Taoist Inner Alchemy in Samothraki with Andrew Jan - Greek Islands

This Taoist inner alchemy retreat on the Greek island of Samothraki brings together Fusion of the Five Elements and the Lesser, Greater and Greatest Kan and Li practices of the Universal Healing Tao system. It is a meditation-centred spiritual retreat for people who want to work directly with Taoist internal alchemy, led by Andrew Jan, PhD, with local host Kostas Kapelas, MSc. It takes place at the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, in Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece.

What to Expect

The retreat runs for six teaching days within a week on the island. Andrew Jan will introduce and review practices from Fusion of the Five Elements (I, II and III) through Lesser, Greater and Greatest Kan and Li, the higher meditation practices of the Universal Healing Tao.

The emphasis is on direct meditation practice. Alongside it, the teaching sets out the internal alchemical framework, so that the practices make sense as a whole, and it encourages sensitivity to the different qualities of bodily, emotional and environmental energy. Andrew describes the wider work of the internal arts as turning the senses inward and identifying the many feelings, or forces, in the body, then learning to merge and direct them.

Practice is held in natural light. Participants can use eye masks where appropriate to reduce outside visual stimulation and settle attention inward.

About Andrew Jan

Andrew Jan is a Taoist teacher of Tai Chi, Qigong and internal alchemy based in Margaret River, Western Australia. He is a Senior Instructor and Branch Leader for Internal Alchemy within the Universal Healing Tao system, and Global Leader of its Internal Martial Arts division. His teacher page describes more than three decades of teaching Taoist arts, and he is the author of five books on Taoist philosophy and practice.

He has trained for many decades in Tai Chi, Qi Gong, Bagua Zhang and Xing Yi Quan, and has taught internal martial arts in Australia and internationally. He was the 1984 Full Contact All Styles Lightweight Champion, and in 2000 became Australian National Tai Chi Wushu Champion Over 40, placing first in the Wu Style, Yang Style and Weapons divisions.

About Kostas Kapelas

Kostas Kapelas, MSc, is Head Practitioner at the Total Health Now Clinic and hosts the retreat on Samothraki.

The Setting

Samothraki is home to the Sanctuary of the Great Gods, and the retreat is held there, in the Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Region of Greece.

Before You Go

This is educational and spiritual instruction only, not medical advice, diagnosis or therapy. Words such as "healing," "elixir," "medicine" and "pill" are used metaphorically in Taoist practice, and descriptions of posture, breath, energy or sensation use traditional Taoist language rather than making health claims.

The retreat is not suitable during pregnancy. Anyone with a medical or psychological condition should seek appropriate professional guidance before taking part. Participants are responsible for their own physical and mental well-being.