RiverSnake

Belief is a product of the intellectual mind. The mind can be very powerful as anyone can testify to placebo effects. However, IME if you stay limited to the mind you will never be able to basque in the Wu Wei and live spontaneously and calmly, nor can you live in clarity if you are always soaked up in the bickerings of the mind. -My 2 cents, Peace

One simple i have found that really helps my overall flexibility is to drink lots of water everyday, the difference is night and day. -My 2 cents, Peace

Wow, great post templetao. I don't practice elemental magic. I was simply fascinated with this aspect of the Western Tradition and its applications. Of course such things i imagine exist in other traditions. Something i will re-read several time. Its interesting that you note Wind as the primary element for cultivation. IME i have a felt that when you make progress on the path you are gradually getting lighter and lighter (physically, emotionally, psychologically) as you drop more and more blocks and egotistical baggage...and lightness is generally an attribute of air while heaviness is Earth. Interesting stuff. -My 2 cents, Peace

Hey templetao, i noted on another thread you mentioned elemental magic and how you had experience with it. I was wondering if you could share your experiences and the value you have found in the practice? I know in Bardon he talks about loading different parts of the body with different elements. What is the use of the practice and how is it used in your tradition and others? -My 2 cents, Peace

Definitely some useful stuff in here. Maybe this should be a pinned post for people new to cultivationand new to the forum. -My 2 cents, Peace

I think having a teacher can alleviate a lot of the speed bumps on the spiritual path. However, IME there is nothing more rewarding and more empowering than self-study. IMO learning the basics and then rigorously applying them can take you a long way in the field of esotericism. If an individual does not have a teacher then they should look for one but at the same time harness all of the resources at their disposal and dive into the unknown and explore. "There are many techniques for transmission and generation of chi but all require a master-student relationship unless you are inclined to intense self-study. Self-study is the source of unique gifts and often requires conquering your greatest fears. According to Sun Tzu, self-adventure also results in the greatest powers. Only time will tell, but there are probably more accomplished people doing esoteric studies on their own right now than at any time in human history." Path Notes by Glenn Morris -My 2 cents, Peace

Surya Namaskar is a great stretching routine which you can recieve enromous benefit from....i should know i do several salutations every morning...however, for me personally although it is a routine that promotes great flexibility and health....it did not allow me to fully get into full lotus without pain in my knees. From what little experience i have with sitting in Full lotus for a few minutes....i can say it effortlessly brings you into a deeper meditative state than any other position i have tried. I plan on integrating some of these hip stretches into my Sun Salutations so i can eventually get there, but for now its Burmese for me . Thanks for the post DB. Interesting albeit a bit cryptic...as usual. -My 2 cents, Peace

Thanks for the response Seth. May all your Inner and Outer workings be in harmony with the Way. -My 2 cents

A fellow practitioner of mine recently related to me that in his experience he found that the majority of Ritualistic Magic is Black Magic.....or very close to it. I was wondering if you could elaborate on this. -My 2 cents, Peace

Geez....what a warzone there is here.... -My 2 cents, Peace

Yep if i eat improperly and also during meditation i ten do hack up some phlegm. I usually spit out.

In some sense this is true. Many would say The Tao Te Ching is very much coded with alternate meanings and a guide for cultivation. -My 2 cents, Peace

Thanks for the response DB. Your wealth of knowledge is appreciated. Have not had any exposure to your material but it looks interesting. -My 2 cents, Peace

Thanks for the input everyone. From some of the responses it seems that Ritual Magic is as intimate and involving a practice as Self-Cultivation....rather than just gathering some stones and plants to manifest cash when needed...it actually greatly involves and expands the participants on an energetic level? I occasionally used some of my energetic practices to manifest money or a job when i needed it...however like others i am more interested in clearing out the cobwebs of my soul and continuing to expand past my limitations (High Magic). Based on your responses it seems that Ritualistic Magic is a useful tool in this and worth investing some of my time in learning. I see many references to different kinds of Magic in the Wester Tradition: Enochian, Chaos, Golden Dawn, Hermeticism....etc. Could some one clarify what the differences are in each approach? Are they all similar practices with a slight twist or widely different approaches.....are they all some how rooted in using the Tree? I know very little about the Western Tradition except from my minimal studies with Bardon's work (Initiation into Hermetics) which seems to try and bypass as much cultural non-sense as possible and go straight to the source...nor does he mention much about Ritual Magic? Is Bardon's work and the skills he promotes for pracitce a good base which can be used as a cross-over into what ever practice you run upon?

This is supposed to be a good and free bok on the topic, enjoy: http://books.obe4u.com/

Wow, interesting with the crystal period thing. I may try it when i practice my neigong. Also i always sit in the same direction, gonna try switching it up. Thanks for the tips. Its fun to fiddle around with energetics as long as you use common sense and "Listen". -My 2 cents, Peace

Wow. Hard to believe a group of people could do that in 8 hrs and with such enormous precision at pitch black night. Cool stuff. -My 2 cents, Peace

Interesting video. Seems like a lot of teachers are saying the same thing. Don't have any experience with Kundalini Yoga. I agree with the one subtitle which said...."Ride the times, or the times ride you." I am always a bit suspicious with people whom sound a bit new-agey. But definitely some interesting insights. http://thetaobums.com/topic/24496-solar-flares-and-human-consciousnes/#entry353263

Hey Ya Mu, does using the shielding & cloaking inhibit are are ability to shift the energies of the areas we go to and the people around us? -My 2 cents, Peace

This is one of my favorite videos by him:

As a man learning how to manage and control one's sexual energy is very important. There is a reason why so many Alpha males (men with lots of sexual energy) are in prison....they don't know how to channel there energy into productive pursuits and just end up being angry, self-destructive, frustrated and violent people....when they could be some of the most powerful and productive people in society. When male energy is not channeled guided through proper meditation it can easily turn self-destructive.....much is lost in ignorance. -My 2 cents, Peace

That aggression is Testosterone....you don't need qigong to build muscle. All you need is motivation and drive to get under the iron and keep at it for a long enough period to see results. -My 2 cents, Peace

I practice Stillness Movement Neigong. Its a spontaneous movement practice so stilling the mind and sitting for long periods of time can be a bit difficult....but i am gradually getting better at both. Also it was not my problem that i couldn't sit through the pain, but that i did not want to do permanent damage to my knees. I am now simply focusing very intensively on posture and being aware of my body during meditation. That book looks interesting i may check it out. -My 2 cents, Peace

Indeed, it can be experienced and seen both ways. Its actually kind funny....i can't imagine a more emotionally and psychologically explosive situation than someone whom is sexually neurotic trying to conserve jing. The more you conserve the more sexed up to get. What you repress only gets stronger. -My 2 cents, Peace.

Hmmm....idk....Hatha Yoga is designed to stretch out the muscles as well as open up the channels in the body and you can have lots of muscle and still be flexible...so i imagine as long as you stay flexible while your workings out you should be fine....though idk for sure. -My 2 cents, Peace