(This is part three of the interview with the Jade Empress. Links to: [[White Tigress taoism - Interview with the Jade Empress|Pt 1]] [[White Tigress Taoism - Interview with the Jade Empress, pt 2|Pt 2]]) Topics: - History - Approached by a Jade Dragon - Philosophy of immortality - Usefulness of tantra - Herbs and teas - Fitness and nature - Committment to healing Keith Dowman, who is a well-known teacher of real tantra (not sexual tantra) that I have also studied with. I was learning acupuncture and about herbalism when my teacher, a qigong master asked if I was interested in learning another aspect of it. I said yes, and he suggested that I start by studying qigong with him. Once I completed that, we moved on to learning the White Tigress techniques. R: Did the man present himself as a jade dragon? How is this different from the book? T: He did present himself as a jade dragon and offered me an initiation. At the time, I was younger and all my teachers were Asian, so this was not unusual for me. It was not uncommon for teachers to approach students sexually as part of the spiritual practice. This had happened to me before with other teachers. I had several teachers approach me throughout my life, one in particular while I was living in a monastery in Massachusetts. At that time, I was not engaging in any sexual activity and was solely focused on teaching ancient Asian sexual techniques. I had two boyfriends before being approached at 19 by my teacher, a Taoist master. At that time, I was studying Tai Chi with another teacher and had multiple teachers in the fields of Chinese medicine, Taoism, Qigong, and Tai Chi. At that time, I was only sexually involved with one of them. Nowadays, if a Tai Chi teacher approaches you and suggests something else, it can lead to scandal and lawsuits. However, back then, I didn't think about it that way. I trusted him because of his character and background. I felt comfortable because I wanted to learn. I studied Qigong with him for several years before engaging in the sexual part. It took around six months of Qigong training before he introduced the White Tigress stuff. There were many steps that had to come first before any of this could happen. This is typical of many healers. For example, when I hired an underground herbalist years ago, he required me to do Zazen meditation and a specific type of Qigong before he would treat me with his healing machines. There are always prerequisites for complete healing. One must show dedication to the practice and willingness to do the necessary work. Keith is an excellent teacher with a vast knowledge of original Sky Dancer material and ancient texts. It's important to have a well-rounded understanding and not just focus on one aspect. For example, when I studied Tantra, I attended a school to learn more. I studied Kashmiri Shaivism at an ashram, which is a whole system that includes a sexual aspect. However, it's not as simple as just learning techniques for sexual practices. There are many other things that must come first and fall into place. It's not possible to have just one aspect of it in your life and expect eternal youthfulness. The book presents it as years of training and a certain way of living. I got married because my friends were getting married and I found someone I wanted to be with. It wasn't about sex, it was intellectual. I wanted to have children also, so I got married at 22. As a child, I lived in Las Vegas and attended nursery school and kindergarten there. I also lived in California during my childhood and teenage years. Later on, I moved to New York to study and then went to Massachusetts for training in blocks. I went to college in France when I was 18, but I didn't like it there and came back after a year. I continued going to art school in New York, but realized it wasn't what I wanted to do. I became interested in the esoteric nature of Asian longevity, specifically Chinese medicine and Taoism. When people think of longevity, they usually have a specific image in mind. However, my definition of longevity is living well into old age, like my teacher Da Liu, who lived a long and fulfilling life. I plan to continue practicing yoga and qigong every day, even when I'm 100 years old. While I don't believe in complete immortality, I do believe our souls are immortal and our bodies don't truly die. I've had three near death experiences. For me, the idea of living for 5000 years isn't realistic. I believe in the soul and reincarnation, which is a deep topic. There was a famous Taoist master named Li Ching Wen who supposedly lived to be 256 years old, according to Wikipedia. I studied with Da Liu at Columbia University. He lived until the age of 94. My adopted mother is also 94 and attributes her longevity to taking care of her mind and body. To prepare for a journey in qigong or tai chi, it's recommended to warm up and get ready with a diet and lifestyle change. This includes meditation, qigong, yoga, and a healthy diet. There isn't a specific qigong or yoga practice to follow, but it's important to find what works best for you. Regarding yoga, I enjoy mixing it up with different styles such as Taoist, Vinyasa, Hatha, and Yin. I suggest trying a wide variety to find what works best for you. As for qigong, there are also different styles to explore. I recommend trying different practices to find what resonates with you, including sexual qigong. Both qigong and tai chi teach you about your body and energy, so it's important to find a daily practice that suits you. I don't recommend any specific practice, as it's like working out - everyone should find what works for them. HIIT workouts with weights are a great option. Daily training is important for discipline, both physically and mentally. Being healthy requires working out, in addition to yoga and qigong. My personal recommendation is to spend time in nature every day, whether it's taking a walk or running. Spend at least an hour or two without any devices, and start your day by walking barefoot on the grass to ground yourself and get that morning qi from the earth. Doing qigong outside on bare earth is better than doing it indoors. A morning qigong or yoga practice outside, or a walk, followed by meditation inside is a great routine. I prefer meditating inside to avoid bugs. For nutrition, I recommend a whole foods diet and avoiding anything artificial, including sugars and flavors. I personally follow an organic whole foods diet with a focus on protein, and I also eat some fermented dairy. I suggest whole natural foods and avoiding anything artificial. I avoid dairy and opt for coconut-based products for yogurt. Green tea is my go-to drink, especially loose leaf, organic Korean or Japanese green tea. Sometimes I enjoy Buddhist mountain tea. I also take Chinese herbs that promote fluid lubrication and restoration of yin fluids, kidney yin and yang, and Jing. I use pearl powder for its calming effects on my shin. I've been taking pearl powder since I was 20 years old. Regarding my diet, I avoid garlic, onions, and heavy spices to prevent any unpleasant odors. I prefer to smell good at all times. I don't eat bland food, just nothing that affects my body odor. I also prioritize cleanliness and suggest women take vaginal probiotics for their reproductive health. I believe in healthy, whole, unprocessed foods, but I used to follow a macrobiotic diet, which no longer works for me. I don't eat a grain-based diet because it doesn't work for me. I don't eat a lot of carbohydrates and starches. I focus on green vegetables, but also eat colorful foods like berries and fruit. For dessert, I enjoy fruit and sometimes tropical fruit like papaya and pineapple with berries. After working out, I have a yogurt parfait. Dinner is usually fish, salad, and vegetables with sweet potato occasionally. Dessert is green tea and fruit. I don't have a set number of meals per day. I eat twice a day, after my workout and in the evening. My first meal is in the late afternoon and then I have dinner. In the morning, I start with hot water and lemon, followed by regular water and loose leaf green tea. I also use herbs from Jing Herbs for women's balancing. There are general herbs for different age categories, but it depends on each person's needs. I recommend Jing Herbs for women's health products. They have anti-stress, beauty, female balance, and fertility supplements. In addition to exercise, diet, qigong, meditation, and herbs, there is also a mental component to achieving optimal health. I've always considered myself a female Taoist practitioner. My lifelong interest in acupuncture and qigong led me to continue practicing them throughout my pregnancies. I followed strict guidelines after each birth, such as staying in bed for at least a week or two and avoiding exposure to the cold. These practices were instilled in me as a child, such as not exposing myself to the cold during menstruation because it can harm the kidneys. My nanny also taught me some of this ancient wisdom. Although she wasn't Asian, she knew things like that. At first, I thought it was ridiculous, but I followed her advice and realized that a lot of this ancient wisdom is apt for today's woman. I identify as an Asian Taoist searcher or spiritual path from a young age. However, I don't think it's necessary to identify with these paths. It's just what I was into. When it comes to the mental component, it's important to ask oneself, "Why am I doing this?" My motivation for this is not to take advantage of men. They are just one aspect of it, but a necessary component. It's important for a woman to be clear on her motivation if she wants to engage deeply in the sexual part. Preparation is a huge topic and we've covered a lot of it. The path is approachable and doable for women, without extreme requirements like meditating in a cave for three years. People can get very strict about these things. Minke de Vos is a great resource for healing practices such as the six healing sounds, kidney breathing, qigong, and empowerment. She has a YouTube channel with some helpful videos, but I have also attended her workshops and found her approach to be effective. While her channel doesn't have everything, she does offer resources for women's deer exercise and jade egg through her Sacred Femininity Training. I recommend checking out her channel for qigong and alchemy arts, as well as her podcast and interviews. Neo-Tigressism will need to be flexible. Finding one teacher for one lineage won't be the norm in the future. I don't believe in that. www.jingherbs.com [[White Tigress Taoism - Interview pt 4]] --- [[White Tigress Taoism project]]