LOGDOS Consultation Document on Eastern Energy

Disciplines in Relation to Magick and Martial Arts

If we examine the Eastern traditions about energy, whether that energy is used in a magickal context or not, the farther we go back in time, the closer we get to a primal source of knowledge. Current sources of and disciplines of energy from a manipulation point to Tibet as being either the source or the first descendent of energy knowledge. From a historical context, the first county to have a historical written reference to this is China. Because most of the written history in China (though not all) before the egocentric rule of Chang (around 500 BCE) was destroyed by him, in order to erase history before his reign, the earliest written records regarding energy manipulation are Taoist, the origins of which probably originate before the purported writings of Lao Tzu around the same century as Chang.

Over and over again within Taoist literature, there are references to the teachings of the ancients. Since these writings are originating from the 500ís BCE, we can only guess how old the source teachings are - in the written histories of China, there are references to at least 2,500 BCE.

For this reason, the Taoist sources will be the oldest, followed by Buddhist. But for the most part, it can be stated that most of the magick practiced within Buddhism, which is on the whole discouraged, is from earlier traditions which it has tried to incorporate to stay or become popular - much as in Tibet Buddhism, and also in Christianity.
Taoism

Lao-tse founded Taoism, according to legend, in the 6th century in China. He was a respected scholar and philosopher, who had had enough of politics, and was leaving to go the West. (This was possibly on a pilgrimage to Tibet, as pilgrimages were frequently made by yogis and magicians during or toward the end of life by both from the Far East and India.) He was stopped by a Chinese border guard, who recognized him and asked him if he would document his wisdom before leaving China. The result was the Tao te Ching. Ching in Chinese means sacred book. Lao-tse (which means wise man), is also credited with the Hua Hu Ching, which is a somewhat more literal and specific book than the poems of the Tao te Ching. The problem with the Hua Hu Ching is that at least most of the physical copies were destroyed in medieval times by jealous Buddhist authorities, who thought that the prince who the master in the book addresses was supposed to be a respected Buddhist master, which they took umbrage at being taught by a Taoist master. Book burnings are not limited to the West. The result is that any versions which exist are a combination of oral tradition and existing parts of the book.

The roots of the energy traditions in China are rooted in Taoism. There are other disciplines which involve themselves with the generation, transformation and movement of chi, but their roots are always traceable to Taoism.

Energy Disciplines in China and Japan

Energy disciplines in public appearance is most apparent in martial art disciplines. There are internal and external and combination versions. External disciplines use physical exercises and means for defensive and offensive manoeuvres. Internal disciplines seek to establish the control of energies internally, and then to use some of the skills of the external disciplines in directing the flow of chi. At their highest levels, very little external movement is necessary, i.e., the projection of energies, whether to do harm or good, is done beyond the laws of physics as they are currently understood. For example, cracking concrete only by walking on it, or injuring an opponent by simply tapping them lightly on the shoulder. With sufficient chi, the internal organs are also strengthened, so that blows using any of the external martial arts will not harm the recipient.

Taoist Magick

Magick has long been a factor within Taoism, from the beginning. This fact is however looked down upon by many conventional authorities in the East and West, much as in Buddhism. However, it is magick that gives much of Taoism's flavour, as the basic concepts can form the basis of all energy manipulation, and from that originates all magick, healing and the martial arts, as well as all processes that require energy - all life.

Yin and Yang

The standard way of looking at yin and yang is as follows: yang is energetic, projecting, masculine, positive. Yin is receptive, retiring, negative and feminine. These notions are simplistic, but they at least provide a flavour from which further work can start.

Circle Consecration (A Sacred Space)

The Dance of Yu

This form is used in ceremonies of offering and exorcism. Practically it is used as n exorcism sealing a circle, but also bringing influence of heaven (not the Christian one) to earth and balancing and harmonising conditions in the material world. Health and wholeness is restored in the ritualist. It appears from the 2nd century BCE. There is a legend that Yu saw this pattern on the back of a tortoise while he was gazing at a great flood which the emperor had assigned him to control or overcome. Tortoise shells were in many cases used BCE as divination devices. He danced the pattern he saw on the tortoises back, after transforming into the form of a bear, and also dug up the ground with this claws to carve deep channels for the water. He scratched some signs into the earth and a dragon appeared and drove the waters away.

Eight trigram signs are projected on the ground. The order is made up of the appearance of numbers in a magickal square. It normally begins in the north and ends in the south. The signs can be either that of early or later heaven, with the dance pattern remaining the same. Dancing as early heaven establishes the heavenly balance of the beginning, while a dance in the later heaven harmonises the changes of earth and the seasonal cycle.

This simple order was later made much more complicated. Several schools of thunder magick were developed to counter the violent spirits and the malevolent sorceries within left path Taoism. A variation example of this from the 5th century CE, the position representing a mountain is also showed to be the entrance of a cave. It becomes the Gate of Life and becomes the crucial power focus. The problem is that the position varies with the position of the Big Dipper., so it changes hourly where the dance begins.

The 8 signs offer access to a large range of conscious states and energies. You can find access to the signs by using them as gates.

The I Ching

The 64 Hexagrams are shown below.

These are represented by the binary code, which itself is due to the concept of Yin and Yang.

The Heavens

Early on in Taoism, the concept of the heavens was formed. The early heaven represented the beginning of Creation. That of later heaven represented order. These two forms affect many rituals and patterns, depending upon what is being worked.
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Energies and Vapours

The Martial Arts

Internal vs. External Martial Arts

Animal and Human and Higher Level

White Crane, etc.

Judo, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu

Tai Chi, I-Hsing, Ba Gua