The Suns Energetic Essence & Gathering The Suns Essence Meditation
“The ancient Chinese believed that absorbing light-energy from the Sun could be used to replenish an individual's spiritual energy. This belief originated from the conviction that when Heaven and Earth separated during creation, spiritual energy (being light), ascended into the Heavens and collected into the celestial bodies of the Sun, Moon and Stars. Thus conscious exposure to the energy of these celestial bodies could be used to increase and fortify one's spiritual energy. The ancient Chinese believed, as can be verified by modern medicine, that each individual has an innate need to absorb sunlight. We thrive on the Sun's energetic nurturing quality. Without direct exposure to sunlight, an individual will suffer from light starvation, just as an individual can suffer malnutrition from the lack of food. For example, sunlight is needed to build strong bones and teeth; without it, children can develop rickets and tooth decay. There are countless other benefits of the exposure to sunlight, such as enhanced immune function, endocrine regulation, and the stimulation of a positive mental and emotional disposition.
Ancient doctors have used the healing potential of the Sun to treat many diseases. Sunlight reaches into the brain through the eyes and is monitored by the pineal gland which acts as a light meter. The pineal gland influences sleep patterns by secreting a hormone called me-latonin. Research has shown that light also travels into the hypothalamus area of the brain, which also influences melatonin secretion. Some of the other benefits of sunlight include: improved mental, emotional and physical wellbeing and performance, the creation of vitamin D (needed for calcium absorption), lowering blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, increasing the level of sex hormones, activating melatonin to control the body's response to light and darkness.
The ancient Qigong masters used the Gathering of the Sun's Essence meditation to absorb the Yang energy of the Sun. By gathering pure Yang energy to Tonify the body's Deficiencies, as well as to consolidate the Zong Qi (Gathering Energy), they were able to eliminate pathogenic factors and prevent premature aging. This exercise belongs to a set of foundational meditations from which the ancient Qigong doctors used to replenish any depletion of life-force energy.
GATHERING THE SUN'S ESSENCE:
STANDING MEDITATION
When first absorbing energy and light from the Sun, the individual should practice during sunrise and sunset, when the top of the Sun is beginning to crest the horizon. This allows the individual the ability to look at the Sun and “sip" its essence through the eyes without damaging the eyes.
The Gathering of the Sun's Essence Standing Meditation is described as follows:
Standing outside on a clear sunny day, face the Sun, and assume a Wuji standing posture. Place the tongue in the Fire position, located in the front of the upper palate, behind the teeth and gum line (Figure 12.16). The hands are relaxed, by the sides of the body, with the knees bent and the feet slightly wider than shoulder-width apart (Figure 12.17). Stand in a relaxed and tranquil state, breathe evenly and naturally, and rid the mind of any stray thoughts. Begin by performing the 1 -10 Meditation (see Volume 3, Chapter 28).
If the Sun is beginning to crest the horizon, slightly open the eyes. You should be able to see soft, gentle, reddish sunlight. If the Sun has already risen, close the eyes and use inner-vision to see and feel the energetic light of the Sun.
Inhale through the nose and imagine directing the rays and filling the mouth with energy from the sunlight's essence. Still facing the Sun, with the eyes half open, "infuse," or absorb the Sun's energy into the eyes. Gather and blend the energy absorbed from the eyes into your Upper Dantian. Close the eyes and imagine blending the Sun's golden light energy with the Qi inhaled through the nose. Hold the breath and focus the mind on mixing both energies; swallow the combined energies slowly while exhaling, and send this energy down to the Lower Dantian. Repeat this process for several minutes.
Stretch your hands towards the Sun and imagine embracing it (Figure 12.18). Point your index fingers toward the center of the Sun and imagine pulling the Sun down in front of your Lower Dantian. Keep it positioned there for several minutes (Figure 12.19).
Imagine the Sun gently rolling and turning itself in front of your lower abdomen (Figure 12.20 and Figure 12.21). Keep your elbows at your sides and gently shift, or sway from side to side; imagine that it is the sun's movement that causes both your arms and body to move. Using this image keeps the Sun in a central and energetically powerful position.
Place both hands around the Sun as if embracing it (Figure 12.22). Next, imagine the Sun slowly moving in through the navel. Allow both hands to follow the Sun into the navel, ending with your left palm on top of your right palm (opposite for women). With one deep breath inhale and absorb the Sun's energy into the Lower Dantian while imaging the Sun (beneath the navel) transforming into a luminous ball of golden energy (Figure 12.23). With each inhalation, this golden ball shines brightly; with each exhalation, the Sun's rays expand, internally extending throughout the entire body.
To end, relax the mind and imagine Heavenly Qi melting down the body, pouring through the front, back, and center of the body like warm oil into the Earth. This ending exercise (called Pulling Down The Heavens) allows the Qi to sink into the Lower Dantian, and the body, mind, and spirit to come into a state of peaceful rest and tranquility.
PRECAUTIONS - The Gathering the Sun's Essence Meditation must only be practiced on a clear day, when the Sun is not obstructed. Avoid practicing this medi-tation in times of fog, smog, thick clouds, and solar eclipses, as cultivation during these times will cause the unnatural cultivation of Turbid Qi. Additionally, sunspot activity can induce in-tense magnetic explosions on the surface of the sun. This activity can result in additional solar radiation, which can generate geomagnetic disturbances and cause higher degrees of mental disturbances.”
\\- by Jerry Alan Johnson from the book “medical qigong therapy and Chinese alchemy part 2”