The Microcosmic Orbit Course – 2 amazing experiences

The Microcosmic Orbit Course (including the Macrocosmic Orbit)

This Microcosmic Orbit course has optional captions (English, French & Spanish).

The exercises in the Microcosmic Orbit course help the practitioner to, tangibly, circulate the Qi in both of the Orbits. To do this successfully there are a number of things that need to be in place. Among these are: –

• Proper posture.
• A quiet body and a quiet mind.
• The Kua (the Energy Gates) must be open.

Meditation, visualization, or imagination is not enough. The Orbits are already there but, because of our lifestyles (bad posture, etc.) they tend to be weak and fragmented. The methods taught in this course are designed to help the practitioner to access them tangibly. To then use that tangible awareness to locate any weakness in the flow, any blockages, any sluggishness and rectify them.

The methods are simple and the instructions are easy to follow but, like anything else that is of worth, you need to put the time and effort in. Please note that the Microcosmic Orbit course is not suitable for beginners. If you are new to Qigong, or are relatively inexperienced you should consider doing the Qigong for Beginners course and one of the Intermediate courses before enrolling on this one.

The Microcosmic Orbit circulates up the Governing Vessel, from the Root Chakra to GV 27 (Du Mai 27), and then down the Conception Vessel, from CV 24 (Ren Mai 24) and back to the Root Chakra. The Macrocosmic Orbit is the flow of all twelve meridians. It is the awareness of the flow of the Leg Yin, Arm Yin, Arm Yang and Leg Yang meridians.

The aim of the Microcosmic Orbit Course, my aim, is to give you the tools and the guidance that will enable you to be tangibly aware of both orbits. Aware of the flow and the qualities within that flow. This course is aimed at experienced practitioners of Qigong so I will not be spending time teaching the stances, Kua opening exercises, etc. These, if required, are covered in separate video lessons.

Tuition in the Microcosmic Orbit Course is much more compact than in an ongoing, live, class but everything you need to know and practice is included. I will be referring the acupuncture points and their names, that lie on the two Exceptional Vessels that are involved in the Microcosmic Orbit. Diagrams are provided so that you can familiarise yourself with them. There are also diagrams of the 12 meridians but no acupuncture points will be listed, or mentioned, as we will be working with a broad brush. 

These Qigong will be taught using Wuji stance but can be practiced seated, kneeling, or lying flat, if Wuji stance is not suitable for you.

Qigong is just one word among many that is used to describe working with the Qi. Sometimes defined as Qi work, or Qi skill but a more accurate definition is Qi skill attained through Qi work. Not physical work, through Internal work. In this course we are using both Active Qigong and Passive Qigong. We will be using the Yi (the cognitive brain) to guide the Qi and the Shen (the consciousness) to listen to it. Listening, AKA Listening Jing is the passive awareness of Qi flow and its qualities and you will be spending time in each lesson, using Listening, to increase your awareness of both flow and quality.

In the Microcosmic Orbit Course we are using what is termed the natural flow, rising along Du Mai (Governing Vessel) and descending along Ren Mai (Conception Vessel). Although this orbit can be reversed, using the reverse flow is not covered in this course. It is sometimes written that, in men, it is this “natural flow” that occurs in the Microcosmic Orbit and in women the flow is reversed. However, the Qi flows, can flow, in both directions whether you are male or female. Qi is not bound to a single direction, it is not bound by linear flow.

The work that you do in this course will increase your listening skill and it is through this that you will start to appreciate the incredible world of Qi. Listening is passive awareness, it is tangible awareness. It is not imagination. 

Willpower and awareness are the two most important tools of Qigong. The Yi guiding, the Shen listening. You will get to know the difference and why it is so important to listen if you wish to progress on your Qigong journey. Over the years I have met countless practitioners who thought they knew exactly what Qi “feels” like…….. Like a spongy ball, or magnets repelling each other. That is as far as they had progressed. They had never got past this point. Do not get stuck there by letting the Yi interfere. They were stuck because they had not stopped guiding. By anticipating you are using the Yi to mould and guide the Qi. Do not anticipate or you will create the same patterns over and over again indefinitely. In this course there is no anticipation, only acceptance of what is there. So, are you ready to experience some true Qigong? If so, the the Microcosmic Orbit course is where that can start.

The Microcosmic Orbit Course- Feedback, Questions and Answers

I have uploaded some of the Qigong experiences that, in their own words and diagrams, students are having while practicing and as a result of practicing Shen Qigong and working with the orbits (Microcosmic Orbit and Macrocosmic Orbit). Feedback, Q&A    

Qigong information

• The Microcosmic Orbit
• A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Taiji
• Chi Kung Ameliorates Symptoms of Chronic Fatigue: A Pilot Uncontrolled Study.
• A review of clinical trials of tai chi and qigong in older adults.
• Psychophysiological outcomes of health qigong for chronic conditions: A systematic review.
• Cognitively Oriented Behavioral Rehabilitation in Combination with Chi Kung for Patients on Long-Term Sick Leave Because of Burnout: REST-A Randomized Clinical Trial.
• A preliminary study of the effects of Tai Chi and Chi Kung medical exercise on indicators of metabolic syndrome, glycaemic control, health related quality of life, and psychological health in adults with elevated blood glucose.