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Art of Yellow and White for woman
Alchemy is art of discovery which allows one to find happiness in every action and fulfillment in any external manifestation. Alchemy attains harmony by interconnecting the internal with the external. This art teaches the body, the energy and the mind to interact according to natural laws. Alchemy is determined by laws, regulated by cycles, and changes through rhythm. This makes Alchemy a Path, which is based on knowledge about the structure and development of all existing things.
In the period of its formation, Daoism was a culture which organically combined both the female and the male aspect. This combination was the very basis of Daoism. The sources of Daoism are generally related to shamanic practices which combined both observation over the natural processes (and principles) and the mystical experience of the universe. In the beginning this combination had no structure and was sporadic in nature – something characteristic for the female principle. Later, this perception of the world served as basis for the formation and development of a system.
This perception corresponded to the female principle of preservation and served as fundament for all further systematic constructs. Nowadays some researches characterize Daoism as formation related to the female principle of growth and nurturing, opposing it to Confucianism as reflecting the male principles of rationality and authoritativeness. Indeed, when Daoism began to assume systematic form, everything that made its knowledge structural and developed it reflected the yang aspect of energy, and everything that preserved and sustained it – thus serving as fundament – reflected the yin aspect of energy. Daoist idea of cultivation (pei yang) was based on natural principles and laws that were manifested in nature itself, which served as objective reference point for the development of the concept of cultivation.
The alchemical component of Daoist teaching developed throughout the formation of Daoism as a whole. It should be noted that the essence of practice was identical for both men and women, although female work required different rhythm. The fundamental Yin-method in Female Alchemy (yin qi nei lian shu) began its formation in Daoism in III – IV c. AD, and was generally the same as the one intended for men. Differences existed only in the preparatory work.
Daoist alchemy for women is based on the understanding of six Daoist sects which formed and developed the knowledge about female alchemical work in the 1600-1800 cc:
- Zhongtiao Laomu School
- Danyang Shenmu School
- Nanyue Wei Furen School
- Xie Ziran Xiangu School
- Cao Wenyi Zhenren School
- Sun Bu`er Yuanjun School
The study of Daoist alchemy for women passes through three basic levels:
Level 1
Attaining the art of the consciousness – understanding of the unity of the spirit, the energy and the body. The level has eight stages and is oriented towards understanding of the developmental rhythm in women:
- Period of formation
- Pre-menstruation period
- Period of opening
- Middle-age period
- Period of settlement
- Post-menstruation period
- Transitory period
- Period of complete transformation
Alchemical work at this level is based on qi energy and its basic purpose is the improvement of Yin nature.
Level 2
Attaining the art of the body – ability to gather and produce elixir through Yin energy. Alchemical work at this level is based on jing energy and its basic purpose is the improvement and transformation of Yin nature.
Level 3
Attaining the art of the spirit. Alchemical work at this level is based on shen energy. It is oriented towards internal transformation when the woman is no longer dependent on Yin nature.
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Classes
