Taoism in China has a long history, and since ancient times many have studied and followed it. Taoism takes the cultivation of the body as its foundation, and its practices include no shortage of health methods; opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels is one of the more common of them.
Opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels is a fairly common practice in Taoist health cultivation, but beginners usually find its subtleties and techniques hard to grasp. Below we present the secret formula for opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, in the hope that it will help fellow practitioners cultivating perfection.
The Formula for Opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels
Open the eight vessels, gather essence and spirit; with the mind lead the qi through the whole body.
First inhale: the Governing Vessel rises to Niwan (the Muddy Pellet, crown center); second exhale: the Conception Vessel descends to Huiyin (the perineum).
Third inhale: the Belt Vessel reaches the hollows of the shoulders; fourth exhale: the yang conduit reaches the palms.
Fifth inhale: the yin conduit settles before the chest. Sixth exhale: to the Belt, returning to the one root.
Seventh inhale: the Penetrating Vessel reaches the Crimson Palace; eighth exhale: the Yang Heel Vessel stops at Yongquan.
Ninth inhale: the Yin Heel Vessel rises to the qi cavity; tenth exhale: return to the origin and enter the aperture.
Let inhalation and exhalation be deep and long, led by the mind; as water flows a channel forms—rely on the movement of qi.
When the eight vessels are open the body is wholly yang; when the Yin Heel opens, all the hundred vessels flow freely.
Explanation of the Method for Opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels
Opening the Eight Extraordinary Vessels is also called “Regulating the Eight Vessels with Ten Breaths.” Beginners who sit cross-legged in seated meditation are not used to the pressure on their legs and are bound to feel numbness in them. This method removes the numbness at once. Its main use is to open the Eight Extraordinary Vessels, drive out yin pathogenic qi, diminish yin and grow yang, and so make the whole body yang and free of all illness.
Taoists use the Eight Extraordinary Vessels to circulate qi and open the passes, in order to extend life. Opening the human vessels is also called refining the body with jade liquid.
The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are the Conception Vessel in front, the Governing Vessel behind, the Penetrating Vessel in the center, the Belt Vessel around the waist, the Yin Linking Vessel, the Yang Linking Vessel, the Yin Heel Vessel, and the Yang Heel Vessel; they are also the eight vessels through which Taoists circulate qi. The method of opening the eight vessels uses ten breaths, leading the qi with the mind: where the heart goes, the intention goes, and the spirit goes, the qi follows. It must be practiced regularly, uniting heart, spirit, and intention as one.
Memorize the routes of the eight vessels thoroughly and use them with agility, until wherever you think of, you feel a sensation there. It is best to practice twice every morning; over time, you will be able to do it at will.