Inspiration penetrates my headtop? What the h, e, double hockey sticks do they mean? Well these cryptic sayings help you ponder the meaning of tai chi and internal martial arts. There are many levels in tai chi and the first starts with intention. One must learn to use their intention to draw energy up the back of their spine to the top of their head, then back down to the lower Dan Tian. The micro cosmic circuit is an important, it helps deliver the energy to the all 3 Dan Tians and develop deeper levels of internal training. Once your lower Dan Tian becomes full and rock hard one can start developing the internal organs and fill the body, thus naturally expressing through the 4 extremities or antennas. It all starts by using your intention and delivering energy up your back side though 😉
Now there are three gates that one must get through to fully open your Governor Vessel (Du Meridian). The first gate is (GV 1) located on the tailbone. Energy must be in abundance to “push through” the gates. Intention must truly be focused but not on the point, a person must concentrate on the Bai Hui point (crown of the head) as if the gates were already open and the energy flow within the vessel was smooth. Once the energy “pops” through the first point it will again need to gain abundance at the next point opposite the middle Dan Tian, located between the shoulder blades. Lastly it must pass through the base of the skull also known as the Jade Pillow in Daoist terms.
*Side note, Depending on your lineage and sifu these points have different names and even locations. I’m not one to argue whether it GV1 or 4, 10, 11 or 12, and 16 or 17; the concept is the important part–knowing that feeling or hearing a popping action will allow you to know you have passed the gate!
**Side Side note, But Sifu I didn’t hear or feel a pop! That’s ok, keep relaxing and moving the energy. A slow leak may occur that eventually gets bigger and bigger. Not everyone is the same but when a person starts really feeling the energy buzzing/vibrating in their upper Dan Tian they will know it!
With the Du meridian open your yin and yang energies can blend and true harmony can be gained. By combining the active and passive energies, vigor and health can be re-aligned, your essence can be converted to energy and this energy can be moved, especially through the yin meridians to nourish the 5 organs and then to deeper levels.