Taoist Healing Arts
The Way of Health & Harmony with Nature
Taoist Healing Arts began in ancient China over 5000 years ago, and were first practiced by mountain hermits who lived in health and harmony with the natural world and the consciousness that guides nature.
Tao philosophy, spiritual insights and healing techniques were documented in the ancient Taoist Classics including; I Ching, Yellow Emperor’s Four Canons, and Tao Te Ching, and are the origin of Qi Gong, Tai Chi Chuan, Tao Yoga and Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Through their deep understanding of the cycles and energy patterns of earth and sky, Taoists discovered the healing power of nature, and developed a self-renewing method for daily practice that tunes the body, breath and mind, and brings them into unity.
Tao – The Natural Way
Tao is the natural way of living in health and harmony with the wisdom of nature and the laws of the universe. It is a physical and spiritual path nourished by nature for balancing body and mind. The Taoist journey of personal transformation celebrates each moment as an opportunity to honour all life, to appreciate the beauty and power of the universe, and to accept all that comes to us with an open and loving heart. Tao can only be experienced though personal practice, not through words or intellect.
Core Concepts of Taoist Healing Arts
-
The Tao of Attainments (Te)
The virtuous way – accumulated experience that leads to better quality of life and a profound sense of belonging in the world – virtues and latent powers attained or inherited by one who lives in harmony with the Tao including naturalness, health, longevity, happiness, humility, compassion, wisdom, healing and psychic abilities -
The Tao of Energy (Qi)
The energetic way – vital life force energy found in all beings in the universe including the sun, moon, stars, oceans, rivers, plants, rocks, animals and humans – health is the abundance and flow of energy between humans (internal life force energy) and nature (environmental life force energy) – sickness is the disruption in the flow of energy between humans and nature -
The Tao of Change (Yin Yang)
The changing way – interdependent energies in constant change found throughout nature – adapting to change by understanding complementary opposites – energetic reversal through mutual cooperation -
The Tao of Effortlessness (Wu Wei)
The effortless way – effortless action without force or conflict – flowing with the current of nature – allowing things to happen in their own natural time – non-resistance -
The Tao of Simplicity (Su)
The simple way – uncomplicated living – nature and human nature in the raw – your original true nature free from desire and egotism -
The Tao of Spontaneity (Zifa)
The spontaneous way – unrestricted by dogma and rules – living in the moment free of memories, associations and expectations -
The Tao of Moderation (Jian)
The middle way – maintaining equilibrium – no excess, no deficiency – restraint and frugality – balance of stillness and movement, sound and silence, community and solitude, technology and nature -
The Tao of Tranquillity (Ningjing)
The peaceful way – tranquil contemplation – observing nature with a quiet mind free of preoccupations and worries – neutralizing the emotions – forgive and forget the past – opening yourself up to the beauty of nature
Tao Te Ching – read more
