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Not in the least. I'm not finding reference material that I think explain in the right terms, hopefully the local brain trust can dig me out of this.

As part of your personal practice? It can be seen as a separate subject.

You may benefit from research into the eight extraordinary vessels. https://ymaa.com/articles/the-eight-extraordinary-qi-vessels-part-1

If I only did things I knew worked, I'd never have had any fun.

You couldn't afford one of THOSE charms.

Well so much for my sales pitch.

With perhaps a whiff of Emperor Georgiou . I'd watch it just to see Michelle Yeoh kick people.

A battle Royale situation, with mythic overtones, like the story of Rex Nemorensis that forms the central theme of Fraziers "Golden Bough". Ultimately, that priesthood became subject to political control. Outside parties just sending assasins they thought could take the "reigning champ".

One of the details that led to my current interest in things broadly Daoist is my infatuation with the classic Chinese novel, Journey To the West. The historical journey of the historical Buddhist scholar Xuanxuang is the touchstone for the tale of the Monk Sanzang Tang and his guardians. Film and TV versions abound - there's even a weak adaptation on Netflix in "The New Adventures of Monkey" (And a ghost of the tale is cast across "Into the Badlands" as well). A compendium of characters and situations from Chinese myth and legend, each of which is brought in line with the rising tide of Buddhist ideals in what I am assured (By Scott Park Phillips, repeatedly, in both of his books) is a process that mirrors village ritual, it's also a rip-snortin' tale of derring do, rescues and magic abound, and how did I get this far without mentioning Sun Wukong, the Handsome Monkey King, ego drenched avatar of the active mind and hero of the story? (The Monk may be protagonist, but we're here for the Monkey King) Only with great effort, I assure you. A book for readers, the four volumes took me a couple of year to get through the first time, but well worth the investment. Many philosophical points about the junction of Daoism and Chinese Buddhism raised (frequently, inconclusively) on this forum are answered in the context of the story. The stories spark so much room for side study, and here's someone who puts some effort into just that; https://journeytothewestresearch.com/ Wonderful books in a wonderful modern translation by Anthony C. Yu.

Really difficult not to get all jive talky about this. I mean an additional income stream, outside of the main gig.

I really do need to keep out of this thread before somebody thinks I'm panhandling. But...hast thou a side hustle?

This reminds me of a departed friend, a luthier who purchased living timber, with strict measures for storing and seasoning the wood when it was cut.

So how many shall I put you down for?

That lucky money charm is starting to sound pretty good.

Based on my life experience, my other choice is to try to sell you a lucky money charm. Seriously.

Really, I'm only going to get worse with this.

My own arc has been through the arts towards spiritual experimentation. Please do not think that I'm to be mistaken for a serious person where money is concerned.

We message back and forth among the family, and have occasional zoom meetings. I'm at an open mic on zoom with friends abroad now.

Just got a copy of "Infinite Mind " by Valerie Hunt, Thrift Books is really starting to like me. I'll review it here if I think I understand it. So far this more internalized voice work is quite profound feeling, but mainly revealing buzzes like an old bridge, places that could use a bit of glue.

My neighbor and I get together weekly for a distanced jam session in his garage. Drums at one end, guitar amps at the other, the mic smells like disinfectant but I sing through a mask anyway. We're very careful, almost exaggerated in our precautions. We decided early on that if we two couldn't manage this, then nobody else could be expected to. There's a wood stove and a Labrador involved. I bring my own pipe and coffee cup. It's not bad.

As you get yourself together, you move towards me. As I heal myself, I move towards you.

I'd say that the real questions - the question of "How much is real? Where are the edges between my map and the territory? Just how fragmented am I?" aren't really furthered by wondering about the state of someone else.

My response to the original question is in my interpretation of Lao Tzu, verse two, which I coincidentally posted yesterday. it hinges on the character 相 Xiang : to see for oneself; to evaluate by seeing for oneself

My guess is that anything derived from acupuncture works better if you develop your channel system.

Poetry, folk song, western sacred music, the Blues, the same elements of sacred sound survive in each culture. In each voice.