Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese philosopher and the founder of Taoism. Taoist philosophy sees the
hours around 5 a.m. as a sacred time. The world is still. The air is cool and clear. It’s a moment
of transition - when night softens into day, Yin shifts to Yang, and life quietly wakes up.
Taoists believe that how you start your morning shapes your whole day. A calm beginning makes
everything else feel easier. That’s why mornings aren’t rushed - they’re a soft doorway into the
world. It’s a time to breathe, stretch, and feel your body wake up with the light, full of energy.
In this video, we’ll explore some simple 5 a.m. Taoist habits. These small practices help you
start the day slowly, feel grounded, full of energy, and in tune with life’s natural flow.
When your morning starts like this, the rest of your day carries that same calm and clarity.
1. Rise with the Mao Hour
In Taoism morning time isn’t just another hour - it’s a quiet turning
moment when the world moves from Yin to Yang. To understand why Taoists rise with the sun,
we first need to understand these two energies.
Yin is the energy of night - quiet, cool, and inward. It’s the part of life that allows us to
rest, recover, and reflect. Yang is the energy of day - warm, active, and outward. It brings
movement, creativity, and action. Yin and Yang are like the inhale and exhale of your breath,
flowing into each other, balancing each other. When one rises, the other naturally
follows. Life feels easiest when we move with these energies instead of resisting them.
The early morning is a perfect example of this balance. When night is at its quietest,
the first light appears, and the world begins to stir. Taoists call this the Mao hour,
roughly 5:00 am to 7:00 a.m. During this time, Yang Qi, the active energy of life,
begins to rise. The air feels fresh, the light is soft, and everything around you holds a gentle
balance between rest and movement. Our bodies are part of this rhythm, and waking slowly during this
time helps us align with the natural flow of life. In Taoist medicine, the early morning is linked
to the Lung Meridian, which governs your breath and the flow of energy in your body.
Waking gently at this time and taking deep breaths helps your body and mind come alive naturally,
giving you clarity, calm, and a sense of vitality. Here’s how Taoists do it. They don’t jump out of
bed or rush. Instead, they wake slowly, noticing how their body feels, how their breath moves,
and how their mind begins to stir. Open a window or step outside. Feel the cool morning air and
the soft light. Take three to five slow, deep breaths, letting each inhale reach
down to your lower abdomen, the dantian, where your energy centers. As you exhale,
release any tension and let your body settle. Most people wake suddenly and rush straight into
the day. But rising with the sun is different. It lets you receive the quiet energy of the morning,
start your day in flow, and stay centered as life moves around you.
So tomorrow, when the first light appears, don’t just wake - arrive. Take your time. Let Yin and
Yang meet within you. Feel your breath as the world breathes. Begin slowly, with awareness and
calm. Let your day unfold naturally, moving with life instead of pushing against it.
2. Open The Gates Taoists often begin the
day by moving the body gently to awaken the Qi, the life energy flowing within us. This practice,
called “opening the gates,” is like unlocking the doors inside your body — letting energy move
freely, releasing tightness, and preparing your body to move in harmony with the day. The goal
isn’t exercise for its own sake, but a simple way to bring body, breath, and energy together,
helping you feel clear, balanced, and awake. The practice usually starts in Wuji posture.
Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees soft but steady, and weight balanced
evenly. Keep your shoulders relaxed and arms at your sides. Your gaze can be soft or your
eyes closed. Even standing still like this has power. You feel rooted to the ground,
your body settling, and your awareness beginning to wake. In Taoist thought, stillness first
allows energy to move smoothly through the body. Next, bring attention to your neck and shoulders,
where tension often hides. Slowly rotate your shoulders, circle your neck gently, or nod a few
times. These small movements release tightness and let energy flow through the chest and back,
leaving you feeling lighter and more awake. Then focus on your spine, the main path of Qi.
Create a gentle wave-like motion, starting from the tailbone and moving up to the base
of your head. Let the ripple move through each part of your back. These waves awaken energy
along the spine, improve circulation, and increase awareness of your body.
Combined with slow, mindful breathing, they release hidden tension and open the body.
Afterward, you can move into simple Qi Gong flows — slow, flowing movements guided by the breath.
Move with intention, not force. These exercises stretch the body, awaken energy channels,
and help body and mind coordinate. Even short sequences allow energy to travel from feet to
head, training awareness and presence over time. Throughout, let your breath guide you. Inhale
deeply, exhale fully, releasing tension with each out-breath. When breath, body,
and attention move together, energy flows naturally. Your body feels light,
your mind calm, and you’re ready for the day. By the end, the body is awake and connected.
The spine is active, energy is moving, and circulation is smooth. These simple
movements create a quiet balance, helping you begin the day with calm energy and focus.
Taoists often compare this to preparing a field before planting. When the soil is soft and ready,
seeds can grow freely. In the same way, opening the gates of your body in the
morning prepares you to move through the day easily, naturally, and full of energy.
3. Practice Zuo Wang After gently stretching or moving in the morning,
Taoists often just sit quietly for a bit. It’s a chance to pause, turn inward, and let your mind
and body rest. A common practice is Zuo Wang, or “sitting and forgetting.” Sit comfortably,
with your spine straight but relaxed, shoulders soft, and hands resting naturally. Feel the
ground supporting your body. Don’t try to control your thoughts — let them drift by like clouds.
Over time, your mind learns to settle on its own, and you start to feel a calm, steady inner peace.
A central focus of Taoist meditation is the lower Dantian, the energy center in your lower abdomen.
Gently rest your attention here and follow your natural breath. Feel the belly expand as
you inhale, and soften as you exhale. This gentle focus helps circulate Qi through the body, calming
your nervous system and grounding your awareness. Meditation is usually done for 10 to 30 minutes,
but even a short time helps you feel calm and focused. The more you practice, the easier it is
to stay clear-headed, relaxed, and full of energy. In essence, Taoist meditation is like returning
home to yourself each morning. You sit, breathe, and allow energy to flow, connecting fully with
your own body and the rhythm of the world. Doing this consistently helps you step into
the day with calm, strength, and natural energy, moving through life in harmony with its flow.
4. Nourish Simplicity Many Taoists begin their
morning with a cup of warm water or a light tea. It might seem like a small thing, but in Taoism,
how you do something matters as much as what you do. This quiet moment becomes
a small ritual… a way to nourish the body, calm the mind, and ease into the day gently.
When you first wake up, your body is soft and open. The breath is steady,
the organs are slowly waking, and your inner rhythm is still quiet. Warm water is kind to this
state. Unlike something cold, it doesn’t shock the system - it flows in softly, warming your center,
waking up digestion, and helping energy move smoothly — without rushing for coffee or sugar.
Some prefer a light tea - chrysanthemum, green tea, or a simple herbal blend. These teas are
gentle, supporting the liver, lungs, and overall energy flow. But the drink itself isn’t the point.
It’s the way it’s received. Taoists often hold the cup with both hands, feeling the warmth through
their palms. They sit quietly, sip slowly, and notice the smallest details - the warmth,
the scent, the way it moves through the chest and belly. This is more than drinking. It’s
arriving fully in the present moment. It’s a soft way of saying, “I’m here. I’m awake.”
This moment also serves as a gentle bridge - from the inner world of meditation to
the outer world of daily life. Instead of jumping straight into the noise of the day,
you give yourself a soft landing. You sip, breathe, and simply be for a few moments.
Most people rush the moment they wake. Taoists slow down. They remember that life doesn’t need
to be hurried to be meaningful. Even a cup of warm water, when met with awareness, can bring balance.
So tomorrow morning, before the world asks anything of you - sit with your
cup. Feel its warmth. Take a slow breath. Sip gently. Let your body wake naturally.
Let your mind settle. Begin the day on your terms - quietly, calmly, in flow.
5. Inner Cultivation Practice Some Taoist practitioners take
their morning one step further with what’s called inner cultivation. This part of the
routine is more personal and often depends on one’s level of practice or spiritual
path.It’s about deepening the inner connection and setting a clear, steady tone for the day ahead.
One common practice is called Microcosmic Orbit meditation, but in simple words, this is guiding
your Qi through your body. You sit quietly and focus on your breath. With your mind’s attention,
you imagine the energy rising slowly from the base of your spine, traveling up your back,
over the top of your head, and then down the front of your body to rest in your lower belly,
known as the lower Dantian. Over time, you may notice a warm,
flowing feeling or a soft awareness moving through you. Taoists believe this circulation
keeps your energy balanced and your body strong. It clears blockages, calms the mind, and builds a
steady inner foundation — like clearing a small stream so the water can flow smoothly again.
Another simple but powerful practice is Taoist breathing, often called embryonic breathing.
Instead of breathing into the chest, you let your breath move deep into your lower belly. The breath
is soft and natural - almost invisible. There’s no forcing or controlling. As you breathe this way,
the nervous system calms down, your heartbeat slows, and your energy gathers in your center.
Taoists see this kind of breathing as the root of strength and longevity.
Some people also include soft chanting. This isn’t loud or ceremonial - it’s quiet and steady,
like humming to yourself. They might repeat a line from the Tao De Ching or a short phrase
that connects them to the Tao, the natural flow of life. The sound gently focuses the mind,
steadies the breath, and opens the heart. Others prefer to use this time to write
a few lines in a journal. They may note their dreams from the night,
describe how they’re feeling in their body, or write a simple intention for the day ahead.
Inner cultivation is different for everyone. Some may practice one of these methods; others might
combine a few. What matters is not doing them perfectly, but doing them with attention and ease.
This quiet time helps settle everything inside before the day begins. When done regularly,
these practices create a steady inner center. No matter what happens during the day,
you carry a bit of that stillness and strength with you - a quiet flame that never goes out.
6. Connect with Nature In the mornings, Taoists often take
a few moments to step outside and meet the world as it is. This practice is about rejoining the
natural flow of life that everything is part of. As you step outside, pause for a moment. Feel the
air on your skin. Notice its temperature, the way it moves across your face, how it
smells in the early morning. Taoists see this simple act of sensing the world as a reminder:
you are not separate from nature. You are part of it, breathing the same air,
standing under the same sky, moving with the same cycles as everything around you.
Some people like to walk slowly and barefoot on the earth, feeling the texture of the ground
beneath their feet. This is sometimes called “rooting” - allowing your energy to sink down,
connecting you to the earth’s quiet strength. If barefoot walking isn’t possible,
simply standing still and feeling your feet firmly against the ground works too.
What matters is the awareness: that beneath your feet is the living earth, steady and constant.
As you walk, there’s no need to rush or think too much. Let each step be a moment
of presence. Feel the subtle shift of weight from one foot to the other,
the rhythm of your breath moving with your body. Taoists often observe their surroundings without
labeling - not naming the tree or identifying the bird, but simply noticing. The shapes of leaves,
the sound of wind, the colors of the sky - they’re experienced directly,
not filtered through thought. This soft kind of seeing quiets the mind.
It draws attention outward in a way that expands, rather than overwhelms.
Stepping outside after inner stillness is like planting a seed in its natural soil.
It grounds the energy you’ve awakened and links it to something greater. It’s a gentle reminder
that your body, breath, and mind all move with the same rhythm that stirs rivers,
shapes clouds, and opens flowers at dawn. Even in a crowded city, this is possible.
A balcony, an open window, or a quiet street will do. What matters is the
presence you bring, not the place itself. When you connect with nature each morning,
you touch a simple Taoist truth: you’re already part of the Tao. The world and your body breathe
together. The energy in you is the same energy flowing through the trees, the wind, and the
earth. The day feels less like something to push through and more like something to move with.
7. Seal the Qi Before stepping fully into the day,
Taoists take a brief moment to “seal the Qi.” This is a gentle closing practice that helps
keep the energy they’ve awakened during the morning from scattering. Think of it as putting
a lid on a warm cup of tea - not to trap it, but to keep the warmth steady and contained.
It begins with warming the hands. Rub your palms together slowly and firmly until you can feel heat
building between them. Taoists see the hands as natural energy channels, especially the Lao Gong
points in the center of the palms. Warming the hands is like awakening these channels,
preparing them to guide the Qi back into the body. Once your hands are warm, bring them to your face.
Gently massage your forehead, temples, cheeks, and jaw. Let the warmth spread
through the skin. This encourages circulation to the head, clears lingering mental fog,
and wakes the senses without jolting them. The face is also where tension often hides, and a soft
touch here helps release it before the day begins. Next, move to the scalp. Use your fingertips to
massage in slow, circular motions, starting at the crown and moving down toward the base
of the skull. In Taoist practice, the scalp is linked to the Du meridian,
one of the body’s main energy pathways. Gently stimulating it helps anchor the energy that
naturally rises during meditation and movement, allowing it to circulate instead of dispersing.
After that, place your hands on your lower abdomen, just below the navel - the lower
Dantian. Slowly massage this area. This gathers your energy into its natural center, like folding
something precious back into its place. You may feel warmth spreading there as the Qi settles in.
After this, simply stand still. Let your arms rest comfortably at your sides or lightly over
the lower abdomen. Close your eyes or soften your gaze. Feel the soles of your feet pressing into
the ground, the spine tall but relaxed, the breath slow and natural. This quiet standing
is a moment of integration. The energy you’ve cultivated settles into your bones, muscles,
and breath. Your body and mind begin to feel whole, stable, and quietly awake.
To finish, Taoists often give themselves a soft, gentle smile. It’s not about pretending to be
happy — it’s a way to relax the body and calm the mind. Think of it like closing a door softly so
the warmth inside stays in. This smile helps keep your energy steady and ready for the day.
This small habit helps your body hold on to the calm and focus you just built. Instead of letting
your energy scatter, you carry it with you. Even one minute of this can make your whole day
feel different. You start the day calm, clear, and steady. Your body feels alive but relaxed,
your mind is clear, and you have a quiet, calm kind of strength.
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