Uploaded January 2019 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
This video lecture will be a beginner-level overview of Taoist metaphysics, which will begin with the Taoist mythology for the origins of the universe, cover Taoist expressions and esoteric thought on reality as it has been created by our minds and by physical matter. Concepts of magic and non-physical entities will also be addressed.
While the audio portion of the lecture gives a cursory overview of the Wu Xing five phases and the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua, you can pause the video screen at various intervals and copy down a comprehensive body of reference material on both Wu Xing and Ba Gua metaphysical correspondences.
Video #4 covers how the spiral sequence of creation mentioned in earlier videos drive the creation (and the expansion) of the universe according to Taoist metaphysics, which eventually leads the Chinese occultist to the Lo Shu magic square and ritual magic devised from the magic square and the Big Dipper. Working with the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua through the Eight Immortals will also be addressed briefly.
You are watching Video #4 in a six-part video lecture series.
Full playlist for the video series: tinyurl.com/chineseoccultism
***
THIRTEEN TAOIST PRINCIPLES OF CRAFT
(From the Huangdi Yinfu Jing, circa 600 AD)
The thirteen Taoist principles of craft I've outlined here is derived from the Huangdi Yinfu Jing (黃帝陰符經), which gets translated into the Yellow Emperor's Classics of the Esoteric Talisman.
Documented references to it date to the Tang Dynasty, 618 AD to 907 AD, though apocryphally, the text is believed to date back to the Zhou Dynasty, 1046 BC to 256 BC. The text is considered to be both a philosophical work and also a medieval instructional manual on metaphysics or how to operate spell-crafting.
The following supplemental handout is a written addendum to Video #4. These thirteen principles are central to Taoist metaphysics and I regret forgetting to mention them in the video lecture. So please download the handout and review after watching Video #4.
13 Taoist Principles (PDF download): benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/the-thirteen-taoist-principles-of-craft-for-video-4.pdf
You can also download the DOCX editable version, linked in the companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-3Pi
***
Taoism is a nature-based religion, philosophy, and tradition of sorcery native to China, formed around 600 B.C. One hundred years later, Buddhism enters China and a modality of it--esoteric Buddhism--is blended in with Taoist magic. This introductory lecture series will cover the ontology, theory, history, and cultural practice of sorcery at the intersection of esoteric Buddhism and Taoism.
Video 1: Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism
Video 2: History of Taoism and Buddhism in China
Video 3: Taoist Sorcery and Its Cultural Practice
Video 4: Taoist Metaphysics
Video 5: Chinese Occultism as a Syncretic Practice
Video 6: Taoist Magic in Contemporary Times
***
All videos in this series are closed-captioned for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those whose native tongue isn't English. I've also made my best attempt at accommodating for the blind. If there is room for improvement in these regards, I'm open to friendly critique. Thank you!
***
Reference Links:
Feng Shui Basics, benebellwen.com/feng-shui
“Practica of Esoteric Craft” is a free video tutorial series with supplemental PDF handouts to download. This landing page will take you to past episodes on setting sacred space, a form of Chinese divination called moon blocks, forms of Taoist magic like poison magic (Ku) and thunder rites, and more: benebellwen.com/2018/02/06/practica-of-esoteric-craft-tinkering-bell-series
Learn more about The Tao of Craft, read excerpts, download free reference materials, and Fu talismans or Chinese sigil instructables: benebellwen.com/the-tao-of-craft
***
DONATE
Your donations help keep this series free for all. To donate, click the PayPal link below or send me an Amazon gift card to benebellwen@gmail.com.
paypal.me/benebell
I CHING & THE OCCULT: ONLINE COURSE
Understanding the I Ching for its occult and divinatory values will expand your capabilities in both Chinese ceremonial magic and traditional witchcraft.
Learn more about the course here: benebellwen.com/2017/07/14/i-ching-and-the-practitioner-a-course-on-the-book-of-changes
CHECK OUT MORE COURSES BY ME
I offer both independent study and free courses to help you advance your craft. Check out the full listing here: benebellwen.com/online-courses
This video lecture will be a beginner-level overview of Taoist metaphysics, which will begin with the Taoist mythology for the origins of the universe, cover Taoist expressions and esoteric thought on reality as it has been created by our minds and by physical matter. Concepts of magic and non-physical entities will also be addressed.
While the audio portion of the lecture gives a cursory overview of the Wu Xing five phases and the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua, you can pause the video screen at various intervals and copy down a comprehensive body of reference material on both Wu Xing and Ba Gua metaphysical correspondences.
Video #4 covers how the spiral sequence of creation mentioned in earlier videos drive the creation (and the expansion) of the universe according to Taoist metaphysics, which eventually leads the Chinese occultist to the Lo Shu magic square and ritual magic devised from the magic square and the Big Dipper. Working with the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua through the Eight Immortals will also be addressed briefly.
You are watching Video #4 in a six-part video lecture series.
Full playlist for the video series: tinyurl.com/chineseoccultism
***
THIRTEEN TAOIST PRINCIPLES OF CRAFT
(From the Huangdi Yinfu Jing, circa 600 AD)
The thirteen Taoist principles of craft I've outlined here is derived from the Huangdi Yinfu Jing (黃帝陰符經), which gets translated into the Yellow Emperor's Classics of the Esoteric Talisman.
Documented references to it date to the Tang Dynasty, 618 AD to 907 AD, though apocryphally, the text is believed to date back to the Zhou Dynasty, 1046 BC to 256 BC. The text is considered to be both a philosophical work and also a medieval instructional manual on metaphysics or how to operate spell-crafting.
The following supplemental handout is a written addendum to Video #4. These thirteen principles are central to Taoist metaphysics and I regret forgetting to mention them in the video lecture. So please download the handout and review after watching Video #4.
13 Taoist Principles (PDF download): benebellwen.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/the-thirteen-taoist-principles-of-craft-for-video-4.pdf
You can also download the DOCX editable version, linked in the companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-3Pi
***
Taoism is a nature-based religion, philosophy, and tradition of sorcery native to China, formed around 600 B.C. One hundred years later, Buddhism enters China and a modality of it--esoteric Buddhism--is blended in with Taoist magic. This introductory lecture series will cover the ontology, theory, history, and cultural practice of sorcery at the intersection of esoteric Buddhism and Taoism.
Video 1: Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism
Video 2: History of Taoism and Buddhism in China
Video 3: Taoist Sorcery and Its Cultural Practice
Video 4: Taoist Metaphysics
Video 5: Chinese Occultism as a Syncretic Practice
Video 6: Taoist Magic in Contemporary Times
***
All videos in this series are closed-captioned for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those whose native tongue isn't English. I've also made my best attempt at accommodating for the blind. If there is room for improvement in these regards, I'm open to friendly critique. Thank you!
***
Reference Links:
Feng Shui Basics, benebellwen.com/feng-shui
“Practica of Esoteric Craft” is a free video tutorial series with supplemental PDF handouts to download. This landing page will take you to past episodes on setting sacred space, a form of Chinese divination called moon blocks, forms of Taoist magic like poison magic (Ku) and thunder rites, and more: benebellwen.com/2018/02/06/practica-of-esoteric-craft-tinkering-bell-series
Learn more about The Tao of Craft, read excerpts, download free reference materials, and Fu talismans or Chinese sigil instructables: benebellwen.com/the-tao-of-craft
***
DONATE
Your donations help keep this series free for all. To donate, click the PayPal link below or send me an Amazon gift card to benebellwen@gmail.com.
paypal.me/benebell
I CHING & THE OCCULT: ONLINE COURSE
Understanding the I Ching for its occult and divinatory values will expand your capabilities in both Chinese ceremonial magic and traditional witchcraft.
Learn more about the course here: benebellwen.com/2017/07/14/i-ching-and-the-practitioner-a-course-on-the-book-of-changes
CHECK OUT MORE COURSES BY ME
I offer both independent study and free courses to help you advance your craft. Check out the full listing here: benebellwen.com/online-courses
