BaguaKicksAss

I would personally disagree about keeping them separate . I feel that is what holds many magicians back. But also not a path for everyone. What I mean is, there is no separation, it is only our minds which think there is. For example... when I go shopping, I intuitively pick the most energetic fruit sitting there. When I'm out in public, I tend to happen to run into other spiritual people in the oddest places. If I'm on the bus and start to have another pull energy from me, I will definitely switch over to a visualization protective practice for a moment. There is also the less thoughts (some say no thoughts, but I'm not there yet lol) focus when I remember, no matter where I am or what I'm doing. Another example is the various herbs I walk by on the street and will pick if they are something I can use. I find a lot of it similar to the martial arts training of huiyin (sp?) up 24X7 (aka when you remember) and tongue to the roof of the mouth 24X7 practices many do. I wouldn't say I'm 100% in the lets get down to some serious stuff mode all the time, more like in a slight "sleep"' mode like my laptop, with everything still up and running as soon as I open the screen. But also mindful of many things, and the psychic bits partway open. But, I don't like making this about me, as I am only one person, which is not a very good selective sample. I have met others who also practice like this, but from other paths. However, most people who practice do not want this. Hmmm, edit to add, I would wonder why Buddhist methods of mundane vs not so mundane separation or not would be any different with magic? I see many similarities in the practices the more I look into Budhist stuff . Ya'll just don't call it by fancy words...

OK so obviously it is best to close the space, kick any extraneous spirits out which may have been drawn to it and ground after a working or meditation. It is also suggested that one keeps spiritual practice very separate from mundane practice. These are very good advice and how it should be done. HOWEVER What about priests, shamans, monks and etc. who stay in meditation 24X7? At a guess it is more like the being aware all the time, but the deep meditation bits only during specific times, then back to the always aware state. Also likely not in say the first few years of ones training . On a side note, with Bagua one has to be in their entire body, thinking and feeling and being from their entire body, most especially the lower portion... so likely another reason circle walking is so awesome. Also, when one is in those spiritual states it "feels" like you have lots of energy, but in reality no not really, it's not the solid thick energy which is good for health and natural protections. Any martial arts teacher who also teaches qigong (and actually is from a lineage and knows what they are doing) can help greatly too.

Wow, that sounds horrid. I'm curious how it would have caused such bad things to happen? I'm guessing because it threw you wide open and whatever was closest wandered into your area? One interesting thing though is I have noticed that the Buddhist meditation practices are actually more grounding than many other systems/practices.

Circle walking grounds as well as well as strengthens the weiqi. Also though it keeps spirits out of the area (unless you purposefully use for your circle for.. oh nevermind lol) I have found that even any friendly spirits in the area will sort of walk away respectfully when I'm circle walking . Thinking more about the original post... it is also important to think about boundary setting. If our boundaries are not naturally strong for whatever reason on the physical, then also that transfers over to the non-physical world. When you have strong positive boundaries on the physical, a completely different energy is brought about then when you don't. To much spiritual energy in the head region can also cause qi deviations (just means qi doesn't go where it's supposed to is all, but it can cause problems long term). Just ground it back out . Hiking in the woods also helps. I've actually been told the only reason I feel grounded and survived all those years of intense magic was that I always bicycled everywhere and hiked all the time all those years. (not that I haven't run into problems, but generally easily fixable ones). Also just wearing some, any, simple protective amulet will work better than you might imagine . Also my own personal theory about circle walking... every hear of how when magicians practice, they use a protective circle? Well just imagine a few hundred of those with the same level of intent..

Circle walking gets rid of this sort of unwanted attention .

But there is no "me" to put them "there"...

First one out hundreds... . And you even got somewhere!

Noob. LOL Sorry couldn't resist .

This is more common than one would think. That much to early on can really screw up one's energy system. Most especially if it is centered around the head... Fixes include: a good teacher; qigong by a martial arts teacher who is grounded and balanced; a buttload of grounding.

I've seen far too many folks work with the "inner guru" before training with an outer one, or for not long enough, and come up with some really messed up stuff! I've seen more than a few screw themselves, and others as some folks feel they can teach early on!, due to the no feedback from someone physical who has been around longer. Oh sure an inner guru or yourself can do that too, but somehow it doesn't seem to work out well that way, no matter how much people think it does. With a good teacher, most of the work is on your own anyways, they just sort of point the possible directions and let you know when you likely have your head up your behind... To find someone experienced and well grounded (especially that 2nd part) well enough to pull this off, unfortunately isn't as common as we all would hope.

Hmmmm apparently according to at least some being able to see and perceive past the regular mundane / being psychic is a siddhi. However for those who have this ability, it is not something special or out of the ordinary, it is just a regular state of being. I feel this is the same with the other more fancy seeming ones too. Hard to imagine someone who has spent their life cultivating not being able to see/perceive past the regular mundane though; that just sort of comes with it doesn't it? This just being one example, the most common one people end up with. As we practice less of what we think of as "us" gets in the way, and the more we see things for how they truly are and can work with things how they truly are.

This contemplation came up lately for me. I lead a weekly magic discussion group. Recently I got to thinking that it isn't doing anything, and the time would be better spent in some group practice. However other members like the community aspect of it (for some reason others find it difficult to find others of like mind). Sure we discuss magic, sort of, but like here, most of it is just debate lol. I'm not even sure if the newer to the path folks learn much since all of us experienced folks tend to disagree on each topic LOL. Now I have found much use in sitting down one on one with another fellow practitioner and going over stuff and making sure we are both still on our paths... but this group thing, I'm not so sure about. I guess we are there as a support group for folks going through rough times, and an advice group for newbies (in both cases who want 5 differing opinions).... but some of the meetups end up being lets brag about what level we are at or how advanced we are (I'm going to start another thread about my "I crossed the abyss rant"). So what is the usefulness of discussing such things? Perhaps I'm just jaded.... Here for example, I keep coming because the conversation is interesting, and there are a whole pile of things I know absolutely nothing about . I guess we can't practice and meditate all day everyday. Also said meetups we do in town sure beat other social activities that people for some odd reason seem to enjoy...

and along those lines, one on one, I have found that PMs, emails and chats with members on here can be truly amazing sometimes!

Anyways... I'm going to devise a plan... where we somehow get some work done during these meetups. Even if it is just bringing paper and pencils and we all draw tarot cards or something. Or perhaps modeling clay talismans. Or having everyone write down the 12 things they wish to improve (even more) about themselves in the next 365 days (but don't have to read them out loud obviously).... something... Though I did find, after the Buddhist TSOK last night, my ride home and I talked for over an hour and it was awesome, and we both gained from it. I just have to figure out what the differences are. The group talk at the temple right after the event was just more mundane getting to know each other, but the ride home was all about spiritual and magical stuff..

NICE! lol (though I refuse to let someone who does that many dark workings in my temple; keep in mind this is coming from the person who invites Daemons in for coffee...)

Sounds like too much work to me . The Sufi stuff I have read is quite awesome though . Hmmm, next meetup he brings up his religion, I think I will divert the conversation in that direction though.

You would have to narrow that down a LOT more . What isn't possible would be a much shorter list. I have yet to see anyone win billions on the lottery (odd are too great). It is all a matter of training though. OK so say you want some fancy siddhi, well they take a LOT of training, and does one really want to focus on that alone? You just aren't going to get stupendous results training 20 different things. Though there are what I call "side affects" to practicing magic .

That saying, about popping soemone's bubble .

He is the one within the Cheng lineage who was interested in astrology and more mystical pursuits . He also compared notes with, and had many meetings with some of the other Bagua masters of the time (I forgot which ones now). Definitely interesting to say the least.

Er, I was just trying to make a light hearted joke about no really specific practical techniques posted...oops... didn't mean it to spur further debate . Anyways, I figure with each teacher, each student can figure out if the teachings mesh with them or not.

On a side note, he has been practicing for 18 years.... Practice does not lead to awesome social skills, always, apparently .

OK I've read 10 pages of this thread, and I'm not *any* closer to rainbow body... Hmph.

How similar he is to our TTBs Muslim is truly amazing! Well accept our local guy practices magic, where the TTBs guy feels it's evil, but close enough; the local guy feels all magic but that approved by his Deity is evil . (even healing) Now our local guy, if he had several women around him after a ritual, I think perhaps he would finally relax *and* smile! Though he did date someone for a year... she was a very sweet and patient soul. We were all so happy for him!

I had not seen him depressed like this before, and I've known him for 10 years. (and people say I'm not patient!) He is 62, so in his case, very stuck in his ways. I have suggested he start his own meetup group heh. I like the idea of having him lead some talks. On the weeks I'm busy of course . I have not seen him manic ever that I have noticed...

Since the thread is called the fun photoshop thread... just something I found around the net