October 31-November 2, 2025
Autumn Retreat at Stony Point Center,
Stony Point New York
立冬(lìdōng) means autumn has come to the end, all kinds of crops harvested in autumn have been dried and stored and animals have already hidden and started to hibernate in the ancient books. Beginning of Winter also means weather is getting cold. All the creatures have begun to slow down their rate of metabolism to avoid the coldness in winter.
Every season has it`s solar terms. Beginning of Winter, together with Beginning of Spring, Beginning of Summer and Beginning of Autumn, are called “四立(sìlì) ” (four beginnings), which were very important festivals in ancient China. On these days, the emperor would lead officials to set up altars for sacrifice in the northern suburbs of the capital.
At present, Beginning of Winter is the best time for taking winter tonic like dishes of stewed duck with wine and ginger and Sesame Oil Chicken in the south of China. Because Beginning of Winter is at the turn of seasons, in the northern China, Beijing and Tianjin in particular, people prefer to eat Jiaozi on the day. Thanks to the return of this traditional custom, all kinds of restaurants featuring Jiaozi are crowded with customers on the day.
We will gather upstate on October 31 – November 2… Some of the last days of Autumn by the Chinese Solar Calendar. Let’s use this special time to practice things that shore up our Qi, to settle ourselves and root practices that will buoy us through the Winter.
Our Qigong will include strong energy gathering practices such as the Golden Ball, Phoenix Cleans its Feathers and Phoenix & Dragon Breath… and subtle and slow like Heaven and Earth. Our movement set will be the Mystical Warrior Qigong which is all about Wintertime. Those new to the form can get a good start and those that know it can refine and refresh it.
Our Neigong/inner practices will focus on taking in Autumnal Qi and nourishing our energy bodies to prepare for the slower, conserving and cocooning period of Winter. We’ll circulate and balance Qi with the Microcosmic Orbit and expand it into a basic Kan and Li practice that uses Fire and Water Qi to “Cook” and store our life force.
We won’t have time enough to learn the entire Tao Dream Practice, but we will learn how to “invite the dreams” and participants will receive a short list of things to bring to help recording dreams during the retreat and afterward.
In Person Transmission
Lastly, we will follow energetic practice with the Microcosmic Orbit Meditation to balance and digest, but also so I can offer you direct transmission like I received from Mantak Chia, Masahiro Ouchi and other Tao teachers. This energetic thread through time, heart-to-heart, is a beautiful part of a Tao path that can’t be replicated online. Through it, we carry a connection to our teacher’s teacher’s teacher… It is the “line” of lineage.
Location~
Sony Point is about 2.5 hours from New York City by bus. Cost is about $30 each way and the buses are quite frequent. We will coordinate transport from the bus stop to the center.
Tuition/Fee~
Included in your tuition are all teaching fees, meals and shared room accomodation. We will be a small group, so you can request to share with a friend or one will be assigned. You can be waitlisted for a single room, but they can’t be offered until later.
Early registration Until August 10: $575
Full Fee: $625
Single Supplement: $150
If you would like to pay in 3 payments, this can be done if completed by September 10. The payment dates will be spread out between your first payment and September 10.
