Demystifying the Golden Flower: Taoist Vision and the Yoga of Inner Light

This article offers a fresh interpretation of The Secret of the Golden Flower, the influential Taoist meditation manual translated by Richard Wilhelm (1873–1930) and introduced to Western readers with commentary by Carl Gustav Jung (1875–1961). While traditionally shrouded in esoteric language and mystical symbolism, this study demystifies the text by framing it as a practical guide to inner light meditation. Drawing on the emerging field of phosphene phenomenology, we suggest that the “Golden Light” described by Master Lü Dongbin (circa 8th–9th century CE) corresponds with meditation-induced luminous phenomena commonly reported in deep contemplative practice. We examine the phenomenological markers and confirmatory signs detailed in the text, such as the perception of inner light, bodily dissolution, auditory shifts, and upward floating sensations, and relate them to modern accounts of entoptic imagery and altered states of consciousness. Through this synthesis, we reframe the Golden Flower as a coherent and instructive map for engaging with the luminous dimensions of consciousness through focused inner light awareness.