Earl Grey

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

All right, I'll share a few things that happened at least the past couple days! My jing has definitely started greater production--even with very little water intake, during and after the form, I have a lot of saliva, and--warning to those who are a little squeamish--I dreamed that I was doing the forms and woke up in the middle of the night to an orgasm. This is especially significant as far as I understand because as someone who does a lot of internal styles, jing is very important. My other styles of martial arts have greatly improved to the point that I can't pinpoint a moment when I don't feel the influence of FP's unique qi. When I was up in the mountainous area of Sagada in the northern Philippines, where the barrier between the spirit and mundane world is very thin, locals were very, very receptive to the practice and I attracted quite an audience (of both the human and non-human incarnate variety--think of the kind you might see in the film Princess Mononoke). There was a very distinct blue glow when doing forms in the forest at evening twilight and some other colors that made my energetic body resemble a peacock feather. While healing a rape and incest trauma victim, an abused and grieving youth whose partner was killed, and a gout patient, each of them described that while preparing with Flying Phoenix forms before I gave them ear acupuncture, there was a big shift in the outdoor garden we were in, as though it were another universe. After the needles and when I began transmitting Reiki, they all said that I disappeared and seemed to penetrate every cell of their body, removing things that were dirty within them and letting them awaken from a bad dream. The garden also seemed to have a few "visitors" as well who joined in on the fun. Lastly, I look like I've been de-aged at least 10-15 years and a different face I don't even recognize in the mirror, resembling somewhere between Sting in the 1980s and Duran Duran. I already look quite young for my age, but looking both younger and having an entirely different face and energy behind it, around it, and within it makes me feel like I'm no longer me per se, but the original me, an ancient incarnation of me, or even something beyond me. EDIT: wanted to add that I remember actually waking up TWICE the other night. Before the jing explosion, the first time I woke up, I felt as though I were falling UPWARDS and was afraid I was about to hit the ceiling, and I dared not open my eyes. I then remember hurling down towards the bed and a bit of a bounce before opening my eyes in the dark. I could have either been seriously levitating or having my first out of body experience. This is what happens when one does Moonbeam Splashes on the Water right before going to sleep and at approximately 11:11pm when I started doing the form.

Recently, I just started doing Moonbeam Splashes on the Water (90% 60% 50% 20%). I must say that there is a reason that this gem is right there at the end of Volume 3. There's an indescribable bliss and joy that arises from doing it to the point I've done it multiple times today (both in a row and during random spots of time throughout the day where I have at least 10-15 minutes free) because something about the form makes me feel like I'm returning home every time I'm doing it, as though I can remain in the form forever. After coming out of even just one round of Moonbeam Splashes on the Water, it seems like good luck increases. I would say more about my experience with the form, but I feel like I shouldn't because it would spoil the surprise (and also, a lot has already been said if you simply search through this thread). The world does seem like a far more wonderful place, and the calling to help others that I've been following for years just became so much stronger.

LOL - drunk-dialing for Taoists! How appropriate! I LOVE IT!

Thank you so much for your reply, Sifu Terry. I've decided that I will use FP for life simply because I have confirmed that no other system I have practiced heals better than Flying Phoenix, nor does any other system enhance my healing as wonderfully as Flying Phoenix. Whether or not my goal to become at least an instructor for the basic forms manifests, I am eternally grateful simply because I want to help people and Flying Phoenix makes my path that much more rewarding with the joy that comes from witnessing the tremendous relief and release that my patients have. And so I will practice it for life even if just for the sake of supercharging my healing practices since my patients love receiving healing after I do FP. I hadn't practiced for a few months as well because I was coming out of a two-year relationship, related to a point you had made there about how it affects our partners. While I was doing the form, a lot of things were unearthed, and my calm upset her. When I stopped, I was arguing back a lot more, and even if my other practices keep me calm, they did not have the splash effect of intrinsically healing her the way FP does. And she was a woman who practiced Reiki, Seraphim Healing, and all sorts of systems too, so she knew when I stopped doing Flying Phoenix without me telling her! Being back in the practice of FP for the past few weeks though doesn't seem like I was away at all for the few months that I stopped, and has helped the emotional healing for both of us even if I am the only one practicing FP and we no longer stay together or see each other anymore. That splash/jump-off effect you described was what drew me to the system initially. I love being a warrior, but the honor of being a healer is great, though I guess as you have also mentioned, healer by day, warrior by night fits the archetype I am seeking to embody and to an extent have so far the past few years in the Tao. I have other names for the basic seated exercises and Monk Serves Wine series, but I was a bit shy to share some when I hadn't seen too many people here come out with theirs and didn't want to come off as pretentious. For example, #1 (5% 60% 80% 40% 30%) I nicknamed "Illuminating the Universal Mind" because of the hyper awareness and sage-like compassion that I have when I come out of the form, though I feel more like I'm inside an egg and about to hatch. If I touch people after this, they feel current in some spots. For #2 (50% 30% 10%) I nicknamed it "Fanning the Flames" because besides looking like that's what we're doing, and while my patients are lying down for the first twenty minutes of acupuncture, if I do this in front of them, they feel a wave every time I bring my arms up and down. Lastly, for #3 (50% 10% 50%) that I nicknamed "Holding the Cosmic Egg", I feel a big spark or supernova between my palms and like an egg has hatched whenever I wake up, but immediately I go to heal patients and leaves an extremely concentrated surge of healing after charging up with this form for 15-20 minutes; just today, one patient felt electrical current, gentle warmth, and even water splashing up her legs when I focused on the Kidney 1 point in the soles of her feet. Many, many, many, many, many, many thanks, Sifu Terry and to the Doo Wai family again.

To clarify--yes, eyes open. This is not energy manifesting itself from Flying Phoenix (as far as I know), this was synchronicity with the fact we chose to end our session seconds before an actual fireworks show began. It was not planned nor did we have any idea, but it to me with the rest of our meditation practice that day for the full moon indicated that we are in alignment with the perfect timing of the universe. As for seeing blue energy, it was when some people's eyes were closed or at times I see it as an outline around my body very faintly against white walls with eyes open.

I can't express how valuable this community thread is. It is no doubt it played a role in keeping me on the path and getting me back to practice a couple weeks ago. I'll share how synchronicity and how doing the form led to minor miracles the past week. So while with friends practicing Flying Phoenix's Monk Gazing at Moon, Monk Holding Pearl, Fanning the Flames and Holding the Cosmic Egg (the nicknames that I gave to Seated Meditations 2 and 3, which are 50% 30% 10% and 50% 10% 50% respectively), once we finished Seated Meditation 3, the moment we all decided to open our eyes, fireworks erupted and we had a grand view...of blue, red, white, and purple fireworks. Later in the week, as I tend to do about a half hour of Flying Phoenix when I give people ear acupuncture, and then use Reiki, my patients told me about a penetrating warmth, and one mentioned how when closing his eyes, he saw a blue supernova ball in front of him. I am glad this system is easy to return to and this community is encouraging for all of us, whether beginners or veterans, casual or hardcore.

I am a friend of the author and I can attest that beyond the book, her knowledge is immense and yet her humility in it all is very admirable. She is very informative, but holds back a lot to make sure that while you do get scholarly and legalistic language that spells things out clearly, it isn't something that spoils the experience for you. This is especially true in her tarot work.

Personally speaking, I am in my right mind for at best a second out of possibly hours of seated Golden Flower meditation (the way I was taught, not in Cleary or Wilhelm's translations)--but a second is all one needs for weeks and even months of bliss when remembering what it felt like. The first time I did it, my body swayed, then stood up and did various movements not unlike Spontaneous Five Animals Qigong, where the body is surrendered to the Celestial Healer and it does exactly what is needed to heal inside out. As I practiced more and more, I saw some spontaneous movements from Zhan Zhuang in basic Embrace the Tree meditation, and when teaching, saw other students shake and sway to clear specific channels from both basic seated and standing meditations. Then I experienced light and gentle swaying in FP and felt bliss, especially in Monk Holds Pearl (50% 40% 30% 20% 10%), after initially a little heavy push side to side, then pure stillness. The three static standing meditations from Vol. 1 and first three basic seated, plus the remainder of the Monk Serves Wine movements on Vol. 2 are my favorites whenever I go back because of how easy they are to practice and remember. Going back to your point, Tao Stillness: bliss. What would we pay for to have that and need nothing else? The price of a DVD, the player, and television or computer is not a lot. FP is the only system I tell people to practice now on DVD in lieu of finding a master and lineage to personally train them, and quite a lot more affordable I might add. The energy that puts people in a situation that would make it possible to reach the same bliss I speak of from seated meditation is found in every FP technique. The community to be part of is right here on the Internet for free to speak with and share experiences amongst each other. I actually observe some Vedic practices by way of Sadguru Sant Keshavadas's late pupil, Thomas Ashley-Farrand. So I am familiar with what you describe even outside of energetic cultivation systems like various schools of Qigong. Knowing this, even the most subtle itch or sensation like a splash of water in the nadis internally is a sign that channels open up. Friends who have practiced FPQG with me before have all shared similar sensations more frequently, so it's a testament to the effectiveness outside of my own personal experience, with movement and eventual stillness, but outright calling in bliss (yes... I have said that word far too many times in this post, but I don't care--it's accurate).

I think you mean seated #1 with the palms turning inwards and outwards (5% 60% 80% 40% 30%). I love it and it is one of my favorite basic forms.

Seems like quite a few people are coming and going back into practice. I'm on a bit of a break now myself, but I love reading about other people's experiences here. Almost makes me feel the FP energy just reading about people returning to the practice and sharing their experiences! Quick question to Sifu Terry. Background: I am currently on a long break from FP because of a personal decision I've made to focus on my current practices with my teachers before I return to FP. I am doing so because I believe it's better to not try to fit in FP half-heartedly into my daily training, which is anywhere from 4-6 hours a day already without FP, and also simply because I don't have time for it. My belief is that I must do FP when I can completely dedicate my time to FP rather than treating it as a nice extra practice on top of what I am already doing, one that as I have mentioned before, I wish to eventually learn enough to become an instructor of myself, at least for the basic and intermediate forms with your approval. I am unable to dedicate the time I feel is necessary daily thusly. In my personal practice journal here, a fellow practitioner suggested I at least "say hi" to FP from time to time by doing one or two forms on the occasion, even if not daily, but whenever I can, say for example if one day of the week I suddenly managed to not only do all my practices already and have the chance to do FP, to do so both to get the energy and maintain at least a little practice here and there. So my question: is it better to A.) not do practice at all until I can dedicate the minimum hour or so that I used to daily, or B.) try to do it whenever I can even if not daily or weekly? The goal here is towards eventual mastery and acquiring as much of the unique FP energy, with the intention of eventually being considered to teach with your approval? I will note that I am in no rush towards mastery and can wait 10 years or 20 years, as with the traditional practice of patience and perseverance, or as they say, "Slow down, slow down, I'm in a hurry!"

One of my teachers experimented with paying and teaching for free. He discovered that even if he had the two students coming in the same time and learning the same lessons, the one who paid was objectively better, and it wasn't his bias--it was other teachers and students comparing the two who didn't know about their arrangement. It has to do with the law of exchange and even for the student who didn't pay, he didn't do anything for the teacher, he just came in, learned the form and lessons, and left. Another teacher learned over the years when he didn't charge at all, he never retained students. When he charged too little, he didn't find many students at all. When he charged a premium, he attracted many more students. I believe in paying my teachers, because while it's priceless and beyond value, there is simply something that does not connect without giving to one's teacher. The caveat is that the lineage must be good and the teacher must also be of outstanding character, for the teachers I have weren't approached for just their style, but their good hearts. I don't care what style one teaches, if he is a good man (or she a good woman), I will learn under them because I wish to be like them.

I recall reading that the warm-ups weren't necessary if you have experience, and as far as I understand, they were just that: warm-ups to prepare you for Flying Phoenix Qigong. Those movements help you familiarize your body with the movements you'll do with the sequences eventually, and so you don't need the warm-ups once you get to the main forms. It's somewhere on this thread, but someone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

It tends to happen equally both standing and seated, movement and dynamic. I'm waiting to hear what Sifu Terry says too so I can figure out if this is anything to worry about or if like some others I've spoken to for practices like zhan zhuang, they say that it's mainly to generate saliva to swallow, and to connect the channels, regardless of the air, fire, or water points.

Like I said, I usually don't willingly stick it there in the water position, but it spontaneously rolls back involuntarily...

Yes, I read about the three positions here on TDB that's how I got to questioning the air, fire, and water positions. I tend to be most comfortable with the water position and only stick to the air position when instructed to unless water itself is the ultimate ideal, because in the Vedic system, it's the kechari chakra. It's apparently so important that some yogis would slice off bits of their tongue until they could reach back and hit this comfortably and effortlessly endlessly. No thanks!!!

I just recently encountered some discussion about placement of the tongue on the roof of the mouth. Generally, in my other practices, I place it in the water position--in the soft part of the palate in the back of the mouth, but for Flying Phoenix or any other practice I have been taught to make the "L" sound just behind the teeth--the air position-- I do it this way. From what I understood previously, it doesn't make a difference except when noted otherwise, like those who study the Microcosmic Orbit and do the water, fire, or air positions. My question is this to Sifu Terry or anyone who can comment: is it strictly and absolutely important that we only use the air position for tongue placement, or is the water or fire position okay? I ask because oftentimes, my body during the static meditations moves involuntarily, not just head shaking or upper torso moving, but at times, the tongue moves from air position to the water position. For my martial practices, I've never had the problem of the tongue moving from air to water position, but during Flying Phoenix, it does move on its own involuntarily.

I really need to book a session with Eric Isen soon. That is absolutely fantastic and I am happy for you.

Ah. That's the one, thank you both very much. This thread really does need to be read through completely at least several times (I have only read from beginning to end once). I think I have plenty to practice now first with Sifu Terry's current DVDs and apparently, his forthcoming ones next year, so before I jump into that, I will prioritize the existing DVD series and online or in-person sessions for perfecting my form with Flying Phoenix.

I haven't encountered Golden Phoenix yet and don't believe it's on any of the current DVDs, so I'd likely have to learn it from Sifu Terry himself, and he can determine if I am ready and qualified for this. Thank you for the recommendation though.

Thank you! I only skipped one day after posting this because my congestion made it impossible to breathe through my nose for the day. But the energy really stays for a long time. So I love it! I haven't even practiced Moonbeam Splashes on Water yet, so let's see where that takes me and what the capstone form does. Can't wait! What is Golden Phoenix? My best guess is analogous to a cup of tea: qi is tea, and the cup is our body. The cup can only hold so much tea before it overflows, so the more you practice, the bigger your cup gets, but it is gradual. Your body therefore can't handle so much on the onset perhaps? In addition, the qi is intelligent and seems to determine if you've had enough? Let's see what Sifu Terry says. I am curious to know and learn as well.

I have just finished a gong of over 100 days and while I can't really say much on this thread to contribute to what has already been said many times by different users posting here, and because I already outlined it in my personal practice forum here on The Dao Bums, what I will share here is that I will now try to attempt a year or longer of uninterrupted practice. It was already a challenge to do so for over 100 days, but it worked and had a deep impact on me. Yes, I have more energy, but I find its unique property of more alertness and gentleness, very subtle and still impacts my healing to the point I don't even consciously have to give Reiki to patients before they feel better in my presence. Yes, I dream more lucidly and do forms that impact lucidity, especially Monk Gazing at Moon, Monk Holding Peach, the first two basic seated meditations (5% 60% 80% 40% 30% and 50% 30% 10%) that allow me to manipulate the dream world if I really need to save myself from trouble. And yes, my martial forms are much stronger and alert when doing sensing hands or even defending myself from hooligans attacking me at night. Yes, the plants in my apartment are growing very, very well in the room that I practice Flying Phoenix. All of this I believe I shared before and detailed even more in my personal practice journal. I am thankful again to the Doo Wai family and Sifu Terry for this. If I have anything else to contribute, perhaps I will add, but it's really reinforcing more of what has been said many times here about the benefits, unless it's something unique to my own health and karma.

Tao Stillness, life gets in the way and I sure would love more time to do Flying Phoenix for hours if I could. But I also believe that it's part of the path of the soul reintegrating itself and timing is always right whenever we commit even for just a few minutes daily.

As someone who at times only has the very end of the day to practice, I try to get in at least 10-15 minutes of one static meditation and then the minimum for up to 3 seated and 3 standing total. Oftentimes I do much more. Usually, my night practice is Wind Through the Tree Tops, Wind Above the Clouds, one standing static, and then any three of the first five seated meditations, but NEVER the "waker-upper" sixth seated meditation on volume 2 (90% 80% 50% 20%) since I will never sleep if I do that. It is also 0103 in the morning in Manila now and I should get started on those meditations before hitting the hay tonight. It's worked wonders for me too and given me much better sleep at night.