Pi gu is an ancient Taoist method of fasting for spiritual and healing purposes. Unlike traditional fasting, you do not need to stop eating when practicing pi gu. Used by ancient Taoist masters during their months or years of solitary retreat in pursuit of enlightenment, the practice centers on a simple diet of fruits, teas, nuts, and eggs paired with special chewing techniques and chi kung exercises. Providing a step-by-step guide to Pi Gu Chi Kung, Master Mantak Chia and coauthor Christine Harkness-Giles explain the pi gu diet, provide immortality tea recipes, detail the pi gu chewing exercises, and illustrate the corresponding chi kung energy exercises. They also explain the use of pi gu during darkness retreats to enhance spiritual awareness and increase mental powers and wisdom.

Each of us is born with a unique combination of heavenly and earthly energies dictated by the stars overhead and the season on Earth at the moment you take your first breath. Known in Taoist astrology as the Four Pillars of Destiny, this "birth chi" can be calculated using the year, month, day, and time of your birth. Master Mantak Chia and astrologer Christine Harkness-Giles reveal how to interpret your birth chi and strengthen weaknesses within your astrological energies. They explain how each of us is ruled by one of the Five Elements--Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water--in a Yin or Yang state. For each Element and Yin or Yang combination, the authors describe personality traits, ideal career paths, and emotional and health issues. They reveal how to discover your levels of success, wealth, and power; how your astrological strengths will manifest; and how to understand your relationships with partners, friends, and family. They also explain how to use your chart to calculate your organ health and annual luck cycles. The authors show how to use Inner Alchemy techniques, such as color therapy and feng shui, and Universal Healing Tao exercises, such as the Healing Sounds and Chi Kung, to harmonize and strengthen the inborn imbalances and weaknesses in your chart. This hands-on method of astrology allows you to take control of your health and destiny by connecting your personal energy with the energies of the cosmos.