Hello there! I have come across this forum repeatedly in my own searches and queries regarding energy cultivation, alchemical practices, and neigong over the last few years. I am frequently delighted by the depth of knowledge, insight, and curiosity displayed by many of the posters and postings Iāve come across. Iām not sure why Iām only now joining the forum.
For myself I often feel a touch isolated in my own path and journey and donāt always have an outlet to share or even compare notes with others. I donāt believe it has been neglect as much as a realization that internal arts, cultivation, and meditative practices are solo endeavors in practice and I feel I often forget that others can have just as profound a connection to dao/source/god as I do myself.
As practice: I engage with and practice neigong and alchemical practices alongside qigong and recently a tiny bit of taiji and bagua. I have lived āhalf in-half outā my entire life. Spirit and energy is simply as real to me as breathing and always has been. Much of my life I have often engaged with many energy practices as they come to me not knowing the same ones have been handed down from mystics and sages to others for centuries. I just knew what they felt like. As I 5 year old I didnāt know I was opening my third eye but simply enjoyed the feeling and sensation of directing my attention to it or making āsword fingersā and feeling the pressure at my forehead - as a minor example.
Later in life I have found energy healing and faith healing as practical applications. Simply moving along with my intuition has yielded many uncomfortable but fantastic encounters and situations.
Prior to any knowledge of daoist alchemical methods I had had my own kundalini awakening and had regularly practiced what I later found out are shengong in nature. Without divulging loads of personal things the drive to learn energy cultivation practices came out of necessity. The lives we lead will often leave us in need of healing and wisdom whether we like it or not. Step back, do the basics, work on foundations, start over. Chop wood and carry water.
The yield has been worth the effort but I still have questions! I feel like a novice when I see so many doing the same work. Its great.
Cheers,
adam