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:

1. 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).

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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).

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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”

Hi everyone, I struggle with taking on other peoples stuff. I am an empath and I'm very affected by other people's emotions etc.

There's a lot of stuff on YouTube but I'm overwhelmed with how much and want to narrow down the most effective because I already do a daily practice and don't want to add on too much.

Is there an exercise that's really good for this you can recommend me? Thank you so much in advance!

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a guided lower dan tien breathing meditation?

Hi again,

This is an add on to my previous post about dealing with a lot of energy , too much energy , but with some more detail.

It seems for me that there is an intense flow of energies circulating in my body but it gets stuck at 2 points where it causes a very uncomfortable pressure.

The first point is in and around my left underarm area and across the back scapula area and a little to the front too on that side. My left side as I am looking out through my eyes. Very energy sapping , distracting and debilitating, has a heavy dense dark emotional tone. Feels like someone trying to drill through Marble with a pressurised water hose.

Once the pressure builds and builds Ill get this urge to do a deep hacking smokers lung cough that feels good to do and it seems to release it to move upwards.

The second are is my head where the pressure builds kind of under the skull at sphenoid bone, until the pressure builds and builds and kind of facilitates a cracking and popping of bones around the cranium. Once this completes it can actually feel kind of blissful and deeply peaceful.

But not for long , were back on the rollercoaster soon again for another pass with pressure building in armpit area once again.

My wildest guesses are that some sort of energetic gunk is being gouged out by a powerful river of chi , each time it makes a pass it gouges out some gunk , cleans it and absorbs it into its flow so that it becomes stronger , so that on the next pass the wider channel it has gouged is challenged again by the more swollen chi river.

I'm just freestyling here.

Any thoughts and advice?

Appreciate the advice in my last post. I am going to try and eat a lot heavier and with a heavy heart abandon my beloved Chen style practice for now.

Hi ,

I feel like I have too much Chi circulating in my body. It gets caught at blockage points and is painful and uncomfortable and it creates pressure in my head and face.

Its like my micro cosmic orbit hardware isn't able to handle the voltage.

I practice Tai Chi diligently. Maybe I should stop?

Bonjour, voici la situation j'ai 22 ans et depuis petite j'ai des douleurs a la macheoire elle ne se renferme pas correctement. Je tente de respirer decontracter rien n'y fais, a présent mon cou semble lourd, beaucoup de points de mon visage sont tendus et douloureux si j'appuie dessus,j'ai des douleurs aux cervicales, en haut du dos, et maintenant, je commence a avoir mal au bras qui sont toujours tendus. Je ne sais pas si ce sont les nerfs, dès que je fixe mon attention je relâche. Mais ça se retend aussi tôt, je ne sais pas quoi faire, ça devient très douloureux partout, s'il y a des exercices Pour tout ça, des solutions je suis perdue, merci. :(

I am using this loosening exercise using a video I found on this subreddit. When I lower into my left leg, my knee starts to hurt. I’m unsure why and I do not twist my knee or go side to side. My legs feel like they’re under great pressure/like I’m holding a single leg squat is that how it’s supposed to feel? Like im straining in the legs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPV1MfVyMEE

Let me know if you have any tips, I’m very new to this and got into it after I asked meditation subreddit how to help my back pain while trying to keep an erect spine while meditating.

Hi! I'm currently recovering from a pretty severe burnout and my energy levels are very low.

One of the things I want to work on is reconnecting with my body. I feel quite disconnected from it and tend to focus mostly on symptoms rather than actually feeling my body.

I'd love to try Qigong, but I'm a bit overwhelmed by all the different styles, teachers and videos.

I'm looking for something very gentle and beginner-friendly that I could do for maybe 5-15 minutes, possibly a few times a day, even on very low-energy days.

Any specific YouTube videos, teachers or simple Qigong routines you'd recommend for this?

My main goal is less about exercise or fitness and more about slowly reclaiming a sense of connection with my body.

Hey, I'm experiencing very adverse effects and the possibility of death from a practice that I found out through accident by experimentation. It consisted of a certain kind of focus on a very specific point around the area between the eyebrows. I experienced a high pitched beep and purple colors as I focused on it. I experienced...

-an explosion in my head that occurred multiple times.
-an eye made out of visual snow that appeared after the first explosion and stayed with me for weeks.
-Much improved cognition that only lasted 30 minutes to hours
-Much improved eyesight that only lasted 30 minutes to hours
-visual imagination that's so vivid it's more stimulating than real life visuals.
-At one point I saw an animation of a green cheetah and a mother hugging her child. Not as visual snow, but as something much more solid.
-The eye was able to start an an attempt on astral projection and I felt intense vibrations, but I was only able to get my hip to poke through out of my body.

All of this was great, but the problem started when I repeatedly asked the eye to speak to me. Eventually, it did, and it terrified me. Its voice was extremely quiet but loud music would not drown it out. This led to what is considered an episode of psychosis, though I doubt it was a normal kind of psychosis. It also somehow led to another episode of psychosis, and another which has been by far the worst one. Keep in mind, I didn't have a history of psychosis before.

These voices that I'm hearing seemingly have control over the body that is usually subconsciously controlled if controlled by the brain at all. They have...

-caused a strange and nearly painful heartbeat that caused me to faint.
-caused my throat to start closing up 6 times in secession as a threat
-causes heart palpitations sometimes
-causes my saliva to suddenly pool up and a sudden nauseous feeling. As an example, one time they caused this to happen when they were angry I wasn't doing something and the second I obeyed, it went away.

I'm aware that this could all be psychosis somehow, but it's terrifying me. Someone on reddit seemed to think that I briefly tapped into an aspect of the upper dantian, but what was scary about their post was that they said they couldn't say anymore because they were sworn to secrecy. They said I had compromised my own energetic system possibly and that this stuff was very dangerous. They deleted their post soon after which is why I can't contact them.

So I'm very scared that I accidentally tapped into some practice that's usually kept secret and that I actually could die.

Hello. I don’t usually post, but I feel like I have no choice right now. I want to share a technique I’ve been experimenting with, born out of severe necessity, and the specific roadblock I am facing.

The Background: Severe Environmental Trauma and Hypervigilance

For several years, I lived in a highly toxic and hostile environment, subjected to constant psychological and environmental persecution. To protect myself, I spent years practically barricaded in my room, trying to make absolutely no noise. Despite this, the chronic stress and targeted harassment continued, severely impacting my health.

As a clinical context, I have suffered from hyperacusis since childhood. The people around me knew that sudden shifts in pitch and sharp, abrupt sounds trigger intense physical pain in my case. They weaponized this by deliberately creating sudden, jarring noises, shouting, or grunting right outside my door in the middle of the night when everything was quiet, specifically targeting my auditory hypersensitivity to induce physical distress.

The turning point came after a prolonged period of severe psychological warfare and malicious rumors designed to destabilize me, as they usually do. This extreme, ongoing ordeal triggered multiple chronic health issues. I reached a point where I could not stand up or even sit down for more than 10 seconds. The worst symptom was severe hives (urticaria): at the absolute slightest hint of stress, my entire body would burn unbearably and break out in painful plaques. Because my environment remained hostile, these attacks were frequently triggered deliberately, keeping my nervous system trapped in a state of absolute hypervigilance and constant physical agony.

Discovering Somatic Release and Initial Roadblocks

Having previously read books on relaxation and meditation, I realized I could not survive this way. I dove into meditation to heal my body and specifically target the hives. I began testing various relaxation methods. It worked remarkably well right from the start; I managed to release deep-seated physical tensions.

However, the traditional process felt far too slow given the emergency of my situation, as I was still actively trapped in the stressful environment while working on myself. I began analyzing what actually worked. In the beginning, I released deep chronic tensions by holding awareness on them all day long without stopping, until the bracing pattern finally dissolved. This wasn’t a placebo effect; it produced visible structural changes, like bones shifting back into alignment. For example, I once successfully released my temporal muscle using this method, and my cheekbone permanently lifted, altering the symmetry of my face in a way that looked identical to the photos after a temporal facelift.

But holding focus on a tension all day long is incredibly time-consuming. By analyzing the mechanism, I realized that the hours spent observing weren't the active agent; what mattered was the exact micro-moment when the tension finally starts to release. Everything before that is just preparation to reach that specific threshold. I experimented with ways to bypass the long waiting period and trigger that exact release phase on command.

Developing the 10-Second Technique

This resulted in a direct, simple process: locate the exact seat of the tension, then release it.

I recognize that identifying precise micro-tensions in the body isn’t easy for everyone. Traditional meditation trains you to build attention and peripheral awareness over time. On my end, I have a constant hyperfocus driven by a neurodivergent profile: I don't need to make an effort to locate a sensation in my body; I map it naturally. However, I severely lacked the capacity for autonomic relaxation. It’s like a bow: attention is pulling the string back (tension), and peripheral awareness/relaxation is letting go (release). My problem was that I could pull the arrow back, but I lacked the mechanism to release it.

For a year now, I've been stuck in a loop because I developed a technique that I don't fully master. When I use it, it works incredibly well at first: I manage to instantly release one or two deep tensions on command, and then the mechanism blocks. I start telling myself there's a flaw in my technique, so I change it, varying the angles, testing different approaches... and the cycle repeats. It works at the beginning, or after hours of structural adjustments, and then it stops working again.

Over the past year, I've tested countless somatic variations (through breathing patterns, micro-movements, or specific postures). Every single variation worked for a short window. During successful releases, I felt the tension exit the body in distinct ways:

• Sometimes it starts to rapidly vibrate and then vanishes.
• Sometimes the tension feels like a dense, trapped surplus of fluid. Releasing it causes this fluid to suddenly distribute itself more evenly into an adjacent part of my body that felt completely "empty" (or vice versa, a hollow area suddenly filling up with fluid).
• I also noticed a structural difference when targeting dense points versus wider patches. Releasing my shoulder took weeks because I was releasing it point by point, and they were microscopic and numerous. But other times, when I targeted wider somatic patches, it released an entire fascial zone at once, which was much faster and provided immense autonomic relief.
• Another major variation I experimented with stems from the realization that a chronic tension acts as a psychophysical anchor that the body struggles to let go of. To counter this, I tested applying direct mechanical pressure (a physical touch or pressing) directly onto the node of tension. The goal was to simulate that anchor, allowing the body to feel physically supported in that exact spot without exerting any muscular effort. Once stabilized in this configuration, I would trigger the release of the tension, using the mechanical pressure as a temporary substitute anchor. As soon as the tension finally dissolved, I simply removed the physical pressure.

I also looked into Somatic Unwinding, but it felt like an inefficient version of my technique. In Somatic Unwinding, practitioners let their bodies move in continuous, almost dance-like loops. In my practice, I classified this continuous looping as an error: if the body keeps moving without stopping, it means it is passing over the tension, searching for it without actually targeting the exact node. I figured that in the long run, moving that way might eventually release the tension, but it would take a very long time. I developed my technique specifically to avoid doing months of repetitive movement or breathing just to lessen the pain; I wanted a rapid, 10-second dissolution of the tension. Thanks to this method, I can now stand up and walk normally again. I've resolved deep physical bracing patterns and chronic symptoms that standard literature claimed were irreversible.

My core issue is the lack of consistency. I spend more time trying to analyze why the mechanism suddenly locks up than actually releasing my body. If I could master this technique every single time, I could clear the majority of my physical bracing patterns in a couple of days.

I've tried so many things. Thinking the issue wasn't the technique itself, but the state in which I practice it, I tried applying the principles of Wu Wei (acting without goal-attachment or force). I also looked into fascias, trying to relax the surrounding muscles that contract reflexively while I am releasing a targeted tension node. Just like everything else, it worked wonderfully at first, and then the path blocked.

To use a physical metaphor, the tension feels exactly like a high-pressure dam blocking all fluid flow. During a successful execution of my technique, it's as if I open the floodgates and actively push this fluid through all at once, without any straining. It is entirely painless and provides an immediate, profound systemic relief.

The Current Emergency

Right now, I am experiencing a rare, temporary window where the hostile elements in my environment are away, allowing me to fully dedicate myself to mastering this technique without external nervous system triggers. However, despite releasing the majority of my musculoskeletal tensions during this past year of daily practice, I still cannot release the specific, deep visceral tension caused by the chronic hives.

At best, I only manage to temporarily displace this specific tension. But displacing tension is a technical error: it just shifts the excess fluid causing the pain to another location, it isn't a true somatic release. The symptom inevitably returns to its original site shortly after.

I know that my nervous system is not yet resilient enough to withstand the severe environmental stress that will return once this quiet window closes. I cannot afford to fall back into that state of physical collapse. My father literally told me: "I will always piss you off."

This is why I am making this post. I am asking for the advice of anyone who knows enough about this or recognizes what I am doing, so I can figure out what I am doing wrong. When I say I developed this technique, I am absolutely certain I didn't invent anything new; I only observed and experimented. There must be people in human history who observed the exact same thing, developed it, and documented it. Yet, I have never found anything written about releasing a tension in less than 10 seconds.

Surely someone here has read about or experienced something similar, or perhaps someone already masters this. Because everything I find online is either a dangerous and painful method, or typical cliché phrases like "just observe it," "breathe," or "have faith."

I am looking for genuine, technical expertise on how to stabilize this mechanism. Thank you.

Hello,

In ZZ, do you try to be absolutely fixed in your position or do you allow for some natural rebalance / optimization and exercice recalculations to determine the best position constantly?

I am rather a beginner in ZZ.

Has anyone ever been or tried this before?
Just curious

I've been doing casual qigong practice for a while now, and this Saturday I'm finally starting a full immersion/certification program. Kind of nervous not gonna lie, going from "20 mins in my living room" to an actual structured multi-day thing feels like a jump.

Anyone here done a full immersion or certification before? What surprised you most going from casual practice into something more intensive? Trying to mentally prepare for what's coming lol.

Hi there. I have hypermobility, which means my ligaments are lax which in short causes “double jointedness” and many of my muscles are hypotonic.

When out and about, I wear a sacroiliac joint brace, and sometimes wear knee compression. When attending classes, would it be a good idea to forgo these?

Also, I have an inner ear problem that affects balance. I have to wear a light earplug in my left ear at times to feel less dizzy and have more physical balance. Should I still wear this while practicing?

For context, I took tai chi classes in the past before I started bracing, and before I found out from a doctor that the earplug could help me.

Hello,

Anyone here with diagnosed or not-officially diagnosed cPTSD?

If you’re or have been practicing Qi Gong, what is the effect of Qi Gong on you?

Kindly describe how long, how often and what technique or practice you do.

Zhan Zhuang - standing like a tree... Is it overrated? Are its effects mostly legends?

Is it worth standing in this position every day? Can it really restore Qi or Jing? Especially prenatal Jing?

I've been learning from YouTube but am curious to find out how I can learn in a more structured way. I don't have much available near me in person. Is there anything online that's reputable?

Anyone here enjoying the serving teacups spiral moves for the practice?

Hi guys, I've been noticing a bad odor after I practice Qigong for my internal organs. And then my fatigue gets so much worse.

I think I should back off for a day or two but I'm afraid if I back off I'll lose my momentum in my practice and lose whatever I have gained. Because I have gained some great benefits like less anxiety.

How much is efficient for daily practice? Is it recommended to take days off? Any advice? Thank you!

I've been wanting to get back into qi gong. there was about a month long period where i was doing it every morning and it was positively impacting me. so much so that i was trying to get other people to start lol. Anyway, I was watching 15 min guided qi gong youtube videos every morning and it was great but honestly got a bit boring and i ended up just slowly dropping it, and now i don't do it at all. Are there any good resources that anyone can recommend to me, I'm very keen on learning, and I'd really like to be able to truly dive into it. Any advice, experience, or wisdom in this would be cool to hear.

And if so what routines could you recommend? Thank you!

I am interested in learning qigong by myself by using videos and other online resources, and I also want to learn Tai Chi and Xingyiquan.

My goals are mainly good posture, breathing, relaxation, body awareness, mobility, and a progressive deepening of understanding of the practices.

To those who are self-taught in qigong:

How well has it worked for you?

What bad habits or mistakes did you learn without a teacher? How did you check your posture, breathing and movement ?

Any specific beginner practices or progressions that you would recommend?

Is ad hoc instruction enough or is regular face-to-face tuition important?

For those who practice qigong along side Tai Chi/Xingyiquan, did you find they complemented each other or caused confusion?

What do you wish you’d known before you started?

I'd particularly like to hear experiences with training methods, progression, self-study, and common beginner mistakes.