The Golden Elixir Blog

Golden Elixir Press is pleased to announce the publication of T he World Upside Down: Essays on Taoist Internal Alchemy , by Isabelle Robinet, in paperback and PDF editions. The World Upside Down contains four essays on Internal Alchemy (Neidan), originally published in French and translated here for the first time into English. The essays are concerned with the alchemical principle of "inversion"; the devices used by the alchemists to "give form to the Formless by the word, and thus manifest the authentic and absolute Dao"; the symbolic function of numbers in Taoism and in Internal Alchemy; and the original meanings of the terms "External Elixir" ( waidan ) and "Internal Elixir" ( neidan ). Visit the  Web page . About the Author Isabelle Robinet (1932-2000) was one of the most important Western scholars of Taoism. Her work dealt with several major topics: the Laozi and the Zhuangzi with their commentaries; the Shangqing (Highest C...

This is one of the poems in the Cantong qi (The Seal of the Unity of the Three), the main text of Taoist Internal Alchemy (Neidan). Innerly nourish yourself, serene and quiescent in Empty Non-Being. Going back to the fundament conceal your light, and innerly illuminate your body. "Shut the openings" and raise and strengthen the Numinous Trunk; as the three luminaries sink into the ground, warmly nourish the Pearl. "Watching, you do not see it" — it is nearby and easy to seek. For comments and notes on this poem, see this page [ http://www.goldenelixir.com/jindan/ctq_18.html ] Reproduced form Fabrizio Pregadio, The Seal of the Unity of the Three: A Study and Translation of the Cantong qi , the Source of the Way of the Golden Elixir (© Golden Elixir Press, forthcoming).