Taomeow

Especially entheogens. Other than that, a very fresh lobster, for me, seems to be the magic substance that unlocks meditative bliss and insight and transforms my emotions into something quietly glowing -- as though I've swallowed a star on the sly. But only if it's been transported straight from the ocean to the pot -- if it had to spend any time in between in captivity, it loses 100% of that special quality. A long time ago I was taught some raja yoga, as arcane as high-level asana yoga but targeting the mind. I didn't go "all the way" with it, not even close, but it was a useful experience -- to step aside from your own mind and take conscious disciplined control of it, instead of letting it either control you as most mundane experiences go, or asking it to STFU as the most widespread meditation methods go.

Your comfort zone will one day become your confront zone. Your confront zone will one day become your comfort zone. (Others need not be involved.) -- Loretta M. Wollering

Remedios Varo Creation of the Birds, 1957

This one is from 1911 -- online resources tell me he did many studies of trees between 1908 and 1913. From the explanations of what he was after, I gather he was trying to discover qi. Distilling images to simpler and simpler basics, seeking the underlying balance and harmony, connections, interrelatedness. I seldom encounter abstract paintings I like, but the ones I do like have qi up the yin-yang -- this is felt much stronger if you chance upon an original though, but some reproductions do retain a bit of that "field."

Piet Mondrian (1872-1944) An old tree

A very knowledgeable herbalist I would add -- unfortunately, far from all Chinese medicine practitioners today are well-versed in herbal medicine. Besides, here in the US (don't know about your neck-of-woods) some of the most crucial herbs for allergies have been made illegal (notably ephedra, with its track record of fixing allergies for 5,000 years), and some others are very hard to procure.

A bonsai ritual. Chawan, chasen, matcha tea. Tetsubin. Japan.

Sofonisba Anguissola. «Ana de Mendoza y de la Cerda», c. 1560.

Sand between my toes A seagull stole my snack bag Bon appetit, thief

Li

It is a translation of a classic from the 10th century, and this particular subject is meaningfully discussed therein. (Warning: Immortal Chung's opinion on the methods and practices resulting in ghost immortality may ruffle some Buddhist feathers.) Seekers of "pure yang" should also pause and think -- e.g. about the fact that tao of the alchemical classics is "muddled," not "pure," much less "pure yang." "Ordinary people are clear and bright, I alone am dim and muddled." -- Laozi

No, it's very traditional. Zabuton.

"The way of tao is motion and the pattern of this motion is return."

Visualization is a normal human ability, like, e.g., the ability to carry a tune or to brachiate. Some are less proficient at visualizing, some are even afflicted with aphantasia -- just like some people are tone deaf and some, clumsy. But it doesn't make the ability either exotic, unnatural, or useless. Incidentally, whole generations of "experts" used to assert that swimming is not natural for humans and that it's a modern fad. (I'm not kidding. Mercifully, this ridiculous "scientifically proven" BS has been debunked by more thorough investigations and by at least some "experts" flipping their natural intelligence from the "off" into the "on" position. I remember watching my seven-day-old niece swim expertly in a bathtub, unassisted, with a smile of bliss on her face -- which reminds me that official "settled" "science" still maintains that infants can't smile till they are 2 months old -- but don't let me "go there.") The idea that there's some higher spirituality to be found in being tone deaf, clumsy, unable to swim, unwilling to smile, or refusing to visualize is, to me, somewhat baffling. I won't swim in a polluted body of water and I won't visualize harmful or idiotic or pointless stuff -- the rest is my oyster.

How well do I remember Charles Perrault's tale for which the above picture was an illustration? Let's see. He was The Establishment, with all its might and wealth and power -- which he used, among other things, toward secret, hidden deadly cruelty committed in the privacy of a locked-away forbidden room. She was An Independent Researcher (aka "a conspiracy theorist") with an inquisitive mind, bent on cracking mysteries and finding out what's hidden in the forbidden rooms, recklessly refusing to heed his "don't you dare go there," determined to go exactly where she wasn't allowed to go. He told her explicitly -- you are allowed to go to any room on display, open any door with any key I provide, make yourself comfortable where I tell you to make yourself comfortable... but this room, no, this door, no, this key, forget it, I forbid it. She disobeyed -- and discovered horrors untold. I forget what the ending of the tale was, I read it as a little girl. Was there a happy ending? Perhaps. In fairy tales, they often give us happy endings. In real life, not so often.

Bluebeard by Gustave Doré, pen and ink, 1868

Definitely not saying Damo is one of them, but it's worth remembering that some of the worst scoundrels in history were absolutely adored by their followers. Some still are.

Sometimes (often enough) that's a red flag.

https://www.rafael-araujo.com/

It is supposed to signify the aversion of a misfortune, according to many traditions. The item belonging to you is, in a certain not-entirely-material sense, an extension of you (feng shui knows all about it), a bit like a family member interacting with you in whatever way your relationship has been established. A breaking glass item of yours is like a self-sacrificing relative taking your impending mishap onto itself. Some types of belongings are particularly significant in this respect and can avert big trouble -- a jade bangle bracelet, e.g., is normally pretty unbreakable (unless fake), but if it does crack, it means that you were in grave danger, averted by its self-sacrifice. Another such item would be a feng shui mirror -- if it falls from its spot and breaks, you need to replace it pronto because the danger may be ongoing. (There's a story a feng shui master tells about the death of Bruce Lee...)

This songwriter gets inspired by meowing cats and creates joint performances with them

Hi bums, I had this Qi Machine (made by Sun Ancon, I mention it because I've heard they are not all created equal, but no, I'm not a distributor, I swear, and am most definitely not trying to SELL one) for a couple of weeks, then had to give it back (not mine), and now I'm thinking I might want one because I really liked it. That is, liked it short term, but I don't know what would happen if I owned one. Does anyone have one? And if you do, can you share your experience? Does it get old, boring, or new and better with time? Any unpleasant side effects? Pleasant ones? Does it collect dust in some corner or do you use it regularly? Does it do something major, minor, or nothing at all for you? Thanks for all possible returns!

Needed help with translation but got it already. Wish I could delete a message that winds up having nothing in it. Apologies.