The Dao of Sexual Love
By John Voigt
Too many people have lost much of the passions and pleasures of sexual intimacy. It need not be that way. Even the practice of a few of the ancient Chinese secrets of sex may help bring back past joys, and even offer the practitioner the best love making she or he ever experienced.
When working with men and women in various qigong groups I am continually amazed at the blockages I see in the flow of sexual energy. I want to tell them sex is not about mechanical proficiency (although that may be gained through various Daoist energy qigong practices), but instead making love should be about physically sharing energy (qi) and becoming one with your partner in spiraling unfolding fields of ecstatic love energy.
Image by Alex Gray : www.alexgray.com
These blockages and deficiencies in the flow of sexual energy may be seen in the way people carry themselves when moving and walking: men in the way their hips and lower bodies often seemed hardened as if muscularly protecting themselves against a physical attack. It is harder (for me at least) to see this blockage in women, especially younger women, but here also many women show a fear of free flowing movement in parts of their bodies, especially in the hips.
I would never tell this to a qigong group I was working with unless I had been teaching them for a very long time and I was sure that they could be comfortable, or at least open minded, with it. Also, since I am a man, I would treat any such exposition to female students as if I was “walking on egg shells”— if I were to do it at all! Even with private male students it is a potentially dangerous venture: men usually are more frightened of sex than women.
However in my qigong classes I often try a quick semi-fix for blockages in sexual qi-energy (without the participants even knowing that they are being worked on). Keeping the back straight, we swing our hips in oblong-like circles in the ubiquitous qigong form known as “Hip Rotations” or “Hula Hoops.” I tell them be a little kid again in a playground with your friends. Have fun and be happy. Done properly this loosen them up and they laugh and have a great time. Sometimes we pretend we’re all Elvis “The Pelvis” Presley.
If I have a private student who seems capable of learning about spiritual sexual energy—someone who is not frightened about the potential infinite power housed in their bodies—I might talk about some of the following things: first and most obvious: When a person is sexually aroused, the heat, the power that they are feeling is a manifestation of qi. And that this energy may be directed and manipulated for spiritual and psychological growth and well-being.
Double Sexual Macrocosmic Orbiting
This has both partners continuously aware of and guiding the cycling merged qi electrical-like energies running through both their bodies. This is somewhat similar to what is called the “Macrocosmic Orbit” or the “Great Heavenly Circuit”; but rather than cycling qi-energy only up and down and through your own body, here it is cycled between both of the lovers. When done fully, each partner may enter into a state of continuous body orgasm (there is no loss of sperm). It is an ultimate physical, energetic, and spiritual ecstatic love experience for both. As with any advanced qigong, it is best to learn it directly from a master and practice it over time. This article only outlines the process. But if the reader is comfortably adept in moving their internal qi energy, they cautiously, and carefully might begin with the approval of their lover. Approach this slowly. As with any intense spiritual practice there is a possibility of a dangerous qi “short circuiting.” Use common sense: if anything doesn’t feel right stop doing it; and if you want to continue learning it find an experienced and ethical Daoist master teacher.
Image by Alex Gray : www.alexgray.com
Still in its simpler forms it is relatively easy to learn. Once the lovers can sense and then direct the qi through mental focus and breathing it should be able to be done at a rudimentary level. In a comfortable position one of the lovers enters the body of their lover. Find the positions that feel most comfortable and easy to move for both you and your mate. Slowly and gently begin the intercourse.
One Daoist method of heightening the arousal of sexual qi is to gradually increase the penetration of the penis, tongue or fingers until full penetration is reached, then begin this pattern again with the partial penetration. Daoist master and medical physician Dr. Stephen T. Chang in his book The Tao of Sexology calls it the “Sets of Nine.” A man slowly penetrates his lover's vagina with just the head of his penis. He does this nine times, followed by one firm deep stroke into the vagina. Next a "set" of eight shallow strokes and two deep strokes; followed by seven shallow strokes and three deep strokes, and so on until a final set of one shallow stroke and nine deep strokes. Then this process is repeated from the beginning. When the woman is entered, she loosens the walls of her vagina, and when the man is withdrawing she could tighten as if to prevent his leaving. Here Dr. Chang is using Daoist theory in patterns of alternating yin and yang as in slight to full, and loose to tight.
However the love making is done it should not be a race to see who orgasms first, or for how many times. In fact in the highest Daoist practices the man does not ejaculate semen, he internally guides it through the center of his body up into his brain. That certainly is beyond the scope of this short article, but those interested should reference Daoist (or “Taoist”) Alchemy. For our purposes here the man should hold back orgasm as long as comfortably able to do so. That lengthens the love making which should give the woman even more pleasure. A woman is free to repeatedly orgasm because she is not loosing any Jing (“essence-qi”).
Image by Alex Gray : www.alexgray.com
Back to the lovers: fully aroused both slow their movements until hardly moving at all. Intertwined together they touch the tips of their tongues (electric sparks can be literally perceived) and by using focused awareness and breath begin directing the qi to flow between them. Using the genitals and tips of tongues as the connecting junction points, like electricity it flows in the meridian networks up and down the front and back of their bodies. Notice the vital qi energy is flowing both up AND down the governing (back) and conception (front) vessels. Then the qi does the same throughout the arms and legs and wherever else they touch. The sensations in the sexual organs are “cosmic” and “heavenly.”
One partner can playfully move qi from their body into the lover; or each in turn can move the qi back and forth from each of their bodies; or both can do this cycling at the same time like two Ferris wheels spinning in opposite directions (that’s advanced). Any aggressive movement and ejaculation is not needed: It becomes possible to have both partners orgasm in their entire bodies, effortlessly, many times, and for extended periods of time. A good teacher certainly helps, but in any case much can be accomplished by practice (I think a nice way to spend your time).
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John Voigt teaches qigong in the Boston area. He is Editor for the online publication, qi-encyclopedia.com
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These incredible images from Alex Gray - www.alexgray.com
The Dao of Sexual Love : Chinese Medicine Living
