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Alchemy
From the inside out they are:
The North Star- the source of chi or life force for our world.
The Big Dipper (the 7 Immortals)
The four animals (discussed left)
The four seasons
Six of the eight trigrams
The twelve Branches of the Earth
The twelve "sovereign hexagrams"
The twenty-four periods of the year
The thirty days of the lunar month
Sixty of the sixty-four hexagrams*
The twenty-eight lunar mansions (the moon phases)
The Timeless Ones
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*In this model, the primary hexagrams 1, 2, 29, and 30 are omitted because in alchemical practice they are considered primary, pre-heaven hexagrams outside the cycle of time. Collectively these hexagrams 1, 2, 29, and 30 are called "the timeless ones."
Internal Alchemy: Kan and Li (Hexagrams 29 and 30)
There are numerous forms or interpretations of Taoist Alchemy, generally the goal is the same, the form may differ. The goal is to integrate our energies, refine them and unite with the Universal Divine One or Tao, or Wu Ji, The Supreme Unknown. This integration and refinement process allows us to create an immortal being or spiritual body, often referred to as the Red Baby or Spiritual Fetus, that remains intact when the physical body dies.
The process to achieve this is called Internal Alchemy, the Taoists refer to the formula as Kan and Li (Hexagrams 29 and 30 respectively). This article only touches on the many techniques of Taoist adepts. Some advanced techniques require a teacher; beginning practices may safely be done one's own. David Twicken of Twicken Taoist Arts of Los Angeles, CA, who has studied with both Mantak Chia of Thailand and the redoubtable Hua-Ching Ni at Yosan University in Santa Monica, CA. has continuing workshops and teaches at Big Indian, NY, with Healing Tao USA in the summer. Hua Ching Ni calls this process "The Integral Way." 
The process has many levels and usually begins with:
1. Detoxifying the body and emotions.
2. Enhancing the Qi flow through the acupuncture channels and
increasing the Qi level within the body.
3. Connecting to sources for increased energy flow (Earth, Sun,
Moon, Stars, plants, ocean, mountains, etc.) We take these sources of
energy in naturally, but we learn techniques to increase our capacity
to do it.
4. Refine, cultivate, integrate and unite our energy inside and
outside.
5. Similar processes occur with the internal energies of Jing and Shen.
After that is accomplished one's internal energies of Jing, Shen, and Qi (discussed below) are separated for the purpose of refining and recombining them back together into the purest and most refined spiritual essence. One's consciousness has an essence that can be refined, or crystallized.
6. Finally, inner alchemy practice is the reintegration of the Jing, Qi and Shen into the Wu Ji, the Supreme Unknown.
The Spiritual Cultivation Process of Internal Alchemy
1. The technique of collecting or focusing the mind internally - these techniques were developed by Mantak Chia of International Healing Tao and are available from his web site or the site of Healing Tao USA :
The Six Healing Sounds, The Inner Smile,
The Microcosmic Orbit, and Tao-In (Taoist Yoga).
These meditations are available on video tape at the organizations above.
2. The technique of nurturing or cultivating one's Qi - The Microcosmic Orbit and Five Element meditations are the meditations for this. The meditations are practiced daily, especially early in the morning.
3. The technique transforming vital energy into spiritual energy - The fire element in the body is used to vaporize the water element inside the body. This transforms the vital energy into spiritual energy.
Breath = wind Fire = Mind Water = Secretions
By focusing inward everyday, one's energy and spirit is returned to the body and it naturally becomes a spiritual womb. It is then prepared to give birth to a spiritual baby.
Tiger = energy, sexual desire dragon = mind, emotion
4. The technique of Internal breathing - this destroys illusions of the ordinary mind.
The mind-energy-spirit turns inward and become calm and gentle. The person returns to their original nature and the shining mind of Tao comes forth.
5. The technique of spiritual fire - As one's energy expands, yang will expand. One learn to control yin energy of the conscious and unconscious mind.
6. The technique of gathering the immortal medicine - One's energy forms itself so it can live independently in the spiritual world. During cultivation when one's essences have been refined, one may see a light and then may gather or combine that light with one's own essence. This is known as " the birthing process."
7. The technique of refining one's spirit - Energy is gathered like a pearl and grows in size. The crown of the head may have numerous sensations. This is the development of one's spiritual fetus.
8. The technique of guiding the immortal medicine to the abdomen - This is a new
world for one's fetus to live and grow, this new life permeates light throughout the body.
The Theory of Jing, Qi and Shen.
Supreme Way, Heavenly Worthy
Shen energy is located in the head which links to the cosmic stellar Shen and Qi. The energy itself which is defined as the relationship between Shen and Jing is ruled at the heart. It is characteristic of this energy, when cultivated, to merge with the cosmos. The Shen energy pervades the cosmos. It is everywhere. It is the seat of clairvoyant abilities. Buddhist spiritual practice of great compassion for all beings is the cultivation and purification of this energy. The Greater Kan and Li is called Sun-Moon alchemy, as it couples the solar and lunar essences to dissolve the boundary between one's personal energy body and the energy body of planet Earth. In this practice one meditates on the very core of the planet, its (the earth's) central dan tien and doorway to the original shen of the earth being. Our personal inner souls are connected to the planetary souls of the cardinal directions (north, south, east, west, and, also, center).
Numinous Treasure
Heavenly Worthy
The Lesser Water and Fire practice is called sexual alchemy, or Jing energy, as it couples the inner male and inner female essences within the physical body. This alchemy is similar to Vajrayogini practice of Tibetan or Tantric Buddhism. "This [lesser Kan and Li] creates a tremendously healing and blissful field of yuan qi that is used to dissolve blockages in all the meridians, core channels, and dan tiens as well as clearing the vital organs, nervous, lymphatic, bone marrow and blood circulatory system. You open your inner eye in each dan tien and learn to manage your family of inner 10 souls. If you receive the transmission of this formula, other formulas often unfold spontaneously." Michael Winn. Winn is a teacher of this method at Healing Tao USA who lives in Asheville, North Carolina.
Primordial Celestial Heavenly Worthy
Star Alchemy or the Divine Carriage to the Immortal Realms relates to the upper dan tien of the body and the pole star and the black hole at the center of this universe. The Congress of Heaven and Earth, and The Union of Man with the Tao, deal with the three levels of immortality beyond enlightenment where one enters the divine realm before and after exuviation of the body. One may become a member of this world of divine beings, even before death.
The Book of Balance and Harmony by Chung-ho chi and translated by Thomas Cleary is the most renowned classical text on internal alchemy. Also recommended: Awaken the Healing Energy Through The Tao by Mantak Chia of International Healing Tao.
