BaguaKicksAss

Apech has been clearly feeling left out; we should decide on the proper amount of disciplinary, or lack thereof, action with Apech.... .

http://anniepecheva.blogspot.ca/

There is so much on internal alchemy; it is quite difficult to find much on the physical/external methods. (in english at least). Or perhaps I just haven't searched nearly enough... http://www.goldenelixir.com/jindan_texts.html

This will be in a couple of parts, as he is emailing me each answer one by one. Which is pretty cool as it is obvious he's putting a lot of thought into this. The questions chosen were: question 1 re Tradition Tao has local and non local Spirits a Traditional Taoist Initiate knows both and helps you to make contact with them Initiation ritual is an introduction to these spirits If you are honest about your self these spirits can introduce themselves to you Initiation Ritual is a time to check your honesty or sincereity it is a kind of mirror for you to look at your self while Tao transcends culture some local spirits are culture bound as are some people so local Chinese spirits need Chinese initiation so advantage of Traditional teaching or formal study is to know spirits from accumulated tradition this also might help prevent wrong imagination of spirits question 2 originally Taoist martial arts have full spirit invocation practice before form practice some residue still seen in salutation or raising hands choreography at beginning or end of practice always invoke spirits you work with at beginning and give thanks at end sometimes there is complete invocation and convocation meeting before martial art practice and so it is assumed part of later training communists remove ritual movements from forms as they believed it "superstition of old men" alchemy of martial art practice always witnessed by spirits but if you not acknowledge them then your alchemy can become only about personal power and your spirit will become smaller even making you more fearful and afraid instead of true Tao communion with greater spirits who can help and teach you so you become helper to the greater spirit world and fullfill potential of real human as allie of Tao. 3 -Aggressive Emotions this pertains not to the form of practice but the emotional nature of the practicethat is to say if you think of harming someone with anger in your technique or movement you are using hatred as a form of Black Magic and you can nurture this in your techniques and movements and so perfect your hatred forging it into your techniqueby doing this you become smaller and darker with each practice and with each practice you move further away from the Spirits whose desire is to welcome you into the Path of the Tao. originally prior to any practice you banish demons and hatreds so they do not infuse themselves into your practice and you then also invoke the Deities and spirits you have as assistants---self defense as practiced in the Tao is an act of balance in life so emotions are carefully regulated but not forbidden. If you do not take the time to purify yourself before practice of any kind---then your practice will forge what is present within you --- and that is often not known til the moment of regret arrives and you find yourself acting in a way which is not your true self... 4. Love and Compassion This is about perspective on beings. The big picture. In the landscape of the earth the human is short lived and weaker than many animals...such a weak and small creature who is so slow to understand requires the friendship of greater spirits to assist knowledge of life. If you have a good Father who teaches you then you know how the greater can help the lesser. So it is also when you have alliances with higher Spirits. You can then express this to those of your level and less...this is Chi which is actual Virtue demonstrated in Behavior of what in the west is called Compassion. further note on developing love-----this is a form of kindness and understanding `(not condescension) usually experienced through having a good teacher. It can also be experienced through reading written material or meeting a teacher in a dream if one does not have access to a living teacher. The higher Spirits can get to you if you invite them. In fact at times they seek to correct the work of bad teachers by appearing to students in dreams or in totems like strange meetings or encounters with animals or spirits... This transcendent understanding kind of love is not the same as erotic love. Erotic love is also part of Tao and is an aspect of nature connected to the seasons - mainly spring time. Because of its power to over ride the sense of balance the Taoist view is to seek to balance the erotic drive. This is not through repression but through regulated expression according to season. Wine, meat and spice tends to amplify the erotic force so these things are considered necessary to regulate...and they are substances which in themselves can also be used to regulate erotic drives...in fact all five senses and their extensions need this regulation since all is building up in the spring and in general toward every full moon...ones physical practices wether yogic or martial also follow these cycles... Internal Power vs Skill "Internal" implies something kept in a family, country or within ones body. So the general idea is something which is contained and rarely expressed. In the traditional Chinese family the love between the father and son or mother and daughter is not spoken about in public. Rather is is felt in the atmosphere of the room as a kind of Chi. To speak about it would use it up. Internal Power is like this. It is about something held in reserve. One could say in western language it is about the power of the Will. But it has substance. So it is connected to individual freedom or autonomy. Skill is technical as in a craft like making a musical instrument. It is in the real sense "Gung fu" or "Work-through-time -with a human". In defensive arts one could win technically and yet somehow still feel in ones heart that one is inferior to the opponent one has defeated. How to explain this? Perhaps your opponent allowed you to win? so this feeling of encountering what is superior and yet being more clever---how to explain this? so this shows what you can call "Internal Power"...this is deeply connected to the human character and its capacity to carry devotion to a great cause or even a demonic one...in the West you could say this is connected to what is called "Sub conscious" or "Un conscious" but Taoist believe there is no "Un conscious" just very conscious Spirits using you and you do not detect it til you look for it! But Internal Power could also be simple domination of another through power of concentration of Will...a kind of hypnosis. Usually talking or giving a drug or some kind of suggestion is used with this...magical gestures while talking or some secret ritual to manipulate the Will of the perceived adversary is often used...this too is "Internal Power"...Even simple gossip to wrap ones enemy in veil of misconception is an example... Loss of Training methods most of what is lost is secret of Time. People do not use star, constellation, time of day for training. Season very important. Your age also very important. Location very important. Not practice in park or public. Intent to show off and tell others is not inwardly directed for personal alchemy. Actually secretism has its own power and can be used also for good effect not just for evil purposes. Good deed done in secret better than good deed for others to see. Spirits see all and reward accordingly but usually not with money. Also some technical methods like combing horses hair with skin of palm, or iron cones which cannot be lifted due to shape (like human breast) or hitting water or slapping candle---these things not done any more which also have healing functions---not to mention long term work with partner on tactical hands on technique for hours a day til movement is without specialness but intensely intelligent...use of handling human skeletal bones on full moon and other things which impart to body special intelligences also very good...but all must be done with alliance with good Spirits and with good outcome in mind in accordance with the Greater Tao otherwise one just becomes small devil in league with large Devils... Person to person training better to try from book than bad person who will help you lose faith in all teachers...intelligent person can learn from all things. That is way of Tao. Personal relationship with good teacher where both parties are in accord will transmit full tradition unimpeded. That is the best way. Otherwise one collects experiences and divines ones own path from a multitude of persons and experiences. This also works. Good student can extract good from bad teacher but is often burned from such an experience. Even Chang San-feng after 10 years at Shaolin had to have his pride balanced by having his sparks driven out by the Fire Dragon in Wu-Tang mountains...Bad student learning from Good teacher will pervert teaching due to his own bad nature and then will transmit dirt to others...this then pollutes society but will in time be balanced by opposing forces...all in time. It has been said good student harder to find than good teacher...Even bad student wants reputation of having studied with the best teacher! Practice Time best time for modern student is during and after sunrise and round sunset. Modern times require special knowledge of point of change or transition phase...Sun is easiest most positive and best teacher. Moon good too but can make one prone to moodiness unless balanced with sun. Intensity practice toward full moon and then go back to very mild practice for new moon or rest...and meditate more. Yin Chi Yin is "Shadow" so actually from dark part of moon. Full moon is least Yin of all moons. Most expressive. Moon magnetic and watery (Kidneys) compared to Sun which is electric...Earth has both powers like children have mother and father in them...so is not pure Yin. Mineral composition of earth allows for Yang and Yin forces from Cosmos to flow through it giving birth to elements etc. Still most practitioners seem to have feeling earth is female. Don't know if Canon or other sources are clear about this since we look at stars and constellations. But feet on earth very much and yes grounding good since we have natural and permanent relation to earth not like birds which can fly. Yes we can fly but it is not the same. It is not in our nature unless we transcend our nature. But in Tao we always first and primarily work WITH nature. Then after that we understand nature then we can transcend it -- but we cannot skip steps...it must be gradual and step by step. That is alchemy. Always alchemy is grounded. Earth makes gold and earth is "grounded". Human body no different -is miniature earth. In Taoism we borrow Chi from Big Earth and put in our small earth body. So we need contact. All our alchemy is about borrowing forces in a conscious way. Cloth bottom shoes allow grounding. Silk and wool best to ground. Also warm when wet. Cotton cold when wet---not very healthy. Some use animal skin of Tiger or Ram or Stag to sit on. But this is not considered auspicious unless you are given it or find it without killing. Like I-ching book it is always more auspicious if it is given to you freely and perhaps `"by accident"...otherwise there is the idea of something stolen...not truly yours...let things find you. Copper mineral becomes warm in hand easily especially right hand... iron magnet in left hand or as ring on finger...and gold thread in cloth very helpful...old embroidery often placed in clothing to help chi circulate as with silver and gold thread over heart or along spine...minerals worn on body near places of pulses...very good...all simply connects you to earth more clearly...and once experienced can be dispensed with. You cannot un-ring a bell. Ancient Schools All now is in fragments. Now if we wish to know tradition we must follow stream back to river and origin. Even "paper carrying" Taoists (!!) must do this. Never confuse political power with actual alliance with Spirits! A good school regular hours a kind patient teacher who admits he or she does not know everything lack of melodrama good tea (perhaps in West good coffee!) old people exercise and laugh young people can be intense and true to ideal part of local community very much and always has work study for poor students but not exploit poor student-just exchange but as far as learning real passage of knowledge is individual and person to person. Not in a group. But training in two person exercises very necessary and is good in group. Sexual Retention Implies Sex needs to be "retained"...well perhaps due to media in West this is so. At present in modern West people are sexually stimulated daily. This can be relaxed with a sort of fasting from media...try a few days and see how you feel. No tv or computer or phone. Traditional Chinese way is to follow seasons for this. But human unlike animal desires to have sex at times other than Springtime! so some regulation is necessary. Also humans have sex for pleasure not just for progeny so is different. Less sex gives more energy for physical activities and if one is a martial arts teacher or having a physical job this is necessary or one can become weak. Kidney energy very important. Chinese view is this is inheritance from parents and so is also connected to memory and Will of ancestors and respect for them. How to do it? what is against nature and what is fighting nature? Tao has principles and techniques. Water flows down. Sex is natural urging. How does natural become un-natural? this is real question for human to ask. So Taoist idea is not to stop sex like some Buddhist schools. At same time in male sperm is only ripe at certain time and so must be changed otherwise one is merely carrying the dead-perhaps in more ways than one! Old time table was quite strict...around 15-25 man can release once a week, 25-35 every two weeks and 35-45 every three weeks and at 50 once a month and after 50 one should stop emitting. This is for life span of 120. Most men in West die at 70-75. So here you get the math. Basically from old view Western man has sex twice as much as he ought for Taoist life span. Of course life in modern times much more stressful and quietness is not practiced and moreover is considered inconsiderate due to need for work production for society. And if married and partner has desire one needs to consider needs of one another. So old rules can be adapted. Sexual process for women similar. Fertility declining with the female as capacity (not necessarily desire) declines with male. However both sexes can have desire ripening and lessening at various times in their lives. Sexual desire often directed by Spirits and also Ancestors. It is not just "You" who wants to have sexual relations. Other spirits participate. Thus one can feel "driven" or "possessed". So some kind of "Spirit Hygiene" can help with this. Correct Ritual and meditation practices, etc. For young women vegetarian diet with intense physical activity can all but stop menstruation. Fertility however will remain. This is important for them to know. Idea that women must lose blood by nature not an absolute rule. Depends on level of physical activity and diet. And young men also who are working physically intensively and not near womens smell will also often forget about sex. So much depends on smell and proximity. This is why Monasteries were found effective for Spiritual research. Monastic life not about repression but about expression. Very intentional concentration-so men and women separated. Not for everyone. And not permanent. Just for a time. As for special gymnastic for man not emitting this can be done for birth control (very old tradition) but unless started when young (puberty) can be too painful. Also can cause stones in kidneys and so one must drink more water and have a bit more salt in the diet to dissolve extra minerals which back up in kidneys and bladder. If one tries this kind of thing in middle age it is a bit too late and hard on the body but this depends on the individual. Certainly if one talks about doing this for months or years this is in opposition to nature and Tao and there is a price to be paid. One can attempt balance via special breathing and forms of chi-gung but please remember to increase movement of breath in the body will make any imbalance increase! first there must be some balance---in Tao we go to Stillness. Then concentration. Otherwise breathing exercises merely make ones problems more. Like blowing on a fire. Various sicknesses can result. For women if they do exercise to make vagina more contractile it is good to prevent or relieve prolapesed uterus. Muscular exercise for both sexes in urogenital region good for health and old age. Of course not too much. It is medicine. Every three days to do some good. Also some ideas of sexual "control" due to Confucian view of women as "taking" from man. These ideas degenerated to foot binding and other various unnatural acts. One can become less than human through unnatural practices. Then what is one? 13 Spirit Communication extremely personal and generally not to be shared with others except perhaps teacher spirits identified by traditional description of texts and from teacher with overlapping personal phenomena of omens, totems, synchronicities, dreams all contribute to verification as well as any direct or dramatic experience all phenomena needs to be carefully examined and not cause for personal glory if one exploits or attempts to exploit Spirits they usually depart if they dont then we can truly question their identity generally spirit work is similar to conversation with a trusted friend and so is not to show to others a simple check is to see if the Spirit likes exactly what you like- if so that can be a problem-it may simply be your ego or personality extension another way is to put up imaginary black veil and see is spirit can express through it if so then it is at least powerful enough to come through your intentional block and therefore not merely imagination 14 Ba gua vortexes Ba gua has synthesizing quality and so it is good to be eccentric yourself otherwise the weirdness factor may be too high it is not for everyone so protection ritual very necessary to filter out parasites of all kinds

Please understand that one really really needs to go train in person with someone to fully understand what is written. The simple words which can be expressed in a book, or expanded upon in great detail in person. Also, more advanced techniques beyond visualization are given after one has completed the more basic ones and not screwed themselves up. Further, some things just aren't put it public, even by Johnson who puts more than most . Further, what may seem like a visualization, when taught in person, is much more than that. If one is only at the level of visualization that is how they would read and understand it, but if they are at a level of more physical things, that is how they would read it. Again though, in person please. Doesn't have to be with JaJ obviously, but look for someone legit. Book learning really isn't the way to advance very far or very well.

So tempting . Just released. Taoism and Internal AlchemyBy Liu Yiming (1734-1821) Translated by Fabrizio Pregadio "Masters" Series, volume 2 180 pp. Golden Elixir Press, 2013 ISBN 978-0-9855475-1-6 (pbk) Paperback, US$ 17.95 ● € 13.95 ● GBP 11.95 (list price) This book contains a complete translation of one of the main works by the eminent Taoist master Liu Yiming (1734-1821). Divided into 26 short chapters, Cultivating the Tao is at the same time a comprehensive overview of the basic principles of Taoism and an introduction to Taoist Internal Alchemy, or Neidan, written by one of the greatest representatives of this tradition. Liu Yiming was an 11th-generation master of the Longmen (Dragon Gate) lineage. Having recovered from severe illness in his youth, he undertook extended traveling that led him to meet his two main masters. In 1780, he visited the Qiyun mountains, in the present-day Gansu province, and settled there. He devoted the second half of his life to teaching and writing, and to charitable activities including restoring shrines and buying burial ground for the poor. His works mainly consist of writings on Neidan and of commentaries on major Neidan scriptures. Few other masters have illustrated the relation between Taoism and Internal Alchemy as clearly as Liu Yiming does in this book. Grafting Internal Alchemy into the teachings of the Book of the Way and Its Virtue (Daode jing) and of the later Taoist tradition, he shows how the way of the Golden Elixir can lead to the highest state of realization according to the Taoist principles. Cultivating the Tao is vol. 2 in the "Masters" series of Golden Elixir Press. Original title: Liu Yiming 劉一明, Xiuzhen houbian 修真後辨 PDF sample (54 pages) Chapter 4: "True and False Body and Mind" (web page) Chapter 6: "Precelestial and Postcelestial Yin and Yang" (web page) Chapter 16: "The One Opening of the Mysterious Barrier" (web page) Chapter 19: "Superior Virtue and Inferior Virtue" (web page) ContentsIntroduction TRANSLATION Preface 1 Precelestial Essence, Breath, and Spirit 2 Postcelestial Essence, Breath, and Spirit 3 Precelestial Breath of True Unity 4 True and False Body and Mind 5 True and False Nature and Existence 6 Precelestial and Postcelestial Yin and Yang 7 Internal and External Five Agents 8 Internal Medicine and External Medicine 9 Great and Small Reverted Elixir 10 The Operation of the Auspicious and the Inauspicious 11 Furnace and Tripod in the Initial and the Final Stages 12 Internal and External Fire Phases 13 The Other House and My House 14 The True Initial Flow 15 Refining the Nine Tripods 16 The One Opening of the Mysterious Barrier 17 The Ebb and Flow of Celestial Net 18 Giving and Taking Life, Punishment and Virtue 19 Superior Virtue and Inferior Virtue 20 Doing and Non-Doing 21 Zi, Wu, Mao, You 22 Life and Death, Being and Non-Being 23 Precelestial and Postcelestial Kan and Li 24 Laying the Foundations for Refining Oneself 25 Internal and External Companions 26 Exerting One’s Mind to Inquire into the Principles Glossary of Chinese Characters Works Quoted

Fabrizio has just posted his second edition of the Way of the Golden Elixir, and put it up for free on his site: http://www.goldenelixir.com/press/occ_03_jindan_history.html Enjoy .

Way too many awesome things on this page to post each one: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Living-Off-The-Grid/335665986469892 Some houses on here, awesome tech that allows you to turn salt water into drinking water using solar power, various gardening suggestions, and so forth. Pretty neat. I don't remember the other pages around the net, but I have to say those off grid houses built into hills also look pretty awesome.

Y'all likely haven't changed your password since you joined (or in the past year) anyways . But here is the info of a recent annoyance. You will also soon have received an email stating the same thing. TTBs members, we are emailing to ask that you please reset your passwords. Make sure that they are at least 8 characters long and NOT any words which can be found in a dictionary, common pet names or your birthdate. Capital letters and characters are also good. Basically we have an ex member who has made a few attempts so far at compromising people's accounts on here. If you have received a password reset email, please PM the tech team and let them know the IP address of the original request (which is at the very bottom of the email). Also if you had a short password which was a regular word, please just quickly double check your account before changing your password. It is a good practice to reset your password every 6 months on each service anyways. If anyone has forgotten their password, just use the password reset function. Or if you still are having trouble resetting it, or need help with it, please PM the support team. We have checked extensively and have not found any accounts which have actually been compromised, so all is good. We are just taking extra precautions, for obvious reasons. Tech TeamAdmin Concierge team

There is more in any decent system than one could master in a lifetime, especially only practicing an hour or 2 per day. So how come folks practice a few in unison? I can see if you haven't quite picked the best one yet, but still I would think everyone would practice one at a time, to see which is best. Hard to tell if you are practicing 3-4 at once. Sort of like if I want to see if a new health product works, I would need to take one at a time, not 3 at a time, so I know which one is working. Also some things just don't mix well with or get along with others. I feel with qigong practices it can actually be a bit dangerous to go messing with a few at the same time, especially when one is new. I can see focusing on one for many years, then perhaps adding another... But only a year or two, then another, than another? That isn't going to help mastery at all, unfortunately. The reason I wonder is all the talk about the myriad of different systems everyone is posting about. Not that I'm one to talk, having had 2 teachers when I started Bagua, but I'm hoping others have more sense than I did . I figure it's the interestingness and the curiosity to learn and seek more.

Unless you are in your 20's I'd recomend listening to your teacher and not healing in that way. There are several reasons to not give up your personal energy when working with others. Some for your well being and health, and some for theirs. Your own personal energy is not what should be used anyways, and most definitely not without training. I have seen a couple of healers end up extreely ill from giving too much of themselves. Basially your life force is getting taken; the thing you need to stay healthy. Instead of giving less of yourself away, you do sitting down Zhan Zhuang instead of standing... may want to do some internal work to check into why you give too much of yourself. Personal boundaries are extremely important (not too little nor too much) and they tend to be out of whack for various reasons, things which have happened in our past which shouldn't have, generally.

We've run into a few problems lately with this.. anyone else? Please post here, or PM me if you like, but easier to keep track of if you post here.

There is a local bunch of people who wish to go through Agrippa as well. This will keep me motivated to post a bit again. Now just to remember which copyright free edition I had been using.... (that isn't the Tyson one). With the in person group, we will discuss the chapters in order, part 1 chapter 1 from book one and on, but also to keep things lively and interesting, we will covering random chapters from part 2 of book one, so we all have something to go home and work on. Would the folks here prefer I just stick with the order we have been doing, or whould I add the part 2 bits as well as we cover them in person?

ZYD, do you happen to remember my original source PDF I was c/p from? I love Peterson's site, but I don't want to go and just c/p heaps of his hard work....

Just for fun:

It's one of those concepts that you think you know, then you realize later that you don't at all. I also have some pet peeves with he concept since I see time and time again people talking on end about having crossed it, but coming out still depressed and angry on the other side?? From what I understand, doesn't it bring you through your internal, and the external personal underworld (for lack of better wording, sorry) sort of thing, while you completely release and get past all concepts of who/what you were before you ventured through it? A gargantuan change for the positive... yet a quite dangerous journey since you could end up not making it and come out of it pretty messed up. I'm curious about different Bums' takes on this . (on a side note I have this theory that there is a mini abyss on your way just before Tiphereth; from a ceremonial magick standpoint). Mini meaning still just nearly as intense and life changing as the big cahuna, but just earlier on in the path.

If a person only has half an hour to an hour per day to practice your system of Qigong and/or Neigong, what would you recommend they focus on and start with? Always start with Purging – the Tonify – and then end with Regulation: I start each morning with Pulling Down the Heavens 3 X - using a descending Ha sound. Next I perform Old Man and Tide Pool X5 - Then I perform the Daoist Yang Organ Exercise and the Daoist Five Yin Organ healing exercise. From there I move into Standing Meditation for about 20 minutes And end with Sitting Meditation for about 35 minutes 2. Can folks practice your methods and practices (from the books alone without any additional teaching? Are there problems they would run into from doing this? What about medical qigong from books only? That is a good question.. The books and DVDs will provide a great foundation for energetic training as a healer. However, you must still have an accomplished teacher to guide you along the path. There are many “pit-falls” that you can avoid be having an accomplished teacher. I believe that in any tradition, if a disciple sincerely applies himself, eventually his teacher will appear to continue with his training.. The goal is to provide you with excellent instruction from a number of these sources, that's why the books were originally written. Each teacher’s personal experience should awaken and encourage you to go deeper into the most subtle levels of training.. Whenever a book cannot answer your questions, a teacher who has mastered the source material will be there to assist you in both learning and growing.. 3. You had talked before about how beginning energy healers can sometimes — despite their best intentions — do more harm than good on an ill person, e.g. growing cancerous tumours instead of reducing them. Can you explain what beginning or intermediate students of Qi Gong medicine must practice in order to increase their healing effect vs. harmful effects. What are the most common beginners' mistakes you have encountered in your students? Besides having developed a powerful energetic field through which to treat your patients, and acquired various healing modalities and techniques, having an “open Heart” in clinical practice is essential to being a successful healer. In this manner, your Yuan Shen (Original Heart/Mind) is allowed to freely perceive and completely diagnose your patient. This is the true secret to increasing your healing effects, and to energetically see what is “beyond the obvious.” It is important for the Medical Qigong Doctors to realize that the mind is something that they use, instead of seeing the mind as being something who they really are. The degree to which they realize their dominance over their own mind, directly corresponds to their own ability to energetically dominate and control the mind and thought projection. In the clinic, this understanding allows the Medical Qigong Doctor to externally focus and finely hone his ability to project Qi. The first step towards mastering the energy of creation, is in attaining control of one’s Original Heart/Mind. Since matter is defined as a combination of trillions of particles, atoms, and molecules arranged in various vibrational patterns, matter, energy, and consciousness are constantly being converted and reconverted into each other. Although the mind is considered a form of matter which operates at a higher energy level or rate of vibration, the more the mind becomes absorbed into the physical world, the grosser and more bound to the lower realms of sensory diagnosis it becomes. Therefore, the individual expression of the mind can become less conscious (i.e., asleep), or more conscious (awake), depending on which aspect of his consciousness he energetically “feeds.” As an individual’s consciousness and perceptual awareness continues to develop, his mind starts to oscillate at an even higher, more subtle vibration, and energetic potential for creating energy (tonification) or dispersing energy (purgation) is realized and manifested naturally. One of the most common mistakes that beginners make in the clinic, can be divided into 3 important observations: 1st – The doctor not surrendering his acquired ego: Many times before treating a patient, the doctor will forget to surrender his acquired heart/mind to the Divine Mind. This prevents the doctor from receiving the subtle intuitive “messages” that are trying to inform him of the patient’s diseased state. 2nd – The doctor not dedicating the clinic for Divine Service: If the healing space is not dedicated for Divine Service before the doctor begins the treatment, the will and intention of his Original Heart/Mind will not combine with the Will of Heaven. 3rd - The doctor not asking permission to treat the patient - Because true healing is based on three levels (i.e., healing the Spirit Body, Energy Body, and Physical Body), many new clinicians either jump right in and start their practice as “technicians” instead of “healers,” or instead try performing all types of clinical “modalities” in hopes of trying to obtain certain goals without first checking to find out if this is for the patient’s highest good. This tends to be a common practice among many students who are not currently Apprenticing under older masters. 4. From what I've read, your training began primarily with the internal martial arts and eventually gravitated more toward chi kung therapy. Do you think that training the internal martial arts is an efficient way to build chi for a chi kung therapist, or should a chi kung therapist spend most of their training time differently? What would you say is the most efficient practice for a chi kung therapist to maximize their healing ability? Every Medical Qigong Doctor has natural healing abilities. Some of these natural gifts are immediately “awakened” during the initial trainings, others must be developed through many hours of practice. In the system that I learned, Master Wong taught that all disciples will progress through four stages: The Martial Artist, Healer, Scholar, and Priest. I was told that all of these stages focus on health and healing. However, they must also be continually trained and embodied, in order for the disciple to understand the innate difference between using the “Knowledge” (defined as “information that is supported by facts, truths, or principles that have been gathered through study and investigation”) and “Wisdom” (defined as “the knowledge of what is Right or True – coupled with the insight and judgment to perform the proper action in application”) of these special abilities. When first training: The beginning Martial Artist focuses on protecting his body against physical harm The beginning Healer focuses on protecting his energy against disease The beginning Scholar focuses on protecting his mind against ignorance The beginning Priest focuses on protecting his spirit against the influence of “evil” Although the methodology for each level will differ, eventually the goal for training the body, mind, and spirit will harmonize as “one.” This powerful union will either be positive or destructive, depending on the primary intention and main goal that subconsciously motivates and drives the actions of the practitioner. Therefore if your goal is to be a better Medical Qigong Therapist, no matter if you train Shengong (Spirit Skill), Qigong (Energy Skill), or Neigong (Inner Skill), simply focus all of your practice towards the goal of healing and serving others. Then, no matter which road you choose for training and developing Qi for healing, your body, mind and spirit will develop towards that particular endeavor. 5. Another question concerns the archetypal merging/fusion of Yin & Yang in Taoist (and other forms) of alchemy. What exactly (theoretically & experientially) does it mean to merge or fuse the 2? Is it like connecting a full electrical circuit like with + & - terminals? Or letting north and south magnetic poles meet? Or if they're already "fused" like electromagnetism...then how more would you "fuse" them? There are always three levels to Daoist Alchemy trainings. And, the explanation of the teachings will vary from student to student, depending on the specific level of the disciple’s energetic evolution. There is a physical Yin and Yang energetic fusion (i.e., that occurs within the channels and the body’s tissues), a mental Yin and Yang energetic fusion (that occurs within the energies of the Hun and Po), and a spiritual Yin and Yang energetic fusion ( that occurs within the Original Heart/Mind and the Eternal Soul). For example, when the Five Spiritual Virtues of the Yuan Shen unite and fuse as One Qi, the Ling Qi (Spiritual Energy) of the body’s True Yin (i.e., the most subtle prenatal spiritual energy of the Original Earth – existing before the development of the body’s Water Qi) and True Yang ( the most subtle prenatal spiritual energy of the Original Heaven – existing before the development of the body’s Fire Qi) also merge into One. After the Yin and Yang merge into One, the “Golden Elixir” (i.e., the Celestial Spirit) will begin to awaken, form, and develop. This creates within the disciple an “open” spiritual state of mind, like that of a newborn child, and is considered to be the further development of his Ling Shen (Spirit Mind). 6. I'd be curious to know about his personal practice. He is an expert in many disciplines, how does he schedule practicing them to remain proficient in each? Are there some pieces that he does every day? Any general guidelines for learning new skills? I start each morning with the Pulling Down the Heavens 3 X - using a descending Ha sound. Next I perform Old Man and Tide Pool X5 - Then I perform the Daoist Yang Organ Exercise and the Daoist Five Yin Organ healing exercise. From there I move into Standing Meditation for about 20 minutes And end with Sitting Meditation for about 35 minutes In the evening time, I practice Yang Family Taiji a few nights a week, and also teach Baguazhang classes (the students are currently learning the Bagua staff-fighting) I also teach 2 Daoist Magic classes each week – one class is for senior priests of Tian Yun Gong (the Daoist temple in Monterey) and includes special healing talismans, hand seals, star stepping, and incantations; the other class is to the Daoist Abbots of Tian Yun Gong– they are learning Daoist Exorcisms.. When I am not counseling students and disciples, I am either writing books or spending time with my wife... 7. Not long ago, I heard you tell a story in another interview about a martial arts instructor you encountered who wore rubber-soled shoes. You, at the time, felt that it was important to wear cotton-bottom shoes to increase your connection with the yin energy of the earth. In that story, you conceded to the instructor that there are far more impediments to perfect chi flow than just rubber-soled shoes (indoor plumbing and electricity and the like). We've had several debates on the forum about topics similar to the cotton-bottom shoe issue. One poinient example being a member who vehemently asserted that, unless the hui yin was physically touching the ground or some grounded conducting wire, no yin chi could be cultivated in one's meditation practice. My question is: Do you think that our modern western lifestyle prevents us from levels of attainment that the ancient Chinese may have reached? Is our lifestyle/environment making it harder for us to become Daoist immortals, or do you think it is a relatively minor issue? I have encountered many “Fundamentalists” in this spiritual path (Christian, Daoist, and Buddhist), and truly understand the frustration of trying to share your life experiences with closed-minded individuals. Because the mind is an extremely powerful tool, I have come to simply encourage these individuals in their personal beliefs (understanding that they have crystallized” around certain thought patterns) – and then move on. In this manner, I try not to be guilty of “hexing” someone’s energetic practice (i.e., saying “you can’t – you won’t, etc.). For example, throughout the years, many Western Doctors were truly perplexed by my students, because they were dissolving tumors. When they privately inquired as to how this was possible, I simply stated that it was because they don’t know any better...Once you assign a name, power, and history to a diseased state, you create a belief system that supports and maintains the energetic matrix of the disease pattern. I simply tell my students that the tumor is composed of stagnant energy, and that their job is to dissolve and disperse the Stagnant Qi. They do, and the tumor dissolves. It works, because a person's belief system supports and maintains his internal energetic patterns.. My teacher once explained that an individual’s actions are based on their internal “Code of Conduct,” created from the initial programming of their personal “Belief System” or “Internal Truth.” This “Internal Truth” is subconsciously constructed from the initial imprinting and programming of: • Inputted Stories of the Cultural Trance • Beliefs based on projected hopes and fears • Accepted statements based on religious beliefs • Facts based on sensory perceptions • Consistent accurate information. Therefore, an individual’s physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual attachments to their Internal Truth create and maintain their internal beliefs. These internal beliefs activate, support, and feed the “stories” that maintain the physical body, energy body, and spirit body’s’ energetic functions. In an Energetically Induced Psychosis (i.e., based on fundamental thinking), the individuals Belief System is being “Overshadowed” by the constant energetic bombardment of another individuals projected thoughts, intentions, and emotions (usually originating from a person of authority). In this self induced state of Trance Induction, when an individual believes that something is actually there, then to them, it is. Their body’s physical, mental, and emotional states all respond to these obsessed thoughts and feelings, which have a powerful influence over their Heart/Mind, and affect the way that they perceive the world, and respond to others. If the individual is unclear of their Code of Conduct (De) and Vision in life (Ming), they tend to experience any type of discrepancy or criticism as an invalidation of who they are, and become unclear of their current reality. This internal state becomes a source of doubt, lack, worry, fear, and obsession. The internal stories that they keep inside their mind, corrupt their personal values, in both vision and present condition. Their Survival Instinct is then taken over by the internal story and overshadowed sensory input. This disruptive internal state can lead to such Shen (Heart/Mind) Disorders as Psychosis or Neurosis. I believe that we currently are in a “spiritual crisis,” and that our modern Western lifestyle can easily be used in order to prevent us from reaching the higher levels of spiritual attainment. This is because in true alchemical training, it requires much work, discipline, and consistent practice. Without a “support group” needed to encourage your training, it becomes extremely easy to energetically “fall-asleep” and get lax when practicing Daoist Alchemical Cultivation. At this time in our history, it becomes even more difficult, because we now have greater access to things that can distract and inhibit quiescent cultivation practice. I believe this is why so many people are internally “hungry” for spiritual enlightenment, and thirst for a true relationship with the Divine. 8. Many folks do practice more than one system of qigong and/or neigong, and may wish to incorporate (though during a separate practice time), some of your exercises or practices. Is this possible? What are the risks? I have trained in several energetic disciplines. Each unique unto itself, and each containing their own energetic merit. Sometimes these energetic systems will actually complement each other – and enhance the other’s teachings. Other times, the systems are so different, they are actually contraindicated in their energetic application. Many years ago, when I first was introduced to Chinese Energetic Medicine, I believed that “truth – was truth,” and therefore each energetic system should say the exact the same things, have the same colors, same sounds, same energetic patterns, same channel locations, etc. What I failed to take into consideration, was the various cultural influences that each energetic system carried. It was because of each system's cultural evolution, that the associated sounds, colors, patterns, etc. all varied. This did not make them “wrong” only different. Once you can understand the original function and design of the teaching’s application, then an energetic foundation is created. You then become free to observe and appreciate the various correspondences each system carries, and may use its energetic approach in cultivating and working with the most subtle energetic fields of the body, mind, and spirit. 9. How do you feel is best way to stop rebirth? We are taught that the best way to stop Rebirth, is to obtain “True Spiritual Radiance.” By spiritually transcending and becoming a radiant Immortal, the individual’s Three Bodies are then able to escape the “Cycle of Time” (i.e., The Cycle of Life, Death, and Rebirth). By not physically dying, and through obtaining the spiritual status of a “Spirit Immortal” (or “Heaven Immortal”), the individual’s transformed Spirit Body will then belong to the celestial realm of the Dao, and will no longer be restricted to any particular family lineage or Earthly Genealogy. Additionally, if the disciple was able to obtain the status of a “Spirit Immortal” (or “Heaven Immortal”), he would also be able to evade the stern judgments of the Three Officials of the Underworld, having already transformed his previous Karma into radiant Divine Light on Earth. As a Heavenly Immortal, the disciple now qualified to ascend into paradise and take up a special Celestial Post in one of the Heavenly Administrations, and continue his service from the celestial realm. 10. What is the final goal (if there is one) of your system/lineage? The final goal is to be one with the “Divine,” and obtaining the Immortal Body is secondary. This is the primary goal in all spiritual practices. 11. How important is an understanding of the YiJing (I Ching) to Taoist cultivation practices? How can this be used to enhance ones practice? The study of the Yijing is extremely important in Daoist Alchemy, Medicine and Martial Practice. In our particular Daoist System, The study of Heaven is associated with the study of Astrology The study of Earth is associated with the study of Feng Shui The study of Man is associated with the study of the Yijing 12. As a modern materialist Westerner, the concept of ghosts and spirits is outside my conditioned framework. Is there a simple way of getting a glimpse into their reality or does it take years of study? How would such a belief help a person spiritually and in life? I wrote extensively about my interactions with the Spirit World in my Daoist Exorcism book (see - http://www.qigongmedicine.com/daoist-books/ When overseeing a Medical Qigong Clinic, a doctor will usually encounter various types of patients with a multitude of diseased conditions, ranging from physical, mental, emotional, to spiritual energetic dysfunctions. This is because each human body has a continual relationship with the multidimensional energies active within the Physical, Energetic, and Spirit Worlds. The various interactions can be infinitely complex and sometimes frightening, especially if the doctor has not prepared for such encounters. For example, one supernatural manifestation of the Spirit World can include the ghostly apparitions of various spirits, people, animals, and/or objects. In the clinic, the presence of these subtle energetic forms can sometimes be seen or felt for either brief moments in time (i.e., usually seen as hovering images of light or dark shadows) or for extended periods of time (usually considered to be an encounter). In the early 1970s, when I first began to see spirits, I had just finished meditating with my teacher. Suddenly, I saw a bright radiant flash of light. It hovered for a few seconds to the left of the room, then immediately disappear. Startled by what I had just observed, I asked my teacher what that was. When he answered, “oh, I don’t know,” his carefree response upset me. Realizing that I would not be content within this answer, he continued: “Johnson, some of these things are people from the past projecting into the future; others are people in the future projecting into the past; some are people in the present Spirit Traveling; others are Immortals and Spirit Guides traveling within the various realms; and some can be Nature Spirits, Elementals, or Ghosts. Unless we “Freeze” the spirit and then interrogate it, we cannot truly say what it is.” Eventually, I became use to seeing such energetic phenomenon, and learned to relax and accept the clairvoyant skills I had begun to develop. This important acceptance opened the doors to learning the additional skills and abilities that were needed to interact with the Spirit Realm. This was known in ancient China as having developed “Yin Eyes.” The term “Yin Eyes” originated from the ancient belief that the Physical World existed in a Yang energetic state, where people were subject to the warmth and light of the day, when the Yang energy was at its strongest. In contrast, the Spirit World and ghosts were considered to exist in a Yin energetic state, where spirits of the dead are subject to the cold and darkness of night, when the powers of Yin were at its strongest. Because you are composed of a Physical Body, Energetic Body, and Spirit Body – by understanding the Yin and Yang properties of each of these three energetic states, you will be able to more effectively interact with yourself and others, in a deeper and more profound way. <this might be covered in a book> If a person couldn't study with you, are there other teachers or organizations you'd recommend? Please see Dr. Diego San Miquel or Dr. John De Anzo for Skype lessons in Daoist Exorcism 13. How does he see the relationship/compatibility of Buddhist and Taoist practices? Is it ok to practice both concurrently or is there need to keep them distinct? Many of the Daoist and Buddhist teachings are extremely compatible. Throughout ancient China, both the Daoist and Buddhist continually “borrowed” various magic talismans, incantations, and hand seals, from each other. In fact, many of the Daoist and Buddhist teachings were originally combined in order to form the “Quanzhen” (“Complete Reality”) Daoist School. However, because certain meditations require mantras that are specifically directed to certain deities, I would encourage you to keep their meditation practices separate.. 14. Do you think chi kung healing is becoming more accepted by the western medical community? How would you like to see chi kung therapy evolve over the next ten years? As modern Western physicians are becoming more open-minded to Alternative approaches, Medical Qigong Therapy is becoming increasingly more popular. Within 10 years, it is likely to see Medical Qigong Therapy becoming an active part of the Western Medical Community. 15. What is the most remarkable recovery you have seen in a chi kung clinic? In 2002, one of the Five Branches Acupuncture student who was studying with me, discovered that her father had been diagnosed with cancer. Because it had metastasized throughout his entire body, they only gave him 2 weeks to live and sent him home. He had just returned back from Community Hospital, when she called to make an emergency appointment. The next day, when she and her mother arrived at the clinic, they asked if they could stay and watch me treat her father. My immediate response was, “no, this is not a spectator sport. If you wish to stay, you both must sit on the side and remain in prayer, and ask God to intercede. We have a saying in the clinic – Doctor’s Treat- God Heals.” They both agreed, and I placed the patient on the table and began to perform my “Hook-up” before treatment. Immediately the light in the treatment room (which usually turns into a natural golden radiance), transformed into a type of “rainbow” luminescence, and you could actually feel the prayers of the mother and her daughter interceding for the father. I thought, “this is wonderful, God is healing her father.” After the healing session, they thanked me and left. About a week later, the father returned back to the hospital and clinical exams confirmed that all of the cancer way completely removed. It had not gone into remission – but was instead completely removed from his body. 16. Which side of the human body is Yin & which is Yang? What I would like to know is whether yin and yang aspects of right and left are inherent, absolute qualities or whether this may be considered more of a sort of suggestion, a paradigm, one potential school of how to channel these opposing (e.g. radiant vs. receiving) energies, which then may naturally be different in different schools. I know in your books you insist that the left side is yang, the right yin. What we would like to know is why the understanding of this differentiation is relevant, e.g. in specific healing or medical applications. The body’s Yin and Yang locations are actually part of ancient Chinese Culture and their beliefs. I know that this ancient belief and the placements of Yin and Yang patterns are sometimes opposite from those of the Indian Ayurvedic systems of healing. However, the Chinese Yin and Yang “schematic” is the energetic foundation for all Chinese Energetic Medicine, Daoist Alchemy and Chinese Martial Arts practices – and it remains so, even today. 17. It has been suggested by one member here (yours truly) that one could explain De as akin to the virtuous creative force which other religions worship as God. Does this make sense in your understandings of Daoism and Christianity? Also: How would you explain the relationship between De and Dao in the Universe, creation, and in Neidan/Neigong. Thank you so much for your consideration and time. The ancient Daoist (and the ancient Christians) believed that when the radiant light of the Dao is expressed in human action, it is manifested as the individual’s De (Virtue). In Daoist Alchemy, this type of Virtue, is directly connected to the disciple’s Prenatal Wujing Shen (the spiritual energy of the congenital Virtuous States located within the disciple’s Five Yin Organs), and affects all of his thoughts and actions. It is important to note that the Five Virtues are the original energetic and spiritual manifestations of the Five Pure Lights. This is why, according to ancient Daoist teaching, the “Virtues” are composed of subtle energetic and spiritual substances, known as “Ling Qi” (“Spiritual Energy”) and “Ling Shen” (“Spiritual Mind”). The Energy Body and Spirit Body are both composed from this subtle energetic and spiritual substance. Whenever an individual becomes extremely emotional (i.e., enraged, fearful, obsessive, depressed, etc.), he or she will naturally drain, burn up, and energetically waste this precious spiritual substance. Therefore, the foundation for all Daoist magic and alchemical work is traditionally built upon the cultivation and replenishing of the subtle spiritual energies of the disciple’s innate Virtues. In order to assist him in this important alchemical practice, both Daoist and Christian disciples were first traditionally taught how to uncover the hidden magical powers contained within the spoken word. For example, the sacred sounds of a spoken prayer or magical incantation are directly linked to the internal power of an individual’s Ling Qi (Spiritual Energy), and are therefore energetically rooted within the disciple’s Shen (Heart/Mind). This is why one of the first energetic exercises given to a disciple of Daoist Magic (aside from the Purification Meditations and Rituals), focuses specifically on training his internal “Observer” to overview all of his thoughts and actions. In this way, the disciple is able to intercept Karma, shut off his attachments to the outside world, and begin cultivating Divine Virtue, which will be required later when performing advanced alchemical teachings. The ancient Daoists believed that the cultivation of Virtue has its reward, both within Heaven, and within the Dao. These energetic and spiritual rewards are without shape or form, and are the magical stepping stones used by most Daoist disciples to access the secret teachings hidden within the various Spirit Realms. In high levels of Daoist Magic, the acquired magical powers of a disciple are not totally dependent on his ability to practice powerful Qigong and Shengong exercises, but are also dependent on his ability to cultivate Genuine Virtue. According to the Huimingjing, “If you do not have Virtuous Power (De), even if you encounter the Dao, Heaven will certainly not grant it to you. Why is this? Virtuous Power and the Dao are like a bird’s wings. If one is missing, the other is useless. You must have dedication, devotion, compassion, moral integrity, and obey the Five Precepts (no killing, stealing, adultery, lying, or intoxication). Only then do you have something to hope for.” With each kind deed, the disciple’s Heart becomes purer and the subtle activities of his True Spirit increase. This allows the gap between the Qi of the disciple’s Yuan Shen (Original Spirit) and the radiant light of his Shen Xian (Eternal Soul) to be reduced. 18. Since you emphasize the importance of working through your stuff and clearing it out prior to, as well as during the neigong practice, what ends up being the result of someone practicing Neigong without doing this important aspect? What happens to them/their spirit/the fetus? As the internal power begins to build, if the individual has no way of “processing” and discharging the trapped emotional energy, they usually end up going crazy, having a stroke, or suffering from a Heart Attack. This is quite common in many “famous” martial artists. Additionally, if this internal power is allowed to develop and increase within a disciple who has a confused “Poisoned Mind” (defined as an individual who is obsessed with the continual need for ego-based control, approval, and security), and it energetically activates their Inner Fire, the transferred spiritual energy (Ling Qi) will internally burn through the disciple, and begin destroying all of his various acquired “ego personalities” and “false identities.” If the disciple has not been properly trained or prepared for these sudden spiritual changes, he can mistake these energetic shifts for being suddenly possessed or oppressed by harmful spirits. As the newly awakened “creative energy” rushes through the disciple’s Three Bodies, it also naturally “feeds” whatever the disciple considers to be the “most important” internal priority. Therefore, this suddenly awakened “creative energy” can either seem like a blessing (especially if the internal priority is placed on Divine Transformation), or can manifest as a form of psychotic-delusion, especially if the internal priority is placed on empowering themselves. When psychotic-delusions begin to manifest, the disciple suddenly considers himself “extra special,” and “God’s Gift to Mankind;” or he is suddenly convinced that he is a god himself. This is why it is important to find a qualified teacher whenever pursuing any form of Daoist Magic and Internal Alchemical teaching. It is also the reason why maintaining a humble and grateful heart rooted in divine service is essential for spiritual growth, especially when following any authentic spiritual path to Enlightenment and Immortality. 19.Is karma a legitimate Taoist concept? How does he see the relationship/compatibility of Buddhist and Taoist practices? Is it ok to practice both concurrently or is there need to keep them distinct? Yep...see Question #13 20. Are there any key exercises for overall good health? Sure...see Question #1

Some folks give away free books just for guessing the right number (fortunately for me lol). I have a bunch of books, so I'm going to make this way more difficult hehe. I'm going to make this sort of interesting... us slackers sometimes need outside motivation to practice every single day. So basically post once each day that you practice. If you practice twice per day, you can post twice, but it will only count if you are tied with someone else for actual practice days. In other words, you can't skip monday, then practice 2X on tues, and have it count for both days. But if you and someone else ended up with 90 days at the end, and you did some 2x per day sessions, then you would win. By practice I mean qigong, neigong or martial arts. For at least 15 minutes per day. Be honest though, depending on what your usual practice amount is, compared with your health, compared with if you have 3 kids, 2 jobs, go to school and are married and thus are a little short on practice time.... Now I understand sometimes we all get sick. I find that slow qigong is awesome when you are sick, or Zhang Zhuang . Neither will kill you (done them in the hospital a lot lol), but don't overdo it if you have the flu, perhaps 3-5 minutes at a time a few times in the day. So what books you ask? Well it all depends. If the person who wins has only done 30 days, well I have some qigong paperbacks laying around here. If someone gets up to 100 days, they may get to choose the book (withing reason) from amazon. There might also be a few runner up prizes. A note for teachers... teaching class does not count. I say this to make it more fair for others, but also it is the all alone practice by yourself which is the most beneficial anyways . Going to classes can count, as long as it's only a couple of days per week (though you can't get classes 7 days per week, even with 2 teachers, I have tried lol). Do try a bit of practice all by yourself on your own on those days as well though if you can. Some classes are the can't even sit up long enough to eat dinner after them types! So this is starting on Wednesday November 19th, and ending on February 27th. Yes, yes I know Christmas holidays are in there . This will give those who are creative a chance to get a few more sessions in than others..... If you end up in the hospital, and the staff feels that light qigong would do more harm than good, then you can still count those days, as long as you have kept up your practice regularly the other days before and after. If you are going on an international flight of 8 hours or more, I strongly recommend airport qigong, it really helps (and will make sure you don't skip a day). I will also post my practice just to motivate others (and myself for that matter), but I obviously don't count in the prizes.

Well I have to say that beleifs such as "once one hits portal it is Abramelin time" or "magickians are supposed to do the Abramelin rite" are quite a good thing I must say. Though also there is the whole shortcut can do it in 2 months without changing one's life much approach, I think doesn't quite go as far as 6-18 months, with quite a bit of seclusion and hundreds of hours of practice.

So has anyone started up the next challenge yet? A new thread so people can find it would likely help... Also, I have NAJA's address, if the 2 others who practiced most of those days could send me their address that would really help. I have been quite busy with work and practice, not getting online much lately. How about an outdoor activities which aren't work 100 day challenge for us all?

Grimoirum Verum .

That sounds more like depression than dark night of the soul to me personally; though each person does have a unique experience of this. As to how does it end... well it gets far far worse than you described first.... for me it ended sort of slowly bit by bit. I was much spiritually sronger after. There are some mini dark nights, and also 1-2 really big ones I have found (so far lol). The paths like to test us .

I would completely and entirely disagree. Well aside from the perspective of every single thing is god, including my coffee table. The tradition comes from much much earlier than the GD/Crowley approach (and neither are my bag of tea at all). Have you read the Abramelin books? The Greek Magical Papyri?

Hell no. LOL

A path isn't going to work so well for a particular person if the ancestors and main deities on that path don't like a person.