing Essence into qi as well as diet, sleep, and Kan and Li balance. Nutrition and sleep are a basic requirement, without a healthy body qi will not be properly cultivated in the body. Its most important to think about your diet honestly and scientifically, wisdom is gained to experential practice, trial and error, learn what works best for you; in terms of what your clear goals are.
Kan and Li
Kan and Li means Water and Fire. Qi is naturally neutral, when it comes in contact with the body is reacts in a Kan or Li way. The result of these recations can make your body yang or yin, if your body is too yang it can heat the body up and accelerate degeneration, if the body is too yin you can risk become depressed lethargic or dissascoiated. Thats why its important to balance energy in the body. There will be more courses and lessons on how exactly to do that in the future. The first step is become aware when its happening, for example when many male hormones are released a man can be become agitated or frustrated or angry, because the hormones were released all through out his channels it makes his body yang. You must balance your Kan and Li so you are naturally calm and neutral. There are six yang organs and six yin organs which we will discuss in later articles.
#3 Regulating The Mind
The Third key is regulating the mind. building off our last key emotions, hormones, qi are all connected. Qi allows all biological processes to example create hormones, these hormones can influence your mental states, and vice versa. Yang emotions are like Joy, Anger and Yin emotions are like sadness, loneliness, even creative dissoaciative states. More importantly not only do emotions influence your biology and mental state they also can be distracting. The first key is breathing and with development of breath you develop mindfulness, without mindfulness you will not be successful in qi gong or spiritual development. Emotions like lust, anger, frustation, sadness will not allow you to be mindful, thus you will not be able merge your shen with qi 'Shen Xi Xiang Yi' and thus will lack control of spirit breathing 'Shen Xi".
#4 Regulating The Qi
The fourth key is regulating the Qi. In order for qi to be properly regulated, your blood cells must be healthy. If your blood cells become unhealthy they will not transport nutrients effective and your bodies ability to function will suffer. Qi is the source of energy in the body, blood cells carry QI like a battery, and Jin (fasiace sperm connective tissues organs) regulate and modify how Qi. Qi must circulate smoothly, through the Qi circulatory system which Ill discuss in detail in another article.
#5 Regulating the Shen
Regulating is the ultimate balance beam, you have to regulate your emotions so mind does not become distracted, you need combine Shen and Qi into Shen Xi spirit breathing, you need direct your Yi (Intention) and your Jing (muscle/fasiace/diaphragram control) in order regulate and direct Qi. Regulating Shen is only possible when you have solid skills in Qi Gong.
Qi Gong means energy that takes time and effort to develope. Anything in life that is solid can't be gained through mere shortcuts