Star Gazing – scooping blessings from lockdown
“The Head and the Handle (of The Dipper) are the necessities of the Way, they are the rope to manage all transformations.” - Wei Boyang (2nd c. Daoist master, Cantong Qi)
So here we are in week four. We decided to do a newsletter to keep you entertained, and to stay connected. I am teaching regularly on Zoom both sitting meditation and Qi Gong. There is a great deal, particularly with an energetic art, that cannot be done online, but still, it seems to have a great deal of value for many. I do however think it’s important to recognize that whilst many types of learning and work convert very well to the Internet, Nei Gong is not one of those! Body mechanics, some principles, breathing work, movement precision convert well. Deeper energetic work will have to wait; and those of you secure in those practices can carry on with your practice in the knowledge that I am about if you need to ask something.
Wherever you are I hope you get some opportunity to contemplate the night sky. The Big Dipper is one of our most recognisable constellations and has been sacred to the Daoists for thousands of years, from the practices of the shamanistic Wu people through to the influences of Buddhism into China and to the present day. The Dipper is seen as the Axis Mundi, the axis of rotation of the spherical spheres, and as the bridge between the Sun and Moon, both externally within the universe and within our internal universe within the body.
The bowl and ladle shape of stars is said to govern the internal structure of the heavens and scoop up the Yang Heavenly Qi and distribute it over the year to different constellations. Each constellation has its connection to the elemental energies making up the universe externally but also within our own bodies. Anyone familiar with the 5 element theory of Chinese Medicine will understand this. One hugely important thing to appreciate in relationship to harmonizing with the stars is that this Qi is a form of information. This information is passed down through the stars to humanity in its purest expression of the elemental energies, which when ‘strung together’ creates profound openings to the deeper layers of consciousness that exist with human beings, often spoken of as a golden light.
Within some texts and scrolls the Dipper is shown with 7 stars, in some it is said there were 9. Scholars have differing opinions about this; perhaps originally centuries ago 9 stars were visible in the night sky, more likely it is allegorical, in that 9 within Daoism represents Heaven. Pure Yang. Pure consciousness. The light of enlightenment. Within religious Daoism (not particularly an interest of mine), there are rituals advising praying to the dipper for extending one’s life and overcoming plagues, perhaps relevant at the moment!
The stars were the only way the ancients could navigate across land and sea. To translate this to internal navigation perhaps makes even more sense when we consider how much time people spent in intimate relationship with the environment. Daoism as a tradition is known for this ‘as above so below’ tenet that underpins the entire tradition, such a beautiful aspect of connectivity that webs through medicine, spiritual cultivation, and the martial arts.
The bowl of the Dipper points towards the pole star and rotates around it throughout the year, distributing the Heavenly Qi throughout the environment. Internally a practitioner of Nei Dan can time his or her practices to these cycles, which when understood makes the practice far more efficient.
So wherever you are, or whatever practice you have, it can be wonderful to step outside, calm your breath and body and simply gaze for a while at the night sky. Who knows, maybe the spaces within the heart may open ever more deeply and the stars will shine within illuminating your way. I wish you all peace, freedom, health and energy as we travel on through the lockdown. Keeping our minds as clear, and hearts open, I look forward to seeing you all when we can.
