The Key to Daoist Inner Alchemy

The corpus of techniques in the Daoist alchemical tradition is vast, but there is one essential key that makes the whole thing work.

It’s so important that if you don’t have it, you can visualize all sorts of traditional imagery and do the most advanced breathwork, and you won’t have done a single moment of real alchemy.

On the other hand, if you do have it, you don’t need to imagine trigrams or cauldrons or vapors, don’t need special diets or breath holds.  The alchemy will happen all on it’s own - as attested to by the world's diverse mystical traditions.

This key ingredient, the common denominator in all mysticism and alchemy, is GRATITUDE!

How does this work?   Read on below...

We can use the imagery of the inner body to explore how gratitude functions in the alchemical transmutation.  In Daoist practice, there are two important “fires” in the body: one in the heart, and one in the belly.  The one in the heart is supposed to be like a lantern illuminating a temple - quiet, contained, and more about light than heat.  The one down in the belly is meant to be like the fire under a cooking pot, and this is where alchemical transmutation happens.

Think about it, if your chest feels full, if your head feels hot, if your heart is over-active, any stimulus or energy that shows up is likely to cause you discomfort. 

Now imagine the opposite, your heart feels free and open, your belly feels empowered and your center of gravity firm.  When this latter state is the case, it’s almost like you can respond to anything and not be thrown off balance.

In alchemical terms, they say you can take the energies that Life is bringing to you, and cook them in this fire of the belly to extract the nourishment from them.

Gratitude is the key because the heart light and the belly fire are connected - in the classical Chinese medicine text, the Ling Shu, it says, “at the 7th vertebra there is a small heart.”  This refers to the acupoint Ming Men, which is synonymous with the lower belly, cauldron fire. 

When we are grumpy, anxious, competitive, hateful, or manic - the qi (vital force) flows upward into the chest and makes the heart-fire blaze.  It is only when we are compassionate, calm, and grateful, that the qi flows down and warms the belly.

 Because of this heart-belly connection, Daoist alchemy and qigong spends a lot of time meditating with the sensations and attention in the “lower dan tien” - the alchemical cauldron at the center of gravity.  This is even represented in the 2000 year old “bible” of Daoism, the Dao De Jing, where it says “Empty the heart, and fill the belly.”

Even though in one way, gratitude seems to make our heart feel full, the Daoist alchemists would probably say this sensation is more about the heart being open.  When this center is open, the heat flows down and warms the cauldron at our center, and the light can shine out and illuminate all around us.

Each week, I'll be sharing another tip on transformational practice, leading up to our monthly workshop on Dec 12, "Advanced Inner Alchemy', so watch your inbox for powerful practice insights.   Check out the link below to learn more about the class!