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The Stages of Creating the Medicine

The creation of the medicine is divided into three stages. In the first stage, the medicinal substances emerge from the nonsubstantial. In the next stage, these substantive entities become nonsubstantive. In the final stage, substances are created again, this time from nothingness.

When we talk about substances that emerge from the nonsubstantial, we are referring to post-celestial fire and lead. Although these two originate from the outside, they have no form and no substantive nature. The vapor of metal is born from that which has no form or substance. When we talk about substantive entities returning to a nonsubstantive state, we are referring to the process of escorting the substances to their western homeland. Although the substances originate from the inside, they will become formless when they are returned to their original home. When we talk about creating substance from nothingness, we are referring to the emergence of the precious entity from dui. This entity is the one pre-celestial vapor born from the void. Internal alchemists describe the phenomenon of substance arising from nothingness in this way: “Out of the formless arises the subtle form, and out of nonsubstance arises the numinous substance.” Look for this mysterious substance in the hours of zi and wu, and compound them in the hours of zi (11 P.M.–1 A.M.), wu (11 A.M.–1 P.M.), mao (5–7 A.M.), and you (5–7 P.M.). When the compounding is complete, the golden pill will materialize and the fetus will be conceived. After the fetus has been incubated and nourished for the required period of time, the yang spirit will appear.

People nowadays don’t know how substances can emerge from the nonsubstantial, how substances can return to the state of the nonsubstantial, and how substances can be created out of nothingness. These three processes are closely related. It is for this reason that I have described and explained them together.