Nungali

Remind me of once in karate class, I can hear the instructor down the end "Go and take those off" Guy leaves the mat with ugh boots (sheepskin ) on :laugh: Warning ; Ugh boots can get soggy and uncomfortable when one is doing winter morning dragon breath warm-ups under a waterfall.

I got that (I just got excited remembering about shakuhachi ) I am familiar with nose flutes ... from New Guinea yep, the clumping species is easier to control (just need to 'keyhole' at an early stage - cut a path in and clear the centre and harvest from centre outwards. Apparently the running type will not cross under water ... a good root barrier will stop it, or a deep trench where the new explorer roots can be cut back each year. It does make beautiful fencing, I have made about 7 different styles ... quiet hard at first but after a bit all the little tricks and techniques get familiar and then it is a joy to work with. I didn't know that. For years, I thought the bamboo 'mulch' suppressed other growth as so little grows next to it, but I started using the mulch on the veggie garden, it is a very good weed suppressor and doesn't seem to hinder anything else growing. It is amazing the range of things I have made using only the bamboo, a saw, a machete a section of 'iron bamboo' for the machete hammer (for splitting), fishing line and scissors. Sometimes I use coconut fibre rope or raffia as binding to cover the fishing line for effect. I have also built two largish shelters (with fold back roof vents, and fire pit inside) using bamboo, black poly pipe (water line) uv resistant plastic, shade cloth and roofing screws( for waterproof roof). The first I made for a weekend event, it fitted about 25 people comfortably inside and cost under $350 to make (less than hiring a marquee) and ended up being turned into a temple and lasted 7 years.

The Sakuhachi ! <swoon> Wish I knew how to make one of them!

Oh dang! I did it again ... clicked on the unlike button instead of reply ...sorry. (new at driving this) Make sure you get a suitable type for where you are ... in some cases running bamboo can be a big problem. Some clumping bamboo shoots at opposite times of the year depending on origin (you need one that shoots during rainy time ... we have dry winter and some species planted here came from a place with a wet winter ... the bamboo shoots and doesn't have enough soil moisture to support the new growth). 'Nice' ??? That is simple Zen like beauty. To have some just there in the garden is so handy! Let alone just sitting in the grove. We have a big one alongside the river, at night in the summer wet season there are 3 types of luminous fungi in there 2 green (toadstool and a spreading fungus on the ground and a pale blue toadstool ... add the fire flys of late spring and ... WOW! My current project is using the 'painted' - black with brown stripe - variety to make a 'spirit house' for that special part of the garden. AND ... its edible! ... not the house ... the shoots

Perhaps it has its finger on the pulse of current 'social trends' ? Someone recently told me this is 'fashionable' in some places lately. Yoiks!

I did it once.... yeaaars ago ... But it was a pretty 'hard core' practice of martial arts (which I don't want to name here). Turned up to training and went at it like an enraged dervish, at the end; free sparring. My turn, cleaned up the first one so teacher puts up another opponent, same result, another ... and another ... everyone ... then his deadly little brother (who continually got everyone with his 'invisible - devastating' side-kick) .. saw the kick coming (for once) stepped back far enough and came down with a double back fist on his ankle bone - that finished him. Teacher goes f. this and steps in ... cleaned him up ... ... he goes f. this again and grabs the nunchuks , which are fortunately plastic ... goes to clout me on the crown chakra ... I step back and make a wild defensive move with my hand and just happen to hit the end of the stick he is holding as it comes down, which decreases the other stick's arc/swing and it comes around and hits him under the jaw. After training teacher and the bro come up to me ".. amazing .. wtf ... etc ... there is a tournament next week, you are going to represent our style ..." Me; " Errrmmm ... there is something I had better tell you ... I took a pure Swiss LSD black dot before training." Teacher (aghast) "OH! ... well ... um .... look, you better not do that again okay." [ I am not advocating drug use and training though as there are a whole range of things against it ... I suppose at any moment (even in the tournament) my sparing partner could have turned into a Shoggoth ... and that might NOT have gone down well 'for the style' . Next week at training, at the end, free sparing, I stepped up to the line and got creamed ... then they all wanted a chance to get even .

'Higher worlds' is partly where he got his stuff from. I am referring to the Western Mystery tradition and technologies. Anyone who has worked with Biodynamics and alchemy will see the clear correlation. Anyone who has studied the magical correspondences and magical properties of substances will realise that many more preparations than 501 can be made with many more substances (minerals or 'gems') than quartz crystals. Not all his knowledge came from some only accessible Steiner higher realm. The issue I am talking about is some people NOT seeing that 501 works due to age old 'magical' principles but only seeing it works as 'Steiner said so' or 'that is all he told us to do' or 'it doesn't say anything about using topaz in the Agricultural Lectures'. But ... arhhh ... <shrugs> ... that's why I made the comment ; ' But we cant really blame an organisation and followers for doing that I suppose ... it is maybe an essential part of organisations and followers ?" I understand one has to go through esoteric training ... that's why I can get what is behind a lot of what Steiner says as I have done it myself. I was trying to encourage people to get their own gnosis and go through that training ... not just take someone's word for it ... but again ... followers and organisations. But it is within those very followers that some DO take this path and hence the system develops ( the good doctor never told anyone to use casurina needles to make a homeopathic spray prep to disperse mould and mildew on plants when they get excess nitrogen, but people into his system worked it out for themselves by applying the same principles that Steiner did). Here is an example; lunch at Anthroposophist meeting ... secretary chimes in (in 'wise teaching' voice) "Steiner says that when one becomes an initiate the first thing that happens is one must encounter the Guardian of the Threshold." "Gosh!" says another ... thinks .... "How does one become an initiate?" Secretary thinks a bit ... ( now in broad Aussie accent) " Oh .... Um ... I dunno. " I would have thought my comments on alchemy and agricultural gold might have stimulated more interest in Steiner's wonderful insights and gifts from western esoteric knowledge to the practical, real and beneficial application he gave . I understand the Yoga he incorporated and it wasn't just those two ... the systems Steiner followed have their western correlation in the branches of 'types of Magick' and these equate to the limbs of yoga, both with their benefits and pitfalls - which in a way seem passed on to the students and followers - hence we have those that only follow or get obsessed or entrapped in the glamour and those that realise the internal truths and system and immerse themselves in that ... it is a common dynamic and Anthroposophy is no exception. To make it clearer I am talking about the 'magical technology' used ... and that works wether one gives significance to Christ on the cross or not ... that is an analogy that demonstrates a 'magical / spiritual' process ... to have or use another analogy (even the compost heap *) does not interfere with the application of the technology. * I am not being disrespectful to Christian Anthroposophists here, I am citing an article BY them (in 'Newsleaf' magazine from Biodynamic Agriculture Australia titled 'Christ in the Compost' . [ I should add that I am obviously of the school of Scientific Illuminism and not an imitator of someone who has achieved illumination ... and that's how Steiner got insights OF the processes ... not by imitating another illumined person. ]

Life does move in mysterious ways, but more so some people move in mysterious ways. I have spent time with people on the internet, via email, working with them, offering advice , collation of material, research and reporting (paid and unpaid) ... and some of them ... ! (At least one was open and honest enough to eventually get back to me and apologise for disappearing and being weird and rude ... they had decided NOT to take their medication for a while and .... ) I am actually quiet surprised ( and that doesn't happen often) how many people DO have mental psychological and emotional problems to the level they (or others) think they need strong medication for. Some are just weird anyway; one recently sent me an email and told me to F OFF (in large print) as although we had been friendly on a site (not this one) I said I disagreed with their opinion ... they thought I should lie to them to make them feel better ??? Anyway I haven't had my meds for a week ... check your in box ... (just joking)

Oh dear, I am having trouble driving this thing ... I cant seem to paste of a word doc (or anything in this reply box) I had as a back up and then when I went to reply I hit the unlike button on your post ... ooops. I will try again ... Yes the sound is different , hard to describe; it should have internal waves and pulses of sound, like it is pulsating within the main tone. The sound from one ring should last a long time and gradually fade so it is hard to detect when it actually becomes 'silent'. Other tips; it will be expensive, probably antique and should come with a reliable reputation (from an expert or trader ... most knock offs in the shops don't come with an informed salesman). I was lucky in that my friends, importers were totally into it, wen to Nepal constantly and hunted ... and knew their stuff. They had some amazing things like giant thigh bone trumpets (yak bone nowadays , cant get human bone in to the country and Nepalese don't want it to go out, they want to preserve the traditional ones that are left), large size multi metal inlayed and jewelled dorjes, phurba, kartikas , skull choppers, skull bowls etc. even a 'demon queller set' (5 ritual implements; chopper, dorje, sword, tongs and ...? can't remember ... all on long ornate and jewelled poles) for .... battling and subduing demons ... But I don't think Ish would need that in the new room It's the same with bowls. A good properly made one will probably have to be antique (real antique ... they make fake 'antiques' too) possibly beaten . A good bowl, when filled with the right amount of water should make a geometric or 3-D mandala 'standing fountain' of water as the surface vibrates and ... well ... levitate; particles and little droplets of water seem to vibrate and rise and fizz when the bowl is struck and vibrates. AS far as being able to tell if the metals were mixed at significant astrological planetary aspects ... ??? I just remembered I have also used a conch in the past for a similar purpose - mostly outdoors.

Tingshas are great for that but in my experience they are a medium for intention, i.e. I don't just ding them and that is it, intention is coupled to the sound and 'travels off' or radiates with it, Some say the tingsha doesn't stop ringing but becomes less audible and eventually vibrates only in the 'other world' That is why one should not stop it or muffle it, I used to sell them along with a whole range of Nepalese stuff ( I knew importers who were friends with a family in Nepal). Traditionally the good one's were made of ... (I don't know the word in the Buddhist tradition... in western magical tradition it is called Magicum Electrum) a blend of the 7 planetary metals; gold and silver are cast together during the appropriate Sun Moon conjunction then the other metals for each planet are added when in good position. Nowadays most of them are cast from old blown engine blocks and assorted recycled metal. The number of symbols on them is supposed to relate to the amount of metals; usually 5 or 7. (I use a phurba too). I guess the method depends on your tradition (as opposed to a new one that has to be learned (there is good advice above on that). My tradition is the Western Magical / Hermetic. I suppose the base ' purification' is centred on variations of the banishing pentagram ritual . .. incense (fire and air) . knocks or rings, circumambulations, aspurging with salt water (earth and water), God name vibrations, etc. Stage one is basically clearing out the space and 'pushing' the energy outside of your circle or aura (starting from the 'one point' - or Hara ... I have a Japanese tradition as well). After a while, when one develops and becomes a little more adept a different formular is used ... acceptance; all energies are invoked and drawn in and counterbalanced with each other and neutralised ... but that comes after the first stage. My favourite is a little personal eclectic one harvested from various sources including the pentagram banishing ,, a circle purification using elements from a Wiccan coven I was in and a mixing and consecration of those elements (before dispersal) from the first part of the Gnostic Mass. Or sometimes I just visualise a blue/white point of light in the Hara and expand it out to make an egg of the same substance at the edge of the 'auric field'.

One of the things I like about Steiner is his ability to present something in a simple form (not that he reads that way at times ! ) I am thinking of Bio-dynamic processes (anyone here have experience with that ? ), in essence he - and latter B.D. developers - have outlined a process that is simple and easy to follow yet incorporates great alchemical principles and, when practiced by the intelligent and observant reveal 'secrets' of alchemy not understood by other alchemical processes (well ... by me anyway). And all of this without the highly technical equipment, laboratory, etc. (no more than easily available on the average farm - a little difficult for urban locations). Oh yes ... and it appears to work and creates a 'stone' of great value (more than 'gold' ) The only difficulty I had working in certain fields of anthroposophy was with the anthroposophists who would do what 'Steiner said' but would not go beyond INTO where Steiner got his info ... and get more. But we cant really blame an organisation and followers for doing that I suppose ... it is maybe an essential part of organisations and followers ? [Aside; I hope it is okay to revive old threads here ... some of them I find REALLY interesting and stimulating ( the ones I particularly like, I am still working through and reading the references and related material). I wont do it too much ... only when the board here has been quiet for a while.

Interesting topic this ... for me, since I am v.into Tarot. The title grabbed me, as to me, tarot is one of my magical tools. Waaaay back 'then' when I was getting my four elemental weapons/tools together I had a clay disc for earth with a glyph (of polarity) either side. It used to sit on my little altar with the other tools but somehow it seemed to lack physical function ( for discs! ... oh dear!) ... it used to sit sometimes on my tarot deck (in its bag) ... then one day it hit me; of course! Since then my tarot deck has been my 'pentacle'. It can be used in many ways. (I believe 'fortune telling' to be a gross misappropriation of this tool - considering its potential). It contains soooo much within, I am not sure where to start. Many of the previous posts and quotes indicate great usages and insights but really, we are just scratching the surface compared to its potential. One little 'scratch' or use ... or I should say, one technique with a range of uses, I often employed was to lay the whole deck out in a large space; 3 elemental trumps in the centre to make 'Earth', out from this a ring of the zodiacal trumps, in order, in between the planetary trumps (either by 'natural', natal or current positions depending on what is being worked), Another ring outside the zodiac cards with Courts (minus Princesses and an outer ring of the minors ( 2 - 10 ) in their position by association via decan ( using G.D. attribution). [Princesses and Aces usually aren't laid out (unless you want to go 3-D ) and considered to have terrestrial association with the north and south poles and give elemental association to areas of the earth divided by longitude... on this level the courts can come in with a cross reference and rule terrestrial areas divided by latitude.] Usage: To gain an insight into the relationship between tarot and astrology; to have a tarot symbol view of an astrological chart or moment in time; as a group exercise when starting a venture (each person sits on the outside of the card circle at the position of their birth and decan related minor card and we can see who is in opposition, trine, etc. with each other and what cards relate to their sector).

Hello all. I only found this site this week and have read a little here and there. I have various interests in a range of subjects in the western mystery tradition and indigenous 'shamanism', both from a subjective participatory level and objective cultural anthropological level. I will be spending some time sifting through the subjects and posts looking for the little gems of wisdom and insight you have scattered about, hopefully I can offer some of mine in exchange?

Oh I see ... thanks for explaining everything to the 'new guy' - I meant the black star next to my name on the Lobby index. What does 'Banned technician' mean ?

Thanks Chang. I read the pins and rules again ... just to make sure. I like it 'easy going' too. Yes, there does seem a lot here in my area of interest and also some people that are a repository of knowledge (the sort I like; not 'new age speculation off the top of the head' - I have had enough of that for the moment thanks ). Also I noticed there is some martial arts interest ... which I have as well ( my experience is in Kobudo, Shorin-Ryu {Matsamuru Seito - i.e. the family tradition as opposed to the temple tradition} and Akido , with a smattering of other stuff). I got a black star and I haven't even been naughty ... yet