Lesson 4: The Dao of the Soul
How to enrich the soul
Hey there,
how are you feeling today after exploring how to nurture your mind in the last lesson?
Did you have a chance to apply any of the ideas in your daily life?
I’d love to hear how you applied them and what changes you noticed. Feel free to share your experiences by replying in the comments. I look forward to hearing from you!
Today, we'll explore a different yet equally significant aspect of the dao: how to enrich your soul.
In today's world, we often get caught up in the fast-paced lifestyle, constantly chasing achievements and material possessions. So much that we forget to take care of our inner selves and connect with the world around us.
This can lead to feelings of emptiness, disconnection, and lack of purpose.
The Daoist approach reminds us to slow down, reflect on our inner selves, and find balance in all aspects of life. Including our spiritual well-being. And nourishing your soul is a crucial part of this balance. It helps you connect better with yourself and the world around you.
Daoism encourages enriching your soul by exploring your inner self and focusing on spiritual growth.
But how can you uncover your soul's path and find spiritual balance?
Today, we’ll explore 3 ways to do this:
The Four Pillars of Destiny
Daoist meditation
Internal alchemy
Let's start with the Four Pillars of Destiny, also known as bazi (八字), which means "eight characters/words."
The Four Pillars of Destiny is a system rooted in Chinese metaphysics. It's essentially a way to understand someone's energetic makeup and potential. It provides insights into a person's life path, personality, strengths, challenges, and destiny.
Bazi shares some philosophical ideas and cosmological principles with Daoism, which you’ve already learned about in earlier lessons—like Yin Yang, the Five Elements, or qi. And throughout Chinese history, many Daoists have also practiced metaphysics. But even though it's deeply connected to traditional Chinese culture and philosophy, Chinese metaphysics isn’t actually part of Daoism or Daoist philosophy.
So, why do I want to include it in this course?
The first reason is very practical: Bazi can be a great tool for self-discovery—particularly if you’re not quite ready to jump into new practices, routines, or habits just yet. It’s an easy, approachable way to start understanding yourself on a deeper level. Especially because somebody else can do the analysis for you.
Another reason is that this course is about the way of the dao, not about following strict rules and doctrines.
Of course, a true follower of the way of the dao would stay flexible and not get too caught up in fixed outcomes. Because the dao goes beyond charts and predictions, encouraging us to go with the flow of life as it happens.
But bazi can be a helpful tool for connecting with the rhythms of nature and the universe. It can be a way to observe the patterns of the cosmos and align with the flow of the dao. It can give us a better understanding of ourselves and our energy. This insight can help us with personal growth and guide us through life. In turn, this helps us find harmony and enrich our souls.
Bazi isn’t about predicting an unchangeable fate but about understanding and working with your natural dynamics to unlock potential. Whether your chart shows challenges or strengths, the key lies in action and awareness.
So, how can you actually use bazi to understand yourself better and enrich your soul?
If you're short on time, you can simply consult a professional bazi practitioner. However, you can also do some research yourself. Just knowing the basics can take you quite far. Unfortunately, I can't go into too much detail about bazi in this course since it's such a broad topic. But here are some basics to get you started:
Step 1: Understand the Basics of Bazi
Bazi is based on your birth date and time. It's made up of 8 key components (that’s why it’s called “Eight Characters”). The 8 components are composed of Four Heavenly Stems (which represent surface behaviors and what is visible to others) and Four Earthly Branches (which show hidden influences or untapped potential). And these are shaped by the interaction of Yin-Yang polarity and the Five Elements.
Step 2: Learn the Five Elements
The Five Elements are at the heart of bazi. These elements influence everyone and can be either balanced or unbalanced, shaping personal strengths and challenges. For example: if your personal element is Water you might thrive in creative or intellectual areas but find it tougher to succeed in fields that need stability (linked to the Earth element).
Step 3: Examine the Pillars and Branches
You can create a bazi chart for anyone (you can create one for yourself here). It's made up of four pillars: Year, Month, Day, and Hour. Each one represents a different part of your life (family, career, core self, aspirations) and includes one of the 8 key components (each pillar has a Heavenly Stem and an Earthly Branch).
Step 4: Identify Your Day Master
The so-called Day Master is the Heavenly Stem of your Day Pillar. It represents your fundamental self—your personality, how you approach life, and your core traits.
Step 5: Apply Bazi to Your Life Path
Once you understand these basics on your bazi chart, you can already take action. For example, you can examine your Month Pillar (which represents your career) to see which Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches are present. Depending on the elements, you can identify your strengths and weaknesses in specific fields or industries. Or you can also align your Month Pillar with your Day Master's element to find careers that will be more fulfilling and aligned with your core self.
These are just the basics, of course.
But getting to know these parts of yourself can help you spot patterns, tackle challenges, and make the most of opportunities in life. And it can also give you a better idea of which habits or practices might work best for you at different stages of life.
But remember: the dao reminds us that we are constantly evolving and changing beings. So, it's essential not to get too attached to labels or predictions. Rather than trying to fit into a certain category or label ourselves with fixed characteristics, let’s aim for self-discovery through reflection and embracing our ever-changing nature.
If you want to explore bazi deeper, my favorite resource is Joey Yap. He has a YouTube channel, numerous books, and hosts many free online workshops. And he breaks down bazi and other Chinese metaphysics in a very simple, modern way.
Now, let’s move on to the 2nd way of enriching your soul: meditation.
There are many forms of meditation, and each can bring unique benefits. But for the purpose of this lesson, we’ll focus on Daoist meditation.
Daoist meditation focuses on cultivating stillness and inner peace. It involves techniques such as breathwork, visualization, and mindfulness to quiet the mind and connect with the dao.
Through regular meditation practice (even if very short), you can cultivate a deeper understanding of yourself and gain clarity on life's purpose. It can also help release stress and anxiety, promoting overall well-being.
One of the key principles of Daoist meditation is the idea of emptying one's mind to connect with the universal energy. You can achieve this by focusing on the present moment and letting go of thoughts and distractions.
But I find that explaining such deep things in words doesn't do them justice. It's something you must experience for yourself. So here's a beginner-friendly, simple guided Daoist meditation on connecting to your spiritual nature and inner wisdom:
Now, let’s explore the 3rd method: internal alchemy.
Known as neidan (内丹) in Chinese, this practice represents a more advanced approach. The term neidan translates directly to "internal alchemy," reflecting its focus on cultivating inner transformation and harmony.
In a nutshell, it focuses on refining the spirit, nurturing the mind, and cultivating the body's energy to achieve spiritual enlightenment and longevity. It includes meditation, sometimes visualization, and controlled breathing techniques to transform and refine your qi.
In many ways, neidan is like the Chinese version of the Indian yoga system.
It's deeply rooted in Daoist philosophy and tradition, emphasizing harmony and balance within oneself. You can think of Qi Gong as a part of neidan. But in neidan, the focus isn't so much on moving or concentrating on the physical body. Instead, it's about building internal awareness and cultivating qi within.
So, it's like a more advanced version of Qi Gong training.
That's why you shouldn't start this training on your own if you're new to Qi Gong. Neidan can be tricky to grasp. Especially for beginners. And if you don't understand the training theory right and practice correctly, you could hurt yourself. It's best to wait until you have a solid grasp of beginner-friendly Qi Gong before trying it on your own, as it will help you become aware of how qi moves in your body.
When you're already familiar with Qi Gong, you can try the Microcosmic Orbit technique (xiao zhou tian 小周天) here:
And again, just knowing about these practices isn't enough. To really change your life and enrich your soul, try making these practices part of your daily routine. By doing so, you'll build a stronger connection with your soul, leading to more harmony and balance in your everyday experiences.
So, try to practice regularly and consistently. Even if it's just for a few minutes each day.
You can, for example:
Begin your day with a short Daoist meditation session, focusing on calming your mind and connecting with your inner self. This sets a peaceful tone for the day ahead.
Take a break throughout the day to do some Qi Gong, focusing on cultivating your internal qi. This can help release tension and boost energy levels.
End your day with a Daoist meditation session where you connect with the dao. This helps you reflect on the day and find inner peace before going to sleep.
And don't forget:
Just like cultivating the body or mind, nurturing your spiritual self is also a continual practice. It takes time and consistency to see its benefits. So, be patient with yourself and enjoy the journey.
And don't be disheartened if you can't always commit every day. Life happens, and that's okay. Just try to make it a regular part of your routine as much as you can.
Keep exploring different techniques and find what works best for you.
That's it for this lesson!
In the next lesson, we'll explore how you can create harmonious environments.
Until then, stay connected.
– Zhenya
P.S. If you missed day 3, where we talked about how you can cultivate your mind, you can catch up here: The Dao of the Mind. Be sure to explore it so you're fully prepared as we transition to discussing the dao of the environment.