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The Dream Trip to China is for people who believe that life is a spiritual adventure. It is for souls that hunger for the riches of ancient wisdom in faraway lands, and seek to merge them into the present moment.
“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,but by the places and moments that take our breath away”. |
China “Year of the Dragon” Dream Trip 2012
Full 22-day trip May 18 – June 8, 2012
Michael Winn and Jem Minor will be joined in a powerful “Water & Fire” Taoist Wedding Ceremony atop Huashan’s 3000 foot sheer cliffs, famous as a meeting place for Immortals and Dragon Spirits. Have the spiritual adventure of your lifetime! Year of the Dragon is auspicious for travel and exciting change.
Flower Mountain (Huashan)’s spectacular West Peak, with a monastery on top, will be the Wedding site for Michael Winn and Jem Minor.
Right: Taoist monk views West Peak from valley below, the half-mile high cliff is the “Taoist Yosemite”.
Qigong Journey to 3 Spectacular Taoist Mountains, “Double Dragon Cave” & Golden Flower Temple + Stay in a Huashan Cave or Monastery + China’s Major Cultural Attractions
Get 3 “Mountain Mosts” on one amazing trip:
? Flower Mountain (Hua Shan) = Most Spiritually Powerful mountain in China. In written records and legend, more Tao immortals achieved themselves on Huashan than anywhere else.
? Yellow Mountain (Huang Shan) = Most Beautiful mountain in China. All Chinese people know this. That’s why it’s scenery was used for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” film.
?3 Pure Ones Mountain (Sanqing Shan) = Most “Secret Jewel” mountain to Taoists. Most Chinese don’t even know it exists. A powerful Tao Alchemy Temple surrounded by fantastic rock formations.
Details of unique Water & Fire Wedding Ceremony planned atop Mt. Hua that you are invited to attend:
https://michaelwinnv5.qlogictechnologies.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?rm=mode2&articleid=142
  Bridge of the Immortals, Yellow Mountain (Huangshan) |
| Michael Winn, Trip Leader
Michael is founder of Healing Tao University, co-author of 7 books with Mantak Chia, past President of the National Qigong Association, and experienced traveler to over 100 countries. He is an ex-war correspondent in Africa & Asia turned spiritual guide ? he’s explored both the dark and light side of humanity. He’s led dozens of adventure & sacred tour groups over the last 30 years on five continents. This is his 15th trip to China.
Alison Downey, Co-Trip Leader Alison is a Chinese medical doctor in Asheville NC, experienced China traveller (including 2010 Dream Trip), and Goddess-of-Exuberant Fun extraordinaire. She introduced Michael and Jem at an Ecstatic Dance movement group she helped found, and will be an officiant at their wedding atop Mt. Hua. She will lead side excursions for those interested in Chinese medicine.
Jennifer Minor, Assistant Trip Leader:
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 Michael Winn, holding a rare Red Panda in China
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| Trip Guides:
Cherry Li, born in Yunnan province (near Tibet), from the Yi tribe. She is warm, friendly, and dedicated to helping fellow Taoists understand Chinese culture and its people, and to travel comfortably inside China. She has been guiding Dream Trips in China for over ten years, and will assist us on Xian-Huashan portion. Dana Xu (“shu”), is a long time friend and guide who lives in Hangzhou. She is warm, sweet, and loves to share Chinese culture with foreigners. She’ll be with us on the core trip to Hangzhou and the Eastern mountains and temples. She’ll be a treasured friend to all! |
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This trip explores new riches in eastern China not offered on the previous Dream Trips. Plus continues our pioneer efforts as the only trip that offers genuine cave experience on Huashan. The trips are designed to keep the door open between Western and Chinese Taoist adepts, and to deepen the ground of our personal practice. Our qigong practice will connect us to the uniquely powerful Qi currents flowing in China’s sacred mountains. If your heart feels drawn to China’s mystery, I advise you to trust your soul’s guidance, and trust the Tao will supply the time and resources to GO.”
– Michael Winn
(Elijah Siegler also wrote a chapter “Daoism beyond modernity: The Healing Tao as post-modern movement” in David Palmer and Liu Xun’s book Daoism in the 20th century: Between Eternity and Modernity).
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2012 DREAM TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
? (Full trip only): Attend what I am confident will be the most powerful Taoist ceremony I’ve ever created: my wedding to Jem Minor atop Mt. Hua, on the Secret Celestial Pavilion (inaccessible to tourists). I’ve visited Huashan over ten times, and made friends with the Tao Immortals and Earth Dragon spirits that live there. I’m sure they will show up to empower the Chii Field of the wedding. Guests will also be participating in the ceremony with group practice of Primordial Tai Chi and Big Dipper 7-Star Stepping Qigong to empower a new cycle of love on planet earth during the auspicious Year of the Dragon.
- Climb on some of China’s most powerful sacred mountains. We keep the hiking easy, using cable cars to first get to the spectacular walking areas. Breathtakingly beautiful Yellow Mountain (Huang Shan) was made famous as the backdrop for the film “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”. 3 Pure Ones Mountain is very hidden, considered a secret jewel amongst Taoists. Flower Mtn (Huashan) is the oldest Taoist mountain in ancient texts.
- Meditate in the deep cave used by famous immortal Huang in the 4th century to realize himself. Retreat in the nearby Golden Flower Temple of Taoism’s oldest alchemical Shang Qing sect. The Taoist orbit meditation practice of “Circulating the Golden Flower” was likely named after this temple.
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Learn and practice 800 year old lineage Primordial Qigong (aka Tai Chi for Enlightenment). It’s an amazing form that combines qigong, inner alchemy, feng shui, and tai chi. Get free DVD in advance, when you put trip deposit down.
Our group tai chi practice at Taoist “sacred power” sites is very, very empowering. This form feels different in China. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to practice it on the 3 Pure Ones Mountain or possibly in the Golden Flower Cave. Tao Immortals who originally transmitted this form to Chang San Feng, are likely to show up! - Regular daily qigong training in China by Michael Winn, and by local teachers where available. Training by Michael Winn in the rare and ancient shamanic Seven Star Big Dipper Qigong Ceremony, from the Nu Xian Pai or “Path of the Female Immortals” lineage. It combines beautifully with the Taoist inner alchemy method of absorbing purple chi from the Pole Star.
?Big Dipper shamanic qigong generates a very special and powerful chi field. It was used in ancient times to build a protective field around one’s community or before going into battle. Pole Star and 7 Big Dipper stars are said to control human destiny. Are you ready to take control of your destiny? 
8 Trigrams (bagua) gateway to Qingkeping Monsstery on Mt. Hua, with nearby cave for meditation.
3 Pure Ones Mountain vista, from an amazing walkway.
?We will practice this Shamanic 7 Star Qigong, together with the Wu Ji Gong (Tai Chi for Enlightenment) form, throughout the trip. Together they generate an amazing synergy!
?Taoist temples support deeply tranquil meditation. Meditate in Beijing’s White Cloud Temple and the Temple of Heaven; in the ancestral temple of Ge Hong in Hangzhou; in Ge Hong’s famous alchemist-Grandfather’s Tao Sanctuary on 3 Pure Ones Mountain, and in the 1500 year old Golden Flower Temple in Jinhua of the rare alchemical Shang Qing Taoist sect. Immortal Huang’s Double Dragon cave is treated like a temple. These temples are all highly charged with deep spiritual energy of the Tao.
?During the extra week, the powerful temples we’ll visit include: Xian’s City God Temple; the 8 Immortals Temple (1400 years old!), Jade Spring Temple (at base of Huashan), White God Temple, ruler of the West (atop Huashan), and Goddess of the 9 Heavens Temple, one of many Flower (“Hua”) Mountain temples dedicated to female Immortals. There are many “cave temples” atop Mt. Hua, dedicated to various divine beings, Jade Emperor, Thunder God, Kuan Yin, etc.
? See China’s top cultural highlights: Do qigong on the Great Wall, in Beijing’s Temple of Heaven; tour the Forbidden City, view the magnificent and massive 2300 year old Terra Cotta Army of Emperor Huangdi, experience Hangzhou’s amazing “Water Spectacle” (by Olympic Games Opening designer Zhang Yimou) over Westlake, and Xian’s colorful ancient Moslem Night Bazaar.
If you want to increase your resonance with all things Taoist, this is the trip for you!
PHOTOS:
Dream Trippers having fun at a Dumpling House
For collection of my top China Dream Trip photos:
http://www.healingdao.com/china_dream_trip_photos.html
For photos of previous Dream trip to HUASHAN, see:
http://www.healingdao.com/china_2008.html
For Photo Index: https://michaelwinnv5.qlogictechnologies.com/photos.html
HOW TO SIGN UP for CHINA DREAM TRIP
Money back guarantee: on returning home, you will not be the same person who left!
FROM LOS ANGELES: Full 22-day trip (May 18 – June 8) is only $5590., including airfare from LAX and three flights inside China, all land costs (food, hotel, bus, entry fees, etc.).This includes ancient Xian capital, Terra Cotta Warriors, and 4 nights in monastery or caves on Mt. Hua – and my wedding ceremony!
FROM LOS ANGELES: Short Trip (May 18-31) cost is only $4695. including international airfare, two flights inside China and all land costs within China – 4 star hotels where available, with magnificent banquets of tasty local cuisine. All bus, cable car, and entry fees included.
NOT included in pricing: fuel surcharges (set by airlines at time of ticket issue in March 2012, may be $100+ if oil prices rise), China visa fee, trip/medical insurance ( $150.+ strongly recommended). For tips to the dozens of porters, drivers, interpreter-guides, we simplify by asking everyone in advance for $75. short trip, $105 full trip (about $5 a day). Land cost may increase slightly if there is a significant currency re-valuation of yuan to dollar before trip begins..
You must be at LAX (Los Angeles) late on Friday night, May 18 (to catch 1:40 am flight early May 19). Low cost round trip add-on fares to LAX from domestic US cities may be available. Contact our travel agent, Virginia Chan, at 626-571-6727 (Calif.)
I’ve worked hard to keep this trip affordable – the trip is priced $150. lower than the similar 2010 trip, despite high inflation and a strong Chinese currency driving up travel costs. I also want your presence as a blessing at my wedding! It is priced $2500. below comparable quality tourist trips to China, which don’t cover the same range of exotic locations. In the travel market, this trip is a total bargain given all that is packed into it. When weighing the cost, know that your life-changing experiences of qigong in China, and travelling with an “enlightened” group of Tao-minded folks, will be priceless!
FULL TRIP FROM BEIJING: Cost for full Trip (May 20 – June 8) is $4390. Covers all land costs. It does NOT include international or 3 domestic flights inside China. The USA group is arriving in Beijing at 5 am on Sunday May 20. You will meet them for breakfast at Tiantan Hotel at 7 am. Afterwards, we do qigong in Tiantan Park. We recommend you stay at Beijing’s 4-star Tiantan Hotel on Sat., May 19. and we’ll arrange group rate and book it for you.
Book your return flight FROM Xian (airport code: XIY) to wherever you are going) on Thursday, June 8. We supply travel agent in China to help. Email us for specific domestic flights.
SHORT TRIP FROM BEIJING: Cost of Short Trip only (May 18-31) is $3595. Covers all land costs (does NOT include LAX OR 2 domestic flights, PEK-HGH-PEK. This is $400. cheaper than last year, as domestic airfare not included. Book your return flight FROM Hangzhou (to wherever you are going) after 11 am on Thursday, May 31.
FROM XIAN: Separate Cost for 9-day/8-night (May 31 – June 8) portion is $895. (does NOT include any airfare). Normally I do not permit people to attend the week on Huashan separate from the rest of the trip. But because of the wedding, this year I’m making an exception. Note that guests taking this extra week only are NOT guaranteed the right to sleep in a Huashan cave, which are very limited. But as a beautiful alternative, you can stay in a monastery and meditate during the day in a nearby powerful cave-Temple to Kuan Yin.
$100. DISCOUNT to my personal students, Healing Tao instructors, past China trip members or any attendee of Healing Tao USA summer retreats in the past three years. Students from live retreat teachings of Kan & Li level should email me about additional discounts, this year only.
Single room on Full 22-day trip: $740. does not cover monastery on Huashan (4 nights) or Jinhua temple (3 nights).
Single room May 18-30 (short trip) only: $545. Note: At Jinhua Temple, single rooms NOT included, but may be available at adjacent temple-owned hotel (about $50/night extra).
Single room for Xian/Huashan week only (May 31 – June 8): $195. Does NOT include 4 nights atop Mt. Hua.
RESERVE YOUR PLACE with $600. deposit, subject to terms of cancellation policy posted below. Credit cards accepted for deposit, but checks or wired funds are requested for balance of payments. If you need to finance the trip with credit cards, it’s acceptable, but please call us to arrange. The trip is not priced for everyone to pay by credit card (those airline miles you earn cost me 4%!).
BALANCE DUE: Trip fee balance due by midnight, Friday Feb. 11, 2012. All checks payable to trip organizer: Dao Alchemy Research Institute (or its educational branch, Healing Tao USA). Extended payment can be arranged if necessary. Don’t let money stop you from following your heart!
TAX DEDUCTIBLE: As an IRS approved 501c3 non-profit activity, US nationals may claim 40%+ of total trip fee as tax deductible (ask your accountant). Depending on tax bracket, this may reduce the cash cost of trip (in 30% bracket, over $500 tax savings). Your donation (and all profits from the trip) go to support Healing Tao University summer retreats, which gave away 20 scholarships in 2011!
Ecstatic Calligraphy, from Golden Flower Temple (Jinhua)
TO MAKE A DEPOSIT FOR CHINA TRIP:
You may call in your deposit to our office at 888-999-0555 inside USA, or phone 828-505-1444, or email: info@HealingTaoUSA.com
A phone call or email will also “time stamp” your deposit for a week while you mail a check payable to:
Healing Tao USA , 4 Bostic Place , Asheville, North Carolina 28803
Trip registrar is Jan Gillespie. It is safe to leave credit card information on the message machine, or send an email with card number in two sections for security. Note: Jan has NOT been to China; email your questions to winn (AT) HealingTaoUSA.com. You will receive extensive information on what to pack, how to stay healthy, how to prepare for the experience, etc.
PLEASE CONFIRM YOUR DEPOSIT (phone or mailed) WITH EMAIL TO: info@HealingTaoUSA.com.
DON’T DELAY in making an advance deposit ? reserve your space as early as possible. Last minute applications are accepted on space available basis, but may cost more if airfare fees have changed.
Questions? Contact Jan, Trip registrar, at 888-999-0555 or email: info@michaelwinnv5.qlogictechnologies.com
China Dream Trip & Qigong Journey May 2012:
A Qigong Journey to Three of China’s Most Sacred Taoist Mountains
Full 22-day Journey with “Taoist Wedding + Cave & Mountain Meditation” May 18 ? June 8, 2012
Short Journey: May 18 – 31, 2012
This schedule does not have all talks on Taoism or qigong practice times in it.
We lose one day due to crossing International Date Line, but we recover it on the way back.
Day 3: We arrive Beijing 5:20 am. Stay at 4 star Tiantan Hotel, near the wonderful Temple of Heaven park. We immediately visit the Taoist Temple of Heaven (Tian Tan), the most sacred place in Beijing. Before touring the temple, we spend the morning at Temple of Heaven park, Beijing’s largest and most colorful potpourri of people. It is filled each morning with qigong & tai chi players, ballroom dancing, gambling, folk singers, gymnasts & musicians.
Temple of Heaven, Beijing’s most powerful Taoist site. Entry to Forbidden City still honors Mao.
Built without a single nail. A 14th century star ship? I hope to build a replica in North Carolina!
Day 4: Qigong early morning in the park. Morning visit to the White Cloud Taoist Temple, headquarters of the Complete Perfection Dragon Gate sect. This is a powerful place to meditate & practice qigong. They have a fascinating museum of inner alchemy, and dozens of small temples and hidden parks to meditate in. Drive to Great Wall of China. The Wall is very impressive, a wonder of the World, part of a 2500 mile long wall. We’ll hike and do Primordial qigong on the Wall at sunset, when it is deserted. Evening banquet. Beijing.
Dream Trippers absorb chi from Temple of Heaven, in distance. Tiantan Park: Silk banner dancing dates back 2000 years.
Both are spiritual qigong forms that affect you personally as well as organize the larger field of your life/Nature. Both are unlike any other medical or martial qigong forms I’ve ever seen; each generates a unique and powerful chi field. Performed together, they are off the charts.
Primordial Tai Chi on the Great Wall of China. Master Chia on far left. Meditating in Inner Alchemy museum, White Cloud Temple, Beijing.
Mantak loves this form, will soon adopt it into the Healing Tao.
Late morning free to rest, or explore the giant maze of the nearby Red Pearl Department store – a cultural tour in itself. At 1:30 pm bus departs to airport, and we fly to Hangzhou, We’ll stay in a comfortable hotel near the famous West Lake. Zhejiang Province.
Day 6: We spend the day relaxing and exploring China’s most famous lake and surrounding hills. West Lake is so beautiful it is considered the premier location for honeymoon couples in China. It’s common to see weddings on the shoreline. We’ll hire small boats to take us out to the islands in the center of the lake, with exquisite classical Chinese architecture, meditative gardens, and lovely walking paths.
We’ll practice Primordial Qigong surrounded by the Lake energy. We’ll absorb the chi from the fabulous views of the surrounding hills, with temples and pagodas rising from their heights.
We’ll later visit the Temple of Ge Hong, a 4th century Taoist adept famous for his alchemical elixirs. We’ll enjoy the local cuisine, which is also famous in China. Hangzhou.
Day 7: Morning qigong at sunrise beside the shimmering West Lake. After a gourmet breakfast, we’ll stop at a teashop to try some famous Dragon Well (Longjing) Tea. Then take our private coach 3 hours up a new highway to what is considered China’s most beautiful mountain: Yellow Mountain (Huang Shan). We’ll take the cable car up the hard part, then hike an easy 1 hour, winding through its gorgeous, magically sculpted peaks. Its reputation for having the most breath-taking vistas in the whole of China is well-deserved.
Yellow Mountain is where the most spectacular mountain scenes in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon were filmed, including the famous final “leap off the cliff” shot. It’s interesting that there are neither Taoist nor Buddhist temples on Huangshan, in a country where most mountains have temples. It’s almost as if the beauty of the mountain itself was so sacred that it was left untouched by human culture. We’ll stay in a comfortable mountain inn, and enjoy the peaceful beauty. Huangshan.
Pagoda overlooks the serenity of West Lake
Day 8: First thing in the morning, we’ll do Primordial Tai Chi to gather the fabulous mountain beauty chi. The chi here is quite different than mountains where Taoists have cultivated. The vibration is not as spiritually intense, but it has a wonderfully innocent and free feeling to it. Rest of the day free for relaxing, meditating, or hiking to various spectacular viewpoints nestled within the forested valleys. Your hiking path is suddenly interrupted by craggy cliffs and soaring pinnacles of stone with marvelous hues of color. Really fit gung-ho hikers have all day to do the amazing 8 hour “Western Canyon” hike, up & down a vertical mile through hundreds of rock pinnacles. I will lead a shorter 2 hour hike to the Bridge of the Immortals.
Day 9: Morning free. We’ll take the cable car down to the base of Yellow Mountain for lunch, then bus in the afternoon about 2 hours to the base of 3 Pure Ones Mountain. We’ll stay in the tiny mountain village, in its lone 4-star hotel. There are charming shops with unusual high-chi rocks from the mountain. 3 Pure Ones Mountain.
Yellow Mountain spectacular vista at sunset. Amazing walkways built on sheer cliffs.
Lao Tzu lives on 3 Pure Ones Mtn! Is this cool, or what? Beauty, beauty, everywhere!
Day 10: We’ll catch the first cable car up 3 Pure Ones Mountain in order to have all day to explore its stunning scenery. It takes a couple of hours hiking to reach the powerful Taoist temple, called the Tao Sanctuary of the 3 Pure Ones, set within a natural cauldron of buttressed hills. But it is a most amazing hike. This mountain is a World Heritage site, and the Chinese have built amazing walk-ways along the edges of sheer cliffs so that the impossibly spectacular views become reachable.
3 Pure Ones Mountain is sometimes called a “baby Yellow Mountain”. It will be quite interesting for us to compare the two. I find the individual rock formations on 3 Pure Ones Mountain to be more stunning aesthetically. Energetically, I feel the chi from the Taoists meditating and communicating with the mountain spirits elevates the spiritual vibration of the entire mountain.
Dragon & Tiger temple, Tao Sanctuary. 3 Pure Ones: Snake Rising Pinnacle.
To explore the entire network of trails takes about 5 to 6 hours of hiking, but shorter routes are available. There are many Taoist temples and shrines dotting the north side of the mountain. One of them is the Dragon and Tiger temple, with exquisite miniature statues of Taoist deities and immortals meditating under the open sky temple (no roof). I asked the local Taoists where their favorite place to meditate was. They pointed to a giant rock facing the temple. After we reach the Taoist Sanctuary, we will do Primordial Tai Chi together on that “power rock”, which has special fengshui that allows it to absorb chi from the natural cauldron formed by the hills.
We’ll catch the last cable car down the mountain to return to our comfy 4 star hotel. 3 Pure Ones Mountain.
Day 12: We’ll continue our meditation and qigong retreat at Jinhua. The chi here is VERY special, even the famous Taoist Wang Li Ping (subject of “Opening the Dragon’s Gate: The Making of a Taoist Wizard”) holds retreats at Jinhua. The temple belongs to the Shang Qing (pronounced “Ching”), a 5th century Taoist sect that, previous to my discovering this temple, I believed was extinct in China. Shang Qiing were the first Taoists to publicly initiate the alchemical meditation practice of connecting the vital organ spirits to the spirits of the sacred cardinal directions. You will see these ceremonies still being performed here today. It is the perfect place to practice the kind of alchemical meditations taught by the Healing Tao.
“Highest Clarity Daoism, originating in the 4th century C.E., represents one of the earliest and most successful attempts to synthesize the foundational religious elements that had already appeared on China?s religious scene. These included shamanism, mystical experiences, astrology, the quest for immortality, meditation practices, court ritual and …. concepts of death and rebirth.
“The synthesis brought these various elements into a single complex system, the highest goal of which was the transfiguration of the body and its pre-mortem ascension into heaven. Should this goal not be attainable – other, lesser, forms of salvation were also available to practitioners so that even if they were to die, they could safely pass through the underworld and be reborn, intact, in the heavens”
The Shang Qing meditation technique involves visualizing gods descending into the 5 organs of the body at certain times of the year. This alone makes it interesting for adepts of One Cloud?s Alchemy Formulas for Attaining Immortality, which work with similar principles. Meditating in such a location is very empowering for those on the alchemical path. Jinhua Temple.
Entry to one cave near Double Dragon.. Western Taoist adept meditating in cave. China is OLD! 1800 year old tree as testimony.
Day 13: We’ll spend the day visiting the caves used for millennia by Taoist adepts, most famously the Immortal Huang in the Double Dragon cave. This cave has an underground waterfall and river in it, so it is very moist and warm. It can only be reached by laying down in a small one person raft that flows down a narrow tunnel to get inside the cave. Each cave has a different kind of chi, which we will experience and use to build up a “library” of different frequencies of deep earth chi refined by generations of Taoist meditators. Many Taoists are said to have achieved themselves in these caves, most famously a goat herder named Huang in the 4th century. The Golden Flower Temple still keeps a flock of pure white goats in “Immoral Huang’s” honor. He is the “local god” in the main temple, and countless miracles in the community are attributed to him. I was told that Westerners making the pilgrimmage to this ancient temple are eligible for similar good fortune.
Shang Qing 1500 yr. old Ritual to 5 Sacred Directions Underground river boat: Double Dragon entry.
Waterfalls inside Double Dragon Cave. 3 Pure Ones Mtn landscapes bend the mind at every turn.
Day 14: Morning free, time to load up on the temple’s delicious tea for gifts. Drive to Hangzhou airport. Main group will fly to Xian, the ancient capital. Those on short trip returning to USA may have afternoon to shop in Hangzhou, then fly to Beijing to connect to Air China #983. Depart Beijing 11:55 pm, arrive in Los Angeles 9 pm same day on Friday, May 31 (miracle of International Date Line). This gives time to connect to other flights, or Virginia (our agent in LA) will help you book a hotel to relax in Los Angeles after the 12 hour flight from Beijing.
Those staying for the full trip (and wedding atop Mt. Hua) will take a 2-hour flight to Xian.
FULL TRIP ITINERARY in XIAN and HUASHAN (includes 9 DAYS: May 31 – June 8, 2012)
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Entry gate to Huashan’s Jade Spring Temple. North Peak of Mt. Hua (“Flower Mountain”
Wedding Ceremony, Taoist Cave-Meditation & Mountain-Explorers Week
Read this article: For Michael Winn’s experience of living in a Taoist cave on Huashan for a week with no food or water, see article “Taoist Alchemy & Breatharians” originally published in Qi Journal (you may need a cookie to read this; just sign-in at top of articles page).:
https://michaelwinnv5.qlogictechnologies.com/cgi-bin/articles.pl?rm=mode2&articleid=32
Also, please read the intense experiences from previous cavers following this itinerary.
I go out on a limb?my favorite meditation spot on Mt. Hua.
Who should attend this extra week? It is open to everyone with the time and interest. I’ve kept the extra week cost minimal to encourage you to stay – you’ve come all the way to China, why not go a bit deeper?
The core short trip gives everyone exposure to three sacred mountains and some highlights of Chinese culture. It’s a pretty action-packed travel itinerary. The extra week is time to stop moving around, to go within, to digest the powerful EARTH CHI that is unique to these cultivated mountains. This week gives us time to relax, to sink in deep and attune ourselves to the spirits of Taoist masters who merged with the spirit of the mountains, opening an earth-centered portal to immortality.
For people who have already developed a serious meditation practice, it is suitable to spend part of this week fasting in caves on Huashan. For others, it will be far more comfortable and useful to sleep in a Taoist monastery atop Mt. Hua and explore its fantastically beautiful peaks and caves, with shorter periods of meditation and qigong. Or do both ? two days in a cave, and two days atop Mt. Hua.
To sleep in the caves requires bringing special camping gear (sleeping bag, pad, extra warm clothes). It is a hassle to schlep this extra stuff across China for just a few nights in the caves. You really have to deeply DESIRE this experience to go through the extra hassle.
Dream Trippers at Sun-Moon Cave
It also requires extra hiking up a steep mountain opposite one of Huashan’s peaks. The caves can be cold even when its hot outside. You are not given any food (you can bring your own if you are not comfortable fasting). But basically it is a physical hardship to live in a hard cave.
I’ve designed the extra week to satisfy the needs of both paths of contemplation, one staying in mountain peak monasteries, the other spending part time in caves. Let me know which you feel called to follow when you put your deposit down. There are limited cave spaces and I have to figure out a complex schedule to satisfy everyone.
Please notify me if you wish to stay for ONE or TWO NIGHTS in a Cave. If space is available, some may stay for 3 nights.
Priority for reserving caves will be given to 1) my Kan & Li alchemy students 2) date when firm deposit is made, 3) general virtue and commitment to meditation, 4) willingness to explore bigu (fasting on food while feasting on chi) in the cave.
Those who are coming for the extra week (and wedding) will have a special cave (not open to the public) available to them to meditate in by day, while sleeping in a monastery at night.
Daily Itinerary
Day 14: Fly to Xian. Our hotel is in the very center of Xian, the 4 star West Capital Hotel. Immediately behind our hotel is the Taoist “City God” temple, which has a very powerful chi field. Xian was China’s ancient capital from Han to Ming dynasty (200 b.c. ? 1400 a.d.). After dinner, we’ll walk to the nearby lively Moslem Night Bazaar, which has the best craft bargains found anywhere in China, and delicious local foods. Xian.
Xian’s fabulous Muslim Bazaar…I bought this dragon-phoenix plate and love it!
Taoist monk from Complete Perfection Order. Mystical clouds around Huashan’s (Flower Mtn) 5-petals Peaks in each Sacred Direction
Day 17: Take the spectacular cable car ride (the highest in all of Asia) half way up the 7,000 ft. Mt. Huashan.It’s about a 2 hour hike to West Peak monastery, where we’ll spend the night. Rest of day is free, hiking on its five summit peaks, which form a giant 5-petalled flower (Hua shan means “Flower Mountain”). The views are stunning, with many temple shrines (mostly female deities) built in caves along the trail. There are thousands of stone-carved steps, which also make it impossible to get lost. The precipitous granite cliffs have the majesty of Yosimite Park, but this is far more amazing for its feeling of human will carved into the granite since ancient times.
Days 18, 19, 20: Those staying atop Mt. Hua after climbing on the peaks will divide into two camps: Cavers and Mountain Meditation-Explorers.
Some caves had doors on them at one point. Master “Stone of Perfection” serving a farewell meal to Cavers, breaking fast.
Some of the Cavers will hike down for one hour from the cable car landing area, and then hike up for 1.5 hours to the Pole Star cave area where they will check into a pre-assigned cave. Depending on number of Cavers, they may be divided into 2 groups, who will trade positions. There is a wonderful Taoist hermit, whose spiritual name is “Master Stone of Perfection”, living in the cave area and maintaining the caves physically and with meditation and ceremonies. Even though you are there to fast, he will undoubtedly offer to feed you in case you’ve had enough of fasting.
The Mountain Meditation group will stay in a monastery atop Mt. Hua. There are many, many things to explore. One of my favorites is a temple compound dedicated to the “White Ruler God” of the mountain. White refers to the metal/white gold element; this temple is the ruler of all the gods and immortals who are attracted to this mountain. There is a great courtyard for practicing qigong or talking to the Taoists living at the temple about their life as mountain adepts. In one corner of the courtyard is a cave, open for meditation with a small shrine inside it. The cave is said to have been used by San Simiao, a famous Chinese doctor from the Tang Dynasty.
The monastery group will stay for a total of three or four nights in this Taoist monastery atop Huashan’s peaks. The food at the monastery is excellent. We’ll have electricity, but no running water or heat. Hot water buckets available for bathing, and simple latrine. For those who prefer a shorter stay atop Mt. Hua, you can arrange in advance to descend earlier into Huashan village hotel below and spend time in Jade Spring Monastery.
Those staying at the monastery atop Mt. Hua will find plenty to occupy themselves exploring its different peaks and sheer cliffs. Many Chinese climb Mt. Hua to view the sunrise from the East Peak. The sunsets off the West Peak are amongst the most sublime I’ve found on planet earth, and strange paranormal events have been known to occur here (flying immortals showing up, etc.)
For the more adventurous, there are steep ladders and a “board walk” across the backside of the South Peak cliff that leads to a cave carved into the sheer side of the cliff. This gets you to the tree growing horizontally out over a 3000 ft. cliff, my favorite meditation spot on Mt. Hua. This group will also have the opportunity to practice the Primordial Qigong and Seven Star Big Dipper Qigong in a very powerful place.
After spending two days in the cave, some Cavers will move into a fabulous monastery less than one hour’s hike from their cave.
These caves have been used for 2500+ years by Taoist adepts, are carved from solid granite, and thus generally free of mold, dampness or water seepage. Their location has been kept secret, and thus energetically protected from the polluting influence or desecration of caves found on the main peaks by government and tourists. No cooking or heating fires permitted. Weather should be warm, even hot in June, but can still be cool at night. Come prepared for sudden changes in mountain weather (equipment list is provided). Some caves are large and may be shared by two people, both expected to maintain respectful silence.
Huashan’s death-defying “board walk” (optional!!!)
Day 21: Both the monastery and Caver groups on Mt. Hua will hike downhill to Huashan village where they can get a hot shower. This is a very beautiful hike, through a valley with a river filled with giant boulders and magnificent views of Mt. Hua in the background. It will take about 3 hours, more if you stop to explore and play along the river. If for health reasons you prefer to descend by cable car, that option is available, at your expense.
Two hour drive to Xian, then check into same 4-star hotel where we stayed previously. Time for final shopping spree in Xian’s wonderful bazaars and crafts shops, or explore the rich history of China’s ancient capital with its city walls still intact. Final group banquet. Evening free for packing. Xian.
Day 22: Morning free to shop and pack. We’ll do qigong in the City Gods Temple. Depart to Xian on afternoon flight to Beijing, connect to Air China #983. Depart at 11:55 pm, arrive in Los Angeles at 9pm same day (miracle of International Date Line), Friday June 8.
PHOTOS:
For collection of my top China Dream Trip photos:http://www.healingdao.com/china_dream_trip_photos.html
For photos of previous Dream trip to HUASHAN, see:http://www.healingdao.com/china_2008.html
For Photo Index: https://michaelwinnv5.qlogictechnologies.com/photos.html
Please allow a few months (minimum) to digest the experience energetically. The qigong forms will help you do that.
TESTIMONIALS from earlier CHINA DREAM TRIPS
F. Now for my life changes after China:
- immediately after the trip I began to realize that the JUDGMENTS I have are just my judgments. I can now feel the separation they create. And now know that its not the way things and people really are.
- my main Tango dancing partner told me I was DANCING better because I am softer and more relaxed!
- several friends are saying that my VOICE on the phone has become softer, slower, somehow changed.
- the shaman I sometimes see says I am “more myself” – whatever she means by this. I can feel what these feedbacks are referring to and I’m happy about it.
Cancellation Policy:
Note: Low cost travel insurance is made available to all trip members. (Last year it cost average $150.- 200. depending on your age & trip length). You are strongly urged to obtain it. If you do NOT obtain it, you must sign a legal release.
If SARS or some other bird-flu virus should it break out before the trip date, I personally believe the trip will still happen. Two reasons.
1. During the last epidemic there were virtually no cases where we are spending most of our time.
2. Chinese health system is much better prepared and alert this time around.
3. Extensive instructions are given to all trip members on how to stay healthy before and during the trip. These are my time tested travel methods to keep immune system at peak operating level. This strategy has proven very effective on previous trips.
Fees for cancellation are as follows:
1. if cancellation notice is received before midnite Dec. 31, 2011 – $300. fee.
2. If cancel Jan. 1 to midnite Feb. 11, 2012 – $600. fee.
3. If cancel between Feb. 12, 2012 and departure date of trip, full trip cost is owed and forfeited (NO REFUND on land or air). Also why it is essential you get trip insurance.
4. NO refunds for termination of travel AFTER trip begins. Even if a member must involuntarily cancel for physical health reasons AFTER the trip within China has begun, and does not use a portion of their already pre-paid services, no refunds will be made. It is simply too difficult to collect in China, and not worth the trouble. No refunds are made for unused excursions and special program activities.
If Healing Tao USA is forced to cancel the trip for any reason, its liability is limited to return of all deposits and payments for the trip.
We will supply you with a reliable and inexpensive travel insurance option (or you can choose your own). Check the terms and conditions of the issuer of your travel insurance policy as they are defined in the policy’s cancellation clause, which outlines your coverage, its limitations and exclusions. Usually written medical excuse from doctor or proven death in family are accepted.
I hope to hear from you soon ? that you’ve decided to join me for the spiritual adventure of a lifetime!
Love, chi, blessings,
Michael