Ritual Magic and Shamanism in Pre-Qin China Benebell Wen 2024-02-19 | Let’s consider what pre-Qin texts (that’s about 1046 BC to 200 BC) had to say about wu (巫) shamanism and ritual magic. Who were the wu (巫)? What practices and rites would have been described as being within the purview of the wu (巫)?How did the role of the wu (巫) then change when we enter Imperial China? What became of Chinese shamanism and Taoist ritual magic once we enter the Post-War Era?As part of a video series to promote my most recent book, I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), we’ll also touch on the shamanistic-historical origins of the Book of Change and the important link between the wu (巫) and the Yi (易) in the context of the I Ching (易經).Timestamps:01:03 The word wu (巫)01:53 The pre-Qin wu (巫) as an occupational title03:06 Reference to wu (巫) in the I Ching (Hexagram 57)04:52 References to wu (巫) in the Book of Rites (周禮)06:07 The diviner (shì rén, 筮人) as a specialized form of wu (巫)06:24 Three divination systems utilized by Zhou dynasty wu (巫)07:21 Yarrow stalks as a ritual tool of the wu (巫)08:48 Role of the male shaman09:51 Role of the female shaman11:07 Punishing the shaman when the gods do not answer11:55 The shamaness and the queen12:15 Doctrine of the Eternal (Hexagram 32)15:01 A Praying for Rain Ritual 15:35 “Dancing the Dragon” ~ “Pacing the Big Dipper”16:20 Praying for Rain Ritual, continued16:49 Xuan Ming, the north god of water and rain17:45 Bei Di (Hei Di), the north god in Taoism19:22 Requirements of a divination ritual20:07 Fasting as a prerequisite for divination20:45 Revisiting the Guan Yinzi text22:07 Summary of the discussion23:19 Changing role of the wu (巫): Imperial China and Modern ChinaOrder the book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/9HX0EQvAbout the book & supplemental downloads (free): benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
Most Influential Grimoire in Taoist Practice: Baopuzi Benebell Wen 2024-08-25 | Companion blog post that covers some of the content I left out of the video, in the interest of length: benebellwen.com/2024/08/25/baopuziThe version I’ve been working from is the Wang Ming 王明 “Baopuzi Neipian Jiaoshi 抱樸子內篇校釋,” which is the version canonized in the Taoist Canons.Scans of Baopuzi shown in this video are from this archived copy: benebellwen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/e59b9be983a8e58299e8a681_e68ab1e6a8b8e5ad90.pdfA digitized full-text version of Baopuzi (300 – 343 AD) can be found at: ctext.org/baopuzi/zh TIMESTAMPS:00:12 What is the Baopuzi 抱樸子? (and its Meaning)02:25 Two Books: Inner Chapters 內篇 & Outer Chapters 外篇06:22 Nine-Character Secret Mantra 九字真言 --- 06:36 Mudras with the Mantra Recitation (Taiwanese-Mandarin) --- 07:40 Mantra Recitation with Pin Yin (Chinese, Beijing Proper) --- 07:48 English Translation of Mantra --- 07:58 Mantra Recitation with Mudra Illustrations (Hokkien, Minnan) --- 08:39 Word for Word Study and Meaning of Mantra --- 10:31 Passage in Baopuzi that the Mantra is Found In --- 12:08 Meaning of “Liu Jia 六甲,” the Mantra’s Namesake [六甲秘祝]13:21 Sampling a Few I Ching References in Baopuzi14:49 Significance of the Liu Jia Secret Mantra; Uses16:19 Can you separate a book/idea from its author?17:06 Who was Ge Hong 葛洪?18:46 Ge Hong’s wife, Bao Gu20:25 Bridging Folk Taoism and Aristocratic Taoism21:34 Xuan 玄: Unbridled Mystery (and the Mystery Maiden, Xuan Nu) --- 22:39 To Know the Way of the Mysteries (Xuan Dao 玄道) --- 23:30 Guang (Astral Light) & Xun (Thunderous Force; Vajra)24:54 The Golden Elixir 金丹 [Formula(s) for Immortality] --- 26:07 Secret Text, Dao Ji Jing 道機經 (Compare: Dao De Jing 道德經); continued: 27:02 --- 26:30 Archetype of The Weaver --- 27:56 Formulating the Elixir; Cultivating the Person28:50 Taoist Morality30:44 Good Samaritan Jurisprudence (according to Ge Hong)31:18 Are you born with it? Is Craft inherited or learned?32:44 Hanging Talismans34:33 Closing Remarks35:55 Blooper Outro36:08 Secret Mantra Grid Demo (Taiwanese)Past Videos Referenced:Secret Book of the Three Sovereigns (referencing Ge Hong and Bao Gu in connection with another Taoist grimoire), benebellwen.com/2024/03/20/secret-book-of-the-three-sovereigns On the Lady of the Nine Heavens (Jiu Tian Xuan Nu), youtu.be/uIUcZD3hAr0Wu Shamanism (referencing xian gu 仙姑), youtu.be/CECViRZ8xqE Ritual Magic & Shamanism in Pre-Qin China, youtu.be/--DceQ1735Y
Ziran 自然 (Taoist Path of Least Resistance) Benebell Wen 2024-06-15 | This is a video lecture on the Taoist principle of ziran 自然, commonly translated into English as “of its own accord,” “the natural way,” or “spontaneity.” It is the free and unfettered natural course of events."In the beginning," notes Zhuangzi, "yin and yang were in balanced harmony, and because of this balanced harmony of natural forces, there were no cataclysms and no corruption, and no need for knowledge, though the ancient ones possessed great, profound knowledge. This is what we call the state of perfected unity -- ziran." [Outer Chapters]Let's explore the many facets of what ziran means. Within Taoism as a school of thought, the meaning and the way we interpret ziran is not static, and in fact has been quite dynamic throughout the dynasties.Timestamps:00:00 One of the most significant line statements on ziran (TTC, Verse 25)00:56 An essential esoteric Taoist axiom01:32 Ziran as the path of least resistance01:51 Ziran (path of least resistance) is in alignment with scientific principles; ziran as naturalist philosophy 03:02 Zhuangzi on the “ancient ones” and ziran (Zhuangzi, Outer Chapters 16)04:27 What we mean when we say “good” vs. “evil”05:35 Ziran wu wei: relation between ziran and wu wei07:10 First reference to ziran in the Tao Te Ching (TTC, Verse 17)07:52 Ziran as political philosophy, per the Tao Te Ching09:08 Ziran is practicing faith (“without faith, there is nothing to have faith in” defining ziran doctrine)10:58 Laozi and Zhuangzi laying the foundation for ziran discourse11:15 Ziran defined as “the nature of things” and “it is what it is”11:23 The five key verses in the TTC (Laozi) on ziran13:15 A few of the key passages in the Zhuangzi on ziran13:59 Zhuangzi on ziran as being indifferent, unsentimental; Huizi’s interrogation15:16 “The Tao gives the Countenance; Heaven gives the Form” - Zhuangzi17:11 Ziran as the spontaneous nature before interferences, which is innate goodness; interference with the path of that spontaneous nature is what begets “evil”17:43 Etymology of the ideograms for ziran18:31 Selfhood and innate identity as key themes in ziran discourse20:20 Ziran in Taoist mysticism and occult philosophy; ziran and transcendence22:44 Question to you for discussion in the commentsSee also the companion video lecture on wu wei 無為, the principle of non-action: youtu.be/TzAFobogs3Q?si=Cdg8tW8bSshQ7I-S
Mysteries of the Six Holy Kings Benebell Wen 2024-05-31 | Everything you need to learn about the Tao can be learned from the Six Holy Kings – or so goes a classical, oft-cited axiom. Chinese historian and philosopher Li Zehou 李泽厚 noted that the Six Holy Kings were shamanic rulers, wū 巫, and that their divine right to sovereignty came from their alignment with Heaven, which is received on the basis of their abilities to commune with Heaven.Companion blog post for the content I cut out of the video: benebellwen.com/2024/05/31/taoist-mysteries-of-the-six-holy-kings As Mysteries, there is an esoteric facet to the Six Holy Kings. They personify the six powers, which are accumulated through the progression of six hexagram lines in the I Ching. Embedded in the mythology is the arcane knowledge that reveals the Way, or Tao, of Heaven, which is the path of the holy ones. The transmission of wisdom from one king to the next is symbolic of orthodox Taoist lineaged tradition and Dào tǒng 道統, meaning the Tao is passed on from one generation to the next, the way the wisdom of the Holy Kings was passed from King Yao 堯 to Shun 舜 to Yu the Great 禹, then Tang 湯, to King Wen 文 and his son King Wu 武. TIMESTAMPS00:00 Introduction00:18 Meaning of “Mysteries”01:09 Six Powers per the Book of Three Sovereigns01:36 The Six-Line I Ching Hexagram01:59 The Six Jade Maidens; symbolism of Six Black (Mystery 玄) Stones02:33 Six-Line I Ching Hexagram, continued03:32 Structural Value of Six in Nature04:24 Six Akasha, Six Powers and the One Tao05:37 Use of the term “Holy Kings,” Sheng Wang 聖王06:07 Xia Dynasty06:30 Shang Dynasty06:42 Zhou Dynasty07:03 堯 King Yao08:55 舜 King Shun10:29 禹 King Yu12:34 湯 King Tang14:14 文 King Wen16:17 武 King Wu18:12 King Wen, King Wu, Duke of Zhou18:42 Other references to the Six Holy Kings19:13 Mòzi 墨子 on the Six Holy Kings21:29 Legalist and Zajia References to the Six Kings22:16 Sima Qian 司馬遷 and Records of the Grand Historian22:50 I Ching Hexagram 1 and the Six Holy Kings23:35 Why Learn About the Six Holy Kings24:23 Assembling and Synthesizing the Puzzle Pieces of this Mystery…26:48 Mythology is…27:10 Thank You!VIDEOS REFERENCEDWhat is the I Ching? youtu.be/t4aD2yHK7bE The Lo Shu Magic Square youtu.be/zAME24d0rGw What is the Way of Heaven? youtu.be/GKu-rgZi3icSecret Book of Three Sovereigns youtu.be/khsHNK4FOPELady of the Nine Heavens youtu.be/uIUcZD3hAr0Your Inner Palace and the Akashic Records youtu.be/iGJdxTTywHcAbout the Guan Yinzi: Magical Spells and Aphorisms for Attaining Primordial Truth youtu.be/0UUbnAVY4zw?si=faY1i3C986g2EV_J Wu Wei youtu.be/TzAFobogs3QWORKS CITED------- Introduction to Taoism 道教概說 by Lǐ Yǎng Zhèng 李養正 (The first to coin the term “Taoism” were the Ru Confucian philosophers, which they used to define the Tao of the six ancestral sage kings and the Five Classics, 使用道教一詞最早的是儒家，把堯舜禹湯文武的先王之道和孔子的五經之道謂之道教), noting that among the Five Classics is the I Ching------- Mozi 墨子 (490 – 221 BC, Spring and Autumn Period), key references to the Six Holy Kings found in Scrolls 2 卷二, 6 卷六, 7 卷七, 8 卷八, and 12 卷十二 ------- Guanzi 管子 (475 – 220 BC, Warring States Period), Legalist text, references to the Six Holy Kings found in Chapter 12, Shu Yan 樞言------- Hainanzi 淮南子 (139 BC, Western Han), or the Writings of the Huainan Masters, Scroll 9, Craft of the Ruler 主術訓------- Da Dai Liji 大戴禮記 (206 BC – 8 AD, Former Han), or the Records of Ritual Matters by Dai the Elder, Scroll 6, Yongbing 用兵------- Shiji 史記 (91 BC, Han dynasty), or Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian (and his father Sima Tian), in Biographies of the Soothsayers and House of King Goujian of Yue------- Fayan 揚子法言 (9 AD, Han dynasty), also known as the Model Sayings or Exemplary Figures, by Yang Xiong 揚雄, Chapter 1 學行卷第一------- Book of Later Han 後漢書 (398 – 445 AD) by Fan Ye 范曄 in Biographies of Du, Luan, Liu, Li, Liu, Xie 杜欒劉李劉謝列傳, Vol. 57; see also Biographies of the Diviners, Immortals, and Magicians 方術列傳 ------- Li Zehou 李泽厚, The Origins of Chinese Thought: From Shamanism to Ritual Regulations and Humaneness. Robert A. Carleo III, trans. (Leiden: Brill, 2018)
What is the Way of Heaven? Benebell Wen 2024-05-19 | The Way of Heaven (天之道, Tiān zhī Dào) is a Taoist doctrine on how to attain immortality, becoming an awakened one (聖人, shèng rén), and achieving transcendence. Four verses from the Tao Te Ching are instructive on what the Way of Heaven is, and is now considered canonical in Way of Heaven discourse. We’ll also take a look at what other classical Chinese texts have to say on the Way of Heaven (and cf. the Way of Humanity).The doctrine is considered common core in many Taoist lineages and traditions. Consider what principles from this philosophy you might be able to build your spiritual foundation with.***TIMESTAMPS:References to the Way of Heaven (Tiān zhī Dào, 天之道) in the Tao Te Ching:00:30 Verse 901:28 Verse 9 continued02:09 Verse 73 – the archery metaphor04:10 Verse 77 – cut where there is excess, fill where there is loss10:18 Verse 81 – final instructive reference to the Way of HeavenClassical Textual References to the Way of Heaven15:04 Mencius 孟子 on Sincerity 誠15:25 The Way of Heaven: Sincerity (& Authenticity) in Verse 22, Hexagram 54 (Gui Mei, Marrying Maiden), and the alchemical wedding15:48 Doctrine of the Mean on Sincerity and the Way of Heaven16:07 The Book of Rites on the sun, moon, and divination in the Way of Heaven16:28 Commentaries of Zuo (Zuo Chuan, 左傳) on divination, the Way of Heaven, and how to interpret prophecy17:17 Xunzi 荀子 and Confucianist discourse; the Way of the Junzi 君子19:23 Wenzi 文子 (Book of Master Wen) on the Nine Shields20:29 Way of Heaven discourse found in the Ten Wings of the I Ching Book of Changes23:24 Jing Fang 京房’s Commentaries on the I Ching – the Way of Heaven and the 64 Hexagrams; Jing Fang’s discourse from Hexagram 54 (Gui Mei, Marrying Maiden)24:06 Huangdi Neijing on the Way of Heaven – it is like gazing at the clouds; God25:32 Huangdi Neijing; the Way of Heaven and Hexagram 1Supplemental Discussions00:59 Reviewing a definition for the Tao02:32 ziran 自然03:11 the atheistic and naturalist doctrine of Tiān Dào zìrán 天道自然07:17 Way of Heaven and I Ching Hexagrams 41 (Sun, Debilitating) and 42 (Yi, Burgeoning) embedded in the Tao Te Ching, Verse 7708:57 Way of Heaven (Huang-Lao) vs. Way of Humanity 人之道 (divide where there is no division)17:57 distinction between Confucianist (Ru) interpretations of the Tao vs. Taoist interpretations of the Tao, Way of Heaven, and Junzi20:13 Why study the Tao Te Ching passages on the Way of Heaven22:30 Revisiting “the exchange of yin and yang is the Tao” and comparing it to the Tao (Way) of Heaven25:53 The Numinous and the Middle Pillar (Note: I misspoke here. Ji is the Numinous; not the Numinous Void, which is Wuji)26:12 Closing Remarks
Taoism: A Decolonized Introduction Benebell Wen 2024-04-20 | We’re still having audio-video syncing issues. Be sure to turn on Closed Captioning for the subtitles. That’ll help clarify any confusion caused by audio hiccups.... If a techie witnessed the wholly inefficient Luddite way I cobbled this video production together, they would probably die of a brain aneurysm …Timestamps:00:00 Why another “Introduction to Taoism” video00:19 Historical textual definition of and references to the Tao 道01:29 Canonical statement defining the Tao “一陰一陽之謂道” 02:39 Cultural understanding and usage of the term 道 [Syncretic Taoism]03:40 Formalizing Taoism 道教 during the Eastern Han03:50 Scope of Taoism “道教” prior to the Eastern Han04:42 Conflating Buddhist doctrine with the Tao 道05:33 Institutionalizing Taoism in the Common Era05:50 Taoist Beliefs – Four Cornerstones---- Wu Wei 無為 and Zi Ran 自然---- True Name 真名 and True Form 真形---- Taoist Cosmology---- Xuan De 玄德 (The Mysteries)06:53 The Dàoshì 道士07:15 Taoist Practice – Four Cornerstones---- Invoking Spirits 崇拜鬼神---- Divination 占卜---- Ceremonial Rites 祭祀---- Shamanic Witchcraft 巫祝07:59 The Fāngshì 方士 (Methods Master)08:14 Taoism is the indigenous Chinese tradition premised on three fundamental assumptions08:24 [1st] Working with spirit entities (and what that means) [鬼神崇拜]09:39 Classifications of spirit entities in Taoism (and Chinese folk beliefs)10:23 [2nd] Studying cultivation methods for transcendence [神仙信仰與方術]10:32 Inner alchemy 內丹術 and outer alchemy 外丹術11:43 Taoist occultism during the Warring States period (472 – 221 BC)11:55 The five mystical arts 五術13:02 [3rd] The Huang Lao 黃老道 doctrine [黃老學說中的神秘主義成份]14:53 Two Key Concepts to Huang Lao Taoism (the highest priorities of the Taoist)--- Political doctrine of Lì Mín 利民--- Philosophical doctrine of Wu Wei 無為16:38 Historical uses of the term Huang Lao Tao18:16 Mathematical Structure of the Tao 道 (mirroring the Yi 易, in I Ching 易經)19:29 Taoism and the I Ching: the Tao referenced in the I Ching20:23 Taoism from the Hundred Schools of Thought20:48 Taoism as a school of philosophy22:18 Western Thought: Taoist Philosophy vs. Taoist Religion22:37 Eastern Thought: Taoist Beliefs & Taoist Practice23:10 Evolving understanding of the Tao in Imperial China23:58 First use of the term Taoism 道教 (Confucius)24:14 Taoism is exemplified by the Six Ancestral Sage Kings [堯舜禹湯文武]24:53 Dào Dé Jing 道德經 and Dào Dé Tiān Zūn 道德天尊25:25 Religious personifications of the Tao Te Ching26:08 Summary and closing remarks***Related Past Videos:Wu Wei 無為 (Taoist Non-Action), youtu.be/TzAFobogs3Q?si=_BNWxmGDIXqw8jn6Your Inner Palace and the Akashic Records, youtu.be/iGJdxTTywHc?si=r5bY9muFzSrhdYd1Three Mysteries of Taoist Scriptural Tradition, youtu.be/gJcit-CTXnc?si=EJH3n3z3Pgd50e4uTao Te Ching and Feminist Metaphysics, youtu.be/IqUlYQDtPrY?si=5w1Npbu-0QA6qxHfWhat Does It Mean To Be Taoist, youtu.be/FbpUm82U4dg?si=-Ctl9NNlDNwF6rlpThe Lo Shu Magic Square (雒書, Luò Shū), youtu.be/zAME24d0rGw?si=h1ER0OrreB3V6gst***Playlist: Introduction to Taoist & Buddhist Mysticism, youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hELearn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle
Purpose of the Taoist Lineage Tradition Benebell Wen 2024-04-13 | Do we need to be having this conversation?:: cringe :: Drinking game -- Every time I say "lineage," take a shot. Drunken good times guaranteed. 😞TECH EQUIPMENT NOTE: The audio recording and the video footage recording are two separate channels/devices (I don’t know if that’s the right techie lingo…) and for some reason that’s causing hiccups with the syncing.
Secret Book of Three Sovereigns & Seal of the Nine Immortal Realms Benebell Wen 2024-03-20 | What is the Secret Book of the Three Sovereigns 三皇內文遺秘? Is it a recovered fragment from the lost legendary grimoire, the Book of the Three Sovereigns 三皇文? The Sān Huáng Wén 三皇文 (Book of the Three Sovereigns) refers to a collection of texts currently in the Taoist Canons. Whether they are fragments of the legendary grimoire by that same name, we can’t be sure. The version of the texts in the canonized Book of the Three Sovereigns date back to the Tang (618 – 907 AD) and Song (960 – 1279 AD) dynasties, with passages integrated from Three Sovereigns texts dating to the Three Kingdoms Era (220 – 280 AD), Jin (266 – 420 AD), and Wei (386 – 534 AD).The latter half of this video will be a walk-through of the Secret Book’s tutorial on the Seal of the Nine Immortal Realms 九老仙部印圖, a Fu talisman and spirit map for channeling Taiyi 太一, the Supreme Primordial God of Heaven, and unlocking untold powers from within. Detailed written instructions, downloads, and reference links: wp.me/p32or0-aDaTimestamps:00:10 About the Book of the Three Sovereigns and Its History of Transmissions; Video Lecture Objectives05:58 The Inner Classics of the Secrets of the Three Emperors (“Secret Book of the Three Sovereigns”) and 07:27 the Golden Elixir Tradition (金丹派, Jīn Dān Pài)07:45 Three Talismanic Seals from the Secret Book of the Three Sovereigns08:02 Greater Seal invoking the Yellow Emperor08:14 Lesser Seal invoking the God of the Underworld08:42 About the Seal of the Nine Immortal Realms and its Powers09:49 Breaking Curses with this Seal; I Ching Hexagram 40: Jie, Thunder over Water and its relevance in Taoist witchcraft methods for breaking curses10:27 Start of Instructions for the Seal of the Nine Immortal Realms12:38 Ten Days (One Week) of Preparatory Spiritual Cultivation14:02 Design of the Seal of the Nine Immortal Realms15:13 Wood from a Lightning-Struck Jujube Tree18:20 Fifth (Solar) Day of the Fifth Lunar Month20:09 Alternative Option for Timing of the Ritual; Chinese Astrology (Ba Zi)24:14 Preparing Food Offerings to the God26:06 Incense Offerings to the God; Consecration27:06 Preliminary Divination to Confirm Taiyi’s Acceptance & Presence27:53 Attunement of the Three: Taiyi, Huang Tian (the Nine Primordial Immortals), Dao Jun (you)28:49 Review of the Taoist Creation Myth: The Tao, Taiyi & the Big Dipper29:19 The Invocation to Charge and Empower the Seal30:12 Hear the Incantation Spoken in Mandarin30:33 Translating the Meaning of the Incantation32:28 Closing Incense Offerings; Ritual Clapping and Bowing32:53 Eating the Food Offerings After the Ritual33:14 Closing Remarks
Wu Wei 無為 (Taoist Non-Action) Benebell Wen 2024-03-10 | This is a video lecture on the Taoist principle of wu wei 無為, commonly translated into English as “non-action.” Timestamps:00:00 Review of what I said on wu wei in a previous video00:24 Wu wei in a nutshell00:59 What the Tao Te Ching (6th century BC) says about wu wei01:33 Tao Te Ching Verse 202:19 The Tao as a divine monad vs. polytheistic view of the many gods, spirits, and demons that are the fragmented parts of the Tao03:49 Tao Te Ching Verse 38 [Note: There is a typo in the top right corner. It should cite the book "德經" of the TTC]04:17 Tao Te Ching Verse 37 [Note: Same typo as previous]05:42 Reflection: Synthesize the word for word translations and interpret Verse 37 for yourself07:51 Wu wei as political philosophy and military strategy08:36 What the Xunzi 荀子 (4th century BC) says about wu wei [Text that should have appeared on screen here: 譬之是猶以盲辨色，以聾辨聲也，舍亂妄無為也]08:56 What the Zhuangzi 莊子 (5th - 3rd century BC) says about wu wei10:01 What the Xinyu 新語 by Lu Jia 陸賈 (240 BC – 170 BC) says about wu wei10:37 Xinyu, Article 4 on Wu Wei, Verse 111:45 Xinyu, Article 4 on Wu Wei, Verse 212:36 Xinyu, Article 4 on Wu Wei, Verse 313:40 Comparing Lu Jia’s philosophy of wu wei to the Tao Te Ching Verse 63 | Error in Script: This should be Verse 57: "我無為，而民自化 (Wǒ wú wéi, ér mín zì huà)"14:08 Tao Te Ching Verse 43; I Ching hexagram 42 (Yi: Burgeoning)15:03 Comparing Lu Jia’s philosophy with Stoicism and Diogenes of Babylon (200 – 100 BC)15:57 Key distinctions between Confucianist, Taoist, and Buddhist interpretations of wu wei17:03 Reflection: Per your interpretation of these texts articulating wu wei, what does the concept mean to you?ADDENDUM: How might everyday people like us apply this philosophical principle? Here are my personal thoughts.- At the government level, it means prioritizing individual liberty when it comes to law and public policy. It means giving people the freedom to be who they want to be, but also investing a great deal in education and inspiring the people toward modeling virtue. A truly just, peaceful, and good society begins at the top. Your leaders must first model virtue before you expect that of the people.- In terms of our relationship with nature and the environment, it means construction that is in harmony with the natural topography, rather than trying to defeat the natural topography. Basically, feng shui principles.- And at the family level, it means intuitive parenting. It’s letting the interests, innate disposition, strengths and weaknesses of your child guide how you parent. It does not mean hands-off parenting. It means not trying to change the nature and innate disposition of your child. In fact, it means as a parent, you want to do everything you can to nurture the best out of the nature of your child. Wu wei parenting means modeling virtuous behavior to inspire your child to be virtuous.- In education, wu wei means teachers don’t force or compel students to learn at the teacher’s expected pace of progress. It’s letting students learn at their own natural pace.- At the individual level, wu wei doesn’t mean don’t be ambitious. It means doing The Work out of a natural, unforced passion for The Work, and then not desiring credit or glory for achieving The Work.See also the companion video lecture on ziran 自然:youtu.be/EvXSuKYA_Gg
Magical Spells and Aphorisms for Attaining Primordial Truth: The Guan Yinzi Benebell Wen 2024-02-12 | Companion blog post: benebellwen.com/2024/02/12/guanyinziThe more recognized naming convention for the sutra is the Guan Yinzi (闕尹子) or Wen Shi Zhen Jing (文始真經) attributed to the gatekeeper who Laozi encountered. According to lore, the gatekeeper at the Western Pass, named Yinxi 尹喜, later given the name Wenshi (文始), transcribed the teachings of Laozi and that text became the Tao Te Ching (道德經). Alternate tellings have Laozi writing the teachings down into two books himself, which the gatekeeper then receives.After receiving Laozi’s teachings, the gatekeeper attains enlightenment and subsequently writes his own book, which becomes known as the Guan Yinzi 闕尹子. Guan 闕 means gatekeeper. Yinzi 尹子 means “Master Yin” (like how Laozi means “Master Lao”), an honorific that Yinxi 尹喜 is given upon mastering the Tao.Historically among Taoist alchemists, mystics, and ceremonial magicians, the Guan Yinzi treated as a book of magical spells and powerful cultivation practices hidden in plain sight. It is a nine-chapter esoteric Taoist sutra and canonized sacred text attributed to the Three Sovereigns (三皇, San Huang) tradition of Taoist ritual magic. It also became the principal text for a mystical Taoist lineage named after the gatekeeper, the Wenshi School (文始派).The origins of the text is attributed to the time of Laozi, around 6th century BC, though the oldest documented reference we have to it is circa 400 BC in the Liezi 列子, a classical text on Taoist philosophy. Around 400 AD, the text is canonized in the Daozang 道藏 (Taoist Canons).
Tao Te Ching and Feminist Metaphysics Benebell Wen 2023-11-16 | Is God a woman? When the Tao Te Ching references gender, what does it have to say? Discussing the Tao Te Ching through the framework of feminist metaphysics. Also, apparently today (date of this upload) is World Philosophy Day! 😊Timestamps:00:04 What is the Tao Te Ching?01:29 Feminist and Feminine Implications in the Text08:43 What do we mean by feminist metaphysics?09:18 How was the universe created?10:43 What/Who is God?16:41 Revisiting: What is the Tao Te Ching?Benebell Wen is the author of I Ching, The Oracle (2023) and The Tao of Craft (2016), both published by North Atlantic Books. Learn more about her work at http://www.benebellwen.comPlaylist | Introduction to Taoist & Buddhist Mysticism youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hE
Dragon Gods, Land Spirits; the Hakka Benebell Wen 2023-11-11 | I’m compounding several different topics into one video and probably should have done separate videos for each topic, but for me, they’re all related to each other, and so I guess from that personal perspective, it makes sense for me to be presenting them in one bundle.Link: wp.me/p32or0-a9v
Your Inner Palace and the Akashic Records Benebell Wen 2023-11-04 | The Akashic Records is very much a Western conception, right? The Theosophists of the 19th century formulated a mash-up of Eastern and Western esoteric traditions and from that mash-up came its most popular legacy-- the Akashic Records.Most of us get that the "Akashic" part was inspired by the akasha, a fifth element or essence found in various Asian traditions, associated with the sky, space, aether, and in Buddhism, even a state of mind. But what about the "Records" part?The Inner Palace (Yuán Chén Gōng, 元辰宮) is a concept that seems to be traced from the Lushan lineage 閭山派 of Taoist magic, a southern tradition that blends Taoism, esoteric Buddhism, and the shamanistic witchcraft of the Min-Yue people 閩越巫法.I’d like to make the case that the Inner Palace concept originated from the Palace of Mysteries (xuán gōng, 玄宮) located in the Realm of Nothingness, as cited in the Zhuangzi (350 – 250 BC), later integrated into the Book of Supreme Mysteries (Tài Xuán Jīng, 太玄經) (33 – 18 BC) and Ge Hong’s Baopuzi (283 – 364 AD), a Taoist grimoire. In the library of the Inner Palace, you can gain access to a Book of Life and Death 生死簿. The Book of Life and Death is a mythical register accounting all deeds of all people, that accurately calculates the future and reveals that future.Perhaps another name for that Realm of Nothingness is the Akasha. And the Western Theosophical concept of the Akashic Records can be traced back to the Inner Palace or Palace of Mysteries.By the way, initially I was going to title this video “Temple of the Primordial Aeon and the Akashic Records”…Companion blog post to video discussion: wp.me/p32or0-a84Timestamps:01:25 The Mystery Palace, circa 400 BCE03:11 About Your Inner Palace [Yuan Chen Gong]05:04 The Palace of Mysteries [Xuan Gong]07:57 What are Inner Palace Readings?11:46 Lu Shan; Wu Shu (Wu Shamanism) of the Southern Min People12:53 The modern New Age practice of Inner Palace Readings14:15 The Inner Palace and Eastern occult philosophy15:57 On the Inner Canons of the Yellow Emperor [Huangdi Neijing]16:44 Defining “Shen” 18:14 Tracing the Roots of the Akashic Records (continuing our excerpted reading of the Huangdi Neijing and defining “shen”)23:22 Personal Reflections26:18 How do you access your Inner Palace, or read the Akashic Records?Illustration Credits:- “山水背景图片” via nipic.com- Painting of Akasagarbha by Miki Okuda from the Esoteric Buddhism of Japan Oracle Cards (Card 22: Kokuzo Bosatsu)
Descent into the Underworld 觀落陰 (Wu Shamanism) Benebell Wen 2023-10-28 | Guan Luo Yin is a practice of wu shamanism found primarily in the South Pacific. Methodologies differ. One approach is as an astral journey to the underworld to see the spirits of those who have passed on. Another is as a method of "remote viewing." Some traditions conceptualize the descent as beginning from the entrance to a cave at the base of a mountain; others conceptualize it as a palace with many floors descending (as opposed to ascending the way floors of a building are constructed in the physical earthly world). This video serves as an introduction to the practice.See also:Wu Shamanism (巫術): Just a Rumination, youtu.be/CECViRZ8xqE?si=i9Iu8PH8qu0cdsdsTaoist Spirit Maps (靈圖, Língtú), youtu.be/1oDID5r_8wA?si=TJaZGMe72jM4pcL7Watch the full-length videos of the snippets I showed at the end:- youtu.be/qQ63ARxELKA?si=sJjzOHmVb7JDLq4d- youtu.be/7KxaW8EId6c?si=_SfjYaJCdtQ8OVfP
Three Mysteries of Taoist Scriptural Tradition Benebell Wen 2023-10-13 | The opening paragraph of Chapter 3 in my book I Ching, The Oracle makes reference to the three major Taoist texts referred to as the Three Mysteries. This video is an introduction and overview of the three texts.TIMESTAMPS:00:12 What are the Three Mysteries?01:00 What is the School of Mysteries?01:50 Xuan and the Mysterious Lady of the Nine Heavens02:52 Mystery 1: The Zhouyi [I Ching]03:44 Mystery 2: The Laozi [Tao de Ching]05:31 What are the Core Values of Taoism?06:30 Mystery 3: The Zhuangzi13:50 “Three Mysteries, Three Essentials” (Buddhist Principle)14:12 3 x 3 x 3 Cube of Space; Lo Shu Square16:10 “Xuan” Word References in the Three MysteriesWORD LIST:Mystery; the Occult; Darkness (玄, Xuan)School of Mystery (玄學, Xuan Xue)Three Mysteries (三玄, San Xuan)I Ching (易經)Zhouyi [the I Ching] (周易)Tao de Ching (道德經)Laozi (老子)King of All Scriptures (萬經之王, Wàn jīng zhī wáng)Five Thousand Characters (五千言, wǔ qiān yán)Zhuangzi (莊子)--- Inner Scrolls [of the Zhuangzi] (內篇, Nèi piān)--- Outer Scrolls [of the Zhuangzi] (外篇, Wài piān)--- Addenda Scrolls [of the Zhuangzi] (雜篇, Zá piān)Hui Shi (惠子, Huìzi), 370-310 BC philosopherLínjì Yìxuán (臨濟義玄), 9th c. Chan Buddhist masterThree Mysteries, Three Essentials (三玄三要, sān xuán sān yào)I CHING, THE ORACLE (BOOK):Amazon, https://a.co/d/bktPXJiPenguin Random House, penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wenNorth Atlantic Books, northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle I CHING, THE ORACLE Free Companion Course: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/a-companion-courseI CHING Practicum Worksheets: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/i-ching-worksheetsI CHING, THE ORACLE Amendments to Text: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/amendments-to-text
I Ching: Philosophy or Fortune-Telling? Benebell Wen 2023-09-22 | This video lecture is part of a companion course series leading up to the release of my third book, I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/a-companion-courseLearn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracleA previous video in this companion course series might be a helpful guide on how to interpret an I Ching hexagram: youtu.be/_Pd-yv7h2mQ?si=3ORJizoSi4Et6DxM***Timestamps:00:18 The historical origins of the I Ching and the Mandate of Heaven01:23 The Zhou dynasty births Confucianism, Taoism, and Legalism02:08 The Five Classics, rooting the I Ching in philosophical discourse02:48 Studying selected lines of the Zhouyi together04:22 Book of Change as a book on first principles04:39 Case study of Hexagram 32 (The Eternal) on how the philosopher and the fortune-teller might assess a hexagram06:48 Book of Change as a book on moral values; the jun zi (the sage)07:31 Citing passages on moral values found in the I Ching09:08 Topics of Chinese philosophy found in the I Ching09:35 Shamanistic divinatory origins of the I Ching: to unite Heaven and Earth10:21 Historically, consulting the Yi (I Ching) must be steeped in spiritual preparatory work, rites and ritual; philosophical study of the I Ching is the spiritual cultivation necessary for divinatory work with the I Ching11:01 Why do we characterize philosophy and fortune-telling as mutually exclusive12:47 Occult uses of the I Ching throughout East Asian history14:22 Revisiting the Five Classics and 14:54 the thesis of the Book of Change15:13 Exercise 1: As a Philosopher15:25 Examples of philosophical questions to present to the Oracle for consideration; also 16:05 for a second list of philosophical questions16:36 Spiritual cultivation comes from the challenging process of interpreting, assessing, and considering the Yi’s message17:10 How to interpret your I Ching hexagram casting result; also 17:34 for more tips on how to approach interpreting your reading18:25 Exercise 2: As a Fortune-Teller19:18 Exercise 3: Personifying the Oracle 20:58 Leaning in to what you perceive as the tone that the Oracle is taking with you in this instances; what are your feelings and emotions in response to the reading; interpret the visuals you’re receiving as symbolic21:22 Concluding thoughts on philosophy vs. divination/fortune-telling***I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen
I Ching, The Oracle: Author Unboxing, First Impressions, About Book 3 Benebell Wen 2023-09-15 | Author copies of my third book have arrived. Here are some of my honest first impressions.Your support over the years means so much to me! I would be ever so grateful if you'd consider pre-ordering the book. Release date: September 26, 2023.- Amazon link: https://a.co/d/fNjydn0- Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen- North Atlantic Books: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle
Lady of the Nine Heavens (Jiu Tian Xuan Nu) and the I Ching Benebell Wen 2023-08-31 | This video lecture installment is part of a companion course series leading up to the release of my third book, I Ching, The Oracle. Blog post addendum: benebellwen.com/2023/08/30/jtxnTimestamps:00:01 Ninth Heaven (s.) vs. Nine Heavens (pl.)00:53 What classification of divinity is the Lady of the Nine Heavens?02:25 Disciple and messenger of Shèng Mǔ Yuán Jūn 圣母元君03:06 Connections between Shèng Mǔ and Xī Wáng Mǔ 西王母 (Queen Mother of the West)03:33 The Sacred Mother of Moonlight 月光皇后圣母 (Yuè Guāng Huáng Hòu Sheng Mǔ)06:05 Six Jade Maiden attendants of the Lady of the Nine Heavens07:03 Disciple and messenger of Xī Wáng Mǔ 西王母 (Queen Mother of the West)07:20 Legend of Jiǔ Tiān Xuán Nǚ and the Yellow Emperor08:28 Jiǔ Tiān Xuán Nǚ and the Occult Arts 陰陽術 (Methods of Yin and Yang)09:17 Legend of Jiǔ Tiān Xuán Nǚ (as Yue Nü 越女) and King Goujian11:19 Divine consciousness and reincarnation; emanations of the divine12:45 About the Lady of the Nine Heavens, Jiǔ Tiān Xuán Nǚ13:25 Depictions of the Lady of the Nine Heavens and additional attributes14:28 Connections between the Lady of the Nine Heavens and Nǚ Wā 女媧15:38 Connections between the Lady of the Nine Heavens and the Mysterious Heavenly Bird of Destiny, Tiān Mìng Xuán Niǎo 天命玄鳥 (totemic animal of the Shang) 16:34 Lady of the Nine Heavens and the I Ching17:40 A Caveat on Following Subversive Texts19:49 Legend of the Last Emperor of Shang (losing the Mandate of Heaven)21:52 Final Comments on Writing I Ching, The Oracle and the connection to Jiǔ Tiān Xuán Nǚ* * *- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracleCompanion Course landing page, benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/a-companion-courseDownload tables, references, and more, benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/reference-tables-diagramsRead excerpts to supplement the video discussion: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/read-excerpts CHAPTER 2: MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND CULTURAL HEROES OF THE I CHING, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-2-myths-legends-and-cultural-heroes-1.pdf* * *Previous video on Lady of the Ninth Heaven, youtu.be/F874dPOFiQI 2017 companion blog post, “Mysterious Lady of the Ninth Heaven (Jiu Tian Xuan Nü, 九天玄女),” wp.me/p32or0-2M3
The Eight Trigrams (八卦, Bā Guà) Benebell Wen 2023-08-22 | This video lecture course is an overview of the eight trigrams, or Ba Gua. It is part of a companion course series leading up to the release of my third book, I Ching, The Oracle. Supplemental written materials and reference downloads, including a downloadable Ba Gua correspondences table: wp.me/p32or0-9MeTimestamps:00:48 Introducing the Eight Trigrams 01:16 Theoretical Origins of the Eight Trigrams (Yin and Yang Philosophy)04:19 Eight Bodhisattvas and the Ba Gua05:06 Eight Divinities of the Wu Shamans of Shang05:28 Eight Immortals Overview06:24 Han Xiangzi, artistic prodigy; immortality via divine blessing06:35 Zhong Li Quan, warrior general; immortality via alchemy06:47 Lu Dong Bin, leader and elite scholar; immortality via sutra recitations07:00 Cao Guo Jiu, royalty and justice seeker; immortality via renunciation07:14 He Xian Gu, shamaness, priestess; immortality via fairy spirit guide07:26 Li Tie Guai, physician, pharmacologist; immortality via solitary practice07:43 Zhang Guo Lao, alchemist, occultist; immortality via mystical potion07:57 Lan Cai He, eternal youth; immortality via light and pure of heart08:52 Eight Immortals and Ba Gua Correspondences09:32 Ba Gua & Eight Archetypes of the Occultist10:02 Introducing the Early Heaven and Later Heaven Ba Guas | Ref: “Lo Shu Magic Square,” youtu.be/zAME24d0rGw 10:50 Fuxi and the Early Heaven Ba Gua11:24 King Wen and the Later Heaven Ba Gua12:08 The Two Sequences of Eight Trigrams12:18 Fuxi’s Early Heaven Ba Gua: Natural Laws of Flow12:32 King Wen’s Later Heaven Ba Gua: How to Control the Flow13:15 First Principles Playbook of the Taoist Occultist13:24 First Principle of the Yi (Early Heaven Ba Gua)13:40 Second Principle of the Yi (Later Heaven Ba Gua)14:25 Wu Xing Five Movements Drive the Trigrams | Ref: “Wu Xing: Five Movements Toward Change,” youtu.be/dqWbeMv_t5o 14:55 Early Heaven Ba Gua: Numerical Sequence and Order16:24 Later Heaven Ba Gua: Numerical Sequence and Order17:25 Twelve Zodiac Animals, the Ba Gua, and Jupiter18:44 narration mentions six dark crosses that don’t appear until 18:5618:57 narration mentions six light crosses that don’t appear until 19:0719:28 Four Trigrams and Four Perfected Hexagrams Aligning with Equinoxes and Solstices; Asc, Dsc, Im, Mc; Four Directional Guardians21:32 Revisiting the Two Ba Gua Arrangements and Wu Xing Forces (Infinity/Chaos vs. Bounds/Order)22:17 Numerological Parity with the Yarrow Stalk Divination Process | Ref: “Yarrow Stalk Divination,” youtu.be/r9wnPOtBbK0 22:58 Ancient Chinese Calculus? Similarities to DNA, Computing Processes, and the I Ching | Ref: “What is the I Ching?” youtu.be/t4aD2yHK7bE 24:22 Traditional Sequence of the Trigrams; Overview of Trigram Correspondences and Symbolism24:33 Heaven: Will, Purpose; Creativity, Inspiration24:44 Lake: Harvest, Multiply; The Womb; Exchange, Commerce25:04 Fire: Clarify, Enlighten, Attract; Intelligence, Expansion25:21 Thunder: Incite, Provoke; Show of Force; Clear the Road25:44 Wind: Gentle Influence; Fertility; Cultivation25:59 Water: Catharsis; Reflection; Healing, Medicine; Depths; Darkness, Margins26:18 Mountain: Stabilize, Sustain; The Peak; Stillness; Self-Control, Endurance26:31 Earth: Receive, Enrich; Receiving; Reaping; Underworld21:06 The Three Treasures (Jing, Qi, Shen) and the Trigrams27:08 Eight Paths to Awakening; Eight States of Superconsciousness27:55 Wind and Thunder (Wood; Arising, Accelerating)28:06 Fire (Fire; Expanding, Advancing)28:19 Earth and Mountain (Earth; Transforming; Balance)28:36 Lake and Heaven (Metal; Disseminating; Order)28:56 Water (Water; Dissolving, Flux)29:21 Planetary Correspondences of the Trigrams and Wu Xing29:22 Conclusion and Review of the Eight Trigrams30:44 Mnemonic for remembering the eight trigrams***I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen
Why is the I Ching Not Trending? Benebell Wen 2023-08-16 | Timestamps:00:40 I Ching, Levi, Carl Jung, Crowley, etc.01:59 Spirit intelligences of tarot, geomancy, and the I Ching03:14 Tarot vs. I Ching popularity differentials03:36 Barrier of entry?04:05 The I Ching at any level --- 05:28 Chatting about Hexagram 6 (The Trial) --- 06:34 Hexagrams 30 (The Spark), 31 (Mutual Accord), and 32 (The Eternal), narrative of love --- 06:43 Hexagram 25 (Without Folly), Line 5 “勿藥有喜” interpretation and as a health blessing --- 07:43 Hexagram 57 (Use Gentle Force) in folk magic and spell-crafting for prosperity --- 07:50 Hexagram 63 (After the Ending), Line 3 “高宗伐鬼方” historical uses in exorcism rituals --- 08:21 Hexagram 7 (The Army) “容民畜眾” --- 08:30 Hexagram 49 (Revolution), Line 3 explaining three axioms for a successful revolt --- 08:59 Hexagram 52 (Listen to the Wind), comparing exoteric and esoteric implications --- 09:22 Hexagram 56 (The Wanderer), Line 6 --- 10:25 Hexagram 42 (Burgeoning), oft quoted proverb10:55 Why don’t memes quote the I Ching the way we quote Rumi or Sun Tzu?11:10 Speculations for why it isn’t as popular12:08 Browsing the hashtags for sample content12:44 I Ching in Human Design?13:32 Browsing the hashtags continued; responding to social media content on the I Ching18:15 “Bros” in online I Ching and Taoist discourse20:00 Question presented and your thoughtsOrder I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023) via Penguin Random House Retail: penguinrandomhouseretail.com/book/?isbn=9781623178734Amazon (US): amazon.com/Ching-Oracle-translation-historical-references/dp/1623178738NAB Author Profile: northatlanticbooks.com/author/benebell-wenBenebell WenWebsite. http://www.benebellwen.comInstagram. http://www.instagram.com/bellwenTwitter. twitter.com/benebellwen
Is Divination Always Reliable? Benebell Wen 2023-07-26 | Mary K. Greer’s 2023 Jul. 24 post about the group reading exercise: facebook.com/mkgreer/posts/pfbid02kVj3bdmgYaa7oE6PcnABsUGZZE5E31B27j2VdiPRdGmD6h9KZxjd77TXcGRvCMpFl The Masters of the Tarot Conference at Omega Institute (me recounting my 2019 and 2023 experiences): benebellwen.com/2023/07/20/the-masters-of-the-tarot-conference-at-omega-instituteQ#1: Is a divinatory reading always reliable?Q#2: If a querent presents the same question to five different readers and gets five very different answers, what is your theory of reconciliation? How do you reconcile that?Q#3: If we see a set spread of cards that hypothetically answers some divinatory question and five different readers interpret that same spread of cards five different ways, what is your metric for determining who is right and who is wrong?
Taoist Magic for Beginners Benebell Wen 2023-07-07 | A write-up to get you started on that three-ring binder and assembling info provided here: wp.me/p32or0-9C2If you enjoy the free content I share, then please consider supporting my work by pre-ordering my forthcoming book, I Ching, The Oracle: amazon.com/Ching-Oracle-translation-historical-references/dp/1623178738Video Playlist | Introduction to Taoist & Buddhist Mysticism | youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hE
There Is No Self in Eastern Philosophy? Benebell Wen 2023-06-30 | Dr. Chris Neibauer. (June 9, 2023). “Eastern philosophy says there is no ‘self.’ Science agrees.” The Well via Big Think. bigthink.com/the-well/eastern-philosophy-neuroscience-no-self
How to Fix Shuffling Friction in Matte Finish Tarot Decks Benebell Wen 2023-06-25 | For those of you who have at some point purchased a tarot or oracle deck with a matte or rose petal finish on the cardstock, you may have noticed that sometimes, straight out of a new box, the cards stick to each other a bit, and don’t shuffle very well due to increased friction between the surface of each of the cards. There is an at-home solution for this. Let's talk about how you can make your own version of an anti-set-off-spray powder, which is what industrial printing presses use as a slip agent. Following the method instructed here can help to significantly reduce shuffling friction.DEMO VIDEO, BEFORE & AFTER: youtu.be/DEbxuwmtKacTIMESTAMPS:00:23 Why matte and rose petal finish decks tend to have more friction01:20 About anti-set-off-spray powder02:35 Homemade “calcium carbonate” powder: eggshell powder02:48 How anti-set-off-spray is used in the printing industry03:24 Applying anti-set-off-spray powder to your cards will resolve the friction issue in your matte or rose petal finish cards03:38 A case for why making your own anti-set-off-spray powder at home is better than trying to buy it04:24 You’ll need: 1/4 tsp. of cornstarch + pinch of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate). If you want to replace these ingredients with are starch flours, do research to confirm that the pH level of your final mixture is between 7 and 904:38 Caveat for making your own calcium carbonate powder (eggshell powder) at home05:22 Personal findings: calcium carbonate not necessary; sodium bicarbonate is a good replacement05:48 Why the baking soda works in this powder to help add slippage and glide to your matte finish cards06:06 Fun incidental magical-mystical properties of using baking soda and/or crushed eggshells06:30 Demonstration of the application process begins08:38 Conceptualize application as gently rubbing lotion into the pores of that matte finish10:46 White starchy powder does not have any negative impacts on the coloring of your cards11:25 Another reminder to be meditative in your approach and to be gentle with the application11:59 Continuously gather and separate the cards of the deck, and shuffling to get the powder evenly disbursed, rubbing any residual powder gently into the pores of that matte finish on your cards13:26 Some more insights into the anti-set-off-spray powder and how it’s used during the paper printing and production process14:02 Gently rubbing residual powder in between the edges of the gilding14:36 Ingredients in the industrial commercial grade version of the powder is the same as the ingredients you’re using to make your own version of the powder15:46 Showing immediate results of the powder application and how it has loosened the cards16:03 This is also a great way to bond with a new deck, especially one that was initially unwieldy to shuffle or work with16:13 Continued handling of each and every individual card to evenly disburse the powder and making sure it seeps into the pores of that finish17:26 You only need to apply this process once to fix the friction issue, replicating a standard production process that might have been overlooked or under-applied at the factory (so take your time, be patient with the process, and do it thoroughly that first time ^_^*)18:22 Reminder: Make sure you’ve removed all jewelry from your hands when you do this, so you don’t inadvertently scratch your cards19:06 Final steps to the process to ensure that the powder has been fully absorbed into the finish of your cards20:20 A few concluding tips and reminders21:21 Why the initial slight friction and resistance in matte and rose petal finish decks is common and how this simple do-it-yourself powder can remedy thatFor a video demonstration to see the “before” and “after,” see at this timestamp: youtu.be/CfrqfwohWA0?t=376
Spirit Keepers Tarot: In Search for the Prisca Theologia Benebell Wen 2023-06-18 | All Production Status Updates: benebellwen.com/category/spirit-keepers-tarotPre-Order SKT Revelation: benebellwen.com/skt/pre-orderIntroduction to the SKT: benebellwen.com/skt/introductionCreating a Tarot Deck – Progress Diary (2018 - present): benebellwen.com/skt/progress-diary
On Esoteric or Tantric Buddhism Benebell Wen 2023-06-08 | An introductory discussion on what’s often referred to as esoteric Buddhism, covering the distinctions between sutra-based Buddhism and tantric Buddhism. Practicum “Homework Assignments,” [*] wp.me/p32or0-9vV [*] Practica. Not "homework assignments." Don't know why that was my first go-to descriptive late last night, other than an indicator that I'm a total nerd.Mantra recitation audio recording at the closing of this video: "Namo Da Bei Guan Shi Yin pusa" (Hail, the Great Compassionate bodhisattva Kuan Yin).Word List for Reference:apsara 飛天ashura 阿修羅Bhadrakalpika Sūtra 賢劫經Bön (Tibetan folk magic/shamanism) 苯教Buddhist sects 佛教派別Chinese esoteric Buddhism (Tang dynasty) 唐密dharani 陀羅尼Diamond Sutra 金剛經Elder Mysteries (or Elder Arcana) 老密 Great Compassion Mantra 大悲呪mandala 曼荼羅mantra 咒mara 天魔New Mysteries (or New Arcana) 新密Smoke Offering Ritual 煙供儀軌Sutra (Buddhist sacred texts) 佛經Sutra-based exoteric (Buddhism) 顯宗Tantra-based esoteric (Buddhism) 密宗Tibetan tantric Buddhism 西藏密宗Vairocanābhisaṃbodhi Sūtra 大日經Vairocanā Blessed Sand 金剛沙 or 金光明沙Vajrasekhara Sūtra 金剛頂経
Wu Shamanism: Just a Rumination Benebell Wen 2023-05-25 | The two branches of Wu when we say Wu shamanism:1. Wu shamanistic-historical Traditions2. Wu shu"能以舞降神者為巫"Néng yǐ wǔ jiàng shén zhě wéi wū-- That is the proverbial axiom defining what the 巫 (wu) is.-- Translation: The one who can use dance (or ritual) to placate the spirits is called the 巫 (wu).Pre-order my forthcoming book, I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, September 26, 2023): amazon.com/Ching-Oracle-translation-historical-references/dp/1623178738Word List for Reference:Li Zehou (1930-2021) 李澤厚Wu shu 巫術Xian gu 仙姑Wu puo 巫婆Shen han 神漢Shen puo 神婆Shen tong 神童Yang Shao 仰韶Zhunti Pusa 準提菩薩Marici 摩利支天Matsu 媽祖Xi Wang Mu (Queen Mother of the West) 西王母Jiu Tian Xuan Nu (Lady of the Nine Heavens) 九天玄女Eight Forms of Wu Shu 巫術:1. Incantations and ritual sacrifices2. Petitions to gods or spirits for divine justice [original: hexes & curses]3. Divination; the ability to interpret signs and omens4. Warding off evil and curing spiritual sickness5. Exorcism, soul retrieval rituals6. Fu talismans and spell-crafting7. Metaphysical uses of herbs [original: poison magic 蠱道]8. Mediumship; ability to communicate and negotiate with spirit entitiesI didn't cover this in the video chat, but another way that Forms of Shu are characterized is as the Five Mystical Arts 五術:1. Spiritual Cultivation 仙學2. Divinatory Arts 卜筮3. Study of Appearances (ex. face reading, palmistry) 相學4. Study of Fate (ex. astrology) 命學5. Study of Healing Arts 醫學***I'd also like to signal boost David Shi's Spirit Voices published earlier this year by Weiser Books. If this is a topic that interests you, you'll love Spirit Voices. It covers North Asian traditions and legacies of shamanism, with a focus on Mongolic and Tungusic practices. Shi himself is of Manchu ancestry (one of the 56 ethnic groups of China). #aapiheritagemonth https://a.co/d/9q6xipe#aapimpact #aapivoice #asianamerican
Truth and Dare: A Two-Card Reading Benebell Wen 2023-05-19 | *Practicum Tip* Shuffle your tarot or oracle deck while watching the introduction, that way you're ready to go at timestamp 01:54.In this installment of Sightsee the Tarot, let’s do a simple yet impactful two-card reading from Finding the Fool: A Tarot Journey to Radical Transformation (Weiser Books, 2023) by Meg Jones Wall, founder of 3am.tarot. 00:08 Introduction to this Two-Card Reading00:37 About Finding the Fool by Meg Jones Wall01:04 Wall's Two-Card Spreads01:54 Guided Reading Begins02:05 Free-write your present thoughts, feelings, and what it is you most want02:39 Shuffle your cards03:10 Beginning the Reading03:16 Draw Card 1 (Truth)03:53 Draw Card 2 (Dare)04:28 Reflecting on Your Reading04:40 Closing***Decks Pictured in Intro: Jean Dodal Tarot re-mastered by Justin Michael and Shell David; Spirit Keeper’s Tarot: Revelation Edition; Haindl Tarot; Smith-Waite Centennial Tarot; Tattoo Tarot by MegamundenDecks Pictured in Workshop: Tarot of the Owls by Pamela Chen and Elizabeth Alba; Seed & Sickle Oracle by Fez Inkwright; Heart Align Affirmation Oracle by Kimberly M. Tsan; Oracle of Novice Witches by Francesca Matteoni and Elisa Macellari; Angels of Healing and Hope Oracle by Ellen Valladares and Yasmeen Westwood; Talisman Oracle by Nora Paskaleva; Pink Sugar Lenormand and Black Salt Lenormand by Logan of Lark and Legend; El Camino Oracle by Sabina Espinet; Wanderer’s Tarot by Casey Zabala; Lenormand of Enchantment by Yasmeen Westwood and Kalliope Haratsidis; Lightness Tarot by Zi Kang (Chengdu Arcana); Oracle of Light & Dreams by Scot Howden; Symbolic Soul Tarot by Elisa Seitzinger and Barbara Moore; The Citadel: A Fantasy Oracle by Fez Inkwright; Love Who You Are Oracle by Angi Sullins and Silas Toball ***SIGHTSEE THE TAROT is a series on my channel through which I take you on a tour of tarot books, spreads, techniques and tips, different decks, and more.PLAYLIST: Sightsee the Tarot series, youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwar0jcbmIu2MaX3RMVEs0ik Series Page: http://www.tinyurl.com/sightseethetarot
Rachel Pollack and Gods Tarot Reading Benebell Wen 2023-05-10 | In this installment of Sightsee the Tarot, let’s workshop God's Reading, a tarot card spread for divining the blueprints of Creation. This is a thought exercise from Rachel Pollack’s A Walk Through the Forest of Souls (reprinted 2023 by Weiser Books).Download the worksheet (pdf): benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2023/05/gods-reading-design-plan-and-blueprints-of-creation.pdf Companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-9lF #walkthroughtheforestofsoulsPLAYLIST: Rachel Pollack, youtube.com/watch?v=RKT4vD1nfMM&list=PLnikT3eGmCc2f6kBCzmXFLTaemFBcCCxU SIGHTSEE THE TAROT is a series on my channel through which I take you on a tour of tarot books, spreads, techniques and tips, different decks, and more.PLAYLIST: Sightsee the Tarot series, youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwar0jcbmIu2MaX3RMVEs0ik Series Page: http://www.tinyurl.com/sightseethetarot ***Decks Pictured: Spacious Tarot by Carrie Mallon, Lions Gateway Tarot by Jessica Leigh Henry, Tarot of the Abyss by Ana Tourian, Terra Volatile Tarot by Credo quia Absurdum, Influence of the Angels Tarot by Jody Boginski Barbessi, Golden Universal Tarot by Roberto de Angelis, New Era Elements Tarot by Eleonore F. Pieper, and my Spirit Keeper's Tarot deck.
What is psychic ability? Predictive analytics and divination tools Benebell Wen 2023-04-10 | Some speculative thoughts on predictive analytics, fortune-telling, and divinationBenebell Wen, author of Holistic Tarot and The Tao of Craft. Pre-order my forthcoming book, I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, Sept. 26, 2023), amazon.com/Ching-Oracle-translation-historical-references/dp/1623178738References:Tarot and Social Inductive Reasoning (2015 Dec. 4), benebellwen.com/2015/12/04/tarot-and-social-inductive-reasoning Reading Tarot and Social Inductive Reasoning (PDF), benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/benebell-wen-social-inductive-reasoning-and-tarot.pdfMary Greer’s Advice for Becoming a Tarot Master, youtube.com/watch?v=qKY0wcMIs9s===www.benebellwen.com
Soul Dualism in Esoteric Buddhism Benebell Wen 2023-02-18 | In both Taoist metaphysics and Mahayana Buddhism, there’s a concept called soul dualism, premised on yin-yang theory, where everything, all aspects of this universe, can be bifurcated into a yin-yang duality, and also dichotomy. What we conceptualize as our soul has a yin aspect and a yang aspect. The yang aspect we call hun 魂. The yin aspect we call po 魄. I previously brought up the concept of soul dualism in Chinese thought here: “A Thought Tour of the Chinese Occult,” youtu.be/7V4GgT860fM References from the Video:Lun Xian (Discourse on the Immortals), 論仙 from Ge Hong 葛洪’s Baopuzi 抱樸子: ctext.org/baopuzi/lun-xian/zh--- Quoted section in video: 人無賢愚，皆知己身之有魂魄，魂魄分去則人病，盡去則人死。Líng Shū Jing 靈樞經, the second volume of the Huangdi Neijing 黃帝內經, or Inner Canons of the Yellow Emperor, ctext.org/huangdi-neijing/ling-shu-jing Běn shén 本神, chapter in Líng Shū Jing 靈樞經 that discusses the hun 魂 and po 魄 being in the blood/liver and breath/lungs respectively, ctext.org/huangdi-neijing/ben-shen --- Běn shén 本神, Section 12, on hun 魂: 肝藏血，血舍魂，肝氣虛則恐，實則怒。--- Běn shén 本神, Section 15, on po 魄: 肺藏氣，氣舍魄，肺氣虛，則鼻塞不利少氣，實則喘喝胸盈仰息。
Taoist Spirit Maps (靈圖, Língtú) Benebell Wen 2023-02-09 | Spirit maps are oft referenced in canonized Taoist grimoires. Companion blog post: benebellwen.com/2023/02/11/taoist-spirit-mapsExcerpt from I CHING, THE ORACLE, "Xi Wang Mu, Goddess of the Wu" benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-10-the-yi-the-wu-and-shamanism-xi-wang-mu.pdfYou’ll find a lot of these references and instructionals in the Spirit Maps of the Mysterious Cavern Scrolls 洞玄部靈圖類 from the Taoist Canons 道藏經, among other grimoires and scriptures throughout history.Here’s a good online resource for viewing scrolls from the Canons (there’s a whole section on the Mysterious Cavern Scrolls): http://www.taolibrary.com/category95.aspx And also here, specific to the referenced Spirit Maps of the Mysterious Cavern Scrolls: http://www.ctcwri.idv.tw/CTCW-CJD/CJD02洞玄部/CJD0204洞玄靈圖.htm
AI Art Controversy: The Libran Perspective =) Benebell Wen 2023-02-03 | My past thoughts and commentary on AI art: wp.me/p32or0-8VcJuli, Heather, and Sarah chat about AI Art youtube.com/live/GJTd7f0HSfY?feature=shareEthony’s take, “Are AI Art Tarot Decks Immoral or Genius?” youtu.be/C67VWZC_xbUWill and Kate touch on AI created tarot decks in this discussion: youtu.be/uwkZzN2DXsA Goliath, the creator of the El Goliath Tarot, weighs in as well: youtu.be/aVMiqC0EakEChaweon Koo’s article “Will You Burn the AI Like You Burned the Witch?” modernwitch.com/will-you-burn-the-ai-like-you-burned-the-witch
Wu Xing: Five Movements Toward Change 五行 · 오행 Benebell Wen 2023-01-28 | To keep the video length manageable, I ended up cutting 20 minutes of content. If you're interested in additional resources, check out the companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-8SFDownload PDF "The Five Changing Phases and Their Correspondences," benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2023/07/wu-xing-correspondence-table.pdfThis is a supplemental video to the following:- "The Wu Xing Five Phases," beginning on p. 16, THE TAO OF CRAFT (North Atlantic Books, 2016)- Chapter 6, "The Five Phases of Change (Wu Xing)," beginning on p. 231, I CHING, THE ORACLE (North Atlantic Books, 2023)***I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen***Benebell WenP. O. Box 20021Castro Valley, CA 94546
Interpretation of I Ching Hexagrams Benebell Wen 2023-01-19 | This is Part II, concluding the lecture and workshop.Part I: Yarrow Stalk Divination, youtu.be/r9wnPOtBbK0 Worksheet download: benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/interpreting-your-i-ching-reading.pdfLearn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracleTimestamps:00:15 Animated Walk-through of the Yarrow Counting Method00:36 Yi Xue (I Ching scholarship)01:02 Image & Number (Xiang Shu Pai) vs. Meaning & Principle (Yi Li Pai)01:11 The Image and Number Tradition01:55 The Meaning and Principle Tradition02:42 Six Esoteric or Mystery Traditions of Interpreting the Yi03:35 Why Philosophy and Cosmology Matters05:00 Operative Result Yielded from I Ching Divination06:24 Review of Part I: What Your Hexagram Result Should Look Like06:57 Review of Relevant Taoist Cosmology07:34 How the Primary Hexagram Changes to the Secondary/Transformed Hexagram09:02 Identify the Trigram and Driving (Five) Movements Result09:47 Changing Lines in Both Hexagrams are the Cruxes of Change10:49 Consulting the Book and Reading the Entries11:42 Innate Qi Qualities the Six Lines Exhibit12:11 Wu Xing: Five Phases of Change (Five Movements)12:43 Wu Xing Correspondence Reference Tables13:45 Revisiting the Innate Qi Qualities of the Six Lines14:41 Comparing Your Hexagram Result to Innate Qi of the Lines (Dignities)16:06 The Confucian Concept of Lei, via I Ching philosopher Cheng Yi17:23 Rulers of the Six Lines (Six Line General, Innate Attributes)18:59 Reading a Locked Hexagram (Single Hexagram Result)19:51 Reading Primary + Transformed Hexagrams (Hexagram Pair Result)21:39 He Tu and Lo Shu Diagrams Informing the Hexagram Reading [Ref. Vid.: youtu.be/zAME24d0rGw]22:40 Decide: Reading the Thesis Statement vs. Reading the Entire Dissertation for Divined Insight23:14 Diving Deeper into All Lines Analysis24:20 Interpreting the Ancient Line Text Figuratively 24:58 Interpreting the Secondary Transformed Hexagram25:24 Primary vs. Transformed Hexagram Attributes25:59 Comparing the I Ching to the Tarot as Divination ToolsI Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen
The Lo Shu Magic Square (雒書, Luò Shū) Benebell Wen 2023-01-15 | Probably more about the Lo Shu magic square than you were looking for. =P This lecture will focus on theory and principles. Timestamps:00:19 Reviewing the diagram of the Lo Shu magic square00:41 What is a “magic square”00:58 Original representation of the Nine Palaces, the Temple of Light01:40 Four Gates (and Four Faces) of the Temple of Light (Hall of Light)02:58 Mathematics of the Lo Shu magic square06:15 The magic sum 369, yin lines in the I Ching as 6, and yang as 907:13 What is the Lo Shu07:47 The Lo Shu’s mythical origins10:20 The 72 rulers of luck governing the Huang Tao (solar path)11:32 King Wen reconciling the trigrams with the Lo Shu12:19 The River Maps as maps of constellations (River = Milky Way)12:52 The He Tu Diagram14:22 The Lo Shu Diagram15:11 Astronomical basis for the Wu Xing directional correspondences16:03 Comparing the He Tu and Lo Shu diagrams17:20 Simulation of the pathways of Light in the Temple of Light18:01 An esoteric (apocalyptic) doctrine behind the Lo Shu19:06 Review of the He Tu Lo Shu19:22 Why the Lo Shu is a cornerstone in Taoist mysticism20:13 Reserving discussion of the two Ba Gua arrangements20:38 Why any philosophical, spiritual, or mystical path can benefit from study of the Lo Shu***Reference to a previous video mentioned at 00:17 is “What is the I Ching (Yijing) Book of Changes?” (at approx. the 6 min. mark) youtu.be/t4aD2yHK7bE Reference to a previous video mentioned at 13:40 is “Yarrow Stalk Divination: I Ching” (at approx. the 2-3 min. mark youtu.be/r9wnPOtBbK0 Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Mysticism (Playlist), youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hE***If this video has inspired you to learn more, then check out my third book, I Ching, The Oracle, an updated translation of the I Ching with in-depth annotations, cultural and historical references, and related mystical practices. penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen ***Benebell WenP. O. Box 20021Castro Valley, CA 94546
Yarrow Stalk Divination: I Ching Benebell Wen 2023-01-07 | This workshop is a hands-on guided divinatory and ritual practicum. Every detail of it is designed to facilitate a clear and strong connection to the Tao, the source from which you'll receive a profound revelation by the practicum's end.Historians often date this method to some time between 500 BC and 200 BC, with 500 BC being one of the earlier mentions of the method and 200 BC when more of these details of the process were fleshed out.Download the PDF worksheet for logging your reading result: benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2023/01/02-yarrow-stalk-divination.pdfDownload JPG image files of reference tables and diagrams: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle/reference-tables-diagrams Learn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle***Timestamps:00:05 Introduction to I Ching divination methods00:39 Introducing the yarrow stalk method01:56 Esoteric and symbolic reasons for 50 stalks03:45 Why we set aside 1 and divine with 4904:12 Why the stalks are divided into two bundles05:33 Yarrow stalk divination as ritual and meditation06:10 START of guided divination ritual06:20 Formulate your question for divination06:43 Line 1, Count 109:01 Symbolic meaning of the numerical assignments 5/909:54 Line 1, Count 211:01 Symbolic meaning of the numerical assignments 4/811:43 The Si Xiang (Four Images, Four Faces of the Tao)12:13 Line 1, Count 313:26 Calculating the resulting line from the three counts15:08 Reviewing the four resulting line outcomes16:00 Yarrow stalk divination ritual as meditation16:21 Continuing on to receive Line 216:45 Line 2, Count 118:15 Line 2, Count 219:53 Line 2, Count 320:50 Calculating the resulting Line 221:07 Reviewing the four resulting line outcomes21:48 Continuing on to receive Line 3 22:06 Line 3, Count 123:31 Line 3, Count 225:09 Line 3, Count 326:08 Calculating the resulting Line 326:24 Line 4, Count 127:53 Line 4, Count 229:31 Line 4, Count 330:29 Calculating the resulting Line 430:49 Line 5, Count 132:17 Line 5, Count 233:55 Line 5, Count 334:53 Calculating the resulting Line 535:13 Line 6, Count 136:42 Line 6, Count 238:21 Line 6, Count 339:19 Calculating the resulting Line 639:40 Determining the trigrams and received hexagram40:35 Changing lines and the secondary hexagram41:16 Secondary hexagrams and the Si Xiang (Four Faces)42:51 Note your secondary hexagram result (and Wu Xing correspondences)43:08 Trigram to hexagram cross-reference chart43:26 Locked hexagrams (no changing lines)43:41 Review of locked, primary, and transformed (secondary) hexagrams43:49 Closing the reading session44:26 Conclusion; independent reflection of your hexagram resultThe subsequent video will provide insights on how to interpret your received hexagram message. First Video in Series: What is the I Ching (Yijing) Book of Changes? youtu.be/t4aD2yHK7bE Audio: Apologies for some wonkiness with the audio. My narration/voiceover isn’t great in some places, but eh, as-is this already was a monumental effort to edit. =) Closed captioning is provided, if that helps. Click the “CC” icon.
What is the I Ching (Yijing) Book of Changes? Benebell Wen 2022-12-31 | The Book of Changes is a symbolic representation—and explanation—of the cosmos written in binary code. Learn more about I Ching, The Oracle: benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracleOver the millennia, beginning with King Wen and his son the Duke of Zhou around 1046 BC, poetic prophetic lines of text are ascribed to the 64 hexagrams that the binary code is set in, lines steeped in cultural and historical references. Five centuries later, Confucius (or scholars attributing their writings to Confucius) add commentaries that describe, pictorialize, and interpret the hexagrams.In 10 minutes (-ish), we’ll introduce the framework of the I Ching and its metaphysical underpinnings. If this video has inspired you to learn more, then check out my third book, I Ching, The Oracle, an updated translation of the I Ching with in-depth annotations, cultural and historical references, and related mystical practices.***I Ching, The Oracle (North Atlantic Books, 2023), benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle- Amazon (US): https://a.co/d/cmm0qLP - North Atlantic Books, a California-based non-profit publisher: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle - Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wen ***Read excerpts to supplement the video discussion:CHAPTER 1: PREFACE, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-1-preface-1.pdfCHAPTER 2: MYTHS, LEGENDS, AND CULTURAL HEROES OF THE I CHING, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/chapter-2-myths-legends-and-cultural-heroes-1.pdfHEXAGRAM 30: LI. THE SPARK, benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/hexagram-30-3.pdf
What Does It Mean To Be Taoist Benebell Wen 2022-11-04 | Caveat: The video title *should* read, “What Does It Mean (To Me) To Be Taoist.”Would love to hear from you! What does it mean, to you, to be Taoist? What comes to mind when you think of Taoism? * * *Map of the Shang and Zhou Dynasties (from Appendix E of I Ching, The Oracle by Benebell Wen), wp.me/p32or0-8yy* * *“Zhuangzi and his butterfly dream: the etymology of meng 夢” by Jingjing Chen, thechinastory.org/yearbooks/yearbook-2019-china-dreams/forum-illusions-and-transformations-the-many-meanings-of-meng-%E5%A4%A2/zhuangzi-and-his-butterfly-dream-the-etymology-of-meng-%E5%A4%A2* * *PRE-ORDER I CHING, THE ORACLEAmazon (US): https://a.co/d/3cQ1BB0Penguin Random House: penguinrandomhouse.com/books/724023/i-ching-the-oracle-by-benebell-wenNorth Atlantic Books: northatlanticbooks.com/shop/i-ching-the-oracle
An Asian Wheel of the Year - East Asian Lunisolar Astrology Benebell Wen 2022-10-28 | Crash course on the lunisolar agricultural calendar found across many East Asian civilizations: wp.me/p32or0-8uAThis video will provide a general overview of the Taoist-Buddhist lunisolar (lunar & solar) "wheel of the year" that is the basis of East Asian astrology and thaumaturgy.Click on the preceding hyperlink to access downloadable charts and reference tables to start your studies of this calendar and astrological system.The content of this video and all reference materials from the linked companion write-up can also be found in my forthcoming book, I Ching, The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes is forthcoming mid-2023 by North Atlantic Books, benebellwen.com/i-ching-the-oracle***Random Vanity Note: Funny how pre-pandemic I would actually try to put on makeup before making these videos, even endeavoring to put on false eyelashes. But now I can barely be bothered with a minimum necessary standard [ ... a fun little healthcare data or PHI privacy law reference, for anyone watching this that's in this industry and gets it ... ]. Anyone else found this to be true? =)
The Rebellious Origins of Witchcraft: Taoist Magic Edition Benebell Wen 2022-10-22 | What is your hypothesis on the correlation or connection, if any, between witchcraft and rebellion?***First, to clarify (or maybe this will just add to the confusion, who knows...), here's something I wrote back in 2019 on witchcraft vs. ceremonial magic: benebellwen.com/2019/12/05/witchcraft-vs-ceremonial-magic***Across world history, witchcraft and vibrant magical traditions have long been associated with rebellion, insurrection, uprisings, or an oppressed group’s reclamation of autonomy, liberation, and personal sovereignty.This is a casual chat exploring Chinese history and how at every turn of insurrection or uprising against oppressive governmental or political forces you’ll find Taoist magic and secret societies of mystico-religious traditions.Broadening the conversation out to general esoteric philosophy, I wonder if the divinity that answers the witch’s call conditions answer of the call on-- even in terms of psychology or neuroscience-- having endured a specific prerequisite experience of persecution?***References:Andrea Furtick, author of Wild Root: Modern Works of Traditional Hoodoo Magick (forthcoming 2023) and creator of the Afro Goddess Tarot and Oracle cardsSherry Shone, author of Hoodoo for Everyone: Modern Approaches to Magic, Conjure, Rootwork, and Liberation (North Atlantic Books, 2022)***Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism (Playlist): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hE
Are Taoist Mystico-Religious Practices Open or Closed Traditions? Benebell Wen 2022-10-16 | When I say "open tradition," I mean a culture-specific practice of a magical system and set of doctrinal beliefs integrated into that practice that anyone at all can work with for themselves, that it's free and open to the public.When I say "closed tradition," I mean a culture-specific practice of a magical system and set of doctrinal beliefs integrated into that practice that can only be honorably accessed if certain conditions are met, such as initiation; heredity; clan or ethnic group membership; or a formally established master-student bond. Don't forget-- if it helps, turn the closed captioning on! =)***My third book, I Ching, The Oracle: A Practical Guide to the Book of Changes, published by North Atlantic Books, is forthcoming mid-2023. It's my translation and annotations of the Oracle with cultural and historical references that honor the shamanic origins of the I Ching.What it really is, though, is a magical grimoire. I began with an aspiration to write a grimoire on Taoist mysticism and magical practices, and then decided to do so through the framework of the I Ching. This is going to be a practical hands-on primer on East Asian modalities of witchcraft and folk magic. A deep-dive learning experience into the history and mythological references found in the Book of Changes is the bonus.Leading up to the release of I Ching, The Oracle will be this series of videos where I lay the foundation for working with this third book. If this is of interest to you, stay tuned!***Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism (Playlist): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwZuQpc3ubW97MwPXb1mk9hE
The Pages: Tarot Card Meanings Benebell Wen 2022-03-12 | This is Video 14 in an educational series on the tarot cards. Closed captioning is provided for all videos in this series. A written transcript is also provided as a free pdf download: wp.me/p32or0-7W7 Course description page: wp.me/p32or0-4n4 Please forgive the mispronunciation of the sephiroth. For a Hebrew pronunciation reference, see The Correct Hebrew Pronunciation of the 10 Sefirot by Hebrew for Masons, youtu.be/d_824rf98a4Decks Pictured: Tarot de Nicolas Conver (Marseilles 1760, France) derivative based on public domain images of the Conver deck; Scans of the “Pam A” Rider Tarot Deck (1910), the original Rider-Waite-Smith; Thoth Tarot Deck (or “The Book of Thoth”) by Aleister Crowley (U.S. Games Systems, Premier Edition, 2005; first published by Ordo Templi Orientis, 1969); The Grand Belline Tarot (1881); Lions Gateway Tarot by Jessica Leigh Henry; Morgan Greer Tarot; Mystical Tarot (Lo Scarabeo); Way of the Panda Tarot by Kim Tsan (FablesDen); Robin Wood Tarot; Rosetta Tarot by M. M. MeleenBooks Referenced for the Card Meanings: The Tarot (1888) by MacGregor Mathers; The Tarot of the Bohemians (1892) by Papus; Reading and Understanding the Marseille Tarot (Lo Scarabeo, 2018) by Anna Maria Morsucci & Antonella Aloi; The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) by A. E. Waite; Tarot of the Magicians (1927) by Oswald Wirth; The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947) by Paul Foster Case; Mastering the Tarot (Penguin Group, 1971) by Eden Gray; Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Third Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Rachel Pollack; Tarot for Yourself, 35th Anniversary Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Mary K. Greer; Essential Tarot Writings (2020) edited by Donald Tyson.Books Referenced for the Qabalah and the Kabbalah: Keter: The Crown of God in Early Jewish Mysticism (Princeton University Press, 2014) by Arthur Green; Qabalah Paths of Light: The Occult Qabalah Reclaimed (2018) by Gary M. Jaron; The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (1937; Llewellyn, 2016) by Israel Regardie, John Michael Greer (Ed.); The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (2009) by Daniel C. Matt; Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) by David S. Ariel; The Kabbalistic Tradition: An Anthology of Jewish Mysticism (Penguin Books, 2008) by Alan Unterman (Ed.); Kabbalat Shabbat: The Grand Unification (2016) by Debra Band, Raymond P. Scheindlin (trans.), et al.; The Mystical Qabalah (1935) by Dione FortuneBENEBELL WENWebsite. http://www.benebellwen.com
Why do I shudder at being called New Age? Benebell Wen 2022-03-04 | Just me recording and posting me trying to process why I have such an emotionally charged reaction to being called "New Age." What about you? Penny for your thoughts?It's been rainy and overcast here in the San Francisco Bay Area, so my lighting is crap.
The Tens: Tarot Card Meanings Benebell Wen 2022-03-03 | This is Video 13 in an educational series on the tarot cards. Closed captioning is provided for all videos in this series. A written transcript is also provided as a free pdf download: wp.me/p32or0-7VeCourse description page: wp.me/p32or0-4n4 Please forgive the mispronunciation of the sephiroth. For a Hebrew pronunciation reference, see The Correct Hebrew Pronunciation of the 10 Sefirot by Hebrew for Masons, youtu.be/d_824rf98a4Decks Pictured: Tarot de Nicolas Conver (Marseilles 1760, France) derivative based on public domain images of the Conver deck; Scans of the “Pam A” Rider Tarot Deck (1910), the original Rider-Waite-Smith; Thoth Tarot Deck (or “The Book of Thoth”) by Aleister Crowley (U.S. Games Systems, Premier Edition, 2005; first published by Ordo Templi Orientis, 1969); The Grand Belline Tarot (1881); Lions Gateway Tarot by Jessica Leigh Henry; Morgan Greer Tarot; Mystical Tarot (Lo Scarabeo); Way of the Panda Tarot by Kim Tsan (FablesDen); Robin Wood Tarot; Rosetta Tarot by M. M. MeleenBooks Referenced for the Card Meanings: The Tarot (1888) by MacGregor Mathers; The Tarot of the Bohemians (1892) by Papus; Reading and Understanding the Marseille Tarot (Lo Scarabeo, 2018) by Anna Maria Morsucci & Antonella Aloi; The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) by A. E. Waite; Tarot of the Magicians (1927) by Oswald Wirth; The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947) by Paul Foster Case; Mastering the Tarot (Penguin Group, 1971) by Eden Gray; Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Third Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Rachel Pollack; Tarot for Yourself, 35th Anniversary Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Mary K. Greer; Essential Tarot Writings (2020) edited by Donald Tyson.Books Referenced for the Qabalah and the Kabbalah: Qabalah Paths of Light: The Occult Qabalah Reclaimed (2018) by Gary M. Jaron; The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (1937; Llewellyn, 2016) by Israel Regardie, John Michael Greer (Ed.); The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (2009) by Daniel C. Matt; Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) by David S. Ariel; The Kabbalistic Tradition: An Anthology of Jewish Mysticism (Penguin Books, 2008) by Alan Unterman (Ed.); Kabbalat Shabbat: The Grand Unification (2016) by Debra Band, Raymond P. Scheindlin (trans.), et al.; The Mystical Qabalah (1935) by Dione FortuneBENEBELL WENWebsite. http://www.benebellwen.com Twitter. http://www.twitter.com/tarotanalysis Instagram. http://www.instagram.com/bellwen
The Nines: Tarot Card Meanings Benebell Wen 2022-02-26 | This is Video 12 in an educational series on the tarot cards. Closed captioning is provided for all videos in this series. A written transcript is also provided as a free pdf download: wp.me/p32or0-7QX Course description page: wp.me/p32or0-4n4 Please forgive the mispronunciation of the sephiroth. For a Hebrew pronunciation reference, see The Correct Hebrew Pronunciation of the 10 Sefirot by Hebrew for Masons, youtu.be/d_824rf98a4 Decks Pictured: Tarot de Nicolas Conver (Marseilles 1760, France) derivative based on public domain images of the Conver deck; Scans of the “Pam A” Rider Tarot Deck (1910), the original Rider-Waite-Smith; Thoth Tarot Deck (or “The Book of Thoth”) by Aleister Crowley (U.S. Games Systems, Premier Edition, 2005; first published by Ordo Templi Orientis, 1969)Books Referenced for the Card Meanings: The Tarot (1888) by MacGregor Mathers; The Tarot of the Bohemians (1892) by Papus; The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) by A. E. Waite; Tarot of the Magicians (1927) by Oswald Wirth; The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947) by Paul Foster Case; Mastering the Tarot (Penguin Group, 1971) by Eden Gray; Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Third Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Rachel Pollack; Tarot for Yourself, 35th Anniversary Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Mary K. Greer; Medium White Book for the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot; Book of Maps (companion guidebook for the SKT).Books Referenced for the Qabalah and the Kabbalah: Qabalah Paths of Light: The Occult Qabalah Reclaimed (2018) by Gary M. Jaron; The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (1937; Llewellyn, 2016) by Israel Regardie, John Michael Greer (Ed.); The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (2009) by Daniel C. Matt; Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) by David S. Ariel; The Kabbalistic Tradition: An Anthology of Jewish Mysticism (Penguin Books, 2008) by Alan Unterman (Ed.); Kabbalat Shabbat: The Grand Unification (2016) by Debra Band, Raymond P. Scheindlin (trans.), et al.; The Mystical Qabalah (1935) by Dion FortuneBENEBELL WENWebsite. http://www.benebellwen.com Twitter. http://www.twitter.com/tarotanalysis Instagram. http://www.instagram.com/bellwen
Nutshell Course on Freud and Jung for the Tarot Reader Benebell Wen 2022-02-05 | Video 10 of the Learn Tarot with Holistic Tarot (North Atlantic Books, 2015) video lecture series will be a crash course on Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung, tailored specifically for the tarot reader. Don’t forget to download the companion handout of notes and references (pdf): benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2022/02/comparative-study-of-freud-and-jung-for-the-tarot-reader-2022.pdfThe primary deck showcased for illustrative purposes is my Spirit Keeper’s Tarot: Revelation Edition. The first print run is now sold out, but a second printing is forthcoming. Please add your e-mail to the wait list to be the first notified when the SKT is re-released: groups.google.com/g/skt-waitlist ==Timestamps==00:00 Introduction: Applying Psychoanalytic and Analytic Theory to Card Reading03:05 Brief Biographies of Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung04:38 Interpretation of Signs and Symbols: Freud vs. Jung’s Theories06:25 Dream Interpretation and Application to the Tarot08:28 Brief Comment on the History of Dream Interpretation09:56 Free Association & Exploration of Emotions Applied to Tarot11:51 Purpose of Signs & Symbols: Freud vs. Jung, Revisited13:30 The Psyche: Structure of Personality (Freud vs. Jung)18:16 The Mind: Three Levels of Awareness (Freud vs. Jung)20:06 Source of Psychic Power (Freud vs. Jung)22:10 Freud’s Defense Mechanisms24:51 Jung’s Archetypes26:42 Archetype of the Self27:11 Archetype of the God Image27:25 Defining Individuation (and the Transcendent Function)32:48 Alchemy & Jung’s Analytic Theory34:48 Checklist of Studies to Deepen Tarot Card Interpretation35:09 Applications to the Tarot; Closing RemarksVideos in this lecture series are Closed Captioned for our Deaf, H/H, ESL, and EAL colleagues.The PowerPoint slides content from this video are an excerpt from an all-day course I taught at the California Institute of Integral Studies, “Accessing the Practical and Profound Wisdom of Tarot” (November, 2021).SERIES PLAYLIST: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwYyaMvo3ablcJ4urTn-q7s1
Tarot or Oracle Quadrinity Ritual (Check-In with Your Mind, Body, Spirit) Benebell Wen 2022-01-30 | This calming, psychically-fortifying guided meditation and card reading is one you’ll want to revisit!Let’s explore Nancy C. Antenucci’s Tarot Rituals: Ceremonies, Ideas & Experiences for the Tarot Lover (Llewellyn, 2022). This guided reading session will open with a 5-minute Grounding Ritual inspired by the one found in Chapter 2, “Helpful Fundamentals.” Then we proceed with the Quadrinity Ritual from Chapter 5, “Deepening Rituals for One.”Feel free to use either tarot or oracle for this guided, meditative reading experience.* * *Decks Featured in this Tutorial: Golden Dawn Magical Tarot by Chic and Tabatha Cicero; Hezicos Tarot by Mary Jennifer Griffin; Triple Goddess Tarot (card back) by Jaymi Elford; Winterseer Animal Oracle by Siolo Thompson (Llewellyn, 2021); The Archeo Personal Archetype Cards by Nick Bantock (Llewellyn, 2021); Bad Bitches Tarot by EthonyDecks Pictured in the Opening (in order): Spacious Tarot by Carrie Mallon; Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition by Megamunden; Thoth Tarot; SKT First Edition (with Holistic Tarot); The Muse Tarot by Chris-Anne; SKT Vitruvian (with Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack).SIGHTSEE THE TAROT is a series on my channel through which I take you on a tour of tarot books, spreads, techniques and tips, different decks, and more.PLAYLIST of all videos in this series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwar0jcbmIu2MaX3RMVEs0ik Series Page: http://www.tinyurl.com/sightseethetarot BENEBELL WENbenebellwen.com This video is closed-captioned for the Deaf, H/H, and ESL/EAL communities.
A Tarot Path to Wisdom in 21 Cards (D’Agostino, 1976) Benebell Wen 2022-01-29 | This is a Twenty-One Card Past, Present, and Future tarot spread from Joseph D’Agostino’s Tarot: The Path to Wisdom (Samuel Weiser, Second Edition 1994; First Edition 1976).Download the PDF worksheet: wp.me/p32or0-7Pk For even more "training wheels" support, download the following quick reference table of keywords (DOCX file): benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/tarot-journal-printout-keywords.docxAfter noting the card drawn for each position in the 21-card spread, write down the keywords from the reference table onto your worksheet pages. The keywords themselves will support your arrival at the divinatory significance of the reading.Decks Featured in this Tutorial: Smith-Waite Centennial by U.S. Games; Lions Gateway Tarot by Jessica Leigh Henry; Le Grand Tarot Belline (1881); Tarot of the Abyss by Ana TourianDecks Pictured in the Opening (in order): Spacious Tarot by Carrie Mallon; Tattoo Tarot: Ink & Intuition by Megamunden; Thoth Tarot; SKT First Edition (with Holistic Tarot); The Muse Tarot by Chris-Anne; SKT Vitruvian (with Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom by Rachel Pollack).SIGHTSEE THE TAROT is a series on my channel through which I take you on a tour of tarot books, spreads, techniques and tips, different decks, and more.PLAYLIST of all videos in this series: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0x6BzLuplwar0jcbmIu2MaX3RMVEs0ik Series Page: http://www.tinyurl.com/sightseethetarot BENEBELL WENbenebellwen.com This video is closed-captioned for the Deaf, H/H, and ESL/EAL communities.
The Knights: Tarot Card Meanings Benebell Wen 2022-01-22 | ERRATUM AT 00:32 TIMESTAMP: In the video lecture, Daath (or Da’at) was referred to as an “unseen sephira.” Daath is an emanation born as the offspring of Chokhma and Binah. Whether Daath is considered a sephira hinges on differences in interpretation of the Zohar. Most Jewish scholars do not count Daath as a sephira (Rabbi Moses ben Jacob Cordovero [The Ramak], Pardes Rimonim) though some do, where Daath is the first sephira and Keter is excluded (Rabbi Isaac ben Solomon Luria Ashkenazi [Ha’ARI], Sefer Etz Chaim). Where Keter is excluded as a sephira, it is on the reasoning that Keter is an unknowable state of exaltation more resonant with the Ein Sof and therefore not part of the sephiroth schema.This is Video 11 in an educational series on the tarot. Closed captioning is provided for all videos in this series. A written transcript is also provided as a free pdf download. Check out the course page to download all handouts and references.Companion blog post on the Knights: wp.me/p32or0-7QQCourse description page: wp.me/p32or0-4n4;Books Referenced for the Card Meanings: The Tarot (1888) by MacGregor Mathers; The Tarot of the Bohemians (1892) by Papus; The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911) by A. E. Waite; Tarot of the Magicians (1927) by Oswald Wirth; The Tarot: A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages (1947) by Paul Foster Case; Mastering the Tarot (Penguin Group, 1971) by Eden Gray; Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom, Third Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Rachel Pollack; Tarot for Yourself, 35th Anniversary Edition (Weiser Books, 2019) by Mary K. Greer; Medium White Book for the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot; Book of Maps (companion guidebook for the SKT).Books Referenced for the Qabalah and the Kabbalah: Qabalah Paths of Light: The Occult Qabalah Reclaimed (2018) by Gary M. Jaron; The Golden Dawn: The Original Account of the Teachings, Rites, and Ceremonies of the Hermetic Order (1937; Llewellyn, 2016) by Israel Regardie, John Michael Greer (Ed.); The Essential Kabbalah: The Heart of Jewish Mysticism (2009) by Daniel C. Matt; Kabbalah: The Mystic Quest in Judaism (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006) by David S. Ariel; The Kabbalistic Tradition: An Anthology of Jewish Mysticism (Penguin Books, 2008) by Alan Unterman (Ed.); Kabbalat Shabbat: The Grand Unification (2016) by Debra Band, Raymond P. Scheindlin (trans.), et al.; The Mystical Qabalah (1935) by Dion Fortune
