O. Tree of Taoist Alchemy
In the meditation process of Taoist internal alchemy, the pure
intention (yi) of the Upper Tan (i.e. will of Vast Face) in the
forehead center (Ajna Chakra) directs the heart-mind fire of the
Middle Tan (thoracic center) to concentrate in the water of the
Lower Tan Tien in the abdominal center (Sefirah Foundation/
Below, Svadhisthana Chakra). The fire of the heart-mind heats
the water and turns it into steam i.e. qi (vital energy). )
The qi steam rises, refines, and circulates in the higher centers. This is
the same as the Shekhinah rising up the Central Column of the
qabalistic Tree, and the Kundalini awakening and rising up the
Shushumna of the Chakric Tree.(see Diagram).
When the qi (vital energy) refines and unites with shen (spirit) in the heart center, wood (heart’s passion) and metal (original nature) unite. With the union of qi (water) and shen (fire), wood returns to its source in the liver and metal to its source in the lungs, whereby Heaven and Earth revert to their original positions and the Tree returns to the “Before-the-World Sequence” (i.e. the Tree becomes Perfect.)Rawson, Philip and Legaza, Laslo. TAO: Chinese Philosophy of Change and Time, Thames and Hudson, NY. Ni, Hua-Ching. Mysticism: Empowering the Spirit Within, 1992.
