In this video, I’m demonstrating a way of training that combines two of our main practices: the 16-Posture Before Heaven Taiji Form and the Taiji Ruler.

On the left side of the screen, I perform the Before Heaven 16-Posture Taijiquan Form in its standard empty-hand version. On the right side, I pe...

Internal Alchemy and the Purpose of Meditation

The Secret of the Golden Flower describes an alchemical process that gradually unfolds through meditation, and by extension through practices such as Taiji and Qigong.

Meditation does not create confusion, agitation, or psychological resistance. Inste...

Stuart used to write a section for the newsletter called A Few Words. I thought I would continue the tradition in my own way with A Few More Words.

I dream about Stuart all the time. In the dreams, we’re talking, working on classes, planning things, or just interacting normally. Then, somewhere in ...

As the Dragon month comes to a close, the Snake comes slithering in on May 17th to represent the fourth month of the Chinese year. This Snake month will be a Water Snake month, which tells us more about the kind of energy this Snake has.

Snakes already carry the ideas of strategy, concealment, pati...

Hexagram #1, Creativity of Heaven, is a hexagram that carries pure Yang energy. It is the most active, generative force in the Yi Jing and is characterized as strong, initiating, and forward-moving. It is about doing, leading, creating, and pushing forward with clarity and intention. It favors initi...

May 5 – August 6

Introduction

In this seasonal blog series, we offer Taoist perspectives on living in accordance with the larger seasonal changes unfolding throughout the year.

Rather than treating Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter as fixed blocks of time, the traditional Chinese system observes t...

Zhang Sanfeng is one of the most famous and mysterious figures in Taoism and martial culture. He is traditionally depicted as a wandering Taoist immortal, internal alchemist, martial artist, and spiritual teacher. Placed somewhere between the late Yuan dynasty and early Ming dynasty periods, he is p...

On the 14th day of the 4th moon, which this year will fall on May 30th, Taoist observe the birthday of one of its most famous figures, Lu Dongbin. Lu Dongbin is one of the Eight Immortals, a legendary group of enlightened beings who embody different paths to spiritual realization. He also holds crit...

The session begins with an introduction to Tim Burkett and the launch of a new seven-month talk series on The Secret of the Golden Flower.

Connections are drawn between Taoism and Zen, and between Tim’s background and the legacy of Stuart Alve Olson. The series is described as an exploration of “tu...

In conjunction with Tim Burkett’s current talks on The Secret of the Golden Flower, we are also making available on the blog a rare archival audio series by Stuart Alve Olson recorded in 2014. These recordings have long been part of our Internal Alchemy Membership library, and we wanted to make them...

In this second session on The Secret of the Golden Flower, Stuart Alve Olson explores the distinction between “original spirit” and “conscious spirit,” clarifying how the upper, middle, and lower dantians function within Taoist internal alchemy practice. Stuart discusses emotional regulation, the ro...

In this third session on The Secret of the Golden Flower, Stuart Alve Olson explores the practice of “returning the light” and clarifies important translation issues surrounding Chapter Three. Stuart explains the meditation posture involving the third-eye region, the alignment of the eyes and breath...