SriChi

http://www.amazon.com/Internal-Martial-Arts-Nei-gong-Cultivating/dp/0972190791/ref=sr_1_8?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380092013&sr=1-8&keywords=nei+gong How is this book? Anyone read it here?

@ Marble, new age old age is right Soul Stew doesn't quite do it for me

Got it! Just went thru the table of contents last night. Looks comprehensive. Sloppy, any concerns on the safety of the exercises as compared with Mantak Chia for example? Thanks, Sri

Shaking to this:

Walaikum assalam, Almaas! Welcome to the bums. I too just got here. I look forward to reading more of what you'll share. Namaste, Sri

Bagua! I went to a Bagua class today and wow, I love it!

I got the book too. Will have it Tuesday

That's very generous of you, Michael. I'll PM you. Thanks!

^ hehe @ OldChi, I did happen upon that thread. Unfortunately, it doesn't work for me. Hopefully, I can make it to the next one, or Michael can come over to the NW. You reckon just the DVDs might work?

Thank you, skydog! More horse stance for me, then That damn pony is strangely alluring The part that you related about it no longer being a muscle exercise resonates. It is similar to when tiredness/pain dissolves and the energy just keeps me there with shaking. I don't think I have ever been extremely grounded as you describe here. Always been residing in the penthouse. I look forward to my grounding experiences with my lad Pegasus. Thanks for sharing.

Interesting read. I'm most definitely on the Medicine Path. Mama Aya being my biggest ally. I have been able to purge a lot of unnecessary gunk thanks to her help. Marijuana is also very insightful, and in fact my very first ally. I think a common effect many people have is of increased creativity and it is the same for me. My experiences have also included some revealing glimpses into my own unconscious behavior. I love plant medicine. I am deeply grateful that I have them as my allies. It is interesting to hear other people's opinions on these things. My ex was apprehensive about my dedication to my medicine path. So, we did it together. I talked to her about set and setting. We had a fabulous, enriching experience. A fairy tale - truth is lovelier than fiction! Bars and nightclubs would be the worst places to do mushrooms. You'll just feel all that icky energy without inhibition. Ouch! I'm almost always by myself, listening to music. I think most people do use these things to escape. And, this is not a judgment I make. I say this because people have actually asked me if I use them as an escape route. First of all, I don't even know if that is possible (my feelings and senses are always amplified). Secondly, it'd be such a waste of good medicine. I toke up or take some mushrooms or any medicine to delve deeper! I run the other way. I mean, I have an opportunity to know more of myself through whatever that is bothering me or troubling me. This is a part of me that wants to speak to me. It wouldn't make sense to me personally to escape/ignore/numb it down. Which is why I don't drink alcohol. Funny, how 'i am' was mentioning his friend circle and how he is compelled to drink some when hanging out. It reminded me of my experience last week, I was with some friends and they were drinking, toking up and some were ready to take some mushrooms also before going to a Burning Man dance party. I was happy to eat avocado and blueberries. When they asked me, I simply said I'm on my dieta for my upcoming ceremony Someone else asked if we are aware during the journey. My experience is that I most certainly am. I can switch it on and off and I thought everybody could (and they can, of course), but apparently it is not so common. For example, I navigate on public transport while on mushrooms and then reach my destination and surrender deeper into the experience. I also take notes and file them away for later reflection because there is so much good stuff happening At the end really, it is all about deepening my relationship with myself and thus with everyone and everything else. I recently recognized that toking up daily was actually getting in the way of me being deeply in touch with myself and the present moment. So, I have shelved Mary for a while. I also realize that I have been disrespecting her, so now I just hold her in my hands and renew our relationship day by day. It is a special relationship one cultivates with plant medicine. Respect is certainly a cornerstone in this. I have been truly blessed with medicine and am immensely thankful for this. I used to be far more zealous in my advocacy of medicine for the people I have since realized that this is not for everyone, just like celibacy is not for everyone or Tantric Maithuna is not for everyone. Trust your own heart, you know best what is for you. My medicine is truly wonderful for me. Sri p.s. I reached a similar numinous space as I do with my medicine while shaking. So, I'm very excited with this new shaking medicine I have found!

Yes. I got over-enthusiastic, which is fine, because now I can look back and take a more balanced approach. I certainly need flexibility in my body and inner strength. So, a core of Yoga and QiGong beckons. I'll still check out trial classes to satiate my curiosity. It is good to suss this out on a forum Thanks! I've recently begun to develop a deeper relationship with my breathing, and I will take it deeper. It is certainly part of the core skills I aim to hone. Thanks OldChi! Thing is I'm not finding as many QiGong classes as I can for martial arts (which is why I was looking at the IMAs as they have a qigong aspect to them). I might end up doing SFQ from the videos as I have consistently heard good things about that system and Stillness-Movement (again no local classes) Sri

OMG, it freaks me out that you said more I just came back from a taijiquan class yesterday that swiftly put me to misery in that rascal stance. I've been sneakily doing it in the restrooms at work to see how much more pain I can bear. It is addictive because it is so deceptively simple

Greetings, My name is Srinath. Interestingly, I have never used it in real life, so I thought might as well pour some chi into it here. I have dabbled with metaphysics for the past 6 years, have had some transformational experiences and have an ever-growing personal library on all things discovery I have not traditionally been drawn to any of the Chinese esoteric tradition. Well, that is changing now. I have recently developed an interest in Yoga, QiGong and Internal Martial Arts, and this site has given me some useful pointers regarding QiGong from what I have read so far. I would welcome recommendations from the kind folk here on about some basic books to start out with QiGong, dealing with both the esoteric theory as well as the practice. My presetn starting point is the Zhan Zhuang system and the book Way of Energy, which seems pretty straightforward, albeit a little too light on theory for my noggin. I would love pointers from you guys. Cheers, Srinath

Haha, that's a whole another deal. I started reading the Kybalion, didn't really delve too deep there. And also, I recently picked up an Egyptian primer (not really sure if it is the best out there as I just picked this book up in a festival at a whim after connecting with Spikenard essential oil ). Right now, it just serves as a bookend for my other books on the shelf Chi practice is fun so far. I also started Shaking! (Ratu Bagus style) Interesting, I love reading. Will put this on my wishlist Sri

This was fantastic reading, thanks to all! I just came back from a Ratu Bagus Shaking Retreat here locally. At first, I was at odds with having to look at his picture and chant his name (Om Swastiastu Ratu Bagus, I love myself), but the more and more I focused on my heart, I felt better. Then I started having mystical visions (like how I would with some plant medicine), and after burning through the pain and tiredness, I am craving shaking more and more. I'm sitting at work and shaking I'm getting the Keeney book this Friday. Time to go search for "Kunlun" for me

From Vasistha's Yoga. You are me and I am you - Shpongle

Hey Ken, Thanks! I was looking for SFQ in Portland actually, they don't have any teachers here. I'm going to all the QiGong I can find here and feeling it out. My goals are health and longevity, spirituality and healing myself and others. Sri

Haha, cool Thanks!

OK.

Right on. It all comes down to how loved I am feeling by myself. There are times when I would try very hard to prove my point, and then there are times when I'm listening to the alternate perspective and assessing it without judgment, with curiosity.

Namaste and thank you, OldChi. Just as info for others who might stumble upon this thread in the future. I have picked up: The Complete Guide to Chi Kung by Daniel Reid for theory, history and terminology to help me understand Chi Kung at a more intellectual level. The Way of Energy by Lam Kam-Chuen as my starting practice set to understand (really understand? ) by experiencing this. I've also found a group that does the Eight Silken Brocades whom I'll join next Wednesday. Regards, Sri

Much thanks, brother Chang.

Thanks, BKA! Glad to be here.