More than likely, you’ve heard the term “Internal Alchemy” or “Neidan” before. I know I used it several times in my blogs but haven’t actually explained what it is. Internal (or Inner) Alchemy is an important practice for most Taoist schools. Internal Alchemy is considered the Taoist art and science of gathering, storing, and circulating the energies (reproductive, life, & spiritual) in the human body. The ultimate goal is “merging with the Tao (i.e. becoming an immortal)”.
Taoism focuses on balancing Yin and Yang in your life. However, Internal alchemy focuses on the body and the Three Treasures (Qi, Jing and Shen) and how you are able to bring balance to your life. One way is to work on clearing the disruptions or blockages in the meridians so that Qi flows smoothly throughout the body. When your energy flow is healthy, it not only helps the spirit and provides mental clarity, it also balances emotions, increases vitality, health, and longevity.
Alchemy is considered an ancient precursor of the natural sciences. Some consider it a bit magic, mystic, chemistry, and even physics. The foundation of energetic health most likely even predates Taoism and is possibly over 4,000 years old. From ancient through current time, practicing Taoists emphasize care and healing the body through the Tai Chi, Qigong, martial arts, meditation, yoga, and even massage to create oneness between the physical body and the Tao. However, in the West, these same activities are usually done for leisure, to decompress, or even to lose weight.
Eastern medicine believes that there is a subtle, energetic metabolism, “which sustains human vital functions”. Vital energy (which we name Qi) flows through the human physical body. Even though this energy flow happens without our knowledge (or effort on our part), we can decide to cultivate and optimize it. This can be to improve our well-being, spiritually grow and evolve, help us to feel more connected and/or authentic, or even heal (from physical, emotional, or spiritual trauma) in order to become more whole.
Internal Alchemy is an array of classical Chinese medicine, fangshi, meditation-based, esoteric doctrines and physical, mental, and spiritual practices used to nourish and prolong life, transcend birth, old age, sickness, and death. Some, but not all practitioners, believe that Internal Alchemy can cure or prevent all sorts of diseases and/or that they can live for ages without getting old. Some believe that they can attain the Tao and become immortal. Here,the ultimate goal is to create an immortal spiritual body that would survive after death and avoid the natural rules of life. However, for the majority of practitioners, the goal is simply to improve physical, emotional, and mental health.
There are “experts” who maintain that theories in Internal Alchemy are derived from “external alchemy (waidan), correlative cosmology (including the Five Phases), the emblems of the Yijing, and medical theory, with techniques of Taoist meditation, daoyin gymnastics, and sexual hygiene. I am sure that there are other theories as well. It is beyond the scope of this blog to name them.
Essentially, the Internal Alchemy practitioner perceives and works with the meridian system to open, cleanse, and balance the meridians. The result is improved perception, better health, and connection to the Tao. The Internal Alchemy or Neidan works with energies already present in the human body. It does not use natural substances, medicines, or elixirs from outside of the body.
Bottom line: whether or not you are a practicing Taoist, most of us want to improve our well-being, to spiritually grow and evolve, feel more connected and authentic, and to heal (in every way) in order to become more whole. We also understand the importance of cultivating Qi and eliminating (or at least reducing) any energy flow disruptions or stagnation throughout our bodies.
As far as becoming immortal, many practitioners would consider that a lofty, but not-always desirable, goal. It suppose it depends on the individual!
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