Lao Tzu

"The journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet."
~ Lao Tzu ~

Excerpted from & translated by Wing-Tsit Chan
Way of Lao Tzu Tao-Te Ching

Taoist Master - Daochun Li

Daochun Li
{A Thirteenth Century Taoist Master}

"Deep knowledge is to be aware of disturbance before disturbance, to be aware of danger before danger, to be aware of destruction before destruction, to be aware of calamity before calamity. Strong action is training the body without being burdened by the body, exercising the mind without being used by the mind, working in the world without being affected by the world, carrying out tasks without being obstructed by tasks."

Excerpted from:

The Book of Balance and Harmony

Quotes from Lao Tzu

Lao Tzu

Ability
"For the wise man looks into space and he knows there is no limited dimensions."
Character
"Kindness in words creates confidence Kindness in thinking creates profoundness Kindness in giving creates love."
Confidence
"Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love."

The I Ching

I Ching (Yi Ying or Yi Jing), a divination and oracle tool, is also known as the ancient Chinese Book of Changes or the Book of Transformation. It is a textual reference and resource of and about Chinese philosophy, prognostication, and intuitive spiritual perception based on the concepts of and theories derived from Yin and Yang, the universal cycles of transformation or change, wisdom, nature and its elementals (i.e., earth, air, fire, and water), and science. The practice of I Ching dates back some 5,000 years ago with many practical uses in modern times for predicting future events, outcomes, and activities. The ancient Chinese consulted the I Ching so as to become more aware of change within their lives (such as with their finances and social relationships) and surroundings.

Although the Book of Changes was originally used for divination purposes, it has uniquely influenced Chinese spiritual thought and philosophy in a way that brings together human beings and nature into a single cosmological system within the universe. Keep in mind that the I Ching is, in its origin, a book of symbology or symbols long before and well before it evolved into a written language or linguistic form. The Gua are displayed and represented as symbols only.

Emperor Wen Wang was the founder of the Chou Dynasty (c. 1111–255 BCE); and according to many historians, he originally formed the 64 I Ching hexagrams and wrote the Confucian classic book of I Ching. The emperor and sage Fu Hsi (reigned 2852-2737 BCE) is said to have discovered the eight (8) I Ching trigrams on the back of a tortoise.

The two primary philosophical schools of I Ching are:

[a] Moral and Reason (Confucian) School -
The Confucian School of studying the I Ching which teaches the Art of Understanding the I Ching.

[b] Symbol and Number (Taoist) School -
The Taoist School of studying the I Ching which teaches the Science of Understanding the I Ching.

As mentioned, I Ching is a divination and oracle tool for convening with universal spirituality:
Briefly, divination is the spiritual art, metaphysical science, and practice of attuning with a single deity or deities (such as a pantheon of gods and goddesses).

An oracle may be defined as a person (such as, a priest, priestess, shaman, medium, etc.), instrument (such as, Tarot, Ouija, I Ching coins and cards, Runes, etc.), or source of divine communication between you or a psychic medium and the spirit realms.

To be continued . . . and coming soon -

How the I Ching works (with yarrow stalks, coins, etc.) and how it can help you in your daily life . . .

Earth - Greater Yin

___________________________
© 2005 Kheti Metaphysical Institute,
Dr. K. A. Sahure & Sifu H.A. Diop

Revised 10.2008 CE by
Dr. P.M. Lorca, D.D., D.Met.
Temple of Kemetic Wicca

Musings: 06.04.08

"It is said that if you know your enemies and know yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred battles; if you do not know your enemies but do know yourself, you will win one and lose one; if you do not know your enemies nor yourself, you will be imperiled in every single battle."

▪ Sun Tzu

Caveat: "Treat anyone wrongfully with thou distasteful manner--and thus, alas revenge and vengeance are often the greatest of equalizers upon those of you who have come to know such proclivities are and have surely become aware that what you have wrought so negatively will reflect back upon thee so heavily!"

▪ Excerpted from The Book of Hexation [2005]
by Dok Kheti VIº

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching - Ch1

"The Tao that can be trodden is not the enduring and unchanging Tao. The name that can be named is not the enduring and unchanging name.

Having no name, it is the Originator of heaven and earth; having a name, it is the Mother of all things.

Always without desire we must be found,
If its deep mystery we would sound;
But if desire always within us be,
Its outer fringe is all that we shall see.

Under these two aspects, it is really the same; but as development takes place, it receives the different names. Together we call them the Mystery. Where the Mystery is the deepest is the gate of all that is subtle and wonderful."

Excerpted from:

Chapter 1

Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Translated by James Legge [1891]

Flowing Water

"Water flows humbly to the lowest level.
Nothing is weaker than water,
yet for overcoming what is hard and strong,
nothing surpasses it."

~ Lao Tzu ~

Musings of Sifu H.A. Diop 11.24.05

"The way begets one; one begets two; two begets three; three begets the myriad creatures.

Although here it is said that 'the way begets one', 'the One' is, in fact very often used as another name for the 'tao'. Understood in this way, we can see that it is 'the One' or the 'tao' which is responsible for creating as well as supporting the universe.

Of old, these came to be in possession of the One:

Heaven in virtue of the One is limpid;
Earth in virtue of the One is settled;
Gods in virtue of the One have their potencies;
The valley in virtue of the One is full;
The myriad creatures in virtue of the One are alive;
Lords and princes in virtue of the One become leaders in the empire.

It is the One that makes these what they are."

► Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching (circa 4th century B.C.E.)

Musings of Sifu H.A. Diop 11.23.05

Book Two - LXXV

"The people are hungry:
It is because those in authority eat up too much in taxes
That the people are hungry.
The people are difficult to govern:
It is because those in authority are too fond of action
That the people are difficult to govern.
The people treat death lightly:
It is because the people set too much store by life
That they treat death lightly.

It is just because one has no use for life that one is wiser than the man who values life."

► Lao Tzu - Tao Te Ching (circa 4th century B.C.E.)

Musings of Sifu H.A. Diop 11.16.05

Du Mu (Tu Mu) 803-852 CE

From the immortal commentaries of the prominent late Tang Dynasty (618-906 CE) poet, essayist, calligrapher, and painter:

“The Way means humaneness and justice. In ancient times a famous minister of state asked a political philosopher about military matters. The philosopher said, ‘Humaneness and justice are the means by which to govern properly. When government is carried out properly, people feel close to leadership and think little of dying for it.’ ”

Excerpted from The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Will and Spellcasting

Will and Spellcasting

By
Rev. Dr. K. A. Sahure, H.P.
The Temple of Kheti

To begin, consider what a spell is since this term has been very misunderstood by many who are outside of the realm of alternative spiritualism and practices, metaphysical science, and magick: In theory and practice, a spell is a method by which energy is moved or transferred; this energy comes from power built up within the practitioner then released in order to carry out or facilitate the spell relative to the four elements (Air, Fire, Water, and Earth) and generally in the presence of a spiritual entity such as a deity or cosmic force summoned directly or via an instrument of divination. Just as the phases of the moon affect the Earth, so does this same lunar activity influences and affects spellcasting.

From a metaphysical and psychological standpoint, the ego or the self plays the role of a conscious mediating agent between the physical being, the spiritual realm, and physical reality-- whether casting magickal spells, performing spiritual rituals, or not. Every action begins within the mind just as every spell begins with a specific need and ultimate goal in mind. The art of spellcasting is a unique form of energy transfer, expression, suggestion, sacred drama, timing, universal balance, and often interconnected with meditation, psychokinesis, telekinesis, and precognition (or clairvoyance).

One's will (i.e., ego infused with the power to produce an effect or cause change to occur) can influence anything and everything if an individual concentrates or focuses her or his will, with intent, on some objective deeply enough consciously or subconsciously. However, with spellcasting, one’s will becomes more intensified due to working with and engaging the elemental forces within nature and spiritual energies within the universe—potentially magnifying, influencing, and thus causing change either mental, physical, or both. Intently thinking about something, in particular, can engage our will to be enforced independent of our conscious thoughts and actions without realizing that we do so at times, thus activating and causing things (good or bad) to occur within our environment and to others. What must be kept in mind is that spellwork is typically well planned and thought out prior to sending forth such powerful energy into the environment.

The average individual might will (i.e., desire or wish for) what he or she may want or would like to occur based on learned conditioning and through social learning processes, experiences, and behaviors learned from a young age; while on the other hand, the spiritual practitioner performs specific spiritual and/or mystical activities deeply rooted in ancient religious traditions, such as spellwork, rituals, divination, prayer, etc., in order to achieve what he/she wants, affect or cause change, influence future events, or to merely help someone else.

In closing, a magickal one’s will plus spellcasting should never be taken lightly due to the enormous amount of etheric energy she/he is able to produce, work with, shape, and thus emit into the immediate environment and onward into our universe. There is an interdependence between the universe, mysticism, nature, and physics. Spellcasting is esoteric and arcane yet a natural and physical art to be explored, understood, practiced, and to behold!

~ Em hotep & Blesséd Be ~