Trunk

1. Go see a doctor of oriental medicine (acupuncture + herbs). 2. You also need to work on opening the channels and tissues. 3. Circulate blood, any way you can. Running, any aerobic exercise. Read the healing love dangers section from alchemicaltaoism.com. - Trunk

Books often illustrate the part/s of the central channel that their practice/s focus on. Within the body it goes from the center of the perineum to the center of the top of the head. Yet it also continues above the head and below the perineum, how far I don't know... certainly at least an arm's length above the head and somewhat below the feet. Practices usually work with the main chakras within the physical body first, then add on.

I find an x-ray illustrates this well. click on the image for more fun

Authenticity carries presence, authority.

The wisdom of emptiness and bliss conjoined. The fundamental is the rooting of Emptiness and Light within the central channel (sushumna), more specifically in the "deep-centers", the bindus, where the central channel intersects the major chakras. There are various methods in support of that fundamental, including breathing, deity yoga, and specific use of mantra. Interesting! Thank you! (link added)

~~~ TheTaoBums Moderation Team ~~~ There's been so much, lately. Thanks to everyone who is reporting spam posts, it helps. - Trunk ~~~ Mod Squad out ~~~

Very good signs, whatever method used to get there. Fundamental, crux-of-stuff good.

Good advice. Mantis, from what you've described, you shouldn't be messing around with sexual tonics on your own. Most on the popular market are designed for quick boost of libido (yang tonics) and those would make your situation worse. I'd suggest going to a dr of oriental medicine - but going to any kind of dr would be better than taking a bunch of yang tonics. It'd only burn you out more. - Trunk

There's the "+" button, TTB's version of 'like'.

Rumi is pure gold.

Good art.

Yep. Sean & Leslie's domain/server, and that skull is Sean's art from some time back. Nothing hokey, just spiritual artists. In eastern traditions the skull / skeleton is often representative of a couple of things: 1. Impermanence, a reminder that this body dies and so encouragement to do spiritual practice. 2. The experience of Emptiness, as so much of what we once identified as our "self" temporarily disappears from our experience. Often the artistic expression is a dancing skeleton.

I also noticed, a night or two ago, the moon stunningly powerful... I bet there's some extra-strength astrology goin' on, something 's up.

You're still far off. Seems that you're invested in not actually communicating.

Did you even listen to ? Your description bares no resemblence to his vid. He talked about the interplay of raw mystical experience, social conditioning and beliefs. Clear, detailed, over 6 minutes. (The only one-liner was the title.) As far as similarity to greeting cards, I found your put-down of him to be glib, short, catchy. - Trunk p.s. I recuse myself from moderating this thread.

Wow and wow. Thanks for the various sun photos.

imho, Going up & down the spine is a good thing, as is pulsing the center of the brain. It's related to central channel practice. However, there are a number of potent points along the path and a basic strategy would be to enliven them in a balanced fashion. There. 2 cents.

Uh... which? Please provide link or picture? Here's some of the explorations I've done, fwiw.

Welcome.

That's a good idea. The basic idea, "if you want to strengthen your qi gong, practice Zen - and if you want to strengthen your Zen, practice qi gong", has come up in this community repeatedly. What you get from grounding in a Simple Stillness practice will help guard you from some typical qi gong pitfalls. It's a good foundation. Take advantage of that convenient resource that you seem to be resonating well with. Time well spent.

Welcome!

Welcome.

Family dynamics are genuinely challenging. Psychologists get certified as MFCC's "marriage, family, & child counselors" for a reason.