Juan Li
Seminar Topics
Juan Li in Phoenix
November 3-5, 2017
November 10-12, 2017
Weekend #1: Nov 3 - 5 (everyone welcome -- no pre-requisites)
Friday, Nov 3 6:00pm - 8:00pm OVERVIEW OF THE TAO TREE OF PRACTICES
No pre-requisites for this Friday night lecture.
This is an introductory presentation on the complete path of self development in the Daoist system.
For more indepth information from the Ichingdao website:
Saturday & Sunday, Nov 4 - 5 9:00am - 6:00pm INTRODUCTORY LEVEL: Core Foundations Practices
The Only Prerequisite: Strong willingness to do whatever it takes to go beyond our preset limitations
THE SOFTENING SMILE:
This is the first step in the Dao and the most important. The Softening Smile is the opening key
to the world of communicating with ourselves through feeling. Without the ability to feel there
is no Daoist practice, just ideas and mental concepts.
Feeling focuses the awareness on the present moment which is where the energy is available
at all times. The Softening Smile connects us directly with the life force.
THE SIX HEALING SOUNDS:
The ability to influence the energy flow in the basic organs is developed through the Six Healing Sounds. By improving the energy flow through the organs we begin to have a direct effect on the emotions and the way we feel. This is also the first step in learning to revitalize ourselves through energy practices.
The ability to feel begun with the Softening Smile is now developed further feeling each organ. This practice is also called ‘Falling in Love with the Organs’ and the outcome is greater self-care and self-respect.
At this level one begins to open a direct dialogue with the intelligence in the organs themselves by asking what needs to be done to help them work best. Through this initial step, one begins to recognize that there is a superior consciousness operating through each of the organs. The communication which develops opens the way for the relation between the Inner Guide and positive ego -- a relation that becomes crucial in the process of self development.
BASIC STRETCHING:
A simple sequence of stretching from the toes to the head for increasing energy flow and unifying the body.
A sequence of sounds clears and empowers the different energy centers along the central channel raising the level of consciousness from distracted to centered.
The important breathing exercise called Spinal Chord Breathing helps change the quality of the blood and the mind thus improving the ability to focus clearly and experience calmness.
This stretching sequence is the prelude to all the energy practices. Its daily practice increases the feeling of self-esteem.
STRUCTURAL ALIGNMENT 1: EMBRACING THE TREE POSTURE:
An essential part of energy work is having the proper physical alignment between the two key sources of energy, namely the earth below and heaven above. Without proper alignment it is impossible to focus the mind clearly and for long periods of time without growing fatigued.
The standing position called Embracing the Tree aligns all the bones in the most efficient way possible. The bones through their crystalline structure are ‘antennas’ through which earth and heavenly energies blend and circulate. This posture energizes the body with a minimum of effort and in the beginning stages helps discover within minutes where blockages preventing proper flow are located. Its daily practice lays the foundations for personal integrity in our actions and thoroughness in what we do.
THE MICROCOSMIC ORBIT:
This is the first practice in which we make direct conscious contact with the life force and its flow through the meridian system. It is very difficult to deepen energy work without having a clear and conscious experience of what energy feels like.
The Microcosmic Orbit is a circular path through the spine and the front part of the body connecting with the complete meridian system all over the body. It is considered the ‘Main Street’ of energy flow therefore it is essential to maintain this avenue open and moving.
Each time we consciously complete one circuit of the Microcosmic Orbit the personal level of vitality increases.
All Daoist energy practices at the end lead to the Microcosmic Orbit and it is through this practice that we begin a life-long friendship with the life force. Daily practice generates the feeling of personal power and the ability to efficiently carry out our purpose.
Weekend #2: Nov 10 - 12 (pre-requisites for Sat./Sun.: Basic level of Inner Smile, 6 Healing Sounds & Microcosmic orbit)
Friday, Nov 10 6:00pm - 8:00pm SOUND SLEEP, AWAKE REFRESHED!
No pre-requisites for this Friday night lecture.
GOOD SLEEP, EMPOWERED AWAKENING
In our fast paced society, despite great technological advances, more people than ever before are having trouble sleeping and recharging. The need for stimulants, such as coffee, to get going at any time during the day is a sign the organism is not recharging properly during sleep.
Revitalizing sleep is a precondition for good health, good mood and quality of life. This evening we learn three simple exercises anyone can do for calming the heart, lowering the center of gravity, and improving the quality of sleep.
What we learn this evening can be of great benefit not only to ourselves, but also to those who share our lives. Let's show our experience in knowing how to live well.
Bring comfortable clothing and a strong wish to improve the quality of your life!
Saturday & Sunday, Nov 11 - 12 9:00am - 6:00pm AWAKENING THE INNER GUIDE
Prerequisite: Basic level of Inner Smile, Six Healing Sounds, & The Microcosmic Orbit
AWAKENING THE INNER GUIDE
In the ancient Daoist accounts of the creation it is mentioned that before a being incarnates it makes an agreement with the Creation as to the purpose for its coming into life. The agreement consists of two parts, first, the Creation will provide all necessary situations for that being fulfilling its purpose and second the individual being agrees to work with whatever conditions the Creation provides. This process is named 'Fulfilling Destiny'.In keeping with the agreement, the first thing provided by the Creation, is a tiny seed of itself within the heart center of every living being. This divine seed functions as a compass guiding the individual consciousness as it goes about fulfilling destiny. This seed is the 'Inner Guide' or the 'Self' as Carl Jung named it in his study of the human psyche.
The Inner Guide speaks through dreams, intuition, synchronicity, coincidence and what is unknowingly called 'miracles'. The Inner Guide speaks to the ego function, which as part of the agreement made by the individual consciousness, is supposed to follow the advice in the particulars of how to fulfill destiny. Jung wisely observed that the Self/Inner Guide is the function administering the complete process of self development, so that everything that happens to us, in one way or another is part of the strategy of the Inner Guide in helping us fulfill our life mission.
When the individual begins to neglect the messages of the Inner Guide, the ego turns negative, opening the way for the beginning of symptoms and eventual illness to develop. In the ancient Daoist medical texts, the causes of illness are attributed to 'losing the way' of fulfilling destiny. A great part of humanity in this present era, is ignorant of the existence of a higher consciousness in charge of the process of self development, and rely exclusively on the limited ego as a guide. By placing the ego at the center of the personality, inevitably, a great deal of anxiety is generated out of fear of making the wrong choices in life.
The alchemist who worked with the structure of matter, observed that, “within everything created is the seed of its own perfection”. The Inner Guide is the dynamic seed of our own perfection, and the perfect antidote to the unconscious belief that we are born bad and that perfection resides somewhere outside ourselves.
In this workshop we are going to follow a series of steps to establish the Inner Guide at the center of the personality and generate the conditions for fulfilling destiny and living a healthy life.
In this training we will be guided through a series of practices for:
** Counteracting self rejection by establishing a working image of Original Mind and the Inner Guide
** Working directly with the causes of illness by reuniting the Yin and Yang organs and reestablishing communication between Inner Guide and positive ego.
** Eliminating guess work about important choices we need to make by asking the Inner Guide about the outcome of what
we intend.
** The mantras for clearing the factors obscuring the Inner Guide function.
** Identifying the different ways in which negative ego manifests in our lives.