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R o g u e V a lle y M et a p h y si ca l L ib ra ry

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SERIES I"   '111   ,N W llllll)   I{FLIGION & MAGIC SERIES

 About the Author Eric Eric Steve Steven n teac teache herr

Yude Yudelo love ve

of the the

has has been been a stu stude dent nt,,

Kaba Kaball llah ah,,

the the

West Wester ern n

prac practi titi tion oner er,, Magi Magica call

the   I Ching,   and and Taoist Taoist Inte Intern rnal al Alch Alchem emy y

shaman shamanism ism,,

Kung Kung sinc sincee 1970 1970.. He was was one of the the firs firstt Ameri America can n to stu study dy with with the the reno renown wned ed

and  and 

trad tradit itio ion, n, and and Chi Chi stud studen ents ts

Tao Tao maste masterr Mant Mantak ak Chia Chiao o He has has

stud studie ied d with with Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts of both both the the Hebrew Hebrew and and Weste Western rn ditio dition n and and was was initia initiated ted as a sham shaman an in 1984. 1984. Eric, Eric, a licen licensed sed profes professio sional nal and business businessman man,,

tratra-

reside residess with

his wife, wife, four four childre children, n, and dog in a suburb suburb of New New York York City. City.

Author T o   Write the Author If you you wish wish to cont contac actt tion tion abou aboutt Llew Llewel elly lyn n

this this book book,, Worl Worldw dwide ide,,

the the auth author or lea learnin rning g help helped ed

the the auth author or or woul would d like like more more info inform rmaaplea please se writ writee to the the auth author or

and and we will will forwa forward rd your your requ reques est. t. Both Both

and and publ publis ishe herr

of you yourr you. you.

appr apprec ecia iate te

enjo enjoy yment ment

Llew Llewel elly lyn n

in care care of 

hear hearin ing g

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guar guaran ante teee

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ever every y lette letterr writ written ten to the the auth author or can can be ans answe were red, d,  be forwarded. Please write to:

but but all all will will

Eric Yudelove c/o Llewellyn Worldwide P.O. Box 64383, 64383, Dept. K250-X, K250-X, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383, 55164-0383, U.S.A. U.S.A. Please enclose a self-addressed, self-addressed, stamped envelope for reply or $1.00 to cover costs.If costs.If outside the U.S.A., enclose international international  postal reply coupon.

 hee Tao  h & The The Tree ree

if e o f  L ife Alchemical & Sexual Myster Mys teries ies of the the East and West

Eric Eric Steven Steven Yudelo Yudelove ve R ogu e V alley alley M etaphysical Library 1999 Llewellyn Llewellyn Publications Publications St. Paul, Minnesota Minnesota 55164-0383 55164-0383

The Tao

&  th e   Tree   of Life @   Copyri Copyright ght 1996 by Eric Eric Steven Steven Yudelove Yudelove.. All right rightss reserved reserved.. No part of this book may be used or reproduced  reproduced  in any any manner manner whatsoeve whatsoever, r, includin including g Internet Internet usage, usage, without without writ. writ. ten permiss permissio ion n from from Llewel Llewelly lyn n Publi Publicat catio ions ns except except in the the case case of   brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

 Llew  Ll ewell ellyn yn's 's W orld or ld Relig Re ligion ion religi religion on and mystica mysticall Thro Throug ugh h

system system..

this this we see see the the worl world d

huma humani nity ty

shar shares es with with forc forces es and and powe powers rs

tage tage or disa disadv dvan anta tage ge-d -dep epen endi ding ng

Library Library of Congress Congress Catalogi Cataloging-I ng-In-Pu n-Public blicatio ation n Data Yudelove Yudelove,, Eric, Eric, 19461946The tao &   the tree of life: alchemical alchemical &   sexual sexual mysteries of the East and West / by Eric Yudelov Yudelove. e.  p. cm. -- (Llewellyn's world magic series) Includes Includes bibliograph bibliographical ical referenc references es (p. ) and index. ISBN 1-567181-56718-250250-X X (trade (trade pbk.) pbk.) 1. Magic. Magic. 2. Tao--M Tao--Misce iscellan llanea. ea. 3. Cabala. Cabala. 4. Yoga. Yoga. 5. Shamani Shamaniss 01 6. Alchemy. Alchemy. 7. Sex--Misc Sex--Miscella ellanea. nea. I. Title. Title. II. Series. Series. 95-47291 BF1621.Y83 BF1621.Y83 1996 CIP 299'.93--dc20 does not partici participat patee

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Or 

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Llewellyn Publications Publications A Divis Division ion of Llewelly Llewellyn n Worldwid Worldwide, e, Ltd. P.O. Box 64383-03 64383-0383 83 Dept. Dept. K250-x K250-x St. Paul, Minnesot Minnesotaa 55164-03 55164-0383 83 Printed Printed in the United States States of Amer America ica

upon upon our awa aware rene ness ss

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intention. We can tap tap into into this this qualit quality y as a way of seei seeing ng and relatrelating to the creativ creativee ing ing spir spirit it,, with within in

ing Tao Tao Press Press

respons responsibi ibilit lity y

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Cover Cover design design by Tom Crewe Interior Interior layout, layout, and design by Laura Laura cudbaur  cudbaur  Editing Editing by Laura cudbau cudbaurr and Darwin Darwin Holmstro Holmstrom m Interior illustrations redrawn with permission permission from illustratio illustrations ns origi. nally nally drawn by Juan Li, Manta Mantak k Chia and Maneewan Maneewan Chia for Heal_ 

Llewel Llewellyn lyn Worldwid Worldwidee

Serie Se riess

There There is an almo almost st magic magical al quali quality ty that that lies lies at the core core of every every

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FIRST EDITION Third Third printing printing,, 1999

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....~ 0 ~..... «-..:.~ ..•.

Table of Contents Foreword

x

Introduction Chapter 

1:

xvii The Shaman and the Three Worlds

 A Sh am an ic Jo ur ne y~

Chapter

2: The Missing Link: Jewish and  Western Kabbalah W e s te r n K a b b a li s m

3: The Structure

of the Universe

W u C h i a n d E i n S o p h ~ Ta i

C h i a n d K e th e r ~ T h e S e p h i-

Three Elemental Forces~Energies, Forces, and 

E l em e n t s~ . T h e M i c ro c o sm ~ .  A ka sh a~ .S ha m an ic

St ru ct ur e

11

T h e T r ee o f L i fe ~ M o d -

e r n J e w i sh K a b b a li sm ~

roth~The

1

Ta oi st YO !J aa nd th e K ab ba la h

E a r ly H i s to r y o f th e K a b b a la h ~

Chapter

.....

T h e E l e m en t s~ . C h i a n d  

19

Chapter

4: Taoist Yoga

39

E a r ly H i s to r y ~ T a oi st Y o g a i n t h e W e s ta n d th e H e a l in g T a o - T h e

Mantak Chia

C h i E n e rg y S y s te m ~ T h e T w o

 M ai n E ne rg y C ha nn el s - T he M in d D ir ec ts th e C hi ~ T h e T a n T Ie n~   R e s to r in g P r e na t a l C h i - T he

K u n g - Fu s io n  Bo dy

a t io n C y c le -

S e x u al P a r tn e rs J o r t h e W e s t er n K a b b a li st a n d T a o is tW e st er n S e xu a l M ys te ri es ~ Ri tu a l

a n d O u te r  

K a b b a la h ~

M a g ic k-

T e s ti c le a n d O v a r ia n B r e at h in g E x p la i n ed - .

The Big Draw

T h e T h r u st in g R o u te s ~ T h e B e lt R o u te s -. 3

Chapter 5: The   Sepher Yetzirah and Franz Bardon  M aa se h M er ka ba h- T he

S e x- S ex

E a s t M e e ts W e s t- T a o is t S e x u a l S e c re t s a n d t h e W e s t er n

E n e rg y

oj the Elements, Part  2 ~ T he   Cre-

Fusion oj the Five Elements, Part 

Chapter

117

B re at hi ng _. Ir on Sh ir t C hi

E f Je c t o j t h e E l em e n t s- T h e

or  Peark,Fusion

The Sexual Mysteries

T h e H e b r ew M y s te r ie s _ . T h e Z o h a r ~ T h e S h e k in a h -

o j t he F iv e E l em e n ts - In n er

F u s io n ~ C o n tr o ll in g

7:

P r a ct ic e ~ H e a l in g

_ . T h e S i x H e a li n g S o u n d s - S ex u a l  Lo ve - T es ti cl e an d O va ri an

Chapter 

I n n er Sm i l e

8: The North

Star and the Teli

T h e I n t e rm e d i at e F o r m u la s _ .K a n a n d L i _ T h e

69

a n d t h e St a rs - T he

W or ki ng s oj th e C ha ri ot ~ T he

139 P l a n et s

N o r th S t a r A n d t h e B i g D i p p er -T h e

F i rs t W r i tt e n B o o k o j t h e K a b b a la h - T h e A u th o r o j t h e Sepher Yetzirah _  T he 32   M y s ti ca l P a th s _ . T h e

Sealing oj the Five Senses and the Seven Double Letters-.

 A lc he m ic al T ra di ti on -.

_ T h e C o n gr es s o j H e a v en a n d E a rt h - R e tu rn

T ao is t In ne r A lc he m y ~K an

 Li A lc he m ic al F or m ul as _L os t

Yetzirah - Fr an z

S t a r M a g i ck ~ A le i st e r

an d 

M y st er ie s

Conclusion

t h e E le m e n ts - T h e S e v en D o u b l e L e t te r s ~ T h e T w e l ve

Appendix

B a r d on K a b b a li st ic S y s te m

1

hapter 6: The Tao and the Tree i st ~ P a t hw o r k in g ~ T h e M i d d le P i ll a r E x e rc i se ~ T h e " ' J ( /    ti,e W nt('/ll

'12

32

  Paths

A: Taoist Meditations ) T h e I n n er S m i le a n d t h e S i x H e a li n g S o u n d s 3

,

163 2 )The

)Fusion oj the Five Elements 4 )Heal-

ing Love _ The God and Goddess

Appendix

B: Kabbalistie

Meditations

199

l)The Lightning Flash, The Serpent's Path And the Mid-

  M e r id i a ns ~ T h e G o a l s o j T a o is t Y o g a a n d  

  K a b ba la h ~ T h e H i gh e r M y st er ie s

159

 M ic ro co sm ic O rb it 

95

T h e G o l d e n D a w n - . T h e T r a i n in g o j a W e s t e rn K a b b a l  L iq hh 1i ll g Fl as h an d th e Se rp en t's Pa th ~ T he

th e

o j t he

Three Mother Letters -, The Power oj Sound -.Balancing S i m p le L e tt e rs - T he

to

Source

Tr ad it io ns oj th e   Sepher 

B ar do n_ F ur th er

C r o w le y a n d t h e B o o k o j th e L a w

dle Pillar 

o j I n ne r  

3

\ I I / W " , Y , ' " T I le   E " e rg y B o d y a n d t h e B o d y o j L i g h t  

t he T r e e o j L iJ e an d t he A u ra

)Three Mother Letters Meditation

Bibliography Index

2 ) B ui ld in g

,

221 225

'~

 Foreword 

I

have spent most of my life studying It has been my privilege

teachings

to bring

to many thousands

and teaching these

of students

the Tao.

long-time

secret

all over the world.

And in July of 1994, a dream came true for me when a permanent Taoist center was opened Thailand.

Students

at Tao Garden

from any corner

in Chiang

of the globe

Mai,

can come

and study, spend some time, or even live here. From late 1977 until July 1994, I lived in and around New York City. This was my base to bring Healing

Tao to the Western

World.

for me and my wife, Maneewan, to New York. When one else teaching hinese doctors

of the

It was a great adventure

to leave Thailand

we first arrived in America,

and come

there was no

the esoteric yoga of the Taoists. Only a few recognized

what I was teaching.

first few years, almost all my students The main exception who turned

the teachings

And for the

were Chinese.

was my very first American

out to be my immigration xi

student

lawyer. I had listed my

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

xii

occupation

as Internal Needleless

view card. At our first meeting, about it. I explained

Foreword 

Accupuncture he started

on an inter-

questioning

that I could pass healing energy through

my hands and transmit

it to another

only a small part of what I hoped him that I had developed

person.

But, that this was

to teach in America.

and organized

I told 

a system that I then

called Taoist esoteric yoga. I had studied with numerous ters all over the Orient.

practices

that it would take

me lifetimes to learn them all. I was already proficient nese, Indian, TIbetan

and Japanese

methods.

old. My family was Christian,

learned

For me they all

when I was six years

but in Thailand,

up, there were so many Buddhist temples summer

in Chi-

As I related informed

where I grew

near my house. On

and holidays I would often visit the temples. During vacation,

I stayed

the meditation

with the monks

was then sent to school

fai  c hi

in Hong Kong and it was there that I

Yi-Eng (One Cloud) when I was

16

and'he

as the Kabbalah.

in the Orient.

initi-

a time, he became a devoted and Maneewan only learned similarities

of Taoist Internal Alchemy

from Master Yi-Eng.

After this, I sought out and studied ters and

learned

numerous

 breath and movement Yoga. Eventually, Bangkok.

forms

exercises),

( became

of Chi

Kung

(Chinese

Kung Fu, and Taoist Sexual

a Master and established

myself in

to come to America

Taoist practices.

and teach

me

about the Kabbalah.

( decided

printed

 A wa ke n H ea lin g En er gy

Th ro ug h

At the time, I

that there

were many

practices.

to the point that

to seek a wider English-speaking

written and privately

It was in

I was most concerned 

the Taoist and Kabbalistic

audience.

an early edition

I had 

of my first book 

th e Ta o,   and had opened

the

raoist Esoteric Yoga Center at Confucius Plaza in Chinatown,  New York. ~cheduled

seminar

4th and 5th, 1981, I held my first regularly on the Microcosmic

Orbit.

Many of the

~llldents who came to that first seminar have stayed with me ,llld continued

to study

and practice

That small group Smith,

Ylidelove. They were an enthusiastic

1 1 ,1 ( .\ I I I

and become

included

Raven Merle

hied up each new course

with many other mas-

It was my first Master, Yi-Eng, who encouraged

and gave me permission long-secret

the many formulas

in Brooklyn.

the Tao. But ( realized

between

I)iana, Sharon

and later on I learned

sys-

of the Kab-

actually living with me

By 1
themselves,

Orbit

student,

the most basic theory.

with teaching

Cheng

Microcosmic

esoteric

he

by what ( told him and, for 

in our first apartment

this manner that (learned

ated me into Taoist esoteric practices. It was his senior student, Sue Sue, who three years later taught me to open the

lawyer,

Now, I had heard

He was fascinated

On December

  and yoga. I

to my immigration

 balah but I knew nothing about it. ( had never met a Kabbalist

of sitting and stilling the mind.

As a youth, I studied Thai boxing,   aikido, met Master

for weeks and 

my story

xiii

me that he was an adept of a Western

tem known

as part of the Tao. And this is what I would teach.

I had first started studying meditation

weekends

Mas-

After many years at this, ( realized 

that there were so many different

fit together

me

 

I taught.

Michael

IIi kd with Taoist practices

Ron

and Eric

bunch and eagerly gobBy March

and Iron Shirt Chi Kung. That summer, Massachusetts.

Winn,

(now Cohen)

also learned Fusion of the Five Elements,

I("treat in Andover,

teachers

of 1982, they Seminal

Kung

we held our first

It was a wonderful

week 

that had never been seen before in

,hl" West.

the

I had begun holding 1111

teacher training sessions at my house

  my most serious students.

In 1983, a small group of these

 

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

xiv

students

became

the first teachers

of the Healing

Tao. Eric

was one of them. and

friend.

Taoist Internal

Kabbalist helped

Over the years, Eric has remained titioner

Foreword 

His ability

Alchemy

read and approve

to absorb

is evident

the sections

a faithful student, and

understand 

in this book. He had me

dealing

with the Taoist prac-

I met, he, too, is a skilled

Eric to write this book. In it he has opened 

up new pathways great

lawyer who has often

me professionally.

I encouraged

prac-

xv

beyond

between

the East and the West. The Tao is

comprehension

and contains

 balah is one form of Western

all things.

Kab-

man's dealing with the Tao. It is

tices. For much of the time that I lived in the New York area,

all part of the One. Here, for the first time, we have an oppor-

I made my home in the town of Huntington.

tunity

few minutes away. We learned a vast knowledge similarities  balah.

a lot from each other. Eric had 

of the Kabbalah.

and differences

between

We often

the Western Western

esoteric

tradition.

My immigration

Eric is well-versed

many unique

and the mystic. own experiences.

lawyer was a

He is a true blend

What you read in this book It is not just theory.

to compare

these wondrous

to meet

of the rational is based on his

Because we lived so

systems,

Taoist Alchemy

and the Kabbalah. I tell you that I like some of the Kabbalah energy quickly

through

In Taoist Internal direct the energy organs,

the body. Alchemy,

it is so important

to learn to

the meridians

tant is to gain control

Chi.   In Internal Alchemy

to learn to control

also how to build it up. We use sexual energy

to strengthen

of Primordial

Alchemy.

But often,

through

his

experiencing

and I would

higher

realize

that he had arrived

formula on his own.

Eric also knows many different

systems.

of journeying

the Earth to meet power animals and plants. I suspect has an immortal

He was into

that he

spirit guide. But with all this, he still remains

in the everyday

world. He is a good family man. His

oldest son is the same age as my son, Max. And, like the first

the flow

Energy.

Chi of the body is then harmonized

and built

up

into a new form of   Chi,   powered 

again. Then it is transformed  by your own sexual energy

esoteric

the first to teach me the shamanic practice

rooted

at a

The

the

we learn how to guide the Chi and 

formulas

he would come to me and tell me what he was

is impor-

of the flow of   Chi.

have many methods

the   Chi.   We use breath to fan the Chi and strengthen

of Taoist Internal

mind 

and into the internal

tissue and bones as well. What

close to each other, I was able to teach Eric the very highest own practice,

Espe-

inside of you with your mind. The

connective

The Taoists

practices.

Flash. It is a good way to move the Chi

cially the Lightning

guides the Chi through

and magic around 

of the Tao, I have the opportunity

individuals.

from

in both forms.

was always a sense of mystery

Eric. As a teacher

the

that there are actually

one strictly Jewish and the other derived

Kabbalist.

There

discussed

Taoist Yoga and the Kab-

It was from him that I learned

two Kabbalahs:

Eric lived just a

which we call   Jing.

The various transformations

lead to the creation

of a new

entity within you. This entity, this little pearl, is the immortal rart of you. You have created was nothing.

This immortal

with the immortal

something

where

before there

part comes to realize its oneness

universe.

I tell you that Eric's description

of Taoist Alchemy

is so

clear. In none of my own books do I have such a detailed look 

The Tao &the Tree of Life

xvi

at the entire Smile

from basic practices

and the Six Healing

alchemical world

system,

on my own mission

fifteen

which

is to teach

the

Tao.

Eric was already a Kabbalist  between

to the most advanced 

formulas. So, he does Taoists a service all over the

in carrying

Healing

Sounds,

such as the Inner 

years

when I first met him almost

ago. He was always

the practices

tell you Kabbalah

of Kabbalah

is so complicated.

you. But the two systems

interested

in similarities

and Taoist Alchemy. I'll let Eric explain

are very similar. We should

But, I

~

it to learn

 Introduction

from each other. So, I want to say that I hope Eric comes to Thailand that the publication

and 

of this book, T h e T a o & th e T ree o f L ife,   starts

a whole new adventure

in his life.

L

ife is an adventure.

unexpected

We never

know

in advance

twists and turns it can take. Where

what

will life

take us? ~~

Will it give us happiness Master Mantak Chia Tao Garden Chiang Mai, Thailand  March 7, 1995

and success, or misery and bore-

dom? Will we reach the heights out somewhere

My life has thankfully nation,

or just hang

been more interesting

than I would 

in between?

have ever imagined.

I attribute

good genes,

adversity,

or the depths,

a great

this to a natural mystical incli-

surprising

determination

wife and a most unusual

in the face of  fate decreed

by

 powers far greater then myself. I'm also quite curious and analytical by nature. It should come as no surprise  part of my life exploring sciences.

It just happened

away from the mystical,

that I would spend a good 

various esoteric traditions naturally.

and arcane

Every time I tried to get

it drew me back one way or another.

Finally, after years of struggling

against its unerring

gave up the struggle and accepted xvii

pull, I just

this side of myself as part of 

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 xv iii

my true nature.  by working

 

During all these years I balanced

as a professional,

my wife, and my children.

out my life

always able to support

Somehow

Introduction

the Kabbalah

myself,

xix

fell into disfavor as a result of its close

tion to the false Jewish Messiah Shabbatai

it all worked out. There

teenth century.

Zevi had convinced

Zevi in the

that he was the fulfillment of messianic Kabbalistic

cesses and failures and unexpected

When

This book is a bit of a summary esoteric

traditions.

Kabbalah

Surely Taoist

of my investigations Internal

are two of the most obscure

This probably

and the Kabbalists

Alchemy

traditions

explains their attraction

The Taoists

of pleasure. into

given the choice

and the

chose

in existence.

der unknowingly

Both

during their long histories.

was understandably

In

There variously

suppressed,

sunk

is also an offshoot

Zevi,

his

is mentioned.

of the Jewish Kabbalah

Tradition,

into

but they still shud-

when the word Kabbalah

as the Western

and 

to Islam, poor Shabbatai

From then on the Kabbalah

Most Jews have never heard of Shabbatai

memory

have much in common.

prophecy.

by the Sultan of Constantinople

to die or convert

to convert.

obscurity.

to me.

This is not well known even to seekers of the mysteries. have suffered from persecution

he was arrested

seven-

most of the Jewi sh world 

were ups and downs, leaps into the void with eyes closed, sucmoments

associa-

Christian

known

Kabbalah

or 

the past fifty years alone, both the Jews who gave birth to the

Western

Kabbalah. This one is even more obscure than Taoist

Kabbalah,

Illternal

Alchemy

and the Taoists were almost exterminated

from the

face of the Earth. The

I<.:allylove it. They are all testament

Taoists

have suffered

China since the Communist hounded,

a harsh

Revolution.

fate in their

native

edge and understanding

They were killed and 

forced to live their lives in shame and under house

and M agic,   actually Hong

Luckily,

Kong,

understand Masters

feared that the true Taoist tradition a few Tao masters

Taiwan,

the current

escaped

parts

of the Orient.

situation,

there

are virtually

left in China. The Chinese

this great loss and actually sponsors

government

had  As I

no Tao

now regrets

During secrecy.

There

the

Kabbalah

survived

Western reading,

to the established

in

I.HlIld Chinese

I

to man's quest for knowlthe   I Ching,   and the Kab.

to Western

alchemy

(the

my path led 

inner

physical

(spiritual) process

At first, I was stymied.

of 

I could 

but I had absolutely

no idea

was.

alchemical

tradition

I became

.iI, hc:mical tradition.

why

aware. of the

Supposedly, cultural

inner alchemy

was a closed Chinese

door. inner 

the aims were the same, backgrounds.

Surprisingly,

I

much more accessible.

reli-

III the early 1970's, when I first began to read about this

were only a few times in its history

( 11IIlesealchemy, only one book about this subject was actu-

that it existed out in the open, as part of mainstream This is certainly

not outer

lead into gold).

IiI('Y just had different

of its history

It was often seen as a threat

gious orthodoxy.

and

That's

and misadventures,

lilldc:rstand some of the concepts,

I hrough a

in China. much

Tradition,

I'm referring

." what the methodology The

the revival of Taoist prac-

tices like   Tai Chi and   Chi Kung   exercises, which have become  phenomenon

.ilchemy ( klllging

Kabbalah.

of the universe we live in. I began my

with the Western

IIll' to alchemy.

to Thailand,

and other

'ludies

h,dah. After many adventures

arrest. By 1973, author John Blofeld, writing in   Taoist Mysteries  perished.

or the Hebrew

Judaism.

not true today. Many Jews do not realize that

Illy available. This was the great classic The Secret of the Golden 1 1 "'I'lr.   translated

by Richard

Wilhelm.

This short

book was

 

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

xx

 pure magic.

Over

a period

of years, I read it and reread

it.

Introduction

a warmth

inside.

However,

Slowly, its secrets began to unravel, like peeling the layers from

furnace ignited

an onion. Each time I read it, it seemed to be a different book.

ing up. My study glowed

Here

was an ancient,

apparently

authentic

process

of 

few minutes

name for this most esoteric and sublime study.

faded away.

a most benign Aleister most

inner alchemy

Crowley,

the English

enamored

reputed

with

supernatural

the ancient powers.

dence in his writings

magician

and Kabbalist

And yet, within

a month,

learned the secret of circulating

had for these

the public.

of retention

rereading

of   T h e S e cr e t o f t h e

Chinatown,

and

recently

practicing,

I

energy in the body. The book 

his heavy

of sexual energy, but was any-

teaching

my study

similarities of both

until

the Taoist practices

about two months

ing the methods  published

traditions

practices

and I

an incident

in my study one night in late 1981 that caused me to

realize just how powerful occurred

to Western

really were. It

after I found and began practic-

of the second Chinese

alchemical

text to be

night,

in a basement

arrived

in America.

I was seated on the floor of my study circulating within my body. This consisted

of causing energy

energy

(or   chi) to

in

Chinese

accent,

As I listened there

to him speak with

was no doubt

that he was

exactly what I was looking for.

hia. I also continued

to study with Master 

my other studies which included

initiated

into an American

occasion,

I even taught Master Chia about shamanism

Indian

shamanic

called Hermetics.

Western-Jewish

to gnaw at me and

roots

began

being

tradition.

western study of the elements devoting

room

I met Master Chia for the first time. He had just

On

and the

By 1988, my I began

more time to the Kabbalah.

During all my years of study and practice,

in English,   Taoist Yoga,   by Charles Luk.

pole in China-

Taoist Esoteric Yoga taught by Master Man-

Since that time, I have continued

I saw numerous occurred

the secrets of Taoist Yoga to

It was on a flyer, on a telephone

town advertising

thing but specific. continued

I was able to find, quite possibly, the only Tao Mas-

ter in America who was teaching

didn't respect too many peo-

In time, I came to grasp the essentials and

and soon

Feeling lucky to be alive, I vowed never to try this again

tak Chiao On a December

G o l d e n F l o w e r .   By reading

to decrease

After a

1981, this seemed a pretty remote possibility.

practice.

hinted at a method

of terror, the heat began

and hotter.

I have seen no evi-

 ple) served to further increase my desire to learn more of this mysterious

hotter

light and I

the circulation

In New York in

and

that he knew the true practices of Taoist

(and he apparently

growing

stopped

their 

Yoga, my early readings of the respect Crowley Tao Masters

as if a

unless and until I found a true Tao Master.

Tao Masters

Although

was

it seemed

with an orange-golden

truly feared for my life. I immediately

was also called Taoist Yoga,

This Chinese

quite suddenly

within me and I actually felt as if I were burn-

and felt myself continue

inner alchemy.

xxi

thesize and compare has been written

I tried to syn-

the various systems I had learned.

about

Kabbalah,

Magick,

Shamanism

Much and 

rise from the base of the spine, up to the top of the head, and 

raoist Yoga in the past decade. Still, nothing to my knowledge

then circulate

has been written comparing

downward

through

the front of my body to

the sexual region then back up the spine. As I did this, I felt

and analyzing these analogous sys-

tl:ms. I hope to remove some of the mystery from their names.

xxii

The Tao

And, thus, this short and mystery.

&the

Tree of Life

book. The world is full of magick 

If we can get beyond

the routine,

perhaps

we

can catch a glimpse and realize that it's all a great magic show. The Way of the Tao. Perhaps

this is your path.

'~

r J

The Shaman and the Three Worlds

he roots of all philosophy,

religion,

science,


man, hom o sapiens,   is much older

\odcrn

I",lilze.

Recent

hi ,1("1yielded

findings bone

of what

IIICIllcrn man that are over 90,000 I,ll",

then it took thousands

,II(' older, more ape-like I llrope and Asia. The " V " '"

thousands

.1I1l1tiO ,O O O   years ago. These like our own. They

hattie.

They

were

1I11lucnce luck, prowess,

Neanderthal

on endlessly

traces until between

35,000

are men with brains and body have left us a legacy

words. These

magic

to push

man, out of 

of years. In Europe and Asia,

IlIorC than mere representations ( I I

of 

to be

years old. If this is accu-

wars must have raged

and thousands

 p,lIl1tings but no written

Galilee

are believed

of years for our ancestors species,

IIIC1llcrnman leaves no known Illlctures

of pre-history.

than most people

in a cave in the Lower

fragments

mysticism

paintings

of people, tools

health,

used

of cave

were often

animals, the hunt, by the shaman

to

fertility, etc., for his group or  1

2

The Tao &the Tree of Life

tribe. The shaman

or medicine

as an intermediary

between

He could commune various

deities

man is the archetype

protective

and

spirit tradition

oped over untold millennia. spread

this century

about shamanism

themselves,

though

To ancient

ancient

man as he

Much has been written

and, remarkably,

in

the practices ends of 

everywhere.

man, the inner world

into the inner world 

in order to influence the outer world. It is just this inner world   journey

that

Western

forms the basis for all meditative

Magick,

inner-directed

the Kabbalah,

paths.

practices-

Taoist Yoga, and all other 

In a certain

here that dates back perhaps

sense, there

is a tradition

more than 100,000 years, as old 

as   homo sapiens   himself. world:

a world

then,

that man became

of the mind,

a world

aware of an

of dreams

and 

visions. A world with its own laws and rules. How much more remarkable

still that man could learn, in time, to manipulate

this inner world, and beings ward.

unconscious

fill it with places to visit and things

to meet.

Psychology

This was a true evolutionary

would

,

describe

this as a descent

to see

leap forinto the

in oraer to bring it to consciousness.

The first shamen

were probably

individuals

abilities, such as a hunter w);,o could apparently

would

be passed 

to be passed down.

1v('lltually, certain

traditions

I" 'Ill and would continue

would arise. A dogma would 

until the tribe was conquered shamanic

traditions,

by

or a shaman

"dd have a new and more powerful vision that would overIhc old ways. Soon,

I I I I '

1"'111were

I ll '

there

true shamen,

1,,1,",(;1I1d the dogma,

would

and

be priests,

some of whom

but could

some of 

could

not experience

only

it on an

 I,'vel.

,

l'tll" Illysticism

as the father and mother

and religion;

the esoteric

of 

and the exoteric;

III   ',('net   and the known. I  Ill" shaman's

universe

I  I,WlOIW orld, the Middle

Ilv,   III the Middle

t'

of the earth,

consisted World,

World,

11,1111.111 could journey illI",

of three

to either

worlds-the

and the Upper World.

on the surface

of the earth.

the Lower World,

or to the Upper

III the Lower World, I I I ,d "

,lI1d power

World,

the shaman

plants and stones.

,,"ld seek guidance

We The

below

the

above the earth

would find power ani-

In the Upper

I" II,od by rhythmic

11",\c would h.lIll;)n would

World,

he

from spirit guides and gods.

Ilis means of travel was a meditational beating

trance often pro-

of drums or shaking

beat or shake

at a set, constant

use a meditational

technique

of rattles.

pace and the to begin

his

1""I1lCY.

with unusual converse

with

the spirit of the lion, or a man who would have visions

that

always seemed

the abilities

a new status

" II,ding to his purpose.

How extraordinary, inner

generations,

III attempted

I hilS, we have shamanism

was just as real as the

outer world. The shaman would journey

I I

,lid",!"   tribe with different

and devel-

prehistoric

they might be found on opposite

the earth, are basically consistent

the

a priest, and a wise man.

is obviously

11111it.   Over

forces, and 

To his community,

It followed

his reach over the planet.

worlds.

I hy the group and this special man gained

the spirits of 

forces, destructive

guides.

shaman was a healer, a magician, The shamanic

of man

the visible and invisible

with the spirits of nature,

 plants and animals,

3

The Shaman and the Three Worlds

to come true. These abilities would be recog-

I"he Lower and Upper

Worlds were vast domains

that the

11.llllanwould learn to map out during his apprenticeship. dlll"C

  worlds were equally

real. One was not superior

All to the

"I hcr. The Lower World was not inferior to the Upper World.

The Tao

4

 Neither

& the

Tree of Life

was the Lower World any form of hell. It was a place

lier journey.

to hunt for power just as the Upper World was a place to seek 

 begins

guidance.

stone

A journey

on the ground in the middle of a circle formed by members usually

warriors

or elders,

drums beat in unison. The shaman

as a number

of 

of large

is seeking a power animal.

The spirit of the power animal will animate the shaman's soul. It will give him the power necessary to be a shaman and work  his seemingly I

miraculous

into the earth.

I II

into the ground.

I, II

i

gift by his teacher

given

at the end of his

apprenticeship. The drums beat, in his mind the cave appears.

I

1-

he goes to his special entrance

His is a small cave, a known entrance

to him as a shamanic

I

ways. The shaman must travel down

In his mind,

toward light

its opening.

disappears

downward.

immediately

He goes right through

in his way  becomes

It is small and shaded.

almost

as he gains speed.

visible as he continues

He passes through

  rocky, forbidding

,ltll\

He moves inside, the to travel

the earth; nothing The

interior

downward

of the

earth

like a projectile. There is no fear,

The river deposits him eventually

shore. Around him are huge unseal able

I Ie walks around;

there is no way out. He's stuck. His

It,III1,lllit S('llses tell him that this barrier has been placed here I,v ,t II ,dilll~ riva I. He must counteract III"HI'

  1111111

  his mcdicine

in his open

the other

shaman's

pouch, he removes his magic stone

from the center of the earth on an earI,ll   h h, h,I'.   1C"lrit;v<.:d 

palm and it from the

into the base of the dark cliff and an entrance He enters; the walls are covered

he begins a rapid descent the crystals

disappear

through

is brilliant

Ahead

is the lower world.

light.

way

with glowing

crys-

than his rival. Soon,

these crystal caves. Finally,

and he is in a long,

ahead

He walks toward

dark tunnel.

Far 

it. It is the exit.

He gets to the end of the tunnel

and walks out into a sunlit plain covered

with dense grass and 

groves of trees. He begins to hunt for his power animal, leaving the tunnel behind. He moves out through

the grass. In the distance,

he hears

the scream of an eagle. He begins to sing his power

song,

I<.:peating it over and over like a chant. Soon, animals begin to ,Ippear. He sees two antelope hole. They

grazing

near a small watering

look up at him and run away. A woolly

\tamps across the plain off to the right, a saber-tooth Ilushed

out of its lair and both disappear

among

rhino tiger is

the trees.

I"hese are not his animals.

stands

then arrives at a river 

that travels down like an endless waterslide.

1111 ,I

Once

as he begins

a series of caverns,

 jllst a sense of anticipation.

this stone

tals. He is safe; his power is still stronger

Journey

to the Lower World begins with the shaman seated 

his group,

He holds

to glow and pulse. A beam of light shoots

appears.

 A   Shamanic

5

The Shaman and the Three Worlds

The shaman t

continues

h<.:air and the landscape

to sing his song. He lifts up into begins to shift below him. Soon, he

,mives at a beach. Behind the sand is a large cave. A giant bear  walks out onto the sand and moves toward the shaman. IllIgC with

It is

cavernous jaws. The bear walks up to him, looking

light into his eyes. It rears up on its hind legs and begins to cir, It"the shaman Ihe

as if it were dancing.

bear sits down on its haunches.

After a complete

circuit,

The shaman moves closer.

I'he bear embraces him with its great front paws. The shaman has found his new power animal. He leaps on Ill(' bear's back with his arms around the enormous

1,.('ls tremendous

strength

and power surging

neck. He

back and forth

The Tao &the Tree of Life

6

The Shaman and the Three Worlds

 between him and the bear. The bear rises up on all four legs and   begins

to run across the sand with the shaman

singing

his power

song with new vigor

on his back 

and strength.

The

In   the Middle

7

world, the "real world," the shaman makes

use of his power and guidance.

He can send out his power or 

fix it in a certain spot. He could imbue wall paintings

with his

tempo increases. The shaman becomes aware of a rapid beating

 power

sound coming

mere pictures. The shaman casts his spell, sends out his power 

from far away. The drumming

gets louder and 

faster. The drummers are calling him back from his journey. The ahead

bear races off the beach

is the tunnel,

upward

through

though

he cannot

The shaman

the way back to the middle world. The

see it. The journey

upward

is much more

Soon, he is at the entrance

cave in the middle world. The drumming ripples. The journey

way to his

now comes in short

is over. The shaman

is back in

chant

Then,

he slowly

begins

to

his power song. He rises up on his legs and begins to

dance.

The

dancing

power

of the bear surges

through

him. He

is

his power animal. The shaman dances his bear dance.

The tribe looks on. They know that he has gained a new animal and great power. This year the hunting During

the life of a shaman,

there

will be good.

and

then

leave.

The

 power animal in' a fashion

shaman

must

then

seek a new

as set out above or risk losing his

 power. Usually, he has only one power animal at a time. Power strength. Along

is a catch-all He needs

with power,

world to get guidance

power

phrase

to indicate

to be strong

the shaman

guarantees

of success.

can use his power for healing

by sending

it

Taoist Yoga and the Kabbalah Shamanism systems.

the

in body

also journeys

shaman's and mind.

to the upper 

and advice from his spirit guides. This

 journey

is similar to the journey

shaman

travels upward to the place above the world.

to the lower world except the

is the basis for all modern

mystical

and esoteric

In   many parts of the world, it still exists in relatively

 pure form. [ begin this book with a brief view of shamanism it provides

an excellent

Taoist Yoga and Kabbalistic terms of a Middle, and Kabbalists. sometimes

background

for comparing,

theory and practice.

Examined

Lower, and Upper world it becomes

easier to comprehend

the methods

(There

it is spelled

and thinking

is no standard Qabalah

in

much

of the Taoists

spelling

for Kabbalah,

or Quabbalah.

The spelling

used here is the most familiar). Taoist Yoga deals with all three of the worlds. Essentially,

may be many power 

animals. Often they come to the shaman, stay for a number of  years

so that they are more than

into the patient's body to remove "evil influences."

 because

the middle world. He sits for a few minutes.

become

them

speed and begins to rise

the earth. He is aware of his bear's presence

rapid than the descent. staccato

so that the pictures

and onto the plain. There

shaman enters the tunnel at dizzying

and thus energize

it

  is a very advanced

with strengthening

shamanic

system.

The

practice

.'nergy and increasing

it. Then,

this energy,

from above

,lbility to journey

learns to

while also gaining

the

above or below,

The Kabbalah

is more difficult

the many

different

Kabbalists,

it was expected

ried with children

and below

this

or   chi,   is trans-

lormed into a new form of energy as the practitioner draw energy

begins

the energy of the body, harmonizing

traditions.

to pin down because

Among

the

that the Kabbalist

and be well versed

strictly

of 

Jewish

would be mar-

in the law or Torah

 before which The

The Shaman and the Three Worlds

The Tao &the Tree oj Life

8

learning

shifted

mysteries

of Kabbalah.

the Jews were governed,

Jewish

Upper

the

Kabbalist

World.

would

In later

somewhat

This

law, by

relates to the Middle World. be most

Jewish

concerned

Kabbalism,

with the

the

to include the lower world, but in general,

Kabbalism

induce

is much more shamanic

Kabbalism

transformations

seeks to accomplish

is an esoteric

Kabbalist

system

in the student's

and well constructed.

the Great

Work.

what obtaining

Flower is to a Taoist or obtaining

the Secret

upon

in the universe,

 place on the Tree of Life. I will devote Kabbalist

ally, his first initiation though

as he or she

builds

it is quite

of the Golden

is to a Buddhist.

It

is into the earth. The general

he always proclaims an inner

worlds-upper,

has yet to be legitimately

Jewish Kabbalist

Kabbalism

accepted

Taoist Yoga is mysterious

but upright,

a Western

often scoffed at or feared. This is unfortunate,

Kabbalist

reason why most of them work alone, or in groups, in secret. Another

main reason is that Western

synonymous

with the

Aleister Crowley,

name

Magick.

There's

of magic.

by

Yet, the word "Magus" does not

Magi

a Magus is surely a

is the plural

form of magus.

this story about these three Magi who followed a star 

... you remember considered laughed

or as popularized

up this same dark image, although

 practitioner

has become

In the West, there is no doubt that

magic has a bad reputation. conjure

Magic,

Kabbalism

that story. Once upon a time, a Magus was

to be a wise man. Yet, today magick

at. Did anyone

is feared or 

ever think about what Magi do?

The

to travel.

He

all three

utilized.

Therefore,

everything

and Taoist have this same basic belief.

of 

but it is a prime

which

from the Unknown.

as

is

aim is

his aim is balance.

to the earth. Thus,

and Taoist Yoga are. A

is often seen as a wise man, a practitioner

to it.

of the Magus is: the ultimate source

of this universe is the Unknown. Kabbalists

while Hebrew

from

middle and lower-are

The basic philosophy

is arriving at the goal. Few seekers ever actually arrive, though Kabbalism

temple

always leaves from and returns

many spend this life trying. Western

in this world, has a a later chapter

or Magus does much of his work on

universe is a manifestation

a philosophy

it is very is the

Magus

the Great Work is to a

Nirvana

is that

It uses one basic diagram

upward

In outlook,

KabbaIism

the entire system can be laid out. This diagram

that seeks to

psyche

of Western

the inner level. He learns to go up and down the Tree. Usu-

in approach

Work is done in all three worlds.

similar to Taoist Yoga. Accomplishing Western

which

The Western

than its Jewish counterpart. Western

orderly

beauty

Tree of Life. Everything

emphasis

its aim was always above. Western

The

9

r J

in this

Both Hebrew

.~

The Missing Link:  Jewish and Western  Kabbalah L

  Il the beginning, II

developed

the Kabbalah

as an esoteric,

was strictly a Jewish system.

or hidden,

explanation

of the

1I1".tlling of the Torah. rile   Torah is the first five books of the Bible. It is said to

l'dVI' heen written i-xodus, 1',lIlllwritten

by Moses and consists of the books Gene-

Numbers,

on scrolls in synagogues

1'111111"(1 in Hebrew, I

II

would appear

French,

anywhere obvious

and

Deuteronomy.

It is

all over the world and  Chinese,

and so on, in

on earth.

that mystical

traditions

would 

,lI!lOllg the Jews, just as they did in all other religions. I h, Kabbalah II   W.\\

I~lll

English,

I V   IIlhle published

I"

Leviticus,

1,1,

was a secret tradition

  an oral tradition

handed

I   Ill"   word    K a b b a l a h   translates

Ii.   IIIVI'  o r 

101, .. 1 , 1 1

the apprentice

"to receive,"

relationship

Irnm a teacher.

11

for most of its his-

down from master to disnecessary

which

is

to learn

T h e T a o &   t h e T r e e o f L i fe

12

T h e M i s si n g L i nk : J e w i sh a n d W e s t e r n K a b ba l a h

13

 Early History of the Kabbalah The

early

and

legend.

taught

history

of the Kabbalah

One

Kabbalah

legend

tells

is shrouded

that

the

in mystery

Archangel

to Adam after his expulsion

PORTAE LVCI , =   ~M~" , Y, • .'O '''''''.:P ..",." ."- . , ~-' \-V -, . M

Raziel

. H{ccll POrta Tctl'3gr3mato,:! iufii intrabitr.r. cam.

from the Gar-

. ,

den of Eden. Another

attributes

Abraham

as the first Kabbal-

 

•.

-.....

ist and the author of the   Sepher Yetzirah,   one of the two classic texts of the Kabbalah.

Another

legend tells of Moses coming

down from Mt. Sinai with the original Ten Commandments. On these original

tablets

Moses

saw the

Jews

deemed

them

unworthy

destroyed heights

the

were written

original

Pharaoh. related

tablets.

learned.

He

then

was reserved

knowledge

were orally There-

for only the priesthood

and 

in the law

the Kabbalah.

makes the Jewish

Kabbalah

even more difficult schools

among the Jews. There

that is composed

than five thousand

to the

freed slaves of 

A man must first be learned

is no one Kabbalah

he

law and 

climbed

recently

the fact that there were many different There

higher

ten rules of the Kabbalah

 before he could approach What

this

When

Calf,

the High Priest and Moses' brother.

after, the Kabbalah the very

Golden

to the people with a simple

the rebellious,

The original to Aaron,

the

to receive

of Mt. Sinai and returned

legal code to govern

the Kabbalah.

worshipping

of traditions

is

and systems. is a body of 

arising during more

years of growth.

The Tree of Life During

Figure 1: Bookplate from   Portae Lucis, 1516 

most of this time, the Kabbalah century,

belonged

to the Jews.

In the twelfth

from secrecy

in Spain. It was here that the diagram

exclusively

the Kabbalah

Almost all of Western

emerged 

W l',h   Kabbalism

known as

',pccifically,

the Tree of Life first appeare,d. This diagram is the missing link   between

the two traditions

of Jewish and Western

Kabbalism.

I u,

  1\ III

  1516.

Kabbalism

is built upon this Tree.

places much less emphasis its first appearance

upon it.

in a book was in   Portae

This was a Latin translation

of  S h a ar e i G r a h ( G a t es

T he  M issing Link: Jewish and W estern Kabbalah

T h e T a o &  the Tree of Life

14

of Light)   written around

by Rabbi

Joseph

Gikatalia

ham

Abulafia,

the

actually printed,

then in manuscript shown holding The

fer-

of Abra-

 basis of Christian

Kabbalah.

not

until the year 1516 and existed until

their religion

with devotional

Kabbalist.

The

book

was

man is

more traditional

of this book corresponds

with the cre-

ation of a new Kabbalah. The term "Christian

Kabbalah" could 

accurately

at that point

ical matter,

time-1516.

to this new Kabbalah

Strangely, a printed

Hebrew version of this book 

did not appear

until

 printed

of    The lohar    appeared.

work.

edition

in

[t is, along with the   Sepher Yetzirah,   the classic book of 

Jewish Kabbalism. Kabbalah,

[t caused a revolutionary

but its influence barely touched

However,

this

exerted

tremendous

Shortly

after

Dominicans

other

separate

directions.

in Latin,

a group

of fervent

tried to convince

Pope Leo X to confiscate

 burn all Jewish books. The Christian (1455-1522),

Kabbalah.

in two

influence

its publication

Western

Portae Lucis,

known

mystic, Johann

and 

Reuchlin

drew from this book in his own classic

D e   Arte

Cabalistiea (On the Art of the Kabbalah,   1517) to convince ings and the Hebrew Reuchlin

believed

the

trine of Christianity.

of the value of Jewish teach-

books were saved. that the Kabbalah He taught

contained

of God, Moses,

name such as

Later in time, the four lettered

the Tetragrammaton, as stated

the doc-

that in the age of the patri-

archs, before Moses, God had a three lettered YHV, the Trigramaton.

in Exodus

YHVH,

rather

practiced  than the

that these Kabbalists

behavior.

The

Kabbalah

also

the Pope

were really talking about Jesus. As a histordid not believe

while the Christians

On the other

hand,

were greatly influenced

occult

that the Messiah

believed

groups

by the teachings

tinues to exert that influence

 Modern jew ish rhe teachings of modern

it was Jesus.

throughout

Europe

of this book. It con-

today.

name

was first revealed

3:15. [n the Christian

adding the letter Shin to the Tetragrammaton

to

era, by

you get the five

Ka bbala h

in   Shaarei arab

Jewish

cannot be said to be at the heart

Kabbalah.

As it exists today, most Jewish of   The lohar    and its interpre-

K.lbbalists follow the teachings

!.Itions by the great Rabbi Isaac Luria (1524-1572) thl:   Ari.   Lurianic

Kabbalism

is vastly complex.

h,lSic theory, when stripped

down to essentials,

I

Pope, to whom it was dedicated,

This is

change in Jewish book,

little

in their

the Kabbalists

had yet appeared,

1559. This was one year after the first

The lohar  is a massive

love of God

talked about the Messiah. Reuchlin tried to convince that the Kabbalists

be applied

that the Kabbalists

fear of God. He thought

were very "Christian"

a tree with the ten sephiroth.

YHShVH.

of Jesus' name. This was the early

was also aware

form. On the title page, a seated

publication

the Pentagramaton,

spelling

Reuchlin

master

though,

teaching

name of god,

also the Hebrew

the year 1290. This was a time of great messianic

vor among the Jews based on the prophetic

letter

(1248-1323)

15

onsistent

with modern

physics

in describing

known

However,

as its

is remarkably the creation

of 

the importance

of 

he universe and its evolution.

I

[t is Lurianic Kabbalism lilt"  

Lower World

d.llk, demonic

that expanded

in Jewish Kabbalism.

This Lower World is a

place where sparks of divine light live in exile.

I he Lurianic Kabbalist uses a meditational

technique

the Lower World (the world of the Qlippoth)

I. I

divine sparks and bring them to the Upper

, ,dll:d   a Unification 11IIlught together

because

God's

with its source.

exiled

to travel

to rescue the

World. This was light

was being

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

16

Lurianic

Kabbalism

the Western Tradition most concerned

is virtually

unknown

of Kabbalism.

Tarot

Kabbalism

of 

enty-eight

with the Tree of Life and the sephiroth.

This

deck of playing cards with

also became

intimately

of, Jewish Kabbalah.

involved

and the Tree of Life. Jewish in a nutshell,

with Western

Kabbalists

abhor

the

Jewish and the Western

today.

Kabbalists-

Kabbalism

traditions.

crossover

and Western

Western

Kabbalism

Kabbalah

world

where

tions to form a synthesis ern Kabbalah. century

as Jewish

absolute

secrecy

Kabbalah

it was combined that is generally

This crossover Kabbalah

probably began

and became

there are twenty-two

picture cards called the

major arcana. The point of connection

for the Kabbalists were

the twenty-two

to shed

in the famous occultist

tradi-

its mystique

of 

Sufi mysticism alchemy,

combining

brought

Christian

back

mysticism,

Rosicrucianism, from the

hermetics

astrology,

Crusades,

magic,

and, of course, Jew-

ish Kabbalah. Initially, it was taken up by the priests and the aristocracy. The Kabbalah

afforded

for Christians

who

a legitimate

wished

 being accused of witchcraft

area of study and a cover 

to explore

the occult

without

and heresy.

another

No

piece of Western Kabbalism fell

into place, this being the Tarot. Prior to this, the Tarot had 

cards and the twenty-two

for some period of time.

Eliphas Levi's two-volume

 basis of a transcendental known

as magic,

 Needless

system of expanding

founded

to say, it created

the prohibition

upon the principles

of Kabbalah.

the Tarot as having

with Kabbalah. It probably

in the Ten Commandments images as well as rigidity

Allhough

the Hebrew

Kabbalah

any

of thinking.

is built upon a numerological

words, phrases, and ideas of equal numerical

v,due were seen as having an inner connection

(every Hebrew

Idler also being a number), they do not recognize Iwo

is based 

against

and graven

tion between

the

consciousness

 paintings

'ystem wherein

Dogma and  as being

quite a storm.

The Hebrew Kabbalists never accepted

these twenty-two

any connec-

picture cards and the twenty-

Hebrew letters. This is probably the main stumbling

Ill'lween Hebrew and Western

block 

Kabbalists. I will not go into the

 pillS and cons of each position

here.

A

Hebrew

Kabbalist

is

11K"twhen he says that Tarot is not part of the Kabbalah, just as illt'

By the mid-1800's,

is unknown.

in writing was in France in the 1850's

.lilYthing to do whatsoever

seems to have begun to take shape dur-

ing the Renaissance,

The source of 

Theory of High Magic.   Here Tarot was portrayed

European

neighbors.

Western Kabbalism Kabbalism

the twenty-two

letters of the Hebrew alphabet

C 1 Il

Western

between

into the

in the twelfth

among

cards of the major arcana

Its first appearance

referred to as Westbegan

letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

of the

with other

better known

Jews who passed it on to Christian

are two very

is an outgrowth

court cards for each suit -King,

and Prince (or Princess) instead of three court

cards. In addition,

nections

of bits and pieces of the Jewish

non-Jewish

Queen, Knight,

4

doubt there were secret occult schools that taught of the con-

do not know each other.

Jewish different

cards. Fifty-six of these cards are similar to a modern

the twenty-two

is the state of the Kabbalah

Two main groups-the essentially

system. The Tarot consists of sev-

were

Tarot. They will not talk about it. This,

existed as a fortune-telling

Kabbalists

is part of, but by no means the totality The

to followers

Western

17

Th e  Missing Link: Jewish and Western Kabbalah

Western Kabbalist is right when he says it is. The Kabbalah

they are each talking about is a different system than the other's.

18

The Tao T ao &the Tree of Life

The The West Wester ern n nine ninete teen enth th

Kabb Kabbal alah ah

and and twen twenti tiet eth h

such such as the the Gold Golden en ism ism is dire direct ctly ly

gain gained ed fame fame and and noto notori riet ety y cent centur ury y

Engl Englan and d

trapp trapping ingss

the unive universa rsall connec connectio tion n

of Wester Western n

Wher Wherea eass

than than Crow Crowle ley y

Hebr Hebrew ew

The The

Weste Western rn

Kabbal Kabbalism ism

all all syste systems ms..

is univer univer--

Perh Perhap apss

West Wester ern n

West Wester ern n

comp compar ared ed

Trad Tradit itio ion n

is stil stilll young young

bret brethr hren en..

Hebr Hebrew ew

in turn turn,,

is just ust

from from a long long period period of dorma dormancy ncy..

macy macy.. Bril Brilli lian antt writ writer erss

Scholem

agai again n

fash fashio iona nabl blee

Univ Univer ersi siti ties es

beg beginni innin ng

Modern Modern

schola scholarsh rship ip

Kapl Kaplan an have have made made the the

amon among g Orth Orthod odox ox

and and Hasi Hasidi dicc

afte afterr more more than than a cent centur ury y

in Isr Israe aell now now have have Kabb Kabbal alah ah

It is pros prosel elyt ytiz ized ed

to

have again given it legiti-

such such as Arye Aryeh h

stud study y and and prac practi tice ce of Kabb Kabbal alah ah Jews Jews once once

 pon the ultimate

to its its

of 

depa depart rt--

on the the stre street etss of New New York York City City by

the follow followers ers of Rabbi Rabbi Philip Philip Berg. Berg. Slowly, Slowly, it is coming coming to life life as Jews Jews seek seek to expl explore ore their their mystic mystical al herita heritage. ge. reac reacti tion on

to thei theirr

disi disill llus usio ionm nmen entt

afte afterr the the Holo Holoca caus ust. t. new new expe experi rien ence ce..

lime lime

source

U

and the Kabbal Kabbalist istss

of all things,

are in comple complete te

both

the Taoists

agreem agreement ent..

It need needss time time to grow grow..

Kab Kabbal balah, ah,

like Gershon

The The Struc Structu ture re of   the Universe

is all all but inacc inacces essi sibl blee

Kabbal Kabbalah. ah.

 by authors

ment ments. s.

out out the the

is a bett better er term term for it it than than Wester Western n

The The

negl neglec ect. t.''

in poin pointi ting ng

And, And, herein herein lies lies its its great great

Kabb Kabbal alis ism m

symbol symbolism ism,,

Taoi Taoist st and and Hebr Hebrew ew emerg emergee

reputa reputatio tion, n,

of devo devout ut Jews Jews,, and and Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga is

sal sal in its its abili ability ty to enco encomp mpas asss Tradit Tradition ion

his contro controver versia siall

Kabbal Kabbalism ism..

to a smal smalll grou group p in Chines Chinesee

Dawn, Dawn, was able able to show show

of the Kabbal Kabbalah ah with with all other other mystimysti-

no man man is more more resp respon onsi sibl blee

steepe steeped d

Kabb Kabbal al--

to roun round d out the the system. system. AleisAleis-

cal and and religi religious ous system systems. s. Despit Despitee

appe appeal al..

West Wester ern n

base based d on the the work work of thes thesee Engl Englis ish h expl explor orer erss

ter Crowl Crowley, ey, a gradua graduate te of the the Golden Golden

exce except pt

in occu occult lt grou groups ps

Dawn Dawn.. Most Most of mode modern rn

who added added Egypti Egyptian an

univer universal salit ity y

in late late

Perh Perhap aps, s,

Perhap Perhaps, s,

with with the the "ratio "rationa nal" l"

it is the the begi beginn nnin ing g

will will tell tell..

it is a worl world  d 

of a whol wholee

W u   Chi

and Ein Soph

All All exis existe tenc ncee

came came out out of not nothi hing ngne ness ss..

is beyo beyond nd

the the laws laws of scie scienc ncee

alth althou ough gh

seek seek it with with great great passio passion. n. It is beyond beyond "II

word wordss and and thou though ghts ts..

It is beyo beyond nd

It can can be spok spoken en abou about, t, but but it cann cannot ot

mode modern rn

call call this this

mind mind,, you you will will beco become me

unba unbala lanc nced ed..

know know it, it, you you would would be mistak mistaken. en.

all thin things. gs. It is is beyond  beyond  real realit ity. y.

be spok spoken en of. of. If you you try try it wit withi hin n your  your 

If you you thin think k

that that you you

It is is the unknown. unknown.

ther theree was was nothi nothing ng..

here here was no spac space. e. Ther Theree

I

tOas tOastnor tnor west. west. Ther Theree

phys physic icis ists ts

mind mind and and beyond beyond

,lnd ,lnd grasp grasp it, it, you will will fail fail.. If you you try try to conta contain in

In the the begi beginn nnin ing, g,

r J

The The Taoi Taoist stss

The Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts call called ed it  Ayill W u Ch i  ( No   Chi). The (Not (Nothi hing ng)) or   fill S o p h   (No (No End, End, No Limit) Limit).. C hi   Ayill or    is is the, the, ulti ultimat matee myste mystery ry of the the univer universe. se. It Wu

ultimate ultimate source source

Ther Theree

was was no time time,,

was was no up nor nor down down,, ther theree was was no

was was no good good nor nor evil evil,, ther theree was was no life life 19

20

The Tao &the Tree of Life

nor nor deat death. h. Ther Theree

was was no male male nor nor fema female le,, ther theree was was no posiposi-

tive tive nor negati negative ve.. no heave heaven n

Ther Theree

was was no highe higherr

nor nor lower, lower, ther theree was was

and and ther theree was was no earth earth..

It is is bey beyon ond d

the the Tao Tao beca becaus usee

that that can can be spok spoken en..

Tao Tao is a wor word d that that can can be

Yet, Yet, if we did did not not have have thes thesee word wordss then then

we could could not not spea speak k of it at at all. all. And, here herein in,,

lies lies its its grea greatt mysmys-

tery tery and parado paradox. x. Yet, Yet, the concept concept

.

often often referr referred ed to this this limitl limitless ess

and fin fin   Soph   can can be expe experi rien ence ced d W u C hi hi   and

ingn ingnes esss

The The rout routee soug sought ht

myst mystic ical al

to reach reach

of all all thr three ee

worl worlds ds,,

the highest

height

 beyond dept depth h

is medi medita tati tion on..

is a pro profo foun und d

Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts

IS

  phy physi sica call

the the Taois Taoistt syst system em is

In Taoist Taoist Yoga, Yoga, a great great deal deal of work work is to the the eart earth. h. Much Much of the the trai traini ning ng

as wel welll as men menta tall so that that when when the the stud studen entt

to exp exper erie ienc ncee

To a degr degree ee,, the rootin rooting g

begi begins ns

the the high higher er leve levels ls,, he will will be able able to come come back back.. West Wester ern n

concep concept. t.

Kabb Kabbal alis ism m

is also also conc concer erne ned d

with with

But, But, the the rootin rooting g

is menta mental. l. Wester Western n

KabKab-

but but cann cannot ot

Expe Experi rien enci cing ng

expe experi rien ence ce..

it. it. To the the exis existi ting ng

be

this this nothnoth-

Both Both Taois Taoists ts and  and 

sham shaman an,,

it was was the the

simu simult ltan aneo eous usly ly

The The real real diffi difficu cult lty y

in each each,,

of the upper world or the deepest

 practice

rai rai

exerci exercises ses

 point. . • out is that the experience

and and what what I have have trie tried d to

is beyond

it, it, the stude student nt

the verbal powers

must must firs firstt cut off the the

in the the mind mind.. The The Taoi Taoist st used used beau beauti tifu full

unaw unawar aree

of Taoist Taoist Yoga Yoga as altern alternati atives ves..

diff differ eren entt

poet poetic ic

syst system ems, s,

nor nor Hebre Hebrew w

the the best best I can can say say here here is neit neithe herr

Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts

own. own. The The sham shaman an

have have an equi equiva vale lent nt

used used drumm drummin ing g

of the the West Wester ern n

syst system em of the their  ir 

and and danc dancin ing g

to roo roott himhim-

\c1f \c1f to the world world to insure insure he would would return return from from his journe journey. y. The The Hebr Hebrew ew

Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts

mg. mg. The The aspi aspiri ring ng

had had a diff differ eren entt trad tradit itio ion n

Kabb Kabbal alis istt

must must be root rooted ed

Ihe Kabb Kabbali alist, st,

in the the Law, Law, the the of Kab Kabba bala lah. h.

of Holi Holies es..

more more on mora morall char charac acte terr

The The Hebr Hebrew ew

root rootin ing g

and and less less on exer exerci cise se..

Some Some reac reache hed d

the the high highes estt

was was based  based  The The

heig height hts, s,

seem seemed ed to die die young young..

nothin nothing g

I Icbr Icbrew ew

was was outw outwar ard; d;

Kapl Kaplan an,,

a mode modern rn

(Wisdom) om) consci conscious ousnes ness. s. Chokmah   (Wisd  journey

from achieving

With Withou outt of medi medita tati tion on,, Unkn Unknow own n

Luri Lurian anic ic

atte attemp mpti ting ng

of tra train inin ing g

to jour journe ney y

can can be qui quite te dang danger erou ous. s.

lost lost in its endles endlesss enormi enormity. ty.

call callss

it

In eith either er case, case, it is is still still a long long

silence to attaining

a grea greatt amou amount nt

Kabb Kabbal alis ist, t,

W u C hi hi  or fin  Soph. in the the arts arts and skil skills ls

into into Noth Nothin ingn gnes esss

or the the

Many Many a seek seeker er has has becom becomee

Kabb Kabbal alis ist, t,

the the

\('cme \('cmed d to be a second secondary ary Afte Afterr expe experi rien enci cing ng

path path

resu result ltss

some some went

mad, mad, too too many many of the the grea greate test st

at all all is the true home." home."

To

the quest quest was very very holy. holy. fin   Soph   is the ultimate ultimate

(~od (~od,, the Holies Holiestt were were mixe mixed. d.

of roo roott-

 phrases to refer to this serene inner state, such as lithe land of  Arye Aryeh h

of 

Taoist Taoistss

and a whol wholee host host of oth other er exer exerci cise sess that that are are C hi and

lora lorah, h, befo before re he cou could ld stud study y the the myst myster erie iess

in des descr crip ipti tion on

of the the mind mind.. To achi achiev evee

vari variou ouss form formss of Hat Hatha ha Yoga Yoga.. Many Many are are proba probabl bly y

 bcst labeled  Chi Kung.   Sinc Sincee this this book book is a com compa pari riso son n

of the the lowe lowerr worl world. d.

verb verbal al chat chatte terr

the the two two syst system ems, s,

much much safer safer in appr approac oach. h.

the physic physical al

as the fin fin   Soph.   But, But, the words words again again are limitin limiting. g.

desc descri ribe bed. d.

sour source ce

limit limit--

itself itself is a limi limitat tation ion of somet somethin hing g

that that is limitl limitless ess.. The Kabbal Kabbalist ist nothin nothing g

betw betwee een n

 balists do not have their own physical exercises and often do

We need words words to descr describe ibe this this concept concept of ultim ultimate ate,, less less nothing. nothing.

Howe Howeve ver, r,

done done to "roo "root" t" the the stud studen entt

It is is beyon beyond  d  W u C hi these too are words hi and   Ayin   for these

spoken spoken..

21

The Structu Structure re of the Univers Universee

To the the

comi coming ng

back  back 

Sour Source ce

of all all

goal. goal. God God

as the the Ulti Ultima mate te

thin things gs,, why why woul would d the the seek seeker er want want to com comee back back anyw anyway ay?? In

 I; d es O f P o w er ,   the fourth fourth book book in Car Carlo loss Cast Casten enad ada' a'ss

stor story y of 

thc teac teachin hings gs of a Mexica Mexican n Indian Indian shaman shaman named named Don Juan, Juan, we \('c \('c that that this this trad tradit itio ion n

of the the unkn unknow own n

know known n in the the sham shaman anic ic

trad tradit itio ion. n.

and and its its dang danger er was was well well

Don Don Juan Juan tell tellss his his stude student nt

T h e T a o &   the the Tree of Life

22

The Structure Structure of the the Universe Universe

Carl Carlos os that that only only a few few see seeke kers rs surv surviv ivee the the enco encoun unte terr unkn unknow own. n.

or   Nagual is so so enticentic-

This This is beca becaus usee the the unkno unknown wn,,

ing that that it is is almost almost impos impossib sible le

with with the the

to return return to the "real" "real" worl world, d, the

Tona Tonal, l, wher wheree ther theree is nois noise, e, pain pain,, and and orde order. r. In eit eithe herr case case the the deci decisi sion on

to retu return rn is made made by some someth thin ing g

Juan Juan refe referr rred ed adva advanc ncee

to as our our Will Will.. Ther Theree

what what the the outc outcom omee

Retu Return rnin ing g

is no way way of kno knowi wing ng

in

will will be; to rema remain in in the the unknow unknown n

to Eart Earth h

carr carrie iess

grea greatt

impeccably.

from from anxiet anxiety y

resp respon onsi sibi bili lity ty..

He must gain patience

or care careles lessne sness ss

 by the sharpshooters

The The

his his life life to

and freedom

or he'll he'll be cut down merci merciles lessly sly

trul truly y enco encoun unte ters rs chan change ged d

to the the Kabb Kabbal alis ist, t, the the unkn unknow own n

fore foreve ver. r.

descri descripti ption on

Taoi Taoist st,, and and Sham Shaman an who who

and and retu return rns. s.

His His or her her life is

"He "He is the the same same yet yet diff differ eren ent" t"

is a Taoi Taoist st

of this this sort sort are are rese reserv rved ed

for for the very very few few

not not serv servee to scar scaree off off the the stud studen ent. t.

safe safely ly to expl explor orin ing g

the the unse unseen en univ univer erse se.. Ther Theree

West Wester ern n

are are many many safe safe--

one one of whi which ch

cien cienttly

to be able able to wit withst hstand and

experi experienc ence. e.

cha change nge,

is time time to suff suffiithe the

Such Such a pers person on is referr referred ed to as an Adep Adeptt or Magus Magus..

In Tao Taois istt and and Kabb Kabbal alis isti ticc

theo theory ry,,

it is the the W u C hi and  E in

respec~ively ly that is the source source of all all things things (all of creatio creation). n). Soph   respec~ive West Wester ern n aspe aspect ctss

Kabb Kabbal alis isti ticc

of not nothi hing ngne ness ss..

theo theory ry

Firs First, t, there there

ther theree is E in Soph   (lim (limitl itless ess), ), (limit itle less ss E in Soph A ur   (lim

spea speaks ks

of thr three ee

leve levels ls

is   Ayin (Not (Nothi hing ng), ),

or 

This This is perc percei eive ved d

are are in bas basic ic agre agreem emen entt

all all thing thingss

exis existt in an an undif undiffe fere rent ntia iate ted d

wher wheree no oppos opposit ites es

exis exist. t. The The Taoi Taoist stss

Kabbal Kabbalist ists, s,

and Hebrew Hebrew,,

Wester Western n

on the the next next

of the the Hebr Hebrew ew

knowle knowledge dge It

expand expanded ed

in Lurianic

deri derive ved d

basi basica call lly y

A pla place ce

call call this this Tai Tai Chi. Chi. The The

Kabb Kabbal alis isti ticc

theo theory ry

of Ket Kethe her. r.

conc concer erns ns

the the

As thi thiss body body of 

from from earlie earliest st times times until the mid-150 mid-1500's 0's,,

beca became me more more and and more more comp comple lex x

 plexity

stat state. e.

call call it Kether Kether..

even events ts that that led led to the the eman emanat atio ion n

Kabbalism.

reac reachi hing ng

Western

from from prepre-Lu Luri rian anic ic comp comple lexi xiti ties es

l1\lIch l1\lIch more accessib accessible le

a heig height ht of comcom-

Kabbalism,

sour source ces, s,

of the the Hebrew Hebrew

which

avoi avoids ds most most of  Kabb Kabbal alis ism m

and and is

in its approa approach. ch.

 rite  rit e Seph Se phiro iro th I hI: Kabb Kabbal alah ah,,

as a high higher  er 

both both Hebr Hebrew ew

and and West Wester ern, n,

Ilio Ilion n as a ser serie iess of ten ten eman emanat atio ions ns Illgne Illgness. ss. An emanat emanation ion hilt

  a cont contin inui uing ng

proc procee eedi ding ng

is a projec projectio tion. n.

proc proces ess. s.

view view all all of cre cre-out out of Not Nothh-

It is not a oneone-sho shott

In oth other er word words, s,

deal deal

if the the eman emanat atio ions ns

, (""sed (""sed,, all of of creati creation on

would would cease. cease. The E in So ph   exists outside outside

lilt! lilt! beyond beyond creati creation. on.

All of creati creation on

101

  the eman emanat atio ion n

next next

then then there there is a third third aspect aspect called  called 

ligh light) t)..

to the the Jews Jews thes thesee dist distin incc-

KabKab-

that lead 

guar guards ds buil builtt into into the the syst system em,, and and

wher wheree

he phil philos osop ophi hicc

 balah has a long, well laid out series of initiations

matur aturee

wher wherea eass

here here

see see thes thesee

step. step. From W u C hi or  E in Soph   came came the primal primal unity, unity, the place place

I

of this this change change..

But, But, enco encoun unte ters rs and and shou should ld

as dogm dogmat atic ic,,

is no conf confli lict ct Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts

Tai Chi and Kether

Much Much

from the unknown.

A Jewi Jewish sh Kabb Kabbal alis istt who who was was able able to retu return rn from from the the E in was general generally ly referr referred ed to as a saint. saint. Humili Humility ty seems seems to be Soph   was one one resu result lt inhe inhere rent nt

Ther Theree

tions tions are much much more more tenuou tenuous. s.

The The Taoi Taoist stss and and Kabb Kabbal alis ists ts

will will rece receiv ivee a tas task k whic which h he must must dedi dedica cate te

 performing

dist distin inct ctio ions ns

prio priorr to cre creat atio ion. n.

theo theory ry exce except pt that that Weste Western rn

with within in us that that Don Don

or return return to Earth. Earth. sham shaman an

ligh lightt that that exis existe ted d with with Hebrew Hebrew

23

Seph Sephir irot oth h 1 "1

of ten ten seph sephir irot oth h

from from out out of the the unknow unknown. n.

can can be conc concep eptu tual aliz ized ed

the the eman emanat atio ions ns

came came about about as the the result result as cont contai aine ners rs

out out of the the E in Soph.   In a cer certa tain in

II" talkin talking g about about ten dimens dimension ions. s.

As we proce proceed ed

or vess vessel elss sens sense, e, we

from from the first first

The Tao

24

&the

to the tenth, the energy contained the world of matter

is reached

Tree of Life becomes more "dense" until

in the tenth

sephiroth.

ever, the original source remains unchanged Picture a lit candle. handkerchiefs.

chief, the flame of the candle  passing

through

second,

third,

the

candle,

 becomes

fourth,

etc., handkerchief

light

passing

dimmer and dimmer

handkerchief

light becomes

itself continues

brighter

Modern

with

which

our entire

nothing.

with modern

Then,

there

and the scientific

was the Big Bang from

was created.

The

that are just as arcane physics,

everything

latest thinking

as Kabbalah

string theories,

physics seeks a Unified

ory to tie together

Theory,

Hawking,

the most brilliant

since Einstein,

explain

theory,

theoretical unified

physicist

theory.

The

theory

is much too complicated

here. Hawking

and ten dimensional. ture and dimensions

and  black 

one the-

in the universe. In  A Brief History

o f T Im e (Bantam Books, 1988), Stephen of one possible

the

seems to agree that all of creation

universe

holes, etc. Modern

the source,

aspect of the sephiroth

correlation

physics

subjects

to dim its

and the theory of emanations.

Taoist Yoga, such as quantum

string

version

Lurianic Kabbalism

in its description

of the Big

of how this came to

 pass rivals modern physics in its complexity. work and give it purpose.

and brighter.

is its apparent

 began involves

and mysticism The emanations

Bang.

before

to burn with the same

the veils toward

the most intriguing

emanations

is the Kabbalistic

ism also relies on the theory

the tenth

Science

the same phenomena.

As the

handkerchief 

until upon reaching

So it is with the sephiroth

thinking.

the

It is only the veils before it that appear

light. As you pass through

Perhaps

were placed

through

ten sephiroth.

to explain

of evolution

When

evolution

Lurianic Kabbalto make creation is completed,

universe will again be unified. Assisting this unification

the is the

 job of the Lurianic Kabbalist.

the residual glow might be dim or not visible at

all. Yet, the candle intensity.

the first handker-

would be evident.

Ten dimensions, attempting

from out of nothingness

and changeless.

would be veiled but the light

the handkerchief

the

How-

Before this candle are to be hung ten

If you were to look through

25

The Structure of the Universe

can't be seen.

speaks

itself, based

on

and unnecessary

to

says that space-time But because

often called 

is highly curved 

of its vast scale, the curva-

The Three Elemental

Forces

The first sephirah

was Kether.

are no opposites.

From Kether,

(Wisdom)

was emanated.

Father. Chokmah standing).

Here all exists in unity. There the next sephiroth

Kabbalists

emanated

the third sephirah

This is referred to as the Mother. Chokmah,

most sephiroth

Kether,

<;upernals. They

are the most powerful

universe. The rest of creation Taoist thinking Isls. The

classic

work,

as the

Binah (Under-

The three upper-

and Binah are called the

emanates

is in perfect

Taoist

Chokmah

refer to Chokmah

forces in the created  from them.

agreement

with the Kabbal-

the   Tao Te Ching   of Lao Tsu,

~lates: The The The The

Tao produced the One; One produced the Two; Two produced the Three; Three produced all the myriad beings

The One

is the   Tai Chi   (Kether).

The Two are the   Yang

.lIltl the   Yin. These two, Father and Mother, .,llve are the equivalent

of Chokmah

positive and neg-

and Binah. The three are

ill!' Three Pure Ones, the three elemental

forces.

26

Th e   Structure   of the Universe

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

These

three

elemental

forces became

Universal,

Energy, the Human

mic Plane

Energy,

names

or 

Plane Energy, also called Cos-

and the Earth

for our old shamanic

the Heavenly,

27

Energy. These

friends, the Upper

are Taoist World,

Middle World and the Lower World. The Heavenly

the

Energy is

the energy that exists in space, the Human Plane Energy is the energy

that exists on the surface of the earth.

exists beneath student

the surface

of the planet.

their primal state, these three forces existed universe

of these Three

The Heavenly Energy   (yin).   The  point of balance The

within

were called

Energy   (yang)   is balanced

ists believed

knew

of these

the Three

of the Three Mothers.

the actual creation

representing

of information. letters

here.

with the Earth

elemental

the

Figure 2: Balance of the Supernals and/or the Three Pure Ones

The

forces.

earliest

an entire chapter 

The Hebrew

Kabbal-

here

W,ller is the equivalent IIwdiary

between

equates

with

I hUllan Plane Energy. Again, through

alphabet.

letters were

I I\In.:   Mothers,

letter

is holy.

coming

the S ep h e r Y e t-

 zi ra h ,   Chap. 3, Sec. 2, states: Three Mothers: Alef, Mem, Shin A great, mystical secret ... And from them emanated air, water and fire. They are divided as male and female. Know, think and contemplate that fire supports water.

Energy. of the of the

the S e p h e r Y e t-

rile Heavens were produced from Fire rile Earth from the Water and the Air  110111   the Spirit (Breath of Cod or Kether) like a balance between the Fire and the Water.

Three

were the letters Alef (~), Mem (0), and Shin

(iD). From them came the three primal elements.

the interaction

the entire universe was created. 1 / , , / ,   ~lates in Chap. 3, Sec. 3:

a differ-

The

Heavenly

is the equivalent

was carried 

These

the

of the Earth Energy. Air as the inter-

Fire and Water

of the universe

Each letter represents

Each

Fire as used

known

the actual sounds or commands

from God out of nothingness. Mother

three

Mothers.

out by the letters of the Hebrew

type

of the

is the   T a i C h i (Unity),

text, the S e p h e r Y e tzi ra h ,   devotes

to the mysteries

symbols

it is a manifestation

(see Figure 2).

Kabbalists

Kabbalistic

The entire

Pure Ones. There is a balance

intermediary

In

prior to the cre-

or even the physical universe.

and all contained

interaction

ent

Energy

learns to tap into each of these forms of energy.

ation of our planet

They

Earth

In Taoist Yoga, the

( :oncealed

in these paragraphs

~irnilar to Taoist

'l " I i "

Internal

is an alchemical

Alchemy.

tradition

Of all the Hebrew

d,iJ,distic texts, it is the S ep h e r Y e tzi ra h   that provides a system 11I11',t

,imilar to Taoist Yoga. The Hebrews

tended

to focus on

The Structure

The Tao &the Tree of Life

28

the aspect of transmuting

the letters, combining

them in var-

ious ways to create Divine Names. But, there are many other   practices Hebrew

to be found in this book, often overlooked Kabbalists.

by later 

We will get back to this in a later chapter.

 Energie s, Force s, and Ele me nts Both the Kabbalists

and the Taoists saw the underlying

ture of the universe in terms of energies, The Jews had an injunction any pictured idols,

no statues,

no paintings

in Judaism

nor drawings

Taoists likewise, at least in portraying of the universe,

forces, and elements.

in the Ten Commandments

likeness of God. Thus,

did not personify

strucagainst

there are no of God. The

the basic building blocks these forces as did many

29

of the Universe

The Microcosm The

next step in creation

emanation

of sephiroth

roth taken

as a group

in the Kabbalistic four through

system was the

nine. These

are referred

six sephi-

to by Kabbalists

as the

Lesser Countenance

(Lower Face of God, Microprosopus,

Microcosm).

are below

Kether

They

is the Upper

Macrocosm;

three

Countenance,

Chokmah

the Heavenly

the

Mother.

upper

the Macroprosopus

is the Heavenly

or 

Father and Binah is

Between the upper three and lower six

is a gulf or abyss within which is found Daath (Knowledge). Daath

is not a sephirah

divine sephiroth

or emanation.

which are thought

human understanding which

It separates

the upper 

of as essentially

beyond 

from the Lower Face of God (Micro-

other religions such as the those of Egyptians, Greeks, Romans,

 prosopus)

 Norse, etc. The result of this was a system that is more abstract

~cem an odd thing to say after all that has been written

for the average person. It is easier to conceptualize

hut in truth who can truly understand

a God with

or 

sephiroth.

is within

human

understanding.

This may here,

the force that is the

form and structure such as Zeus, the Greek father of the gods,

universe as a unified body or the Mother and Father of all cre-

than it is to conceptualize

.llion? Microprosopus,

Chokmah.

The Western

the yang force in the universe

Kabbalists did not feel bound by this

and drew from all ancient ability

of the

student

or 

religions in an effort to facilitate the

to picture

the various

powers.

The

.In:

in balance

or equilibrium

llllirth sephirah ldth sephirah

these next six sephiroth,

Chesed Geburah

are forces that

with each other. We have the

(Love or Mercy) Uudgment

in balance with the

or Severity).

They

repre-

Hebrew Kabbalists used letters and symbols such as the Tree of 

\l'nt the two poles of divine love and divine retribution

Life to give structure to their system. The Taoists used symbols

11~L1re3). Balancing

such an 0 for 

W ll

 Chi,

i;)   for Tai Chi,

trigrams of the I C hing   to organize The Hebrew

Kabbalistic

 plicated with its sephiroth, stated,

the basic structure

tially the same although

and drew on the eight

Important

their system.

system is by far the most com-

elements,

letters, etc. However,

of Taoism and Kabbalism by no means identical.

1,.11lIphareth

as

is essen-

IlIrccs

are

Chesed

(Beauty

sephirah.

and Geburah

or Harmony).

lIphareth

is a most

It is the place where all the "Iower" divine

in perfect

balance.

Ilphareth consciousness

In Kabbalah,

to achieve

is to achieve enlightenment.

,.1m of the holy sages. Western

I I

I

(see

is the sixth sephi-

Kabbalists

It is the

refer to it as

hrist Consciousness. The seventh

sephirah

Netzach

(Victory)

I Illd (Clory) are difficult to understand

and the eighth

from the translations

30

The Structure

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

31

of the Universe

Figure 5: Yesod Balancing Netzach and Hod from Below

Figure 3: Tiphareth Balancing Chesed and Geburah

of their names. We are dealing with the underlying of the universe.

I, is thought

Netzach

represents

of as the archetype

I lod represents

the concept

qualities

the force filling creation.

for feeling and the emotions. of form or structure.

It is the

,1Il:hetype of logic and rationality. From above,   Nettach   and Hod are balance Figure 4). Harmony

(\l'e

"Illotion.

lIphareth

1"lh 4 through   probably

the power

alone as Microprosopus

a result of meditational and balancing

  from underneath

1 11 1

~)

till

concept

Kabbalists

often

(Microcosm).

This

in a later chapter. Netzach

is Yesod (Foundation).

of something

IHIIlof all things.

(sephi-

practices of the Western

"hhalists which will be discussed Below lIphareth

of logic and 

t<;>the Microprosopus

9), so much so that Western

wier to lIphareth W,I\

balances

is central

by lIphareth

and Hod (see FigYesod represents

below the surface, i.e. the Founda-

It is the archetype

of the unconscious

and 

Iii" onscious thinking that goes on below the surface of awareFigure 4: Tiphllrcth Balancing Netzach and Hod from Above

1Il",\

  It also represents

the force of sexuality in the universe.

The Tao

32

&

Th e   Structure of the Universe

the Tree of Life

33

define. It refers to energy in the universe. This energy had  two poles-Yin and   Yang,   and five phases or activities generally referred to as elements. The Kabbalists saw the first three elements, Fire, Water  and Air, as emanations from the Three Mothers. The Hebrew Kabbalists were most concerned with these three elements. The element of Air is actually the equivalent of two of the raoist elements: Wood and Metal. Air is seen as having two  poles rather than being separated into two distinct elements. Franz Bardon, the German Hermeticist said in   Initiation 1 1 1 1 0   Hermetics

  that Air has two poles. It mediates between Fire

,lIld Water. The   Sepher Yettirah   confirms, numerous times, that Air acts in a mediator or balancing role. Bardon further says i1I,ltin its job as mediator, Air assumes the quality of dl)'ness I,oIII Fire and humidity (moistness) from Water to establish Figure 6: Malkuth as the Physical Universe

The tenth and final sephirah is Malkuth (Kingdom). It represents the physical universe, the world of things, the Earth (see Figure 6). The Taoists have a somewhat analogous system. They have an Early Heaven (Macroprosopus or Macrocosm) and a Later Heaven (Microprosopus or Microcosm) much the same as the Kabbalists.

i1wdual poles. The two poles of Air are moist and dl)'. By this 1Ill"manner of reasoning, Bardon fails to say that the two p"I•••• also take on the qualities of warmth (not hot) and cool(Ilot cold). Warm and cool are the two balancing poles of 

h , , t   ,IIHI cold. The two poles of the Air element should be 1)   .lI1d warm and 2) cool and dl)' to act as mediator 

1111'1

Fire and Water. 1 W'"I'1l I w;nched for a long time for this information. Without it "dd    1\1

The Elements versal energy forces were formed out of the interaction of the Three Pure Ones. These five elements are fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. Everything in the universe is composed of  these five elements in either a pure state or interacting with one or more of th\.:other elements. The term element is difficult to

between the five

IIIf"quality of being warm and damp. Bardon's description Ill"

The Taoist sees Later Heaven as the place where the five uni-

not complete the correspondences

  ,Ind four Western elements. The Taoist element Wood    pllie of the air element as humid would appear to

I, Mf'tal has the quality of being cool and dry. The other  "I  1 h(' Air element in Bardon's system has the quality of 

{:Iose enough. Thus with the Western element Air  1111111\1.1 the Taoist elements of Wood and Metal the two hincse and Western could be perfectly correlated.

34

The Tao &  the Tree of Life On the Tree of Life (see Figure 7) the Chinese

Wood

corresponds

emotion

to the sephirah

of Wood

is kindness.

Chesed

grows out of the earth. Chesed abyss

and signifies

 becomes

Taoist element

fire of Geburah

corresponds

is a traditional

with the sephirah

which

ultimately

The emotions

with Geburah.

correspondence.

Netzach,

Kabbalah.

Water 

which is the sephirah

are ruled by the Water

Hod.

Hod

ele-

corresponds

with

is the sephirah

of 

and intellect.

Cool and dry is a good description

of 

this state. Metal is one pole of the Air element, symbol

below the

Malkuth(Earth).

ment in Western rationality

of 

positive

means mercy. Wood 

of fire corresponds

of the emotions. Metal

element

The

is the first sephirah

as a concept

solid in the sephirah

The The

solidity

Chesed.

for Air in the Kabbalah

is the sword which

from metal. The Taoist element with Malkuth,

the Sephirah

Earth

directly

is made

corresponds

of the Earth.

That leaves us with just lIphareth  balah, lIphareth

and the basic

and Yesod. In the Kab-

is the Sun, and Yesod is the Moon. The Sun

and the Moon were often used in ancient Taoist texts to refer  to various

alchemical

 bined. They

operations

fit into lIphareth

in which

and Yesod perfectly.

The basic formula in Kabbalah four-lettered

they were com-

is the Tetragrammaton

name of God. It is composed

of four Hebrew

terss: Yod, He, Vav, He. Each letter was assigned Yod 

C )   is

He (i1) is earth. The Three often translated

as Jehovah

never pronounce

nunciation

let-

an element.

fire, He (i1)is water, Vav (i) is air, and the second  Mothers

The Yod He Vav He is all of creation. would

or 

stood

before creation.

The Tetragramaton

or Yahweh. A Hebrew

this name. legend

is

Kabbalist

says its true pro-

was given by God to Moses when Moses received 

the Ten Commandments.

The

name was passed

on to the

Figure 7: The Taoist Tree of Life

36

The Tao

High

Priest Aaron.

&   th e

T h e S t r uc t ur e

T r e e o f L i fe

This true pronunciation the name   Adonay

Jews always substitute

has been

lost.

for Yod He Yav He

when it is pronounced. The universe

is quite similar to the uni-

verse of the Taoists. The Kabbalist's universe was based on the number

ten as manifest

ra h   says (Chapter

Shamanic Structure The

shaman

universe

of the Kabbalist

in the ten sephiroth.

The   Sepher Yetzi-

I, Sec.3):

generally

had a mythological

taking many forms and patterns.

edge of the unknown its own world

source of all creation.

view and mythology,

was the same.

is not quite so clear cut. However,

any number had to be chosen as the foundation it would

be the number

five elements

if 

of the system,

eight.   Tai Chi, Yin and    Yang,   and the

add up to eight. The Tao and Confucian

classic

 I C hi ng or   Boo k OJ Changes   sees all that exists in heaven and  earth

as symbolized

ceived as being

in eight

in a constant

trigrams.

The

universe

state of dynamic

is per-

change.

eight trigrams are the images of their movements

The

in change.

Chi   and Akasha One

final aspect. The Taoist sees the universe as being filled 

with   Chi,   the unseen cosmic breath or life force. C hi   takes many forms as does the Tao. Like the Tao, it cannot be fully defined. The

Western

Kabbalists

had

Akasha. It was seen as a fifth element

a similar

concept,

that nourishes

of the  fin Soph

four. As such it was most similar to the concept as underlying

all of reality.

This has been a brief view of the similarities ture of the universe Western

the

the other 

Kabbalists.

more as an outline.

as seen by the Taoists

of the struc-

and Jewish

It is by no means complete

and 

and is meant

structure Their

to his

uniting

fea-

tures were the Upper, Lower and Middle Worlds and knowl-

Ten Sephiroth out of Nothingness Ten and not nine Ten and not eleven. The Taoist system

37

o f t h 'e U n i ve r s e

r--.J

Each culture had 

but the basic structure

.~

Taoist Yoga aoist Yoga is not a religion.

T

Taoism,

which is a religion.

holism and was d~veloped ,I

coherent,

methodical,

lOllSaffiliation

It is not synonymous

with

It does draw on Taoist sym-

by Taoist sages, but essentially

it is

esoteric system that requires no reli-

whatsoever.

Ilot drop out of society,

It also requires

that the student

but in fact, remain

l4"~ponsible member of his community

an active and 

able to support

himself 

'II herself as well as a family. There are no gurus, only teachI

 1\.

Students

are taught that they are their Own Master.

 h,rly   History 1"1"

most of its history,

1l1,IIlYdifferent

, llll~ists of legends. )'1'/7

its methods

The Yellow Emperor,

  B.C.),   was the

supposed

AI,herny. From thereon Iliokl:

were secret. There

were

schools of internal alchemy. The early history

the taboo

against

founder

Huang of Taoist

11  (2698Internal

it was passed on orally until Ko Hung putting

39

the tradition

into writing

in

T aoist Y oga

T he T ao &   the T ree of Life

40

his famous famous book  book    N e i P i e n in   A.D.   320. 320. Sinc Sincee that that time time,, many many

Lear Learni ning ng

hund hundre reds ds

ous and diffic difficult ult undert undertaki aking ng

of work workss were were writ writte ten n

none none of the these se work workss

by Tao Taois istt scho schola lars rs..

were were ever ever transl translat ated ed

those those that that were, were, like like their their Wester Western n were were high highly ly

inac inacce cess ssib ible le..

oral oral trad tradit itio ion n  presence

of a teacher

them themse selv lves es teache teacherr

ofte often n

into into Engl Englis ish h

alchem alchemica icall With Withou outt

the the phys physic ical al

to pass on the tradition,

appe appear ar

the words

as litt little le more more than than gibb gibber eris ish. h.

gives gives life to to and animate animatess

etie etiess

when when an

The The

Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga from from a book book like like this this is a most most dang danger er-as I mysel myselff discov discover ered. ed.

In Chin China, a, Taoist Taoist Yoga Yoga was pract practice iced d

and  and 

counte counterpa rpart rts, s,

This This is alwa always ys a prob proble lem m

is put put down down in writ writin ing. g.

Almo Almost st

41

or amon among g

the the Taoi Taoist st

mounta mountain inous ous

retrea retreats, ts,

Commun Communist ist

Revolu Revolutio tion n

who who gene genera rall lly y

live lived d in remo remote te,,

far from from the the workad workaday ay

world. world. With With the

in China, China, many many Taois Taoists ts were were force forced d to

flee flee from from their their ancie ancient nt teache teachers rs

either either in secr secret et socisoci-

homela homeland nd

began began appear appearing ing

and for the the first tim timee Taoist Taoist

outsid outsidee of China. China.

the proces process. s.

 Mantak Chia and the Healing Tao Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga in the the West West

Mant Mantak ak

In the the West, West, Taoist Taoist Yoga Yoga was virt virtual ually ly unknow unknown n

until until the pub-

of   The Secret of the G olden Flower   in Germ German an

licat licatio ion n

in Engl Englis ish h

in 1931. 1931. This This was was a myst myster erio ious us

the circul circulati ation on

in   1929  and 

text text that that spok spokee of 

of the the light light and the backwar backward d

of the the Tao Tao and and the the Immo Immort rtal al

Spirit Spirit Body. Body. The The book book contai contains ns

a psycho psycholog logic ical al

transl translat ated ed

psychiatrist, psychiatrist,

and expl explai ained ned

helm helm whos whosee tran transl slat atio ion n in the the Wester Western n

inter interpr preta etati tion on

Carl Gustav]ung.

three three chapt chapters ers

of Taois Taoistt self-c self-cul ultiv tivat ation ion

his book  The Secrets published d Secrets of Chinese M editation, editation,   publishe read reader er's 's requ reques ests ts Amer Americ icaa

in 1973. 1973. This This book book was was actu actual ally ly Chin Chines esee

tains tains a comple complete te

curri curricul culum um

 places

it is incomplete incomplete

to

on the Taois Taoistt scho school ol

of   T a o isis t Y o g a   in Eng Engla land nd

hund hundre redd-ye year ar-o -old ld

in

in Engla England nd in

Stat States es in   1969. Mr. Mr. Luk Luk respo respond nded ed

for for more more info inform rmat atio ion n

with with his his publi publica cati tion on

the Heali Healing ng

Tao Cente Center. r.

well well as a tire tirele less ss teac teache her. r. teac teachi hing ngss

Manta Mantak k

in   1970   and and in

a tra trans nsla lati tion on

of a

text text.. By and and larg large, e, this this book book conconfor Taoist Taoist Alchem Alchemy. y.

and subjects

appear

Howeve However, r,

in

out of context.

1"

I

Chia Chia is a prolif prolific ic writer writer as

What What

detailed,

to stri strip p away away all all the the of earl earlie ierr

text textss and  and 

accessible, accessible,

scientific

approach

his once once arcane arcane system system.. His books books are com commi mitte tted d   the the stude student nt unders understan tand. d.

,1Il'

  ,lIs ,lIso o ava avail ilab able le on audio audio and and vide video o tape tape.. Mant Mantak ak   fir first st pers person on to open openly ly

1'/'10, the the Inter Internat nation ional al

."lIt/  (C hi Kung)   name named d

about about

mean meanin ings gs

11\1<

111<'

ten ten volvol-

is most most amazin amazing g

is his his abili ability ty

and and hidd hidden en

 pll'~ent a remarkably remarkably

his his

now known known

To date, date, he has publ publis ishe hed d

I'v\ I'v\.l .lnt ntak ak Chi Chia' a'ss

Luk Luk (Lu

his stud studie iess

in 1974 1974.. In 1977 1977,, he move moved d to New New

of the the I still the class classic ic work  work  Ching is still unti untill Char Charle less

in 1944 1944,,

when when he beg began an the the stud study y of 

York York and opened opened the Taois Taoistt Esote Esoteric ric Yoga Yoga Center Center,,

IlIlle IlIlless on Taois Taoistt Yoga Yoga practice practices. s.

in Engl Englis ish h

pare parent ntss

1ll1ti 1ll1tilhe lhe became became a maste masterr in his own own right right and establi establishe shed d

lIow lIower ery y lang langua uage ge

and and in the the Unit United ed

stud studen entt

by the Chine Chinese se schol scholar ar Richar Richard d WilWil-

Litt Little le else else was writt written en

1964

It was

of Chin Chines esee

Taoist Taoist Yoga Yoga from just just such such a teach teacher. er. He continue continued d

.1\

world. world.

Kuan Kuan Yu) includ included ed

was was an an eigh eighte teen en-y -yea earr-ol old d

own own scho school ol in Thai Thaila land nd

flowi flowing ng metho method, d,

the the Elix Elixir ir of Life Life,, the the Embr Embryo yo  by the world-famous world-famous

Chia Chia,, born born in Thai Thaila land nd

In additi addition, on,

to helphelp-

most most of his teac teachin hings gs Chia Chia was was

teac teach h Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga in the the West West..

Congre Congress ss

of Chines Chinesee

Medic Medicin inee

him him as the the firs firstt reci recipi pien entt

In

and  Qi

of the the

Qi

Masterr of the the Year Award. Award. In China, China, these these practi practices ces have have , , , , , , I   Maste III' III' rged rged again again from from obsc obscur urit ity y 1I"lI\ 1I"lI\("n ("na,makin a,making g

to beco become me

it all the more remar remarkab kable le

a nat natio ionw nwid idee

phephe-

that that a teache teacherr

lIu'ri lIu'rica ca should should receiv receivee its first first-e -ever ver annual annual award. award.

in

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

42

The The syst system em of Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga as taug taught ht comple complex. x.

I will will attemp attemptt

It is impo import rtan antt

is Chines Chinese. e.

in thin thinki king ng far far done done

Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga

as Mant Mantak ak Chia Chia calls calls it, is is a system system

by anyo anyone ne,,

the the eyeb eyebro rows ws Func Functi tion onal al

for for me to note note that that,, alth althou ough gh

that that can can be prac practi tice ced d

Chia Chia is

to outli outline ne it here. here.

or Taois Taoistt Intern Internal al Alchem Alchemy y symbol symbolism ism

by Man Manta tak k

it is a Chin Chines esee

syst system em and and its its

an outs outsta tand ndin ing g

job job in pre prese sent ntin ing g

Easter Eastern n system system to the the Wester Western n

Chia Chia has has so

Chan Channe nell

navel avel

and and

 between

past past

Howe Howeve ver, r,

mic mic Orbit Orbit..

On a most most basic basic level level,, Taoist Taoist Intern Internal al Alchem Alchemy y  become

aware of energy

ener energy gy

is cal calle led  d    Chi.   The The

ener energy gy

thro throug ugh h

acup acupun unct ctur uree

with within in

meri meridi dian ans. s.

stud studen entt

China China today, today, has an an enti entire rely ly West Wester ern n

lear learns ns

medi medici cine ne,,

the the C hi

to dire direct ct

chan channe nels ls

the the body body.. Thes Thesee Chin Chines esee

in the the body body

chan channe nels ls

medi medici cine ne,,

are are the

as prac practi tice ced d

differ different ent point point of refere reference nce

tive tive in mos mostt inst instan ance ces. s.

The The

flow flow of ener energy gy thro throug ugh h

them them is a giv given en in Chi Chine nese se

meri meridi dian anss

or cha chann nnel elss

than than

from from shaman shamanic ic

and and the the medi medici cine ne..

and alchemi alchemical cal

sour source cess of bot both h the the inne innerr and and oute outerr (act (actua uall lly y chan changi ging ng gold gold and gaining gaining immor immortal tality ity  produced

in

yet yet it has has been been show shown n to be jus justt as effe effecc-

This This is, in larg largee part, part, derive derived d

by swall swallowi owing ng

lead lead to

an alch alchem emica icall lly y

two two main main ener energy gy

chan channe nels ls

peri erineu neum,

the the

poi point

can can flow flow in thes thesee in most most peop people le

chan channe nels ls

in eit eithe herr

thes thesee chan channe nels ls

dire direct ctio ion. n.

can can be bloc blocke ked d

or 

is taug taught ht to brin bring g C hi   up up from from the the base base of 

Chan Channe nell

Chan Channe nel, l,

over over the head head and and down down

in the the fron frontt of the the body body to the the perper-

The The key key to get getti ting ng

of the the Micr Microc ocos os--

the the orbi orbitt star starte ted d

is "thr "throw own" n" by

lift liftin ing g the the tong tongue ue to the the roof roof of the the mout mouth h and and thus thus comp comple lettIng the circuit. circuit.

 rhe Mind Directs the Chi I"he I"he flow flow of Chi Chi is dire direct cted ed

by the mind mind.. The The stud studen entt

,Ill ,Illy y begi begins ns to do do the Micr Microc ocos osmi micc ,I

poin pointt behi behind nd

Illter Illtermed mediar iary y

on

the the nave navel. l. Much Much of the the futu future re work work up to the the

alchem alchemica icall

formul formulaa known known as the the Lesser Lesser Enligh Enlightt-

!lln !llnen entt focu focuse sess on this this poin pointt know known n I,.w I,.w week weekss of prac practi tice ce,, W,1I1n

gene generr-

Orbi Orbitt by con conce cent ntra rati ting ng

as the the   Tan Tien.   Wit With h a

this this nave navell cent center er

  when when the stude student nt concen concentra trates tes

will will begi begin n

to feel feel

on it. it. This This warm warm feeli feeling ng

will will move move into into the Micr Microco ocosmi smicc

Orbit. Orbit. This This practi practice ce

".I( ".I('f 'fre red d to as the the Warm Warm Curr Curren entt

Medi Medita tati tion on..

is often often

At the the end of a

'\Ion '\Ion which which should should last last fiftee fifteen n minut minutes es or more more   (The Secret of 

Elixir of Life) schools.

Iltr

are are the the Gove Govern rnor or

  (:olden Flower   says says a quar quarter ter-ho -hour ur

11,lllon

The Two Main Main Energ Energyy Channe Channels ls The The

the

his or her own body. This

the the two two main main energ energy y

and and form form a circ circui uitt

is concer concerned  ned 

lear learns ns to get get in tou touch ch with with and  and 

within

the neck, neck, chest, chest, solar solar plexus, plexus, to

Yin).   This ineum   (Hui Yin). This is call called ed the the Open Openin ing g

The Chi Energy Energy System System Firs First, t, a stud studen entt

runs runs from from the the tip tip of the the tong tongue ue,,

genit enital alss

the the spine, spine, up the the Gover Governo norr

mind. mind.

and and the the

the genitals and the anus.

Ener Energy gy

the the Func Functi tion onal al

with with ener energy gy..

the

weak weak.. The The stud studen entt

this this myst myster erio ious us

whic which h

the the top top of the the pala palate te,,

inside inside the mouth, mouth, down down throug through h

It never never ceased ceased to ama amaze ze me how how alien alien

some some of the the form formul ulas as were were.. Mant Mantak ak

fina finall lly y reac reachi hing ng

43

retu return rnss to the navel navel and and ener energy gy

circulat lating ing 1 .," lie n by circu Chan Channe nell

whic which h begi begins ns at the the tip tip of the the spin spinee and and runs runs up the back back and  and  neck neck,, over over the the top top of the the head head and and down down to a poi point nt behi behind  nd 

is suffic sufficien ient) t),,

the concenconcen-

is stor stored ed ther theree in the the

the Ch i   arou around nd the navel. navel.

T h e T a o &   the Tree of Life

44

rhe Functional Functional Channel Channel

The Tan Tien Tien The   Tal! T Im   is see seen n as the the cent center er of grav gravit ity y of the the body body.. Just Just as a fet fetus us is atta attach ched ed

to its mot mothe herr by the umbi umbili lica call cord cord at the the

nave navel, l,

prac practi titi tion oner er

so too too

 process

the the

of attaching

Yoga Yoga begin beginss

behi behind nd

the the

the the nave navel. l. Many Many spir spirit itua uall

talk about the need for centering;

concep conceptt

9

him or herself to the Earth and the infi-

nite nite at the   Tan TIel! cent center er  practices

of Tao Taois istt

The Governing Governing Channel Channel

5

in Taoist Yoga this

12

is taken taken litera literally lly..

The   Tal! TIel!   is is at at the center center of the body. body. It's It's exac exactt locati location on diff differ erss in each each pers person on,, inches inches direct directly ly

but but its its gene genera rall

The The Taoi Taoist stss beli believ eved ed the wom womb, umbi umbili lica call

it rece receiv ived ed cord cord..

meri meridi dian ans. s.

fect fect healt health, h,

is two two to three three

that that when when a hum human an fetu fetuss was was stil stilll in a spe speci cial al

It was was calle called d

freel freely y in its its Micro Microcos cosmic mic ener energy gy

loca locati tion on

behind behind and sligh slightly tly below below the navel navel.. of  C h i thro throug ugh h

type ype

and circulate circulated  d  C hi   and

Pren Prenat atal al

Orbit Orbit as well well as in all its its thirty thirty-t -two wo

The The fetu fetuss was was maint maintai aine ned d

grow growth th,,

and and equi equili libr briu ium. m.

tal C h i slowly slowly loses loses its its cont control rol or ene energ rgy y

rout routes es,,

emoti emotiona onall

imbal imbalanc ances, es,

in a stat statee of per per--

Afte Afterr birt birth, h, the the Pren Prena. a.

over over the body. body. As time time passes passes,,

the C h i   no no long longer er free freely ly circ circul ulat ates es meri meridi dian ans, s,

in the the meri meridi dian anss

beco become me

physic physical al

bloc blocke ked, d,

ailme ailments nts,,

and and thes thes resu result ltin ing g

in

sickne sickness ss and frai frailt lty y

Coccyx Coccyx (Sacrum (Sacrum

I'limp)

, Millg-Men Millg-Men (Kidney (Kidney Point; Door  Life):Pre-natal Energy " I Life):Pre-natal ',Image   Safety Point

 Restoring Prenatal Chi Two Two of the the prim primar ary y

aims aims of Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga is to resto restore re the the Pr 

natal C hi   in in the body body,, meri meridi dian ans. s.

and and get get it to to free freely ly circ circul ulat atee

The The proc proces esss

a return return to that that state state of orig origina inall with with the the open openin ing g Thus Thus,,

lilli-Yin lilli-Yin (Perineum (Perineum Gate of  I)",llh and Life) chang-Chian chang-Chiang, g,

in old old age. age.

ener energy gy

01

the the

perfec perfectt equili equilibri brium um..

of the the Micro Microco cosm smic ic

Orbi Orbitt

It begin begin

C

1" Chui Chui (Central Control Control of the Connection tionss of the I ,.,,,Ion Connec 11.1I,dsand Spinal Cord)

9. Pituitary Pituitary Gland (Mid Eyebrow) Eyebrow) 10. Hsuan Hsuan Chi (Throat (Throat Energy Energy Center  11. Shan Shan Chung (Thymus (Thymus Gland) Gland) Rejuvenation Center  12. Chung Chung Wan (Solar Plexus, Panres) 13. Tan-Tien Tan-Tien (Navel (Navel Spleen) Spleen) 14. Ovarian/Spe Ovarian/Sperm rm Palace

(see (see Figu Figure re 8). 8).

Taoi Taoist st Yoga Yoga/s /s first first goal goal is to to rees reesta tabl blis ish h

 body and mind. Many students

in th th

is thus thus seen seen as one one of rebi rebirt rth, h,

  hi-Chung hi-Chung (Adrenal (Adrenal Gland  Gland    "Iller at T-ll); T-ll); Mini pump (Opposite of Heart) Heart) , : 1, 1   Pc (Opposite

C

7. Yui-Gen (Cranial Pump) 8. Pineal Gland at the Crown Crown (Enlighten (Enlightenment ment Gland, Gland, Gland  of Direction)

a healt healthy hy

never seek the higher alchelll

Figure Figure 8: Opening Opening of the Microcosmi Microcosmicc Orbit Orbit

46

The Tao

& the

47

Taoist Yoga

Tree oj Life

ical practices at all. Along with the Microcosmic Orbit, the new student is taught to establish direct contact with his or 

work of transforming the body's negative energy into positive m:rgy begins here. From the eyes, the smiling energy is

her own internal organs. This contact with the interior of the

Im.:cteddown into the body in three "lines". The front "line"

 body is of great importance in the Taoist system. Two initial

llllSists of the major organs: the heart, lungs, kidney, liver  IH I  spleen.

methods are taught: the Inner Smile and the Six Healing Sounds. Both are also used as relaxation techniques and for 

The middle "line" starts in the mouth and works its way l'lwn the throat and into all the organs of digestion. The back "line" goes through the brain, then down the

stress reduction.

  of the vertebrae of the spine, one by one. With a little pi ,lclice it can be done rather quickly and the entire body

The Inner Smile

11I\ldc

The Inner Smile is a wonderful technique. The student learns to draw a happy smiling sensation into the eyes. The eyes are

Ill'~ins to exude a positive, happy feeling. In addition, smiling

considered to be the two positive poles of the body, thus th

lillllllgh the eyes can work wonders on people you meet or 

Thymus Gland  Lungs Liver 

Esophagus

Heart Stomach

Spleen

Pancreas

Adrenal Glands

, ; ,1 1 1   Bladder 

Transverse Colon

"I'M'Colon

Descending Colon Sigmoid Colon Rectum Anus

Figure 9: The Front Line Smile

Figure 10: Smile down to the Digestive System

49

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

48

Cranial Pump

sound-sssssss;

2. kidney

chew sounded

quickly,

sound-shhhhh;

4.

sound-whoooo;

Tongue

sound-ehuwaay

heart

by vocalizing,

slowly);

sound-hawwww;

and, 6. triple warmer

triple warmer is not recognized  performed

(like the word 

and way sounded

3. liver 

5.

spleen

sound-heeeee

(the

as an organ in the west). It is

or vibrating

the sound and feeling it

move from the top of the head, like a wave, down to the sexlIal organs.

Sexual Practice-Healing

Love

Among the most secret of the Taoist practices \l"xual energy Sacral Pump

Illternal

to augment

practices.

I llve, Mantak

the Microcosmic

Under

the

Chia cal1s this Seminal

called the backward-flowing The sexual energy

deal with during the day. The Inner Smile is a powerful formational

technique.

low are enhanced

All the meditational

if they are preceded

practices

trans-

that fol-

till"

Kung Fu for men and 

is called Jing. Normally,

, ()vc:red that the retention,

turning

  ling in the Microcosmic

and other  of Healing

method.

IIl'fgy is lost during sex. However,

Figure 11: Bring the Energy through Each Vertebrae

Orbit

heading

In  The Secrel Of The G olden Flower 

( lvarian Kung Fu for women. It IS

general

was the use of 

Orbit

for men, this

the Taoist long ago disback, and circulation had an invigorating

of  and 

Il'jllvenating effect on the body.

by a quick Inner Smile.

c'stide   and Ovarian Breathing Iw exercises ( ) basic

The Six   Healing Sounds The Six Healing directed  breath

Sounds are simple, vocalized

at the body's

six major organs.

in and concentrate

quietly make the healing

on the organ.

and initiate

The

method

the:: process

is to

Slowly exhale

sound, mental1y directing

into its organ. These sounds have a cooling organs

sounds that are and 

the sound 

lv,lrian Breathing.

are initially

taught.

First is Testicle

This gentle exercise

teaches

or 

the student

h"w   to cause the Jing to rise from the genital region up the 1'111(" 111

and into the higher

the head to rejuvenate

energy centers,

eventually

the brain. The second

arriving method

is

II()WIlas the Big Draw. This teaches how to keep from losing and balancing of healing.

effect on the

They are:

1.   lung

II," energy during sexual intercourse.

IIU1\ somewhat

different

Obviously,

for men and women.

the teach-

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

50

The

practice

advanced ning

of Sexual

alchemical

stages,

Kung

disciplines.

their

rewards

Fu is essential

However,

are

many,

even in the beginincluding

enhanced sex and total body orgasms. Although both the Hebrew and Western their

own esoteric

wherein

sexual practices,

for the greatly

Kabbalists

they arose

sex was not a subject that was openly discussed.

Taoists had no such injunctions

had 

in societies

such as Original

The

Sin and, as a

result, the Taoist sexual secrets are perhaps the most sophisticated

the world

has ever produced,

 passing the better known Tantric of India. These chapter

and often

sur-

Sexual Yoga that came out

are more fully explained

in a later 

of this book.

 Iron Sh irt The

practices

rivaling

student

or

alchemical.

formulas

internal

alchemy.

Iron Shirt C hi  KUlig   teaches

It is taught

The

Taoists

believe

rosed of five different of first-year

chemistry

the student

that we begin

that the physical

students.

rhe Kabbalists

also have their own theory

ory of the elements

is still considered

community

and pre-scientific.

III the context

In truth,

h,l!istic system, they are quite coherent The Taoists

view the human

the organs and muscles). These exercises literally The higher the spirit climbs, the more firmly

rooted to the Earth it must be. The student is also offered other as  Tai Chi, Chi  KUllg,   Cosmic Healing

forms of exercise,

such

Ch i  KUllg,   and Five Finger 

It might described

come

as a surprise

in this chapter

that

with all that

as but

the Taoist or Kab-

and logical. (or 

in the sense that they

from the five elements.

illll'r subatomic

particle

Ilown universe.

This is a basic building

In the macrocosm,

III<"d ements

I I"

block

in the

of modern

we are born with

in balance, but as we grow toward adulthood,

we

this perfect balance. [n order to return to the state of interharmony, the balance must be restored. This is the purpose

  I'he Fusion of the Five E[ements formulas.  All   five elements

has been

neutron and every

exists in a state of balance

I,ltysics. In the human body, the microcosm,

01

so far, we have not yet reached those

In the West, this theory

it is pre-scientific,

  recto Every atom, every electron, proton,

II,d

 Fu sio n of the   Five  Elements

this the-

IIH"seelements are in a state of balance, and this is scientifically , "I

I""c'

KUlig F u .

that exists.

body as a microcosm

connecting

higher practices.

tables

of the elements

science.

of what they mean within

III"both constructed

vital to the

is com-

from the fact that if they are understood 

'IlIlliature) of the universe (macrocosm)

to the Earth. This is absolutely

Fusion

These ele-

[n China,

long ago abandoned

(the connective

root the student

of 

They are the five basic forms

and fasciae

and 

1/  

universe

states of being or elements.

culate energy from the ground and store it in organs, tendons supporting

known

the process

in three steps: Fusion

 based on four, rather than five, elements.

how to draw and cir-

tissue covering,

considered 

or phases that energy takes to make up everything

his does not detract

exer-

be

ments are not the same as those found in the periodic

I

physical

actually

2, and Fusion 3.

obsolete

to help him move the Ch i within hislher body.

would

[t is only when we arrive at those practices

he scientific

of Taoist Yoga will also practice

that

as Fusion of the Five Elements

I

Chi   Kung

cises designed

courses

51

major organs.

are in our bodies. They are contained When

the energy

from these

organs

in is

52

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

gathered and fused together, it has a harmonizing effect on the body. Our emotions are also controlled by the balance of  the five elements within us, so that the Fusion practices will also harmonize our emotional state. Each element governs a different emotion, both nega-

Spiral and  collect the ears' and  kidneys' energy

Spiral and  collect the tongue's and heart's energy

'piral and  , ,tllect the lI11se'sand 

Spiral and  collect the eyes' and  liver's energy

tively and positively. One aim of the Fusion I practice is to convert negative emotions into positive emotions. The five elements of the Taoists are fire, water, wood, metal, and earth. They represent different energy states: fire is hot, water is cold, wood is warm and damp, metal is cool and dry, earth is neutral. These elements are assigned to five different internal organs. Fire is in the heart, water is in the kidneys, wood is in the liver, metal is in the lungs and earth is in the spleen. This introduces us to the theory of correspondences; one thing or concept having a relationship

or correspondence

with another. Each element has many correspondences.

For 

instance, fire corresponds with heat. In the body, it is found in

Illngs'

the heart, its color is red, its season is summer, its negative

"lIl'rgy

emotions are impatience, hastiness and cruelty, its positive emotions are joy and respect. There are many, many more. Some are obvious, others are not. They have been worked out over millennia. Without them, the system doesn't work. The Kabbalah has its own system of correspondences. Often, they are different from the Taoist correspondences.

But, the fact

that both the Taoists and Kabbalists use correspondences

as a

cornerstone of their system is in itself a major correspondence  between the systems.

 Inner and Outer Fusion An important set of correspondences in the Fusion formulas i. the inner organs to the outer external organs. The inner organs, the heart, kidneys, liver, lungs and spleen, are considered Yin,

Figure 12: Drawing the Five Elements to Tan Tien

T h e T a o &   the Tree' of Life

54

55

Taoist Yoga

Draw and  combine the energies of all the senses and  organs in the cauldron

Spiral and  collect the mouth's and  spleen's energy

Sadness and grief  in the lungs

Cruelty, hastiness, impatience in the heart

Anger in the liver  Worry or  anxiety in the spleen

~

Fear in the kidneys

Figure 13: Final Steps in Drawing the Elements

or receptive,

organs. They have their Yang, external

 parts in the tongue, During

guided

ears, eyes, nose and mouth,

meditations,

the student

counter-

respectively.

will learn to connect

the inner with the outer by putting their concentration the external thing

that

the

two

to feel the ears listen

connect

with

 between

the heart and the tongue.

kidneys,

you feel it. A basic knowledge tant. You can't connect

When

of anatomy

is obviously

they

charts and models

kidneys,

for the five ele-

Iiver, lungs and spleen,

are collected

and then mixed

supplying

in the  

Tall

has its own collection

Hllleys, Water,

is collected

Ilwum, the point

between

"Ilngy, Fire, is collected

all

T I e ll .

poin(

in a three-inch the genitals

in a three-inch

the nipples.

Energy

from the

circle at the per-

and the anus.

Heart

circle in the middle of 

Liver- energy,

Wood,

is col-

In led in a circle below the liver to the right of the navel. Lung

Iwrgy, Metal, I"vel. Spleen /1 1 '1 1

is collected energy,

The five elements 111"

on the left side also at the navel

Earth, is collected

  which is the Earth collection

1I,lwl center. center

T I e ll ,   the point behind the navel. Energy

Tall

r  rom the heart,

k

organs when he teaches to

I, the main collection

IlIt"llts is ill the   five elements,

impor-

their exact location.

Fusion

I ,lCh element

II\("chest, between

you do the exercise,

organs if you don't know where

of the human body with removable dl:'l llonstratc

down and 

or to feel the connection

are. Mantak Chia always has large anatomy

111

first on

organ, and then on the internal organ. It is someis indescribable

Figure14: Negative Emotions and the Organs

into the  

Tall

point.

are mentally

drawn

First, Water is collected

is collected

directly

at the heart center.

into the Tan Tlen

at the perineum,

then

Both are simultaneously

11,IWIli nto the Tan Tlen, and mixed there.

Next, the Wood 

IIc'rKYis collected

at the right side of the navel, then Metal

11I'rgy  

at the left side of the navel. Both of these

is collected

56

The Tao

are then simultaneously

&the

drawn into the Tan lien

and mixed 

lien.

directly

All the energies are mixed together

Then,

this blended

energy

is circulated

into the Tan

in the navel center. in the Microcosmic

Orbit. There

are many variations

organs are mentally energies

connected

are collected

of this exercise.

The

to certain

sponds

and

controls

Earth

Each ele-

 by use of its controlling

and Earth

are experiencing

by the Metal. So, Metal energy

the Wood collection

from the drawn to

is to cut down the Wood energy and control

the anger.

This whole process can become quite creative as the elements weather"

of your choice.

advanced

practice.

points then

with the liver. The

point to the right of the navel. The net

can

collection

associated

point to the left of the naval is mentally

and Earth to

at their respective

let's say you

Wood is controlled

dfect

be consciously

manipulated

to create

the

"internal

But, this is an illustration

Initially, we are learning

to harmonize

"internal weather."

mixed in the   Tan Tien. It should

be clearer

now why the Fusion I exercises

also referred to as meditations

for transforming

nizing and balancing

effect on the organs and the emotions.

At first, the effects are subtle,

hardly noticeable.

ally you find that you are calmer, less anxious, mand

In a word,

of your emotions.

have created

a laboratory

the transformation alchemical

are

negative emo-

in the   Tan Tien   has a harmo-

tions. The mixing and blending

centered.

But, gradumore in comLiterally. You

at your body's center of gravity for 

of your body's own energies.

The

inner 

process has begun.

Controlling The five elements The weaknesses

Effect of the Elements have a controlling in the elemental

effect upon each other.

balance

can be discovered 

 by use of what is called the Control

Cycle of the elements.

Water

Metal,

controls

Fire,

Fire controls

Metal

controls

If 

it can be "cut back"

For instance,

element

collection

Water.

too much anger. Anger is the negative emo-

and cruelty, emo-

controls

tion of the Wood

fear, Fire to impatience

the negative

element,

element.

Water corre-

and anxiety. Just as set out above,

tions are collected

Wood

negative emotions.

Wood to anger, Metal to sadness and depression worry

outer 

to the inner organs before the

in the most basic variation.

ment corresponds to stress

Wood,

there is too much of a particular

with the Water and Fire. Lastly, the Earth energy is collected

57

Taoist Yoga

Tree oj Life

Figure 15: The Counteracting or Controlling Cycle

of an our 

58

 Energy Body

or  Pearl 

To assist in the collection

Qu a   is formed eight-sided

and glands, purify it, and return it to them as a higher form of 

process,

a symbol known

as a P a

at the   Tan Tlen navel center. The   Pa Qua   is an

figure originally

based on the eight trigrams

of 

the   [Ching.   It is a web-like pattern with the Tai Chi symbol at the center.

Four Pa Quas are formed,

front and back and left

and right. All four symbols are then drawn into the Tan T1en, which

in time will begin to glow and condense.

 beginning

This is the

of the formation of the energy body or pearl which

Chia describes force energy.

as "the highly condensed

essence

It is the essence of your organs,

and mind that will absorb

59

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

the impure energy

of your life

glands, senses, of the organs

o

energy." The pearl becomes and in the formation

of a soul and, then, a spirit body outside

of the physical body. There are advanced

Fusion

1 

practices

cuss now for fear of over-complicating Mantak

Chia has published

that I will not dis-

this outline.

ten books on. Taoist Yoga as

of the time that I write this. They are all excellent thought

out.

 beyond

However,

the Fusion

what cryptically, will attempt

1

he has not yet

  level although

to explain It should

everything

books

he does outline,

written

these higher

formulas

be remembered about

some-

and the language

to the best of 

that up to now almost

the alchemical

but clear cut. Meanings

obscured

and well-

published

all of the higher formulas in all his books. I

my ability. thing

DomofUf,

a major tool in the meditations,

formulas

were hidden,

was any-

concepts

were

used was often that of metaphor.

As you can see, the system is difficult enough

when it is pre-

sented straight-forward.

it is impossible

When

it is obscured,

to comprehend.

o

o

Right side

Left side

 Fusio n of the   Five   Elements, Part 2 2

Fusion student  blend

continues

has learned them

the work of the Fusion

practices.

The

how to collect the negative emotions

and 

into a more harmonious

T1en. This substance

o

 Nov,1

substance

is the inner alchemical

in the Tan

agent.

this point, we have just begun the true alchemical Many steps

lie ahead

mixed with the outer cerned

Figure 16: The Four   Pa Quas   and Condensing Energy into a Pearl

1

 positive

before

counterparts.

the positive

emotions

the inner alchemical

alchemical

with transforming

Even at

processes.

agent.

the negative

agent

Now, we are conemotions

into their 

We have new correspondences of the organs.

is

For the kidneys,

now, it is

60

gentleness,

the liver is kindness,

the spleen eousness tionally

is openness and courage.

because

the Creation

the heart is joy and respect,

and fairness,

61

Taoist Yoga

T h e T a o &   the Tree of Life

and the lungs are right-

I have given them in this order inten-

this is the order that they are circulated

in

up to the liver collection experience

point to the right of the navel and 

the warm and damp Wood energy as kindness. We

move up to the heart and experience love, joy and respect

the hot, Fire energy

in the collection

point in the middle of 

the chest, which is also the location of the thymus gland. This

Cycle.

gland plays a major role in Taoist alchemy.

The Creation The Creation

as

start the regenerative

C yde

moves straight

Cycle is used to grow or create positive energy

Its function

is to

process in the organs. Joy from the heart

down to the Tan T1en at the navel where the

neutral, Earth energy is experienced

as openness

and fairness.

in the body. The Pearl, which we learned to create in Fusion I,

rhe last point is to the left of the navel where the cold, dry

is circulated

points of the five organs

Metal energy

is experienced

point where the student expe-

righteousness.

From here, the energy moves down to the kid-

ney collection

point at the perineum and cycle starts again.

between

the collection

starting at the kidney collection

riences the cold, Water energy as gentleness.

Next, we move

The circulation Heart (Respect, Honor)

numerous We

!

+

Spleen (Fairness) ""

Liver (Kindness)

G)

/1


Lungs (Righteousness)

\ K id n . ~ 1 (Gentleness) The Creative Cycle: From the lung collection point return the energy to the kidney collection.

i

hetter people. tive energy

positive

energy process

and emotions.

"motionally,

and positive emotions. is ethical.

We have balanced

1 ,1   the higher emotions

Part

We are becoming

and harmonized

Now, we are moving

our negato the realm

and higher energy. Unless we grow up

new

formulas

students

will learn

but fail to establish

d.Ilion of internal harmony

through

I\es I have been describing.

And, in case you've forgotten,

all the

advanced 

the necessary

the practice

foun-

of the exer-

In the long run, this will lead to

Ilitility and failure. In this case, patience patience

is certainly

a virtue.

is a positive emotion

.,Ilheheart. In Fusion 2, we also learn two new energy Ii\('   t

Figure 17: The Creative Cycle

has

future progress will be stunted.

Oft-times,

I

Cycle

positive effects on the body as well as the psyche.

are creating

,dchemical

of bravery and 

of the Pearl in the Creation

  the transformational

I If 

as the emotions

•

body: the Thrusting

paths within

Routes and the Belt Routes. This is a

onlinuation of the work begun with the Microcosmic

md these two routes will now become l1l'rgy channels

in the body.

Orbit

the most important

62

Then,

The Thrusting Routes The Thrusting

Routes go straight

from the perineum

(between

directed

up the middle of the body,

the genitals and anus) to the top

into a "Pearl" at the navel

down to the perineum.

and

mentally

The Pearl is made to rise in

three lines - left, middle, and right - each an inch and one-half  away from the other. At first, the Pearl is brought level of the breastbone.

up and down

 back to the middle,

of the skull. The energy that we have been refining and growing is condensed

63

Taoist Yoga

T h e T a o &the Tree of Life

up to the

Up on the left, down on the left.

the middle

and then,

to the left, etc.

The

lowered

nine times. Once

raisedto

the neck level and, eventually,

Throughout to improve

this is mastered,

the teachings,

the practice.

as appropriate,

tially/ the student

might

or may seem unreal.

the Pearl is then

the top of the head.

the Thrusting

Routes,

as the

the anus on the left, center

and the exercise

great effort to perform.

Next,

Mantak Chia gives techniques

With

Pearl is drawn up/ you tighten right,

the right.

Pearl is raised and 

find these

becomes

types

easier.

of exercises

or  Ini-

take

The energy might be difficult to feel, Or you might

not be able to get the

energy to go where you want it to and it feels like it weighs a ton. Daily practice the energy

becomes

quickly goes where continue

is required

to overcome

easier

to move,

it feels lighter,

the mind directs it. The student

to use the Sexual Kung Fu techniques

Jing or Essence After

a while,

energy ball, moving

the Chi or energy

it becomes

it through

and 

will also

to bring the

up to the brain. This strengthens

and makes it easier to control  practices.

this. After awhile,

the brain in the other 

fun to play

with

the

the many routes in the body.

The Belt Routes The Belt Routes circle the body like a belt, the primary Route  being around Thrusting Channels 2 3

4 5

Top view of the Thrusting Route at the top of the brain.

the navel. The Ch i   is always circulated

wise and counter-clockwise in both direction

directions.

head, mid-eyebrow,

8

way between

9

Figure 18: Thrusting Routes Raised in Three Lines (as numbered above)

 practice

clock-

not simultaneously

six or nine revolutions

in each

will do. In all, there are ten Belt Routes: top of the

6 7

Usually

but, generally,

throat,

heart,

navel and genitals,

session

will usually begin

~ix times counter-clockwise

solar plexus, coccyx,

knees

navel, midand feet. A

at the navel and circulate

(from navel to left side, to back,

65

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &the Tree of Life

64

to right side, and then back to the navel). Then, up to the solar plexus and again circulated clockwise. The circulation

continues

the top of the head is reached. clockwise

circulation

Belt Routes. When

in the same manner until

After completing

the counter-

at the top of the head, the direction

then reversed to clockwise counter-clockwise

it is moved 

six times counter-

and circulated

the feet are reached, circulation,

is

six times at all nine you again switch to

and work your way back up to

the navel where the exercise ends. Initially, this exercise

can be quite strenuous,

but in time

it becomes

easy. Eventually,

the student will dispense with the

individual

Belt Routes and simply "spin" an energy

cocoon

starting at the top of the head and working downward, wise to the feet, then upward, inside the body.

By this point in the training, ient at moving energy through

we are becoming

very profi-

the body's energy

meridians.

the C hi ball through

We are circulating Functional

Channels

of the Microcosmic

the center of the body in the Thrusting the interior

_3-<; in,h"

~

Coun ter-clockwise Turning

up and down

Channels

and around 

of the body in the Belt Channels.

In Fusion

to add to our 

3, we learn

new energy

meridians

Basically, we add in the arms and the legs in the

Positive and Negative channels

very complicated I

Figure 19: The Belt Routes

Orbit,

and 

3

Ihcse

Clockwise Turning

the Governor

 Fu sio n of the   Five Elements, Part lcorertoire. ~

to the top

routes are inside the body, and the C hi is

of the head. These circulated

counter-clockwise,

clock-

Arm and Leg Routes. The addition

connects

of 

the entire body. They would sound 

if I tried to outline them in detail here. Basi-

ally, it is as if we had split the Microcosmic

~('parate lines of energy

Orbit

into two

that can be moved independently

or 

simultaneously. two

points

directed

67

Taoist Yoga

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

66

Most simply, we begin at the top of the skull, approximately

forward

two

inches

to the midpoint

side of the face. Then,

down through

and the cheeks to the two corners down

through

where

they spread outward

apart.

The

of the eyebrows

C hi is

on either 

GB-16

the middle of the eyes

of the mouth. From there,

the chin and neck to the base of the throat along the collar bone until they

are above the nipples. From here, the energy travels down the front of the body in two lines until they reach the groin. The

C hi travels down the inner thigh and calf, then circles around  the inner

ankles,

up the inside of the foot to the big toes.

From here, it moves to the middle of each foot, slightly backward to the base of the arch. This is the location

of the "Bub-

 bling Spring", the point where C hi   can be drawn in or sent out of the feet. It is a most important grounding

the student

Li formulas, energy

for 

II I

to the Earth as well as in the Kan and 

when energy

goes forward

spot and is essential

is drawn from the Earth. Next the

to between

the fourth and pinkie toe,

then back along the outer foot circles the outer ankle and up the outer calf and thigh. When

the two lines of energy reach

the hip, they turn inward to points on either side of the spine about

two inches

apart.

Now

upward

to the kidney

point

where the two lines begin to spread apart and move towards the shoulders

and the outer arms. The C hi   goes down to the

outer elbow and outer wrist and then loops over the middle finger to the center of the palm, where it rests for a moment. Then

to the inner wrist, inner elbow and inner upper arm up K-6

to the side of the neck to the back of the skull. There

is no question

that when first learning

the energy

routes, they can seem like hard work and drudgery. their

locations

are memorized

,o 'H " rL lY )   is gathered

and refined

But, once

and the C hi and    ling   (sexual in the Fusion

t

  and 2 and 

Yin Side (Front)

Yang Side (Back)

Figure 20: Energy Meridians for Fusion 3

68

The Tao

Sexual   K u n g F u exercises,

&

the Tree of Life

energy

can be moved through

these channels

in just a matter

energy

all the routes is an excellent

through

self going

in the morning

of seconds.

all

In fact, running way to get your-

or any time you need more energy

or to feel clearer. Many other are beginning  ject

the

down,

energy

routes are taught

to have fun with the energy.

Pearl

above

our heads

to draw

in this course. We We learn to proHeavenly

Energy

and below our feet to draw the Earth Energy up. We

can surround defense

our bodies

and purification.

in the gathering

and refining

(life force energy). learned

with a

that the student

and  C hi has also

C hi directly into and out of the bones

and flesh of the body in the Bone Marrow N e i K u ng   course. We are healthier,

calmer, centered,

 Now, finally, the student teries of internal immortal Greatest

The Sepher Yetzirah  and Franz Bardon

self-

expert technicians

of Jing (sexual energy)

It is possible

how to breathe

C hi Aura for psychic

We have become

alchemy

and full of positive energy.

is ready to deal with the real myswhich

lead to the creation

spirit body in the K an   and Li; Lesser, Greater

of the and 

M

ysteries within mysteries. This is the best explanation

can give of the true nature of the Hebrew

You can spend years studying \ iple of the Torah

dis-

get beyond

the

l11ysteries within mysteries. These

Enlightenment.

mysteries

I("ar of Kabbalah.

account There

deeply into the Kabbalah

.--..J

the books and be a devout

and you will still never

I

Kabbalah.

lor the initiated.

for both the allure of and the

is no question can be a shattering

"rns the

four great

Yl'huda and Inllsalem

delving

experience

too even

Ah, but the rewards!

One of the most famous stories I

that

Rabbi

scholars; Akiva.

These

in the First Century  

A.D.

in Kabbalistic

Ben Azai, Torah

lore con-

Ben Zoma, scholars

Ben

lived

  after the destruction

in

of the

('wnd Temple by the Romans. Rabbi Akiva was the leader of  1111~

  small group

Ii00flcesto explore I "

historic

and

guide

the early Kabbalistic

accounts,

IOliP apparently

he would

them

universe.

after one such journey

delved

deeper 69

into mystical According

in which

than ever before,

the

Ben Azai's

70

The Tao

spirit entered

&

the Light and never returned

and his physical

went on a shamanic

 body died. Ben Yehuda saw two Gods, one good and one evil,

Upper

returned

of a descent

Zoma

and immediately

went

returned

insane.

Only

renounced

the Jewish

the saintly

Rabbi Akiva left and 

For most of its history, the Kabbalah requisites

to receive the secret, oral teachings. considered

and the orthodox

rampant

was reserved

for the

mind and holy way of life were usually pre-

it was generally  balists

faith. Ben

unchanged.

few. A balanced

mysticism

too dangerous religious

For the masses,

by both the Kab-

leaders,

would lead the]ewish

71

Th e   Sepher Yetzirah   and Franz Bardon

the Tree of Life

who

feared

that

first to the Lower and then the was reached

in a trance by means

into the Lower World, and once reached,

 be ridden

to the Upper

Mansions

were inhabited

Worlds.

These

Seven

Heavens

and  who

abah mystic would unleash paid

Heaven

homage

tamed his internal demons

to his angels,

his trip through

could quickly change to a nightmare

The mately

proper

In effect, the Merk-

all the forces in his unconscious

mind and, if he had not previously and

Merkabah

would 

by angels as well as demons

would wreak havoc upon the unprepared.

nation into idolatry

and assimilation.

journey

World. The chariot

mysteries

in Hell.

were practiced

from approxi-

100   B.C. until 1000   A.D. They were considered

so dan-

gerous that, by the First Century   A.D.,   the Jewish leadership decreed:

 Maaseh Merkabah: The Workings of   the Chariot The Kabbalah with, another abah,

allegedly

or Workings

derived

from

the

known as the Maaseh Merk-

of the Chariot. prophet

Ezekiel's

These vision

mysteries of the

were Divine

Throne: And above the firmament was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above it. (Ezekiel I, 26.28). The Merkabah Seven Heavens

mystic would ride a chariot

and Seven Heavenly

to reach the divine throne complex

Mansions

through

quest and received

self by fasting and chanting

were those

who did succeed

the vision of the Throne

in their 

of God. Often

these visions were written down as guides for future travelers. rhe Throne

vision was the aim of the Merkabah

not attempt

to see beyond

the Throne

tiCSfrom the early Kabbalists.

rider. He did 

or question

its nature

the Merkabah

The mysteries

of creation

mysand 

the true nature of the creator lay at the heart of the Kabbalah. the

in his attempt rider would be

with words of power and talisman and magical spells

to gain entry to the heavenly

there

or origin. This is basically what separated

of God. The route was immensely

and fraught with danger. The chariot

of the chariot may be taught only to

(one at a time), and they must be wise,

with their own knowledge."

Of course,

 rite First Written Book of the Kabbalah Ihe earliest known written book of the Kabbalah is the  Sepher   \' (' Iz ;r ah which translates to T he B ook oj C reation or  B ook oj F orm a111111.

equipped

students

understanding

grew out of, and for a time coexisted 

form of mysticism

"The discipline

individual

abodes. He would prepare himhymns and prayers. The traveler 

  It is a very short book of six chapters

Illude of versions,

that exists in a mul-

all basically similar. As strange as this little

hook is, it is probably

one of the most accessible

of all true

The Tao

72

 books of the Kabbalah.

&the

73

Th e   Sepher Yetzirah  and Franz Bardon

Tree of Life

Most of the literature

of the Kabbalah

Mesopotamia.

This is often overlooked

by commentators

is philosophical

in nature and requires a great deal of learning

the   S e p h e r Y e t z ir a h .   The

to comprehend.

Rarely do we see any form of practice or sys-

What

does come down to us are later interpretations

 book.

When

This is not true of the  Sepher Yetzirah.   Here

tem of meditation.

examined

medita-

Egyptian

tional systems that it is difficult to decide where to begin. The

 becomes

 book alters and changes

contains an alchemical

we find so much

to practice

of its interpretations having

and so many different

according

to one's perspective.

Some

are known,

some are unknown,

never 

been put down in writing

long lost. Some interpretations resemblance  blance

and the oral traditions

are

of the book bear a striking

to Taoist internal alchemy, others bear no resem-

at all. One thing

tains mysteries

the   Sepher Y etzirah   con-

is for certain,

oral traditions

as having

Mesopotamian

derived

tradition

commentators,

Kabbalah

in part from earlier  the   S e p h er

because

it is obvious

that is apparently

that it

as well as an entire curriculum

of 

and magic) that Hebrew scholars

posthumously

have done

Y e t zi r a h to

published

much

schol-

such as Rabbi Aryeh

Kaplan, whose excellent book of commentary 1990),

of this

unknown

(hermetics

irah was recently

on

are long lost.

sources,

even more mysterious

ars don't ever discuss. Modern

Inc.,

within mysteries.

and

the Hebrew  practical

original

entitled  SeJer Yet(Samuel

to uncover

the

Weiser,

meditational

;]spects of the book, which in itself is a great stride forward, but .Iside from some reputed

The Author of the Sephir Yetzirah The true age of the book is unknown. utes its own authorship

In   Chapter

to the patriarch

of both the Jewish and Islamic nations. authorities example

Although

(later authors

the father  the ancient

attributing

work to earlier writers to give it more credibility tain their own anonymity).  believe

6, it attrib-

Abraham,

accept this as true, many others claim it is only an of pseudepigrapha

that Abraham

However,

dition that was eventually

their 

of the oral tra-

written down many centuries

later 

as the   Sepher Yetzirah. Abraham

throughout

3,800 years ago. He spent

the Middle

East, Mesopotamia,

to   SeJer Yetzirah,

greatest mystic and astrologer authority

on the mystical

Ihl:

says he was reputed

to be th

of his age and was apparently and occult

secrets

of Egypt

an and 

scholarship

of the Western

Kabbalists.

on the

For the  Jews,

Kabbalah became too rational and philosophical

to include

\llch subjects. As written versions have come down to us, the  Sepher  Y elzi-

, , , i J   includes concepts ~krkabah

of the Throne

Mysteries.

111110

the Merkabah

of God that are part of the

But, if the book is really derived

Illcicnt sources as I above derive,

01\

Egypt, as well as what is now Israel. Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, in hi introduction

hccame the province

Hebrew

reason that this type of work 

I"'riod rather than the Kabbalistic

lived approximately

his life moving

I"his is typical of all the modern K;]bbalah and is one probable

and to main-

there is good reason to

may well be the founder

formulas for making a G o/em   (artificial

man), the practical or magical aspects of the book are shunned.

mysteries.

  Rabbi Akiva, introduced

from

these were added at a later  aspects being later amended 

Many scholars believe at the beginning

that it

of this chapter,

who was the first to set the   Sepher Y elzirah down in writing i1 1 l

  First Century

A .D .

, . 1 \ as Kabbalistic Illtl:n version

  His methodology

concepts,

included Merkabah

so his reputed

is not farfetched.

authorship

It is reasonable

in as

of the

to assume

The Tao

74

&the

that he took the earlier oral tradition rent and exciting

methods

of the Merkabah.

Other

scholars

 Nor do I intend

to review the research

known

The truth is lost to history.

Judaism and the permutations

As a result of the   Sepher Yetzirah   originally different versions

turies. Most versions cal structure. letters  book,

that they

Sholem,

have six chapters

differ

radically.

a wealth

the greatest history,

over the cen-

and a basically

identi-

of the Hebrew

commentaries,

scholar

the Kabbalah

is probably

an oral

As to the meaning

of scholarly modern

the man who salvaged gotten

came into existence

It is in the correspondences

despite

being

correct

of the

Gershom

of Kabbalistic

history,

from the ash heap of forwhen he states, that most

of the details still await a full clarification

duced together

and maintenance

of the Hebrew

as the thirty-two

alphabet.

of 

ten and the

They

are intro-

mystical paths of wisdom ten sephiroth

in

the first line of the book.

The

duced and the twenty-two

letters are further divided into thre

Mother,

seven Double,

Chapter

I deals with the sephiroth

written appearance two letters. Chapter Chapter 

are then intro-

and twelve Simple letters. The rest of 

in history. Chapter 3 describes

4 describes

ter  5 the twelve Simple summary

Kabbalist.

superb   Meditation

Weiser,

Kaplan,

in his short

life (48 years),

.dmost lost art of Hebrew 150

that here make their first 2 deals with the twenty-

the three Mother

the seven Double letters.

Chapter

letters.

century

as the author.

and Kabbalah Rabbi

did more to revive the

and Kabbalistic

meditation

Jews than any other

years. [ commend

I.,hbinical

among

man in the past

his spirit to Heaven.

of 

of Abr,

Tradition

to explore

some hitherto would

rather specialized

IIIlC

of the teacher, or teachers,

practice.

dition died out without

and obscure

d,m't know. Gershom

have had any knowledge Somewhere

in antiquity,

the tra-

to writing. This

before the time of Moses.

I really

treatise   Kab-

Sholem, in his monumental

Publishing

of 

who knew the alchemical

ever being committed

, ,ndd even have occurred

/ , , '/ , , 1 1 (Keter

unknown

with alchemy. There is no reason why the

commentators

Ihis

House,   1974)   states that the Zohar 

,lllIdes to a harmonious

relationship

between

Kabbalah

and 

Ii, hemy. He also reports that at the time of the expulsion till"

letters and Chap-

6 is something

with some new material and the attribution

ham in the last paragraph

I refer the interested 

[nc., 1982) and   SeJer Yetzirah   (supra).

(Samuel

I.lte twentieth

reader. I

sense. It is simply too eso-

reader

Kaplan's

in

of the letters as

of the more general

teric for all but the Hebrew to Aryeh

Most of the

are so seeped

and unifications

the understanding

"vcnues, beginning

the creation

of others.

Kabbalists

don't mean this in any derogatory

I Jo intend

the universe by means of the numbers one through letters

to be beyond

of the Jewish

 rhe Alchemical

The 32  Mystical Paths

twenty-two

practices

(Major Trends in Jew-

ish Mysticism,   page   77.)

The   Sepher Y etzirah   describes

the   Sepher Yetzirah   line by line.

I don't intend to go through

and added the then cur-

give much later dates for the actual writing down of the book.

tradition,

75

Th e   Sepher Yetzirah  and Franz Bardon

Tree of Life

of 

  Jews from Spain   (1492), Joseph Taitazak declared alchemy

hc identical with the divine wisdom of the Kabbalah.

I"

I,   ,Ill say with certainty I'r//im h

is that there are references

that are generally

,h\curity

disappears

once

referred their

to as obscure alchemical

What

in the  Sepher  and whose

meanings

are

78

The Tao

& the

In the Year (time), there times. The hot is created the temperate

Tree of Life

is the hot, cold, and temperate

from Fire, the cold from Water, and 

from Air.

In the Soul, male and female (humankind), created

from Fire, the belly (abdomen)

the head is

from Water, and the

chest from Air. In Chapter above,

Water

decides

2, Sec. 1 and again at 6:2, it is stated "Fire is is below

between

and Air of Breath

them."

Then,

"And a sign of this thing appears

to contradict

that

most

mysterious

in that fire supports

line,

water," which

the previous line that fire is above and 

Water  descending to cauldron

water below.

 Kan and Li Alchemical How

do we explain

Chapter

inversion

3, Sec. 2 (Long Version)

contemplate

that fire supports

Taoist Alchemy

recognize

the K an and  Li alchemical and  L i   is Chinese Kabbalistic

states: "Know, think

and 

students

of 

this to be the basic formula for all exercises. K an   is Chinese

for Fire. Normally,

systems,

of the elements?

water." Advanced

Fire ascending to cauldron

Fire descending left side channel

Formulas

this sudden

Water  ascending  back  channel

Fire descending front channel

is the rule that

The Side Thrusting Route Method 

The Front and Back  Method 

for Water 

in both the Taoist and 

Fire is in the upper part of the body and 

water is in the lower part of the body. For the Kabbalists, Fire in the head, the letter Shin, and Water

it is

in the abdomen,

the letter Mem. For Taoists, it is Fire in the heart and Water in the genital region. The Ka n and  Li   formula reverses the position elements.

The Fire element

and the Water element until the Water  brought

down from the heart

upwards

from the genitals

is above the Fire. The two elements

together.

into the cauldron

is brought

is brought

of these two

A cauldron

is pictured.

The

are then

Water

goes

and the Fire is placed below the cauldron

Figure 21 :  Kan   and Li Formulas

80

The Tao

heating

it up. Eventually,

& the

The   Sepher Yetzirah   and Franz Bardon

Tree of Life

the Water begins to boil and steam

shaman

should be obvious: Fire in the Upper World, Water

is given off. This steam is one form of what is referred to as an

the Lower World,

inner alchemical

that at least part of the   Sepher Yetzirah   appears

agent.

To return to the   Sepher Yetzirah, it is now obvious what the  phrase

"and fire supports

water" means. It is the basic univer-

sal formula for internal alchemy. the Chinese Alchemy.

It doesn't belong anymore

than it does to the Jews. It is the Basic Formula of 

I just wanted

to point out that it is in the  Sepher Yet-

 zi ra h. I've never seen any mention

in any book of commentary

that this was so. But, it is there and, somewhere this was taught, most favorable

but the line of teachers condition

the free exchange

of information.

in Kerhonkson,

unknown ancient

in the West. oriental

counterpart

secret

in antiquity,

disappeared.

of living in these modern

New

One

K an and  Ii   at a summer 

York, this

information

And now, as so often tradition

is found

was

happens,

an

to have an exact

in the West. Fire supports Water. Since Abraham,

the alleged author of the  Sepher Yetzirah,   was knowledgeable the mysteries

of the Middle

tion of alchemy

is roughly

of 

East and Egypt, (a literal transla"the Egyptian

seem likely that the alchemical  before the time of Abraham.

matter")

it would 

formula was being practiced 

Taoist Alchemy

is reputed

to be

over 6,000 years old, at least 2,200 years before the birth of  Abraham.

Perhaps

there

is a common

over ancient trade routes between

source

here,

some ancient

and Air in the Middle

shamanic

carried 

the Middle East and China.

 No one will ever really know.

So what are we to make of all this? Aside from the alchemy, Lower, and Middle

to derive from

Remember

year old  hom o sapiens   bones

chapter

of this book were found in Israel. There

son to believe

that the shamanic

to the time of the birth of modern advanced

concept

mentioned

tradition

that the

in the first is good rea-

goes back at least

man. It is likely that a more

of life, the universe and the spiritual world 

was one of the major differences en s and the earlier Neanderthal

the later  hom o sapi-

between man.

 Franz Bardon But still, so what if there is an alchemical

and shamanic

Worlds of th

foun-

dation to the   Sepher Yetzirah?   The answer is that these aspects have been lost by later interpreters. entire outline

of a very elaborate

The

book contains

alchemical-shamanic

an

based 

system. Few writers or scholars seem to be aware of this. One  person who was learned don, a German

in just such a tradition

Kabbalist

and hermeticist

Illost remarkable

man, he revealed

hooks a magical

universe

unlike

was Franz Bar-

who died in 1958. A

in his three

anything

completed 

previously

pub-

li~hed in their openness

and desire to provide the means and 

('xplanations

the mysteries.

to explore

 I'f le Q uab ba la h

(Dieter Ruggeberg,

Illllg and totally

unique

His book   T h e K e y to th e

1957) is an absolutely

approach

to the subject

stun-

matter.

vc-ars, I could not fathom the source of his information.

 Lost Traditions of the Sephir Yetzirah to the Upper,

World. We can see

90,000

With the publication

the analogy

based tradition.

in

times is

Until 1983, when Mantak 

Chia first taught Lesser Enlightenment retreat

to

81

Then,

of Aryeh Kaplan's   SeJer Yetzirah in 1990, I

WoI~finally able to put some pieces of the puzzle together. rliT   Yetzirah,

  Aryeh

V('lsions of existing

For 

Kaplan

actually

translates

In

four different

texts into English. One version known as

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

82

the Short

Version (because

tains correspondences the Hebrew

it's shorter

than the others)

for the remaining

alphabet

nineteen

(other than the Three

of all the correspondences

found

that almost

the correspondences

the Double

[n the Short Version,

the letter "P" (the equivalent right

nostril.

This happens

twenty-two inverted

Hebrew and

two

A

~

Yes

Lungs (Chest) Chest

in the

B

:: l

Yes

Right Eye

G

J

,

Yes

Left Eye

Left Eye

Yes

Right Ear 

Right Ear 

il

Yes

Right Arm

Right Hand 

remarkable

D

con-

H

in the Gra version of the  Sepher Yetzirah,

Letter "Peh" corresponds

 

in mankind with the left

F

with the left

Right Eye

(Hand) ,

Yes

Left Hand

 

Left Hand  

(Arm)

it's the right nostril. In Bardon,

Z

1

No

of "Peh") corresponds

CH

n

Yes

Left Leg

Left Foot (Leg)

r 

t!l

Yes

Right Kidney

Right Kidney

Yes

Left Kidney

Left Kidney

Left Ear 

in eighteen

letters. are

YETZIRAH BARDON   SEPHIR 

  MATCH

and 

how different

ear, while in the Long Version "Peh" corresponds nostril.

CORRESPONDENCES ENGLISHHEBREW

in the various versions could be, I found 

that Bardon and the Short Version presented For instance,

 

I had made a

short version of the   Sepher Yetzirah. Considering

sistency.

Comparison of Bardon and Sepher Yetzirah (short version)

of 

Letters)

in Bardon's Quabbalah

all matched

the correspondences

letters

Mother

that differ in the whole from the other versions. chart

con-

Of

different.

the

out of the possible other

The

with the

four,

overall

two

are

I

connection

,

Right Leg

K 

~

Yes

I

?

No

the short version of the   Sepher Yetzirah   is not to be denied. Yet,

M

0

Yes

there are certain

N

J

No

.,

0

Yes

()

))

Yes

Throat

Throat

Into Hermetics

I'

~

Yes

Righ t Nos tril

R igh t Nos tril

from a course of study

It

i

Yes

Left Nostril

Left Nostril

II

l)

Yes

Solar Plexus

Solar Plexus

 between

the two books,

Bardon's Key to the True Quabbalah

differences.

and 

Bardon's system had added cer-

that are not mentioned

in the  Sepher Yet-

 zi ra h   such as color. But, there is no question

that much of his

tain correspondences Quabbalah (Dieter

as well as his first book   Initiation

Ruggeberg,

1956) are derived

 based on the   Sepher Yetzirah.   Bardon claims that the system is thousands

of years

old and

that

it does

"Sepher jetzirah". In order

derive

from

the

to make progress

with the   K e y t o t he T ru e Q u a b -

Spleen

Liver 

Abdomen

Abdomen

Liver  

Gall

Spleen  

Gall

 p

Yes

'.It

il}

Yes

Brain

Head  

IA V

n

No

 

Mouth

(

 

 

Left Ear   

 

Stomach

 

Stomach

balah,   the student must first have mastered most of the lesson in Bardon's

first book   Initiation

large part with mastering

into Hermetics,   which deals in

the elements.

1-

Figure 22: Comparing systems from Franz Bardon and the   Sepher Yetzirah

84

I propose

that this system is closer in nature to the origi-

of the S ep her Y etz;r a h ,   as it was orally transmitted 

nal intent

long before it was ever written

original

and

Kabbalistic

meaning

outlook

became

lost. This

Hassidic

of sixteenth-century the

twelfth,

completely

popular 

by little

is particularly

interpretations

true in

as well as those

Issac Luria and the classic Kabbalists

thirteenth,

and

fourteenth

missing is the original

centuries,

oral tradition.

etc.,

of  but

The reason

for this is that it was lost. The very fact that Bardon's work is so different

from other

many

to Taoist

ways

ancient

system

have a remnant

interpretations, Internal

yet is so similar

Alchemy,

itself, leads me to believe of the original

 provides

food

for thought

approach

to the teachings

 basically

universal

clopedic

knowledge

tradition

which

in

is a very

that we may well here. In any case, it

and a practical

and methodical

of the S ep h er Y etz;ra h.   This system is

in approach of Hebrew

and doesn't mysticism

require

them as text, number,

Year, and quantity,

Soul,

respectively,

Based on a knowledge Alchemy, Mother

when

an ency-

to understand.

We are being

of Bardon's system and Taoist Internal of the Three

with letters,

drops away.

We are told that the universe was

numbers, the Three

and sounds (speech).

called

collectively

Aryeh

Kaplan states that the letters, numbers

Sepharim,

These ar'

or Three

of 

from which

the S ep her Y etzir a h   was composed,

Books.

and sounds (h

and numbers sound

is also a

key to the mysteries. Then,

in Chapter

2: I ,   we are told Mem hums, Shin hisses

and Aleph is the breath of air mediating is the beginning

of the training

learn the sound of the Three m-m-m-m;

between

with the Three Mothers.

Shin is hissed: sh-h-h-h-h;

them. This

Elements.

We

Mem is hummed:

m-

and Aleph

is sounded 

like a breath of air: ah-h-h-h-h. We now learn to associate "'ih-h-h-h-h

each sound with its element:

with fire and heat, m-m-m-m-m

(;old, and ah-h-h-h-h  pt:rature. These

with air and a neutral,

exercises

tllne. The student

must be developed

must actively

with water and  temperate

tem-

over a period

of 

imagine that when he makes

for instance, practice,

the two other elements,

that he actually

feels heat.

he will feel heat; likewise,

until the sound is fully linked to

the proper temperature. The next step is to associate (1Ilresponding

I:I of the S ep her Y etzir a h   there is a further refer-

ence to the number Three.

the aspects

told that aside from the letters

Aller time and continued

to our discussion

Letters; Universe,

and represent

The Power of Sound 

lor 

Letters, some of the mystery

In Chapter created

of the Three

we return

corre-

quality, and communication.

the sound sh-h-h-h-h,

 Further Mysteries  Mother Letters

and communication)

its

in his S eIe r Y etzira h.   He gives us

Aryeh Kaplan's commentaries eighteenth-century

and little

translates

spond to the three divisions of the Mother

down. Later writers tended to

the S ep h er Y etz; ra h   in terms of the current

interpret  philosophic

85

Th e   Sepher Yetzirah   a n d F r an z B a rd o n

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

part of the body:

each sound with the proper  sh-h-h-h-h

,1hh-h-h with the chest, and m-m-m-m-m

with the head,

with the abdomen.

When we make these sounds, we can feel their effect in these "IOUS

  parts of the body. This process

1.10ist exercise

Six Healing

Sounds.

is quite similar to the With

the Six Healing

'"lnds, various organs are calmed, relaxed, and cooled down

86

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 by use of the various sounds. With the Three Mother

Sounds,

we are dealing with the more generally

defined

head,

call them the 'Three

chest,

Healing

and abdomen.

We could

until the student

the head, a neutral temperature abdomen

when sounding

The sounding the student Warmer). internal

into

abdomen

to descend

(as

As the consciousness

in the

and 

from the

Taoist

Triple

also promotes

moves

down

to meditation,

effect

With

is momentary.

the

is a cessation

of the constant

scious mind will generally quiet in here." Practice the habitual

presence

of consciousness

into the abdomen,

chatter

this effect can be quite startling

is cut off. At first, this point

from the head and lowered

The student

of the "chatterbox"

like "it's so

in the mind that

can be quite frightening.

for the self. It is not. It is merely interference

sooner it is brought

under control,

 balance

as well as where the elements

It

and the

the sooner the student

can

make further progress.

the elements

differed

a major part of his   Initiation

in structure

exercises.

all these exercises

By lowering

the consciousness

into the abdomen,

Alchemy. we enter 

in that

Earth is seen as a separate element,

whereas in the   Sepher Yetzi-

rah,   Earth is seen as being created

from Water and is not seen

istic theory,

in that in Kabbal-

the universe was seen as having been created

four stages. These

in

are referred to as the Four Worlds of Atzi-

luth, Briah, Yetzirah and Assiah. Assiah is the physical universe Yetzirah is the world of formation

Yesod) that underlies ilnd thus no element

what is generally

(akin to

referred to as the real there is no solidity

Earth. It is only in Assiah that solidity

takes place and Earth exists as a separate element. In the   Sepher Yetzirah   every one of the twenty-two letters mother

corresponds letters

.1nd abdomen, I.etters, there I.etters.

It

mirror Taoist Internal

This westernized 

from the   S e p h e r Y e t z ir a h

with a body

part or organ.

respectively.

In addition

are also the Seven Double

Each of these

resembles

Hebrew The

three

S h i n , A l e p h , and  M em refer to the head, chest,

letters

a student's

outline

to the Three

Mother 

and Twelve Simple

also referred

the   S e p h e r Y e t z ir a h

tions of what to do with the information.

In effect,

to

in the body. I've just set out a few of 

 parts. Unfortunately,

 Balancing the Elements

are

exercises of the   Sepher Yetzirah   are designed

'nto H erm etics   to various element system

of the

are gath-

for the Lesser Enlightenment.

The element

is so used to

feels as if a part of you is dying. This internal dialogue is often mistaken

ered in the Fusion exercises inverted

the exercise

begins and where the elements

world or Assiah. In the world of Yetzirah

and his con-

take over with thoughts

when it turns off, the experience

Orbit

(akin to Malkuth).

there

in the brain. However,

to the student

is required.

of the lower    T a n T i en ,   where

Microcosmic

as a separate element. This can be explained

to the

the internal dialogue that so many students experi-

ence as an interference removed

Letters also serves

The letters are slowly pronounced

the

the realm

them here. Franz Bardon devotes

This mantra, sh-h-h-a-a-h-h-m-m-m, silence.

abdomen,

out the letters.

allows his consciousness

down

can feel heat in

in the chest, and cold in the

out of the Three Mother

as a form of mantra. head

body parts of 

Sounds."

The work must continue

87

Th e   Sepher Yetzirah   a n d F r an z B a rd o n

to various

body

is devoid of instrucIt often seems that

notes culled down to the bare

('~sentials rather than a transcription

of the full original teach-

Ings. The need for secrecy in ancient times was probably IInderlying

the

reason for this. A simple first reading of the   Sepher 

90

itself. The commentaries

that do exist generally

Sepher Yetzirah   in terms of the currently interpretation

which changed

interpret

acceptable

the

Hebraic

many times down through

the

centuries.

 Zo har    that follows the order found in one version of the   Sepher  Yetzirah.   Hebrew

The system set out by Franz Bardon in   The Key to the True Quab-

balah.   is vastly different

from any known

Hebraic

interpreta-

tion, yet it is similar in many ways to Taoist Yoga. Bardon sets out a complete  background

course of training.

that is so prevalent

He removes

the scriptural

in all other commentaries.

leaves us with a system that can be used by anyone,

He

not just

devout Jews. This is not to say that the system is easy, it is just accessible

to a wider variety

said for Taoist Yoga, although teachings

are available

of people.

its background

is Chinese,

be its

to everyone.

The Bardon system is a Western was German

The same could

Kabbalistic

and his books were originally

He seems to be much better known then to those in England

one. Bardon

written in German.

to European

or America.

Kabbalists

His book on Kabbalah

is an intensive course of training using the letters of the alpha bet as its basis. This is the German

alphabet

which

includes

letters such as Ch, Oe and Sh which do not exist as independent letters

in the English

translations

of Hebrew

and Sh). However,

alphabet.

letters

Some mirror

phonetic

such as Cheth

and Shin (Ch

there are obvious accretions

to the system,

if it is in fact based on ancient   Sepher Yetzirah   sources. For instance,

color plays a major part in Bardon's system.

Each letter is assigned a color in the first step of the practice. Yet the   Sepher Yetzirah   never mentions

color. However

Aryeh

Kaplan states at page 174 of his  SeJer Yetzirah   that a tradition color

for the planets

and the sephiroth

of 

can be found in The

often

meditated

Exactly

when

to the sephiroth.

assigned

to each letter is unknown.

color

System

Kabbalists

assigned connection

The Bardon Kabbalistic

91

The   Sepher Yetzirah   and Franz Bardon

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

Color

on the color  the colors

were

is a most obvious

and being able to visualize a letter in a particular 

is an excellent

Kabbalistic

schools

and the sephiroth. or ritual. The Taoists

meditational

device.

All the Western

had color correspondences

for the letters

It is a basic tool for building assigned

a meditation

colors to the five elements

and in

turn to the internal organs. The Taoist universe contained ors for the Earth, though,

the planets

and the stars. On the whole,

color is less important

to the Taoists or the Hebrew

Kabbalists,

where it functions

it is to the Western

Kabbalist

In Bardon's system

more as an aid to practice, where its function

the practitioner

colors to the individual exercises

with

than

is essential.

first learns to assign

letters of the alphabet,

is light blue, B is light violet, different

col-

for instance

A

and C is red. A series of four 

the color

and the

letter

are per-

formed. First the student

learns to "see" the color in his whole

 body.

is assigned

ments.

Next

each

Mirroring

Letters, those

letter

the   Sepher Yetzirah   and the Three

letters

ized in the head,

to one of the four ele-

assigned

those

to the fire element

assigned

Mother 

are visual-

to air are visualized

in the

chest, and those to water in the abdomen.

Bardon works with

the earth element

Letters assigned

earth are practiced

as the fourth element.

from the coccyx (tail bone)

to

down to the

soles of the feet. The next series of exercises

assigns each letter and color 

to a particular

in large part follow the corre-

spondences

body part. These in the short version

these exercises use the visualizing

of the   Sepher Yetzirah. All of  abilities of the student.

92

The Tao &the Tree of Life

 Next the student letter is sounded

learns to "pronounce"

at a particular

that A is sounded

the letters. Each

note on the music scale. So

in the pitch of note C, B in note A, C in

note D, and so on. Basically the exercise proceeds student

combines

so that the

both the sound of the letter and the color 

and repeats the previous exercise of hearing the note and seeing the color  proper

letter in 1) his whole

of each

elemental

The

third

to associate

ter A, which corresponds

Kabbalistic

correspondence.

ment

would

water

element

learned,

of warmth

and a

of chill.

student

now

combines

all the exercises

(as a Kabbalist).

Once

this is and 

cally for them. Once a student

has reached

any letter in a tri-polar has truly become he can control

is able to actually

pronunciation

is

use the letters

actually

revolves

around

exercises

are within the province

all auditory

exercises

the Three

Mother  of 

are subject to the Air 

and the feeling exercises are subject to the Water ele-

ment. In effect, almost the entire course of study is based on

on the principles

but there are no exercises

manner,

a Kabbalist.

given specifi-

the point where he no longer

he can use

is a student but

He is literally a force of nature,

the elements

and the letters that Cod used to

create and form the universe.

He is the Master of the Word.

m atioll or    T h e B o o k o f C r e a ti ol l.

Bardon

as either the   B o o k o f F o r gives us a method

to

apply these terms literally so that the   5epher Yetzirah is seen not as some ancient

philosophy,

but as a vibrant

system of tnl"

creative knowledge. Unfortunately, Franz Bardon died before he could writ, •.  1  planned

book on alchemy.

Will of Divine Providence.

As he would have said, it   Wil\ II I' Few Western

Kabbalists

  hllY(' l'V("

heard of him. But, more than anyone else I have ever   ell(

01111

tered,

  .11111

he provided

Western

Kabbalah

a true bridge

between

and Taoist Yoga.

(heat, chill, weighti-

Bardon's system is very complex. The training

All visualizing

the Fire element,

element

It is not until this Tri-polar

that the student

above

of the ten sephiroth,

Bardon calls this Tri-polar or Tri-elemental

mastered

Obviously,

Bardon has one short chapter

sees the letter's color, hears it at its correct

creatively

element

with the fire ele-

a feeling

 pronunciation.

corre-

as a feeling of 

with

ness, or lightness).

Elements.

is experienced as a feeling

and feels it at its proper

outlined

is experienced 

letter

simultaneously  pitch,

feeling.

The letter B, which

a letter that corresponds

be experienced

the

begins

Thus, the let-

with the air element,

with the earth element, Likewise,

training

each letter with a certain

as a feeling of ease or lightness. weight.

the elements.

The   5epher Y etzirah   has been translated

This is based on its elemental

sponds

ar legs), and 

organ.

step in Bardon's

with learning

2)   in its

body,

region (head, chest, abdomen,

3) in its corresponding

93

The   Sepher Yetzirah   and Franz Bardon

r--J

the Hebrew

The Tao and the Tree

T

he heart of the Western the chapter

the ten sephiroth, from the fin two Hebrew

Kabbalah

on the Structure

is the Tree of Life. In

of the Universe,

or vessels, which

contain

I outlined 

the emanations

S oph. These ten sephiroth along with the twentyletters make up the thirty-two

paths of the Tree

of Life. The original source of the thirty-two section of the Sepher Yetzirah: (Chap.

paths is the opening I,   Sec. I):

In thirty-two mystical paths of wisdom did Yah, the Lord of Hosts, the God of  Israel, the living God, King of the Universe, El Shaddai, merciful and  gracious, most high and exalted, Dwelling in eternity, Whose name is Holy, most lofty and holycreate the Universe with numbers, letters and sound.

95

T h e T a o &t h e T r e e o f   L i f e

96

(Sec. II):

Ten sephiroth out of nothingness Twenty-two are the letters, the foundation of all things." Basically, the work of the Western and master these thirty-two

Kabbalist

is to learn

paths. As a system, the ten sephi-

roth are the basic building blocks with the twenty-two forming

paths connecting

these twenty-two

paths to travel from sephirah

There are different  by different accepted

them. The Kabbalist

groups

version

to sephirah.

versions of these pathways

and authors,

developed

letters

moves along developed 

but the most commonly

by the Golden

Dawn looks like

Figure 23.

The Golden Dawn The information Western

contained

Kabbalism.

teenth-century

in this diagram forms the basis of 

In modern

times, it was the late nine-

mystical organization,

the Golden

Dawn, that

first taught its initiates about this Tree of Life. The founders of  the Golden Germany

Dawn claim to have gotten their information via German

a bookshop guarded

manuscripts

in England.

purchased

In any case,

from

second-hand

the information

with utmost secrecy and new members

in was

of the Golden

Dawn were sworn to strict oaths of silence. This silence was  broken

in   1909 when a former member

Crowley,

began

 bi-annual

publication

 by MacGregor any further  judges

publishing Mathers,

the Golden

in his

Dawn's leader, to prevent

of the group's

to recognize

sense" and dismissed

Dawn's secrets

The Equinox. In   1910 Crowley was su'ed 

publication

refused

the Golden

of the group, Aleister 

secrets.

The

English

any right

to protect

this "non-

the case. Crowley

continued

to publish Figure 23: Kabbalistic Tree of Life

98

The Tao

and eventually  published

of these oft-time

Israel Regardie

of the Golden Dawn in a mon-

Kabbalah

misguided

is derived from the work 

pioneers,

Golden

new member required

Dawn was a fraternal

would

teachings

move

and techniques

ship was by invitation with

sephiroth.

up the

The

As a member Malkuth,

Hod, Netzach I won't  been written more

reflected

the next grade

by mastering

A the

Member-

by Mr. Regardie.

important

aspects

mastery

of the lowest of Yesod then

Many correspondences would

be learned.

of all the grades;

and that book has already

Rather, I shall describe some of  and show their

correlation

of the group

to

He would

cards

of the major

which

study

the Tarot.

arcana

As he progressed

he

them.

in turn corresponds

met-

Kabbalism,

this may

is certainly

in order.

here is a change

usually solo or guided times thrown tenth

the

This

of these

The

to

method

is

with a little ritual some-

how would we travel from Malkuth,

The path from Malkuth The thirty-second

to Yesod,

the ninth

path has many correspondences

path. that the

It is very simi.

lar to the shamanic

journey

Malkuth

the Earth, Yesod is the Moon. The path

symbolizes would

sexuality

begin

by descending

symbolized

the Zodiac

into the

by the Moon.

The traveller

there. The most convenient

would be to meditate

descends

the and  to

way to begin

path and use this as a gateway. called the World.

This is

In most versions

by the twelve signs of 

and in each of the four corners

animal symbolizing

air, and earth.

Earth,

on the Tarot card assigned 

of this card, we see a woman encircled different

in the first chapter.

Yesod is the realm of the subconscious

find what is hidden the journey

described

the

sephirah?

to Yesod is the thirty-second

can use to guide him on his journey.

the Tarot card generally

to one of the paths connecting

of consciousness.

sephirah,

to the thirty-second

letter,

Dawn.

props, etc. Stripped

meditations

work of the Golden

to a Hebrew

in the Golden

in for good measure.

and "lowest"

traveller

a path? It is not the same

the work can be done alone. What is attempting

letters and sephiroth

Each of the twenty-two

corresponds

into a grade

great ritual, costumes,

Lower World. the Hebrew

Dawn was done by ritual, so he would learn the rituals of each grade.

required

initiated

typically

and the paths connecting

for the Hebrew

Much

so an example

is meant by travelling

So, for instance,

would first learn about the elements,

would learn of the sephiroth

as being

 be done

mastery

and the signs of the Zodiac.

What exactly

"climb" the

The Training of a Western Kabbalist letters,

the planets,

 Pathworking

he would

Taoist Yoga.

A Neophyte

all sound quite confusing,

on the ten

description

book,

of alchemy,

names were also mastered.

To those not familiar with Western

based

and so on up to Kether.

take an entire

The basic principles

als, God and Archangel

trappings,

were

progressed,

go into a detailed

that would

ranks

of each grade.

grades

Tree. The first grade Zelator sephiroth

type organization.

only. He or she would start as a Neo-

no grade.

sephiroth.

Franz Bardon being a

exception.

The

the

secretary

99

The Tao and the Tree

with no great surprise, The Golden Dawn.

work entitled,

Most modern Western

 phyte

Tree of Life

in 1937 his one-time

the entire curriculum

umental

notable

&the

of the card is a

the four elements;

fire, water,

100

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

Meditating on the card should set off different trains of  thought, be it about the Zodiac, the elements, or the woman.

The Tao and the Tree

101

The Western Kabbalist has a whole battery of internal energy exercises that rival anything

in Taoist Yoga. Aside

Yesod is the realm of the lower astral plane which is simply the

from using the Tree of Life for mentally travelling the paths,

realm of imagination as opposed to the upper astral which

techniques

requires actual out-of-body

 body were developed. Energy, in the form of light or whirling

along the thirty-second

travelling. A successful journey

path should free the traveller of the

shackles of the earth and leave him or her free to imaginatively explore the realms of the unconscious. At the end of the journey, the traveller should feel light and gentle and refreshed. Each path and each Tarot card symbolizes a different aspect of the Kabbalist's journey from darkness into light. The

for visualizing the thirty-two

paths within the

 balls of light are moved up and down the paths.

The Middle Pillar Exercise The most basic of these techniques is the Middle Pillar exercise. The Middle Pillar (see Figure 24)   runs up the middle of 

Kabbalist's ascent up the Tree of Life should be orderly. Each  path must be mastered in order. The higher he climbs the more mystical the symbolism becomes. All aspects of the per-

Kether 

sonality must be balanced out. The dark side of his nature must be overcome. The dual nature of sexuality must be assimilated, for each of us has a masculine and feminine nature within us. Ultimately, the goal is union with the Godhead-Kether,

which to a Taoist would be the same as merg-

Tiphareth

ing with the   Tai Chi  where all exists in a state as yet undivided  into male or female,   yang or   yin, positive or negative. The structure of Western Kabbalism is quite different from Taoist Yoga. There is more dogma, more correspon-

Yesod 

dences and ritual, but the end results are often quite consistent. At the higher levels, the two systems are virtually interchangeable. There are many Kabbalistic practices that are quite similar to Taoist Yoga. Early in the practice, relaxation techniques are learned. Just as in the Taoist Inner Smile exercises, various internal organs and body parts are visualized and relaxed  through the use of concentration imagination.

Malkuth

and the active use of th Figure 24: The Middle Pillar 

10 2

The Tao and the Tree

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

the body. taught

It is quite similar to the Thrusting

in Fusion II, described

The Middle

the sephiroth

the center of the body; Kether, lIphareth, Daath,

that run down

and Binah, from the lower seven sephiroth.

aration was known as the Abyss. Daath, experience

to cross the Abyss. However,

work, we are not dealing

locations

of 

for the purpose

on the body, so this need not concern

The exercise of light

the knowledge

with a spiritual

about

more correctly

combines

visualizing

six inches vibrating

in diameter the God-name

region

of 

Then, the

name

slowly

is vibrated

sound.

heart

and

solar

plexus.

as balls

and pronouncing appropriate

or 

to each

to fill the entire

After a few minutes, The God-name cheye.".The

we move the glowing

(pronounced

We now vibrate

This

is lIphareth.

and

so that

rhythmically.

it is concentrated

itself. It is pronounced Eventually,

no actual external

With

Sounds

import. The primary difference vibrated

in the sephiroth

vibrated

in specific organs.

of Taoist

("EI-oh-ah

the shaft of light descends

to the

and a ball of light is visualized

is Shaddai

EI Chai (pronounced

"ch" is pronounced

there.

"Shad-eye

with a guttural

sound

EIas in

is formed

and the divine

"Ah-don-eye

to the feet where a ball

name Adonay

Ha-ah-retz")

Ha Aretz

is vibrated.

sounding

out

practice,

the

around the body in exercises that are quite similar to the basic

directly

in the

The

next

Microcosmic

phase

Orbit

involves

circulating

and the supplemental

energy

in and 

energy exercises

of 

Fusion III.

humming

so that there

is

sound. This part of the exercise closely mir-

rors the Six Healing

name

cise.

in a low almost

it can be done subvocally

The

This is the Middle Pillar, but it is not the end of the exer-

the God-name

"eh-hey-yeh"),

shaft of 

Loch Ness and the "eye" as in the visual organ).

As we concentrate

on it, it grows

neck 

the name

several times.

here is Yod He Vav He Eloah Va Daath

region of the genitals

the sephiroth

we visualize

front to back. Vibrate

fashion,

during of times,

Va Dah-ot").

a brilliant ball of light at the to,p of 

Eheieh (pronounced

syllable

sephirah

in similar

vibrated

Abyss, only

us.

that expands

from top to bottom,

of light

and glows brighter.

for Kether, each

light

Here, at Daath,

Finally, the shaft of light descends

the head. This is Kether. stronger

the throat.

a number

light down the chest and form a ball of light in the region of 

sephirah. We begin by picturing

on Kether,

down the middle of the

Yod He Vav He Elohim (EI-Io-heem)

This sep-

acquired by the Kabbalist over years of practice that

is required energy

Kether,

which means knowl-

edge, exists within the Abyss. It represents

concentration

a shaft of light moving

a ball of glowing

philoso-

the three upper divine sephiroth,

we visualize

head until it reaches

Yesod and Malkuth.

that is also used in the exercise. In Kabbalistic

Chokmah

a few minutes

which the divine name Eheieh is repeated

at the level of the throat is the non-sephirah,

 phy, Daath separates

After

is

earlier in this book.

Pillar connects

In addition,

Route which

103

We direct our concentration our head 'nergy

and we inhale

down

the front

breath.

back to Kether at the top of  As we exhale,

of the head,

direct

the

neck, torso, abdomen,

Yoga in design

and 

being that the God-names

are

,md legs to the feet. With the next inhalation

are

energy is raised up the back of the legs, up the spine to the

while the Six Healing

Sounds

lOp of the head. This cycle is repeated

of breath,

a few times.

the

The Tao and the Tree

 Next,  breath,

105

from the top of the head,

the energy

to the feet. Then,

is directed

with an exhalation

of 

down the left side of the body

with an inhalation,

it is directed

up the

right side of the body to the top of the head. The final part of the exercise begins by directing centration  breath,

to the soles of the

the energy

feet. With

is drawn up the center tube.

the con-

an inhalation

of 

of the legs, up the

Middle

Pillar, as if up a hollow

When

the

reached

the top of the head, we exhale and the energy is pro-

 pelled out of the top of our head and falls around fountain

of water.

The

around us. It is gathered with an inhalation

descending

energy

energy us like a

fills in the aura

back into the feet for another

round 

of breath.

The Middle Pillar exercise connects

energy routes within

the body as well as filling in the aura around the body. Com pleting

the aura is stressed

in Taoist Yoga as well, beginning

with the Fusion exercises. The aura is an energy field that surlOunds the body. Usually, it is pictured ions to seal the body's energy

I

 protect The

it from external Western

as egg-shaped.

It func-

fields from leakage

and to

negative energy.

Kabbalist

will continue

to learn

to open

(Oncrgyroutes in the body based on the Tree of Life diagram. He 1\,

in effect, building or growing a Tree of life within himself 

hn:   Figure 25).

 rlre Li gh tn in g Flash an d  h e   Serpent's   Path IInple exercise for moving energy quickly down the 11 It!"

Figure 25: The Tree in Man

Lightning

IH-I~Y

Flash. In this exercise,

the Kabbalist

in the form of a bolt of lightning

manifest

ill1ll/ollll

f"olll   0111

"I

IIthingness   (Ayin)   and enter the top of the head ~t   l'I'i1,. I

106

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

Binah

The Tao and the Tree The ten sephiroth out of ayin [nothing] have the appearance of the lightning flash. Their origin is unseen and no end is perceptible. The word is in them as they rush forth and as they return.

Chokmah

In the Serpent's

Path,

the energy

slowly than in the Lightning

Chesed 

Geburah

107

sephiroth

flows upward

more

Flash and seems to encircle

as it passes them rather

than shoot

the

right through

them. Hod 

With these two exercises,

 Netzach

from above

and below

we are learning to draw energy

and move

it through

Taoist Yoga, we learn similar exercises

the body.

In

in the Fusion practices.

These types of exercises become crucial in the Kan and Li formulas especially formulas.

in the Greater

In these

exercises,

and Greatest energy

Enlightenment

is spiraled

down

Figure 26: Lightning Flash

From there down

it quickly

to Chokmah

travels

to the remaining

at the right shoulder

at the left shoulder.  plexus-heart

region,

Chokmah

on the right side of the head, across to

Binah on the left side of the head. Then,  body to Chesed

sephiroth,

Next,

down

down and across the

and across to Geburah

to lIphareth

down to Netzach

at the solar 

at the right hip, across

to Hod at the left hip, down to Yesod at the level of the genitals and, finally, straight an excellent reverse

from

exercise Malkuth

formed upward, The Section

I!II

source

down to Malkuth

for grounding upward

energy.

to Kether.

it is known as the Serpent's for these

exercises

6 of the   The Sepher Yetzirah:

Geburah

Hod 

at the feet. This is It can be done in When

it is per-

Path.

are found

in Chapter 

I,

Figure 27: Serpent's Path

from

T h e T a o a n d t h e T r ee

109

above (the universal plane) and into the body (see Figure 28) and spiraled upward from below (the earth plane) and into the body (see Figure 29). The Taoists also spiral energy in

Energy spirals down and enters  body at center of 

horizontally at the point just above the bridge of the nose (the human plane) and draw this energy into the third eye

skull-Pa; Hu;

(see Figure 30).

The 32 Paths and the 32  Meridians

k 3

The great similarity between Western Kabbalism and Taoist Yoga should be more obvious now. Eventually, the Kabbalist

,~

t8

connect all thirty-two paths-the

~

two letters. He will be able to transfer his consciousness to

Energy s piral ' 3enters body ----.... at perineum Figure  28:  Energy Spiraling from Above

will be able to form the entire Tree of Life in his body and  ten sephiroth and twenty-

any point on his body and consciously move energy through any or all of the thirty-two paths. You realize how close the Taoist and Kabbalistic systems really are when you become

Figure  29:   Energy Spiraling from Below

aware that in Taoist Yoga there are a total of thirty-two energy meridians in the body that we open and pass energy through. Each system has exactly thirty-two paths of energy. In the Taoist system, we learn of the Governor and Functional Channels that make up the Microcosmic Orbit. In Fusion II, we open the Thrusting Route and Belt Channels-two

more

meridians. In Fusion III, we learn the four Positive and NegaEnergy spiral enters  body at third eye level

tive Arm and Leg Routes. In Lesser Enlightenment K a n and  L i, we learn of the six routes that begin in each hand and each foot, twelve left side, twelve right side, for a total of twentyfour meridians. Altogether, there are thirty-two routes. The same in each system. Isn't that convenient';)

Figure  30: Energy Spiraling Horizontally

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

110

The Tao and the Tree

The Goals of Taoist Yoga and  Western   Kabbalah It is time to stop and consider this. To what end? What Initially, on calming

century,

tures, breathing

exercises

are repeated

Kabbalah

work 

the body. To further

many Kabbalists including

adopted

stretching

this tradi-

and pos-

sexual yoga.

to make an impact on this group,

in the area of sex, which we will discuss in the next

chapter.

As time goes on, I'm certain this impact will increase.

Aleister

Crowley,

in his novel M ool1child,

as being the highest

to have known surprising.

adept. Crowley

spoke

of the Tao

himself

little of the actual Taoist training.

appears

This is not

Until Mantak Chia opened the door, the teachings

is balancing

goal of Taoist Yoga and Western

and harmonizing

Taoist Fusion 1 and 2. What elements

the emotions.

of the four elements;

techniques

This is learned in

the emotions.

is th

The Kab

for this. The student

fire, water, air, and earth.

learns to visualize the fire element silver crescent,

Kabbalism

is actually being balanced

in the body which control

 balists had numerous

learn

He or sh

as a red triangle,

water as .1

air as a deep blue circle, and earth as a yellow

~qllare. He or she learns exercises combining 11H""t~.As shown in the last chapter

two or more eI

on   The Sepher Yetzirah   1111&1

I  1 ,IIIZ Bardon, he learns to visualize the elements IIld    till II.l~ the teachings

are earth.

hard and practiced

diligently, we achieved good health in mind 

and body. This is ample reward for many practitioners. But, did I hear someone

out there say "I want more"? If so,

then you are ready for the higher mysteries.

The Higher Mysteries of Inner Alchemy For some,

knowledge

knowledge

is useless unless it can be used functionally.

become

in the bod,

more detailed,

he lenlll

tI',11 &1111"1('111  body parts and organs are controlled

by difl(l

itself is its own

raoist Yoga and Western ,dchemy.

Alchemy

level, alchemy

Kabbalism

I

are forms

Both

of internal

On a mundane

or hear something

\ign of success.

h.lI1ge which

simple changes What

1",Iell enlightenment

III\eS so many spiritual

being abl

to your emotional

are laborious

without

Something

of alchemy,

is to be avoided

is usually an indication

111I~is why the teachings

that suddenly

this is alchemy.

As we begin the practice

  cause seemingly

I

For others,

is going on all the time. If you are feeling sad 

lIlakes you smile and feel happy,

I"

reward.

simply means to change.

,lI1dthen you see something h,l~changed.

simply were not available. The second

wands are fire, cups are water, swords are

air, and disks or pentacles

and mantra yoga (where a word or 

over and over) and tantric

Taoist Yoga is just beginning

Master

each of the four suits represents

The two systems mirror each other. And if we have worked 

is the reward?

tional Indian Yoga techniques

 primarily

where we are going with all of 

the mind and healing

In the Tarot,

one of the elements;

both Taoist Yoga and Western

end in the twentieth

words

ent elements.

111

is sudden

of severe

state i radical

imbalanc~.

and methodical.

first conquering

To

the ego is what

leaders and gurus to take themselves

11&1 Iheir flock over the deep end. The best advice here is if  1Il'I'pic start telling you that you're acting crazy, listen to them ,dully. They may be right. rile higher

levels of Taoist Yoga and Western

hoth creative

and spiritual.

A Kabbalist

11111 l ' a letter or series of letters 'Ilhed

in the last chapter

who can pro-

in a Tri-polar

actually

controls

Kabbalah manner

as

the creative

112

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 power of those letters. Don't forget the quote from the  Sepher 

Y etzirah at the beginning of this chapter: "In thirty-two mystical paths of wisdom did Yah."create the universe with num bers, letters and sounds." This is serious and profound work; it is not mere idle chatter. As to the spiritual side, the aim of Taoist Yoga is to create

The Spirit Body

the Immortal Child mirrored by the Kabbalist's creation of a Body of Light. The ultimate goal is to merge this Immortal Child or Body of Light with Wu Chi  or  fin Soph-Nothingness.

The Energy Body and the Body of Light ~

The basic techniques for both systems are quite similar. An energy body is formed outside the physical body. Initially, it is done by imagination.

With practice, the energy body The Soul Body

grows stronger. Into this body the Kabbalist transfers the Tree of Life while the Taoist transfers the Microcosmic Orbit, the Thrusting Route, Belt Channels and, then, all the meridians. The Kabbalist calls this the Lower Astral Body; the Taoist calls it the Soul Body. After considerable practice, a second  energy body is created above the first energy body. The Kab.  balist will transfer his consciousness into this Higher Astral Body in which he can travel outside his physical body. The Taoist calls this second energy body the Spirit Body and it is again filled with the energy meridians. The KabbaIists call it

The Physical Body

the Body of Light (see Figure   31). But, the real secret has not been revealed yet. In the Kan and Li exercises, the student of Taoist Yoga actually forms an Immortal Child. within himself. This Immortal Child is care. fully grown and nurtured and then transferred first into th Soul Body and then after much work into the Spirit Body. I don't want to reveal the details at this time for fear that thos

Figure 31: The Energy Body

114

The Tao

&the

The Tao and the Tree

Tree of Life

unprepared would try to duplicate them. But I will give a brief  description. The process of building the energy body begins as an

115

its own. In the Sealing of the Five Senses, the cauldron is drawn to the brain. All the senses are sealed and complete consciousness is transferred to the immortal child. The Western

Kabbalists have somewhat similar tech-

advanced technique of the Fusion I exercises. In the Lesser  K an and  Li,   drawing from energies within the body, the Soul Body

niques, but they are not nearly as well defined as the Taoists'.

is created. In Greater  Ka n and  L i,  energy is drawn from outside

An immortal child results from a mystical marriage that takes

the body and the Spirit Body is created. As earlier stated, the  basic formula of alchemy is "fire supports water." Fire energy is

 place within the body. This immortal child is symbolized as either a fetus, a baby, or a hermaphrodite. In theory it's very

drawn from the heart in Lesser  K an and  L i.   In Greater Kan and 

similar to the Taoists, it's just surrounded with more mystical

Li, it is drawn from the Sun. In Greatest Ka n and  L i  it is drawn

trappings. However among the Kabbalists these higher levels

from the North Star. The fire is placed below the water energy and is called the Stove. The water energy is drawn from the genital region in Lesser  Ka n and  Li   and from the earth and  moon in Greater and Greatest Ka n and Li. The cold water  energy is raised above the stove and is visualized as being lowered into a cauldron which is heated by the stove. In Lesser  Ka n and  Li,   the cauldron is at the level of the navel (the Tan

lien). In Greater  Ka n and  Li,  it is raised to the solar plexus and  in Greatest Ka n and  L i  it is raised to the heart. The steam generated from the boiling cauldron is drawn to the genital region and mixed with the sexual energy found  there. The mixed steam and sexual energy is then raised up in the body. It is drawn to certain internal organs and the effect can only be described as having sex within the body. The  process is known as Self-Intercourse and has long been one of  the most closely guarded secrets of the Taoists. The organs  provide a seed (the liver in Lesser  K an and  L i   and the spleen in Greater). In Greater  Ka n and  Li   if successfully performed, the seed is actually impregnated and a spiritual fetus is created. In Greatest Ka n and  Li   the fetus matures and is transferred into the Spirit Body-but

it is not yet mature enough to go out on Figure 32: Traveling to the Celestial Realms

116

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

are often misunderstood Magick,

as symbols of various levels of Sexual

which is the topic of the next chapter.

The Western self within Guardian

the body

believe that there is an immortal

called

Angel. To connect

Knowledge The

Kabbalists

the Higher

and conversation

Body of Light

Self, or the Holy

with this Higher

Self and gain its

is called the Great Work.

is analogous

Taoist Yoga. The Kabbalist

to the Spirit Body of 

would transfer

to the Body of Light and travel to the upper worlds.

I have

found

analo-

nothing

in Western

gous to the Taoists there

are numerous

immortal spiritually

creation

These

that is directly

of an immortal

references

soul, creation

the Godhead.

Kabbalism

to becoming

of a child within

appear

7)~

his consciousness

one with the

and merging

to be more analogous

reborn rather than actual creation

The Sexual Mysteries

fetus although with

to being

of a new entity.

P

erhaps

Western Alchemy did in fact seek the creation of an immortal child just like the Taoists. Unfortunately, ature

of

Western

understanding

Alchemy

beyond

of the concepts,

incomprehensible.

the authentic providing

a

stood then those involving

liter-

or do not wish to understand

basic

or black magic.

is to all intents and purposes,

There are no authentic teachers available. As

it stands today, it is much like Taoist Yoga was before Mantak  Chia began publicly teaching

no areas of esoteric

,

practices

are more misunder-

sex. People who do not know

equate the entire subject and witches

as evil

sabbaths

fill

their mind. It is true that the sexual power can be abused,

but

for the most

life

enriching

Images of orgies

part the sexual secrets

and sometimes

are life fulfilling,

even holy.

its secrets, that is inaccessible.

The Hebrew Mysteries I"he holiness

~

of sex was especially

true for the Hebrew

Kab-

halists. For them, s'exual union was a sacred duty that joined a Illan and a woman IInion with

into one being. It was, and still is, a holy

God. The Jews had a whole

IIlVolving the sexual secrets. ( oncerning

There

body of teaching

were very definite

rules

when, with whom, and under what circumstances

IInion could take place. Most of these rules are found directly III

The Zohar.

117

118

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

119

The Sexual Mysteries

The Zohar For many modern

jewish

 balah. It is a massive multi-volume mystical interpretations cult reading tury,

shrouded

work that is in large part

of the Old Testament.

for even a jewish text.

scholar. By the sixteenth

As is to be expected,

in mystery. The reputed'ilUthor

Yohai, a first century after the jewish

It is very diffi-

the   Sepher Yetzirah as the most

it replaced

Kabbalistic

The lohar    is the Kab-

Kabbalists,

Kabbalist.

cenis

is Rabbi Simeon Ben

Sup~osedJy

it was written

uprising against the Romans in 79   A.D.   Rabbi

Simeon and his son were forced to flee the Romans and lived  in a cave for twelve years, during which composed.

However

was a thirteenth Handwritten  between

Kabbalist

A.D.  

his own behalf, prepared

named

Moses

de Leon.

of   The lohar    first began appearing

manuscripts

  1280-1290

time.   The lohar  was

it would appear that the actual author 

century

Moses de Leon, a prolific writer on

these manuscripts

allegedly

from the

original of Rabbi Simeon Ben Yohai, which he claimed to possess. Upon his death, however,  be found,

and both

his widow

no original

manuscript

and daughter

claimed

could  that

Moses de Leon was the sole author. Still, there are those Kab balists today, like the followers of Rabbi Berg, ~ho insist that

Kabbalah.

changed

It became much more philosophical

the Hebrew while medita-

tive and magical aspects began to fall into disfavor, especially after printed editions began to appear in   1558   in Mantua, Italy. here with what   The lohar    had to say

We are concerned about sex. To understand essary to understand

the viewpoint

the concept

of   T he lohar,   it is nec-

of the Shekinah.

provides

us with perhaps

and most mystical

of all the Kabbalistic

my best to convey

it in an intelligible

 judaism.

It sought

exoteric judaism, connotation

the most beautiful doctrines.

I will try

form.

was always the inner, esoteric

tradition

of 

to explain

religion.

In

the outer, exoteric

the Shekinah

ence and relationship.$

was quite simply God's pres-

the community

of Israel. There

is no

of sex or gender in this relationship.

To th   Zoharic Kabbalist, 7 quite different. The Shekinah God. They believed with the Shekinah-the The Shekinah

the Shekinah

was something

was, is, the feminine

that God had both a masculine

i~ine form. The Kabbalistic

sexual mysteries

form of  and fem-

involved

union

Divine Presence on Earth.

had both a higher and lower nature. In her 

higher aspect she is the Great Mother,

the womb of the Uni-

verse,' Binah, the first He in God's sacred name Yod He Yav He. It is through universe

is brought

the union of Yod and the first He that the into manifestation.

father form of God, the provider He is the mother, everything

Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai wrote   The lohar. Either way,   The lohar  profoundly

The Shekinah

The Kabbalah

important

its authorship

The Shekinah

provider

in existence.

Yod is the masculine,

of the seed, while the first

of the egg, who gives birth to

In Taoist terms, Yod is  Yang   and the

first He is   Yin,   both in their purist forms. In her lower form, the Shekinah

is the second

He in the

sacred name Yod He Yav He. She is in exile on Earth as a result of the fall of man through

Adam. It is the Kabbalists job

to raise her, from the darkness

of earthly

heaven.

The Kabbalist

and attach marriage.

herself

existence,

must first get the Shekinah

back to to come

to him. This can only be done through

To the Kabbalist,

marriage

union of God and his Shekinah.

represents

The Shekinah

a symbolic

will not attach

120

The Tao

& the

Tree of Life

herself to a single man. It is also necessary have children completion

as a result of the marriage,

Intercourse

united

that the marital

for the

devout

people.

gives us a wonderful

of the wise and learned

to Sabbath."

men is

This wasn't as restrictive

as

they spent the rest of the week away

Torah and Kabbalah Jewish

and only returned 

Kabbalists

were

extremely

had to take place face to face, with the wife

intercourse,

Both partners

had to

could take place if the wife

the male is united

The union

above

below on earth

in heaven.

they

are complete

what

the man and woman

to the female in a is an image of the

The unity of their being; that

and unblemished;

course and especially

must think

that they are one, is about

In effect, the woman draws the Shekinah

the Shekinah. is actually

intercourse

down into her-

with God's Divine

Presence-

The lohar    says that during intercourse

having intercourse

50a): "he is beatified

inter-

while the man firmly believes the male

with two females (Zohar

by two females,

world and one from the lower world-the  blessings

during

at the time of orgasm.

self and becomes the Shekinah, that he is having

on a man's journey purposes)

away from

and his relationship

principle

was menstruating.

holy union

discourse

home (for business or spiritual

The lohar 

here. The guiding

14a and 14b): "It is for this reason

naked. No intercourse

holy purpose.

and after menstruation.

from a

which might clarify some of the concepts

the two arms of her husband.

During

away from home

sex only

returns

with the Shekinah

Sabbath.

Intercourse

 journey

to the rule on having

night was when the husband

of Israel. Of this The

it sounds for, generally, from home studying

The only two exceptions on the Sabbath

121

for this was the moment when God was

intercourse

weekly, from Sabbath

home

will not

man.

to the community

lohar    says: (Book I, Sec.

 be entirely

for this was seen as a

was to take place only once a week on the

at midnight,

most closely

 between

that the Kabbalist

of God's plan for man, and the Shekinah

attach herself to an incomplete Sabbath,

The Sexual Mysteries

one

I, Sec.

from the upper 

upper one to pour 

down upon him, and the lower one to be supported 

 by him and to be conjoined

with him."

ally attached

to the female;

female. This obviously nection,

but rather

is that the male must be continuin effect,

to become

doesn't mean a constant

one of heart,

mind,

male and 

physical

and spirit.

con-

Zohar

Sec. 49b and 50a: Thereupon Rabbi Shimeon began a discourse with this text. "And he went on his journeys from the South even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the  beginning, between Beth-e1 and Ai" (Gen. XIII, 3). He said: The word "journeys" is used here where one might have expected "journey" to indicate that the Shekinah was journeying with him. It is the duty of a man to be ever "male and female," so that his faith remain firm, and that the Shekinah never depart from him. What will you then say of a man who goes on a journey and,  being away from his wife, is no longer "male and  fernald' The husband's remedy is to pray to God before he begins his journey, while he is still "male and  female," and thus draw to himself the presence of his Master. After he has offered his prayer and thanksgiving and the Shekinah rests upon him, then he may leave, for by his union with the Shekinah he has  become "male and female" as he journeys in the country as he was "male and female" in his town, as it is written: "Righteousness shall precede him and place his footsteps on the way" (Psalms 85, 14). Pay attention to this. When a man is travelling he should be most careful of  his actions, so that his celestial partner will not desert

I,

122

The Tao

&the

Tree oj Life

him and leave him deficient, through lack of union with the female. If this was necessary when he was with his wife, how much more is it necessary when a heavenly  partner has attached herself to him. When he again reaches home, it is his duty to pleasure his wife, because it is she who procured for him this heavenly partner. There are two reasons for this obligation. One is that this pleasure is a religious pleasure, and the other that it gives joy to the Shekinah also, and what is more, by its means he spreads peace in the world, as it is written, "you shall find that your tent is in peace, and you shall visit your house and not sin" Oob 5:24). (Is it a sin, one may ask, if he does not visit his wife, The answer is that it is a sin because he takes away from the honor of the celestial partner who was joined with him on his wife's account). Also if his wife becomes pregnant, the celestial partner grants a holy soul to the child, and this covenant is called the Covenant of the Holy One,  blessed be he. He should therefore be as diligent to obtain this gladness as to procure the gladness of the Sabbath, which is the partner of the sages. Therefore "you ~hall know that your tent is in peace," since the Shekinah comes with you and dwells in your house, and  therefore "you shall visit your house and not sin" by happily performing the religious duty of marital intercourse in the presence of the Shekinah. Thus the students of the Torah who separate from their wives during the six days of the week in order to devote themselves to study are accompanied by a heavenly  partner so that they can continue to be "male and  female." When Sabbath comes, they shall pleasure their  wives for the sake of the honor of the heavenly partner, and to seek to carry out the will of their Master, as has  been said. Similarly, if a man's wife is observing the days of her menstruation, during all those days that he waits for her the heavenly partner is with him, so that he is still "male and female." When his wife is purified,

123

The Sexual Mysteries it is his duty to pleasure her through the joyful performance of a religious obligation. For all the reasons we have mentioned above also apply to this case. The esoteric doctrine is that men of true faith should concentrate and put their whole thought and purpose on the Shekinah. One may object that based on what has been said, a man enjoys greater dignity when he is on a journey then when he is home, on account of the heavenly  partner who then travels with him. But this is not so. For when a man is home, his wife is the foundation of  his house, for it is on her account that the Shekinah does not depart from the house. For the Jewish unfortunate

Kabbalist

sex was a sacred

ritual.

It is

that very few Jews are aware of the Shekinah

as

the feminine

form of God or that God even has a feminine

side. Judaism

is so often seen as a male oriented

religion.

it is God's will to be "male and female" is unthinkable

That

to most

Jews. But it's there in   The Zohar.

 practicing

Sexual Partners for the Western  Kabbalist and the Taoist The Western

Kabbalists

were much more liberal in their pro-

vision for sexual partners. tionship

Though

was often stressed,

a monogamous

type rela-

this was not an absolutely

rigid 

requirement. Every man and every them. The different

quality

quality

woman

of this energy

has sexual energy differs in people.

that often leads to sexual attraction

less of marital status. Sexual magicians made use of this energy He believed the energy

within It is this

like Aleister

with many partners

that "Every man and every woman radiated

regardCrowley

of both

sexes.

is a Star." It is

from stars (such as our Sun) that led to

124

The Tao &the Tree of Life

the creation

of life in our universe.

has this star or life-force

Every man and woman them.

The Taoists

It was   ling   sexual energy that they converted

into Ch i  that

called

within

it   Chi.

 provided They

energy

The Sexual Mysteries

deplete

sex to increase

their

it. If done properly,

 both partners.

life-force

it is beneficial

The Taoists saw that women,

energy,

They

who

conserving

and pleasurable

to

healed by using certain numbers

male adept needs to absorb this yin   energy to balance his own The female adept, in turn, needs to absorb the   yang,

There

are legends

drain the life-force

to obtain equilibrium.

of male sexual vampires

energy

who could 

even appears to be a fear among some of Mantak Chia's female students

that this is a true and legitimate

fear. The truth is that

it as far more likely that a male can be "vampirized" female adept than vice versa. The male loses energy ejaculates.

by a

when he

The more he comes the more energy he loses. The

female

does

not

energy

actually

lose energy

increases.

through

orgasm,

It is inexhaustible.

her

sexual

It is the female

sexual positions,

by continuous

of women

of the Earth.

 broad daylight without

the secrets of 

years

and that immortality

sexual intercourse

in his harem.

for one hundred

with vast

According

to legend,

.he

ascended

to Heaven

in

then

after having sex with twelve hundred

women

once ejaculating.

Sex with multiple

out of their female victims. There

the Daughters

semen, that illnesses and bodily ailments could be

could be achieved ruled

pool. The

of the bedroom

by three female sexual

they taught the Yellow Emperor

to

was part of an inexhaustible

male, sexual energy

themselves

not

rather than men,

knowledge

was taught

were the Plain Girl, the Dark Girl and the Selective

female, sexual energy

heavenly,

called

Girl. Together

were closer in spirit to the forces of nature. Their    yin,   Earth,

energies.

at one time included

arts. The Yellow Emperor adepts

the energy to the Taoist sexual adepts of both sexes.

used

cine, which

125

female partners

became

standard

fare

for many of the Tao masters. But this was in China in a different time, morality Modern thinking.

was different,

Taoists

appear

the way of life was different.

to have turned

away from this

John Blofeld in   Taoist Mysteries and Magic   describes

visit to a Taoist monastery

a

in the 1930's before World War II,

in which the abbot of the monastery

taught him the secrets of 

internal alchemy. On the subject of sexual alchemy, the abbot said that while some authorities with many partners

hold that frequent intercourse

is the most rapid and effective

method,

adept who will actually need multiple partners unless the man

this is not so, since a woman's vital f.orce (Chi)   unlike a man's, is

is versed in the retention

inexhaustible,

According

of semen.

to legend, the sexual secrets were first given to

Mantak

one knowledgeable Chia stresses

female partner is sufficient.

monogamy,

but in truth Tao Mas-

the Yellow Emperor. He was the last of the Three August Ones,

ters rarely impose their beliefs on other people.

the founders

(the other two being Fu

"so if you do it and it works for you, so do it, if it doesn't work 

the symbols of the I Ching on the back 

so don't do it." Then he would smile, wrinkle up his nose and 

of Chinese

Shih, who discovered of a tortoise Shennong,

and taught

civilization

man to breed animals and write, and 

the August One who taught man agriculture).

The Yellow Emperor a physician.

His teachings

was a great ruler, a philosopher form the basis of Chinese

squint his eyes, totally

He would say

non-judgmental.

In  The Nei Pim,   a fourth century classic, Ko Hung compares and  Medi-

sexual intercourse

with fire and water, either of which can give

man life or kill him, depending

on his ability to control

them.

126

The Tao

On the whole though,

&

The Sexual Mysteries

the Tree of Life

Ko Hung believed that if the methods

were known, the benefits would be proportional of successive internal

copulations.

ingesting

of medicinal

achieving

success.

The

most

He believed

such as the K an

alchemy

herbs

that other

forms of 

and  Li practices

were even more

and the

important

in

famous

Taoist

sexual adept

from Masters

was P'eng

who was reputed

more than 800 years, and who claimed

Tsu,

to have lived 

to have received

his

over 3,000 years old. In   The Secrets of 

the Jade Bedroom   he says that the essential part of the method to have relations infrequently.

Ritual sex is similar in nature to that of the Hebrew as described

with many women

while

emitting

is

semen

Taoist female adepts often had many partners

out of a man by repeated

as

ejaculation,

so great care had 

to be taken, unless of course this was the female's aim. However,

when a couple

are both versed

sexual secrets, there is no stronger "Ordinary"

Western

Kabbalah

are available

bond between

two people.

or Greek

of the Jews. The

dences

temple or bedroom

The ritual nature of sex played a major part in Western sexual practices

sex and 2) sex magick.

Kab-

take two basic

growth.

path or sephirah.

But this is

the Kabbalist

Sephirah.

would fill the with Net-

Its name translates

with the emotions, is green,

to

most especially

its most common

its color

to perform

symbols

its Greek

are the

Goddess

is

and so on. ritual the couple

room would

to Aphrodite.

The

would

invoke

be filled with all the sights,

smells that would correspond

to Netzach

female partner

and 

fills her mind and body

of Love and actually

This is a feminine

ritual, so the male imagines

the sexual favors directly

Aphrodite. sounds,

and thus be alluring

with the Goddess receiving

It is

Egyptian

Correspon-

with those items corresponding

is Venus,

In a typical The

Kabbalism.

to use ancient

does.

Netzach,

is the seventh

rose and the lamp,

Western Sexual Mysteries

etc.

and is one reason

part here. For instance,

It corresponds

Aphrodite,

the Western

a particular

a ritual for the sephirah

love. Its planet

of myth,

assume and act out the male or female roles

for either

which

of antiquity

sex is used to climb the Tree of Life.

play an important

victory.

aware of this energy and nurtur-

Kabbalah

Kabbalist

Kabbalist

ritualistic

from

in his quest. This in itself is

Gods to aid him in his spiritual

The participants

Every woman has an inexhaustible

her. Becoming

to a Hebrew

Generally,

do for a marriage.

ing it leads to truly successful marriages.

spirits, creatures

from Hebrew

 just what the Western

zach,

fountain

angels,

in scope

and techniques

why they have such little regard for Western

of love is one of the best things you could 

forms: 1) ritualistic

information

to aid the Kabbalist

inconceivable

Kabbalah

that it is much broader

absorbed

a major divergence

suitable

in the Taoist

lovers simply will not satisfy their needs. Learning

 balism. Actually

except

as well as demi-gods,

the Taoist secrets of  Ch i   within

above

and is not bound by all the religious precepts

well. It was easier for a female to literally drain the life-force energy

Sex

 Ritual 

all available sources. All the Gods and Goddesses

called P'eng the Methuselah, knowledge

to the number 

127

becomes

Aphrodite.

himself

to be

from the Love Goddess,

and thus the spell is cast and the ritual sex takes place.

128

The Tao

Kabbalistic requires

ritual

absolute

&tm:

sex is generally

faith and devotion

quite

different

Another listening

mood,

from that set out above, the couple is working

form of ritualistic

to a previously

beautiful

to work properly.

care must be taken to set the proper  path or Sephirah

quite

which

according

and 

 performed

Great

course).

can be

limited

to which

anytime,

pathworking,

poem,

or 

Training

session

(or nights),

sounds

then

numerous

carry

them

off. Aleister

works to be read during

Crowley

lovemaking,

most famous of these being   Atlantis.   These more

image

openly

and

revealed

they often

appear

mood

plot

perhaps

unintelligible.

the

pieces contained 

and were not generally

to be works of sexual magic. That

 before tape recorders required

than

prepared 

is why

Since he lived in the days

were available,

a third person would be

to read them. He was never a prude.

Ritualized

sex is obviously

aim, however, Of course

easily adaptable

should always be spiritual

engage

sex magick.

tone is only It is equally

Here

is a formula

held at Vassar College. in sexual intercourse

Its

as

concentrate

A male and female

on six consecutive

days

On the seventh

on the desired outcome

day,

(spell) and 

the male does ejaculate. Both forms of Kabbalistic

sex, ritual and sex magick, owe

their modern existence to Aleister Crowley. The Golden Dawn, whose secrets he ultimately

betrayed,

did not have any form of 

sexual practices. After his break with that order, he began experimenting

with various forms of ritual and sex magick. Crowley

was a prolific writer, but of course in the early twentieth to groups.

of 

Chia in the summer of   1993,   at the Teacher 

the male does not ejaculate.

 both partners

when sex could

not be openly

written

century

about, he had to use

and never debased.

euphemisms

to describe this type of work. His writings came to

the attention

of an occult group in Germany, the O.T.O.,

here.

as I here use the term, is more akin to the tradi-

tional concept

the head of the order.

Crowley

Sex  Magick Sex Magick,

of magic. Sex is used to power the casting of a

spell. Quite

simply, at the moment

concentrates

on what change he wants to take place. This can from mundane

or losing weight, using masturbation,

the Kabbalist

matters such as stopping

to affecting

to other people.

of orgasm,

the health,

smoking

welfare, or his rela-

Sex magick can be performed

heterosexually,

which

had similar sexual practices. He was invited to join and was for  sometime

tionship

and its moral

of the practitioner.

reason

there are always those who will abuse this power.

David Koresh may serve as an example

 be anything

also practiced

taught by Mantak

so that the couple

state and the words or 

(within

available to men and women.

music while making love. This requires long, slow lovemaking a dreamlike

anywhere

It has no divine aspects

 partner

enter

anyplace,

by the conscience

Taoists

with.

sex would involve the couple

recorded

129

The Sexual Mysteries

Tree of Life

or homosexually.

alone

It can be

never did reveal in any explicit terms the secrets

of magical sex. Until recently landmark Culling

publication

these secrets remained

was A M a n ua l o f   Se x  Magiek  by Louis T. Publications,   1971).   Culling

(Llewellyn

secret. A

was the first

to break the oaths of silence and bring this area to the public's attention.

However,

despite

his claim to reveal all, there

very little of what could be called methodology

Read it and reread it and you could still ask yourself-how it done? Often

Culling

referred

did shed some light on the Magical to in the writings

of Western

is

in his book. is

Child.

Kabbalists,

was

The Tao

130

this the equivalent

& the

Tree of Life

of the Taoist Immortal

The Sexual Mysteries

Fetus? As it turns

with Mantak

131

Chiao They seem to draw their knowledge

out, it is not. For the Kabbalists,

the Magical Child is the spell

three of Chia's books; his first book about

itself-the

sex b etwee n

Orbit

"child"

of m agical

a man

and

a

and his two volumes on the Taoist secrets of love.

Frater U.D. actually

woman.

places the Microcosmic

calls it the Lesser Energy Orbit) harmonizes

the Western Kabbalah ditional

Western

Kabbalistic

making from tra-

sources, Sufi Mysticism

lished that broke  by Dolores

new groundwork.

Ashcroft-Nowicki

Ms. Ashcroft-Nowicki  balist who hopes  boundaries directions. magick.

and coherent (The

it would

Dawn

Kabbalism

Press

and

Victorian

Her book is the finest I've ever seen on ritual sex

The other book is the rather ominously

1991, reprinted

 probably throws

titled,   Secrets

the best

Publica-

in 1995 as   Secrets of Sex Magic).   This is book

on Sex Magick

available;

it also

in some ritual sex and some really weird techniques

like sex with a succubus essential

era

lead in new

of the German Sex Magicians   by Frater U.D. (Llewellyn tions

1991).

day English Kab-

to break the now traditional

of Golden

were pub-

One is   The Tree of Ecstacy

is a leading modern

or incubus.

This book is absolutely

for the serious study of sexual magic.

Aside from being readable, tions and advice,

both books

essential

be silly to ignore Orbit,

in so many different

I recommend

ical protection

level of Taoist

has begun

teaching,

name for the Tan

author

book  T ao Y o g a by

Tim

below the navel) and that your Lesser 

Energy Orbit is flowing strongly." In order to exchange

sexual

energy with a partner, Frater U.D. says that it is necessary  both partners

for 

to do the Lesser Energy Orbit both before and 

during sex. He also draws extensively

on Chia's exercises such

as Testicle

without

and Ovarian

Breathing

redit. So many references

giving

are made to Chia's

writings.

I see nothing

wrong with this; as a matter

happy to see him use this excellent wonder

what the German

material.

sex magicians

explicit

work that

would seem that almost half the book is drawn

instruc-

use of Mantak  Taoist

to know much beyond

its impact

t1ing. I don't know if either

to absorb

the

the

is to make sure you are firmly in your   Hara   (his

Dolores ~1'Crfts of

Ashcroft-Nowicki

it

from Chia's of fact I'm

It just makes me

were doing

cites Mantak

Love   (2 vols.) in her bibliography

c"xtcnsive use of the Microcosmic

Kabbalah

author appears

ways that

Mantak Chia." At page 122 he further states: 'The finest mag-

/ 

The

neither

about

it.If you want to learn about

mentioning

Western

like no other exercise,

if you are really serious

Chia's Taoist sexual secrets. So it has finally begun to happen. While

(he

before

Chia began to publish?

and giving excellent make extensive

it absolutely

Lesser Energy

books

Aquarian

the sexual magis (energy)

your sex magic. It is beneficial

(The Per-

 fum ed Ga rd en) , The K am a Sutr a,   and Tantric Yoga. In 1991, two excellent

Orbit

at the heart of his system. At

 pages 67-68 of his book he states: "The Lesser Energy Orbit

 East Meets West: Taoist Sexual Secrets and 

Up until the 1990's magical sex drew its information

from

the Microcosmic

Yoga.

them

in the body

without

of her book. Orbit

Chia's   The Taoist  specifically

She also makes

(with her own little

the first

twist) and Testicle Breathing (which both she and Chia also call

on both authors

is star.

"Ihe Dance of the Testes"). On pages 27-29 and again at 111-

has ever actually

studied 

I 13

she describes

the Microcosmic

Orbit

in detail. The

only

132

The Tao

difference

&

the Tree of Life

The Sexual Mysteries

is that she has the orbit begin at the genital center 

133

cise, the first sexual exercise a student learns is called Testicle

and run up the front of the body to the tip of the tongue and 

Breathing for men and Ovarian Breathing for women. It is a sim-

then returning the attention

 ple and gentle exercise and is basically the same for both sexes.

to the sex center and again pulling

the energy up but this time up the back over the buttocks

and 

up the spine, over the head down the nose and in through

the

nostrils to the roof of the mouth. tongue

Then touch

the tip of the

to the roof of the mouth and the two meridians

She uses this exercise for energy additional

unique

touches

and healing

that I'm certain she would like to

share with us. Ms. Ashcroft-Nowicki various different purposes. Using red colored stronger

Western

adds color to the orbit for  Kabbalists

light in the morning

and brighter.

unite.

and adds some

love color.

yourself down, green colored

light

to calm

light can stimulate your creativ-

ity. Yellow, gold and deep rose are used for healing and work  especially cation

well after surgery. Orange

centers

in the throat

earn a living by speaking

stimulates

the communi-

and is thus useful to those who or writing.

Violet and indigo are

used before going to sleep and can help stimulate for a purpose  Nowicki

such as untangling

problems.

dreaming

Ms. Ashcroft-

suggests that violet and indigo can also be used by a

dying initiate to help to cleanly and quickly release the silver  cord that connects

to see how quickly the Western

Kab-

have taken to Taoist Yoga and made it their own. As

more information continue.

on his testicles;

the woman puts her awareness on her ovaries.

Taking a deep but gentle breath, slight muscular contraction slightly contracts down

to lift up the testicles. The woman

the vagina while pulling the ovaries' energy

to the perineum.

increase,

the man uses his mind and 

When

the sexual energy

begins

to

it is slowly led up to the coccyx and step by step up

is done nine times, filling the brain with sexual energy. then spiral this energy counter-clockwise reverse

pattern,

times

nine times clockwise,

in the head. Women

then nine times

spiral this energy in a

nine times counter-clockwise

clockwise.

Men

can

leave

Men

and then nine

the energy

in the

head.

Women

must bring the energy down the front Microcosmic

channel

because

store

it in the

it is too hot to leave in the head and then navel. This

exercise

strengthens

the entire

 pelvic area and brings revitalizing

sexual energy   (jing)   up to

the brain as well as strengthening

the flow of energy

Microcosmic

in the

Orbit.

the initiate to life.

It is quite satisfying  balists

near the edge of a seat, the man puts his awareness

the sacrum, spine and neck and into the head. This procedure

will make you feel /

You use blue colored

Sitting

becomes

available

this trend

The full import of Taoist Alchemy

is bound

to

is staggering.

The Big  Draw The

Big Draw also known

Orgasmic for drawing

Upward

as the Power

Lock for men and 

Draw for women is a powerful

technique

aroused sexual energy up to the higher centers of 

the body, thereby

transforming

it into life-force

and spiritual

Testicle and Ovarian Breathing Explained 

energy. These

As briefly mentioned

vation, which means that they can be practiced

with or with-

out a sexual partner.

important

the Microcosmic

in the chapter on Taoist Yoga, aside from

Orbit, which is not necessarily a sexual exer-

methods

are used in both single and dual culti-

This exercise

is especially

for 

136

The Sexual Mysteries

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

137

 part of the true alchemical process. Self-intercourse is a sexual

Crown

secret that is found nowhere else in sexual literature. This is the greatest sexual secret, to actually experience the male and 

Jade Pillow

female energy within the body engage in sexual intercourse. Ultimately, this can be experienced outside the physical body

C-7

in the immortal spirit body. The Taoists were well aware of sex magick as used by the Western Kabbalists. They took it one step further. Using selfintercourse, the magical spells they could cast were peerless.

T-ll

The wealth of sexual knowledge

/

Sacrum

gathered up by the

Taoists over the centuries was enormous. I have just touched 

Figure 34: Cultivating Female Sexual Energy/Orgasmic Upward Draw

At a very basic level, a couple's sex life is tremendously  boosted by the exercises. There are techniques

also that

extend a man's staying power so that sex can sometimes go on for hours. There are techniques for whole body orgasms. Sexual positions are taught to promote healing and energy flow. There are unique exercises for men using weights a.nd for  women using a jade egg (and weights, if desired) to increase the strength of the sexual organs and the tendons. However, it is in the Ka n and  Li   exercises that the Taoists took the sexual secrets to new heights. This was discussed in the last chapter. During the Kan and Li Enlightenment exercises, the sexual energy is converted

into a new type of 

energy that actually revitalizes the mind and body. This was

Figure 35: Yin and   Yang   Sexual Energy Exchange

138

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

on some of it here. At its higher other

levels, it far surpasses

known sexual system in scope and imagination.

lucky to live in an age where available.

this information

any

We are

has become

r . J

The North Star J

 and   Teli

I

have been

fortunate

for a number

of years now to have

lived just a few miles from Mantak

years we have remained the opportunity

Chia's home.

Over the

good friends and I was provided

to learn and explore

las of Taoist Internal Alchemy. some of these advanced

the very highest

with

formu-

Chia has never publicly taught

formulas.

So much of what

I write

here will be new to even his long time students. Again, these advanced

formulas

find a remarkable

corre-

lation in the   Sepher Y etzirah   and the work of Franz Bardon and  even Aleister

Crowley.

It is with great humility

.1ltempt to put this information Mantak Chia encouraged his teachings

to students

that I even

down in writing. me to write this book and bring

of the Kabbalah.

I note with per-

~()nal sadness his moving back to his native Thailand li~h a permanent

Taoist Retreat

lIliss him. I look forward

Center

in Chiang

to the day, sometime

Ihat I will again be able to spend time with him.

139

to estabMaL I will

in the future

140

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

The Intermediate

Formulas: Kan and Li

141

The North Star and the Teli

Taoist Yoga as taught by Mantak Chia is an orderly system

is raised above and deposited in the cauldron, where it is heated by the stove and begins to steam. This is the basic for-

that builds upon itself as the student progresses. It cannot be

mula; there are about twelve sub-formulas.

learned overnight and takes many years to work up to the highest levels.

Fusion exercise wherein

There are many reasons for this to be so. On one level it is

A Ka n and  Li session should be preceded by doing the together

the five elements

are gathered 

in the   Pa Qua   behind the navel, harmonized and 

a weeding out process. Those not capable or worthy of receiv-

then moved through the Creation cycle to transform negative

ing and understanding the higher levels will drop out and no

emotions into positive emotions. This is followed by clearing

longer pursue the study. Also the body goes through a series of 

the Thrusting Routes which travel up and down the center of 

internal changes that take some time to absorb and adjust to. These changes can be quite profound and awe inspiring. They

the body and the Belt Routes which travel around the body, the main Belt Route circles the body at the navel level. This

can also be frightening. It is important to have a teacher avail-

should be done in the morning at least two hours before the

able to guide you through the intricacies of higher internal alchemy. This is why I was so lucky to have Mantak Chia

Lesser  K an and  Li  exercise. Some of the twelve sub-formulas include steaming the

nearby. He now teaches the more advanced levels, beginning

glands and organs, steaming and incre~sing the pulses, steam-

with Lesser  K an and  Li,   only in Thailand where he and other  advanced teachers are available to give guidance.

ing the lymphatic system, opening twelve additional channels

The lower formulas such as the Microcosmic Orbit and 

(acupuncture meridians), creating the inner eye, steaming the thymus,

pituitary

and pineal gland, self-intercourse

and 

of personal attention. They can safely be practiced by anyone,

steaming the spine and nervous system. The Lesser Kan and Li is concluded by collecting the

anywhere. Even Lesser  K an and  Li   is relatively safe. Beginning

refined energy at the Tan lien below the navel. The two eyes

with the Greater  K an and  L i  formula, careful monitoring of the

are used to "turn the wheel." The eyes are first rolled down

student's progress is really required. These formulas are often

toward the perineum. They direct energy into the Microcos-

referred to as the Lesser, Greater and Greatest Enlightenments.

mic Orbit. The eye muscles are then pulled in slightly and the

In Lesser  K an and  Li  the stove and cauldron are established  in the lower  Ta n T I m , behind and slightly below the navel. At

genitals are pulled up as the eyesight turns inward and upward 

this level, we are only working with energies that exist within

also called the Backward Flowing Method. It is as if you were

the body. the Fire energy is drawn from the adrenal glands and 

rolling your eyes 360   degrees. Although this is of course a

the heart. The Water energy is drawn from the kidneys and 

 physical impossibility,

the sexual organs. As previously mentioned, the location of 

exactly what is happening. With a little practice you get it.

the Fire and the Water energies are inverted. Fire is drawn

With each rotation, the refined  Ch i   is poured into the Caul-

 below to the stove, a cauldron is visualized, and Water energy

dron behind the navel as it moves downward.

the Fusion of the Five Elements do not require the same type

and directs the Chi   up the spine and into the brain. This was

you actively imagine that this is

14 2

The Tao

& the

The North Star and the Teli

Tree of Life

Once a pregnancy

In the Greater  K an and  Li,   the cauldron is moved upward, from the   T a n T I e n   behind the navel, to the T a n T I e n   at the level

14 3

takes place, all steaming practices

should be stopped. This is truly a transforming experience

agent. We begin to work with external energies at this level.

and can be quite uncomfortable at times. A Greatest K a n and  Li   session ends with rolling of the

The energies of the Sun are combined with the adrenal and 

eyes as described above, except this time the energy is col-

heart energy to provide the Fire for the stove. Moon energy is

lected in the cauldron at the solar plexus. The Greatest K a n

combined

and  L i   can be performed in the morning directly after doing

of the solar plexus. This creates a more powerful steaming

with kidney and sexual energy to provide the

the Fusion of the Five Elements.

Water to fill the Cauldron. Cold Water energy is raised to the level of the heart and lowered into the cauldron, while hot

The Planets and the Stars

Fire energy is lowered to the navel   T a n T I en   and then raised to the solar plexus region just below the cauldron. The temper-

.

ature in the cauldron is controlled by "seasoning" it with cool

\

energy drawn from the lungs (the White llger)

or warm

energy drawn from the liver (the Green Dragon) to keep it from getting too hot or too cold. The Pearl is strengthened

and can be projected down

into the Earth to contact or interact with animal, plant, flower  and tree energies. This is clearly derived from the shamanic  practices described earlier in this book. Self-intercourse in this formula is concerned with creating a spirit body. Energy is drawn from the pineal gland and mixed  in the solar plexus Ta n T I e n with sexual energy drawn from the genitals. This creates an ecstatic feeling within the body. The seed (sperm) is drawn from the spleen into the cauldron. If   properly done, it results in the pregnancy of the spirit body. We are here moving into some of the greatest mysteries of  Taoist Internal Alchemy. I will not reveal the entire formula  because it should not be practiced until the student has mastered the previous levels. It is at this point in the practice that the presence of an experienced teacher is really necessary. The spirit body can be sent into the upper worlds to travel where it wills or to meet spirit guides. Again, pure shamanism.

Taoist Yoga seeks to connect the practitioner with not only the forces of nature on the Earth, but with extraterrestrial forces as well. The Sun and Moon, as described above, and  the planets and the stars. Although originally reserved for only his most advanced  students, Chia now teaches contacting and drawing in energy from the Big Dipper(Ursa Major) and the North Star(Polaris) as advanced levels of the Microcosmic Orbit. In advanced  formulas of the Fusion of the Five Elements, we connect with the C h i   of the planets, which in turn enrich the C h i   of the associated organs. Jupiter corresponds with Wood and the liver, Mars with Fire and the heart, Saturn with Earth and the spleen, Venus with Metal and the lungs and Mercury with Water and the kidneys. Each planet also corresponds to the appropriate color for the planet. Its energy is experienced as snow falling from above. Blue snow for Mercury, red snow for  Mars, green snow for Jupiter, white snow for Venus and yellow snow for Saturn (in all due respect to the late Frank  Zappa, you can eat this yellow snow). The complete formulas are available in Chia's book   F u s i o n o f t h e F i v e E l e m e n t s I .

144

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

I

T h e N o r t h S ta r a n d t h e T e li

The North Star and the Big Dipper

145

Pol,n,

The Taoists believe that life on Earth was seeded by organic and inorganic particles and forces originating in the universe. We are not necessarily talking aliens here. The seeds of life could have arrived from comets, meteors, solar and stellar  winds, supernovas, cosmic rays, etc. Many scientists hold similar beliefs. To the Taoists this was known collectively as Heavenly

Chi.   In simple terms we are dealing with the C hi   of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars. In the advanced practices, the C hi   of the Seven stars of  the Big Dipper and the North Star are of crucial importanc~. As the practitioner advances this star Chi becomes more and  more important. The energy of the Big Dipper is experienced as vibrant

Alkaid 

Dubhe

Mizar 

red light. The North Star Polaris is experienced as violet light. In the Microcosmic Orbit and Fusion of the Five Ele-

Merak 

ments, first the red light of the Big Dipper is brought into the

Pheeda

 brain. Next, the stars of the Big Dipper are aligned to wrap around the lower half of the body. Imagine that the star at the tip of the handle of the Big Dipper, Alkaid, shines its red light

Megrez Figure 36: The

Chi  of

the Big Dipper 

in your solar plexus. The next star on the handle is Mizar; it shines behind your navel. The third star, Alioth, shines at the Sexual Palace at the base or root of the sexual organ. Megrez

the Big Dipper (see Figure 36). The resulting light energy can

shines its brilliant red light at your perineum. Pheeda shines at the tip of your coccyx. Merak shines in your sacrum and 

then be circulated in the Microcosmic Orbit. Mantak Chia  provides a different and excellent exercise in Awaken Healing

Dubhe shines in the Door of Life, the point on the spine

 Lig ht o f th e T ao   (pgs. 414-429).

directly behind the navel. The stars of the Big Dipper attract

It is in the Greatest K an

and  L i   that this star energy

the purple light of the North Star. This is their main function.

 becomes a crucial part of the process. The red and violet

The line in the back from Merak to Dubhe draws down the

lights of the Big Dipper and Polaris are gathered below the

 purple light of the North Star, first through the crown, then

crown and added to the Fire of the stove, providing a tremen-

down the neck and spine to the stations of the seven stars of 

dous boost of energy.

146

The Tao & the T ree of Life K an and  L i,   the the cauld cauldro ron n

In the Greate Greatest st leve levell of the the hear heart. t. alchemy.

It is the the

In this this form formul ula, a, toge togeth ther er

the the Fire Fire energ energie iess

of inter interme medi diat atee

or stove stove are are gath gather ered  ed 

in the the Crys Crysta tall Room Room (or (or Cryst Crystal al Pala Palace ce), ), bene beneat ath h

crow crown. n.

The The Crys Crysta tall

whic which h

fina finall form formul ulaa

incl includ udes es

more more pote potent nt

Room Room comp compri rise sess

the the pituit pituitar ary, y,

Polaris The Crystal Crystal Room (Pineal, ~ituitary, Thalamus)

is move moved d to the the

the the

\

I

that that area area in the the brai brain n

pine pineal al and and thal thalam amus us

glan glands ds..

form form of Wate Waterr is draw drawn n by proj projec ecti ting ng

1

I

~

I

:

~

A

~,

deep deep into into

the the Eart Earth h

and and draw drawin ing g

itse itself lf.. The The Fire Fire ener energy gy the the Wate Waterr ener energy gy coup couple led d

cold cold Wate Waterr

ener energy gy

\

from from the the Eart Earth h

is draw drawn n down down to the solar solar plex plexus us and  and 

is draw drawn n up to the the thro throat at cent center er.. They They are are

in the the cauld cauldro ron n

in the the cent center er of the the body body at the the level level

of the heart. heart.

~ 'i 6   /   

\

meth method od Dipp Dipper er..

~

inte intere rest stin ing g

subsub-fo form rmul ulaa

of conn connec ecti ting ng

invo involv lves es a more more adva advanc ncer  er 

with with each each of the the seven seven star starss of the Big

In this this vari variat atio ion, n,

the the

star starss conn connec ectt

with with

 points on the skull (see Figure 37), and the North nect nectss with with the the Crys Crysta tall Star Starti ting ng

vari variou ouss

as bril brilli lian antt

is visu visual aliz ized ed

Megr Megrez ez

and and Phee Pheeda da is expe experi rien ence ced d

of the head. The

\  ,J : J \ <

next star 

is seen seen and and felt felt at the the left left templ temple, e, at the the righ rightt temp temple le.. Mera Merak k is visu visu-of the the jaw) jaw) and and Dubh Dubhee

at the left left mastoi mastoid. d. As the the star starss are are actu actual ally ly from from Mera Merak k

will will poin pointt

almo almost st

posi positi tion oned ed

to Dubh Dubhee dire direct ctly ly

in the the nigh nightt

and and cont contin inue ued d

sky, sky, a stra straig ight ht

to Pola Polari ris. s. The The Nort North h

is at the the tail tail end of the the cons conste tell llat atio ion n or Ursa Ursa Mino Minor. r.

"{1

I ,

\ "

I

3

2

I I

\ I

I I

\

~

I

the the

of the the chin chin.. The The star star at the the inne inner  r 

laiz laized ed and and felt felt at the the righ rightt mast mastoi oid( d(to top p

Litt Little le Dipp Dipper er

,5

red red light light and and felt felt as

and and felt felt at the base base of the the skul skulll and and like like--

at the the bott bottom om

top top of the the Dipp Dipper er

\ \

Star con-

at the the end end of the the hand handle le of the the Big Big Dipp Dipper er,,

Mize Mizerr

Pola Polari riss

{ !1 1 I

I

at the top of the crown

line line drawn drawn

"

I

I

 being

ahea ahead d

,/

I I

7

Room Room..

star star Alkai Alkaid d is both both visu visual aliz ized ed

wise wise Aliot Alioth h

~;

I ,

\

One One

/

I

I

,

The The

know known n

Star  Star 

as Th

star starss of the the Big Big Dip Dippe per  r 

@ I. Dubhe; 6  A.M.;   The Pivot of the Sky; Left Left Mastoid (Wood) (Wood) Jupiter  Jupiter  (Thursda (Thursday) y) Near West . Merak; Merak; The Revolver; Revolver; Right Mastoid (Water) Mercury (Wednes(Wednesday) Pheeda; The Rotator Rotator of the Sky; I)   Pheeda; The Right Right Temple Temple (Earth) (Earth) Saturn (Saturday) Megrez; The Leveling Leveling Light; Light; Left I. Megrez; Temple (Water) Mercury (Wednesday)

5. Alioth; Alioth; The Balancing Balancing Light; Light; Chin; (Fire) Mars Mars (Tuesday (Tuesday)) Near   North 6. Mizar; Mizar; The Generaing Generaing Light; Light; Base of the Skull Skull (Metal) (Metal) Venus (Friday) 7. Alkaid; Alkaid; The Harmoniz Harmonizing ing Light; Light; Crown; Crown; 6  P.M.;   (Water) Mercury (Wednesday)

Figure Figure 37: Connecti Connecting ng with the Big Dipper  Dipper 

The Tao

148

&the

Tree of Life

149

The North Star and the Teli

draw draw the purple purple light light of the the North North Star Star down into into the CrysCrys-

a practi practical cal matter matter,, to functi function on in societ society, y, your your daily daily practi practice ce

tal tal Room Room and and allo allow w it to shine shine ther there. e. It then then desc descen ends ds into into

would consist of lower formulas, formulas, unless you are extraordinar extraordinar--

the cauldron cauldron at the the heart heart level. level. Dire Direct ctin ing g star star energy energy to point pointss of the the body body prov provid ides es a

ily gifted. In the Sealing of the Five Senses, Senses, the   Tan Tim   is moved moved to

definite, definite, substanti substantial al feeling feeling of somethin something g actually actually being there.

the Crystal Crystal Room Room in the the brain. brain. It is is someti sometimes mes referr referred ed to as

It is not not easy to descri describe. be. Howeve Howeverr its seems seems to be more more than than

the Heavenly Heavenly Heart. There are seven seven openings openings in the the skull: the

mere imagination. There There are other other sub-fo sub-formu rmulas las in the the Greate Greatest st K an and  Li.

left left and right right eyes, eyes, left left and right right ears, ears, left and right right nostri nostrils, ls, and and the the mout mouth. h. Thes Thesee seve seven n open openin ings gs repr repres esen entt

the the five five

Much Much of the work is done done on opening opening the heart center center.. Also Also a

sens senses es.. The The mout mouth h is sep separa arate ted d into into lips lips whic which h touc touch, h, and  and 

medita meditatio tion n is taught taught to collec collectt star  star  C hi   from the twenty-eigh twenty-eightt

tongue tongue which which tastes tastes;; the nose smells, smells, the ears hear; hear; and th

conste constella llatio tions. ns.

eyes see. In this formula the senses are sealed sealed in the cauldron. cauldron.

When When done done proper properly, ly, you imagin imaginee that that you

have have a gian giantt body body,, bill billio ions ns of ligh lightt year yearss from from head to toe.

First connect connect each organ to its proper proper sense. sense. The energy of th

You become become the Cosmic Cosmic Being Being whose whose Crysta Crystall Palace Palace is the the

two eyes eyes and seeing seeing are broug brought ht to the third third eye area between between

 North

and slight slightly ly above above the eyes. eyes. The energy energy of the the two ears ears nnd 

Star, who has constellations

and planets \ for vital

organs organs,, whose whose heart heart is the Sun, Sun, whose whose kidney kidneyss are t~e Moon, Moon,

hearin hearing g are broug brought ht to the back back of the skull. skull. They They are

and whose whose   Tan Tim is the planet planet Earth. Earth. This Cosmic Cosmic BeingBeingthe mind of Tao-be Tao-beams ams down down its exquis exquisite ite rays rays to one one cell of  of 

lected lected into into the cauldro cauldron. n. Next Next the energy energy of the the two nostll nostllll

/ 1 1 1 < ':0 1

and smelling smelling,, the lips and and touching and the tongue and t",still t",still

its body, body, you, sitting on a chair chair on planet Earth, meditating meditating up

are comb combine ined d and also also brough broughtt into into the cauldro cauldron n in the the < : 'Y \

on the stars. stars. At the end of a Greatest Greatest Kan and Li sessio session, n, the refine refined  d 

tal tal Palac Palace. e. We visua visuali lize ze that that out out in space space the cup cup of the Hi Dipper Dipper fills with the purple purple light of the North Star. We vislIal vislIal

energy energy is "breat "breathed hed"" or absor absorbed bed,,

ize the the Big Dipper Dipper being being turned turned over over and the purple purple light light

direct directly ly into into the bones bones for 

storage. storage. A session session can also be done done in the morning morning after doing a short Fusion Fusion exercise.

0

Polaris Polaris is poured poured into the cauldron in the the Crystal Crystal Room in Olll Olll  brain. This creates tremendous light. The light of the This is as much much of the formula formula as I will reveal reveal at this tim~.

The Sealin Sealing g of the   Five   Sense Sensess and the the Seven   Double Double Letters We now approa approach ch advanc advanced ed Taoist Taoist Internal Internal Alchem Alchemy. y. These These form formul ulas as have have neve neverr been been open openly ly taug taught ht.. It is when when thes thes

The higher higher formulas formulas really require require years of practicing practicing thlower lower and interm intermedi ediate ate formul formulas as before before one is ready ready to perform form them. them. It is is highly highly recomme recommende nded d that that anyone anyone seekin seeking g t  practice Taoist Interal Alchemy should make every effort to

highes highestt levels levels are are reached reached that that the practiti practitione onerr feels feels the the need 

locate locate a teache teacherr especi especiall ally y for all all the K im and  U    and mar  .•uvan uvance ced d form formul ulas as.. What What I've I've give given n here here is just just the the bar, bar,

to leave leave society society and retire retire to the the mounta mountains ins.. The body body and it

hones outline outline of the actual practice. practice.

functions functions slow down. down. You want peacefulnes peacefulnesss and seclusion seclusion.. A

The Tao & the Tree of Life Life

150

 Now we turn to a little spiritual for for corr corres espo pond nden ences ces Lett Letters ers..

detective

in the the Kaba Kabala lah. h.

work and look 

And And they they are are there there..

Each Each of thes thesee seve seven n lett letter erss corr corres espo pond ndss

the the seven seven open openin ings gs left left eye. eye. Dale Dalet( t(1) 1)

with with one one of 

Beth Beth(: (::: ::l) l) is is the the righ rightt eye. eye. Gime Gimel( l(J) J) is the the righ rightt

Peh( Peh(E: E:l) l) is is the the righ rightt nost nostri ril, l,

ear, ear, Kaph Kaph(: (::J :J))

Resh Resh (i)i (i)iss

is the the

is the the left left ear. ear.

the the left left nostr nostril il and and Tav Tav

ings. ings. The   Sepher Ye tzirah tzirah   itsel itselff prov provid ides es

no ins instr truc ucti tion ons, s,

have have earlie earlierr show shown n the the hidd hidden en alch alchem emic ical al To try to put put it tog toget ethe herr Star Star prov provid ides es cent center er

ther there. e.

his celes celestia tiall

It is the the

else else revo revolv lves es..

Once Once

alig aligne ned  d 

Star Star,, the the alch alchem emis istt

beco become mes, s,

in effe effect ct,,

the the

center center of the the univer universe. se. In Chap Chapte terr

6 ther theree appe appear arss what what Arye Aryeh h Kapl Kaplan an

call called ed one one of the the most most myst myster erio ious us That That

word word

is Teli TeliC' C'?r ?rl) l)..

word wordss

It has has gene genera rall lly y

Drag Dragon on

or Cel Celes esti tial al

sour source cess

say say it refe refers rs to the the cons conste tell llat atio ion n

known known  between

Drag Dragon on..

is a nort northe hern rn

been been

tran transl slat ated ed

Many Many of the the anci ancien entt

the Big Dipper

cons conste tell llat atio ion n

Drac Draco, o,

not not alwa always ys the the Nort North h

the the

a

i

C e l e stst ia ia l H a m l

Bibl Bible, e, tell tellss us tha thatt Pola Polari riss w

the the star star Vega in the the cons conste tell llat atio ion n

Star. Star. In 2800 2800   B.C.,   the the time time of Abra Abraha ham, m, a sta starr in the the tail tail of Drac Draco! o!

of tim tim

to the sky. sky. In the the futu futull ll

Lyra Lyra wil willl become become the the Nort North h

heav heaven ens. s.

My

were able to use

as used used in the the adva advanc nced  ed 

anci ancien entt

Hebr Hebrew ew

Kabb Kabbal alis istt

and and used this this as

at Giza Gizah h

in Egyp Egypt, t,

open openin ing g

thro throug ugh h

hole, le,

wou would

in all all the the myst mystic ical al

transl translate atess

as the Egypt Egyptian ian

Astr Astron on--

calcu calcula lati tion onss

that that at

buil built, t, if you you look looked ed thro throug ugh h be loo looking king

Agai Again n plea please se note note that that Abra Abraha ham m

know knowle ledg dgea eabl blee

Khuf Khufu, u, you you would  would 

to the sky sky abov above. e.

astr astron onom omic ical al

you

if one one were were to

dire direct ctly ly

was was repu repute ted d

scie scienc nces es

the the Nort North h Star  Star 

WII

at

to be be

of Egy Egypt pt

and  and 

matter. matter.

I don' don'tt real really ly know know.. With With the the meth. meth.

ods of Taoist Taoist alchem alchemy y availa available ble to me, it all points points to a comm common on ~our ~ource ce and makes makes sens sensee out out of what what prev previo ious usly ly The The actua actuall lang langua uage ge

made made no   SCIl ••• ,

used used in the the   Sepher Yetzirah,   Chapl<:r  h,

\lates: 1.   Ther Theree are three three Mother Motherss

popu popula larl rly y

Star Star becau because se over over long period periodss

the the Eart Earth' h'ss axis axis shifts shifts in rel relat atio ions nshi hip p

the the

Hebr Hebrew ew

tail tail of whi which ch

and Polaris.   B u r n h a m 's's

Vo1.2, 2, the Astr Astron onom omer er's 's book, Vo1.

Thub Thuban an,,

in the the enti entire re book book..

as the Drago Dragon. n.

Drac Draco o

rect rectan angu gula larr

alchem alchemy y

students

from from the the tomb tomb of the the Phar Pharao aoh h

So, So, is thi thiss all all corr correc ect? t?

So whe where re do we find find this this in   Sepher Yetzirah?   It's there, there, and  agai again n hidd hidden en..

Pyra Pyrami mid d

see see a sma small ll rect rectan angu gula larr

Thub Thuban an..

serv served ed

pole. pole.

look look upwar upward d

the the

pole pole..

the the north north

Star Star,, Thub Thuban an,,

the the time time Khuf Khufu u had had the the Pyra Pyrami mid d

with with a cele celest stia iall

ever everyt ythi hing ng

The The

alig aligne ned d hims himsel elff with with the the Nort North h

omer omerss have have show shown n

Star Star to this this work work.. The The Nort North h

the the pract practit itio ione nerr

arou around nd whic which h

trad tradit itio ion n

but but I

requ requir ires es us to to better better unde unders rsta tand  nd 

of the the Nort North h

with with the the Nort North h

form formul ulas. as.

In the the Grea Greatt

In each each syst system em we are deal dealin ing g with with the the same same seve seven n open open--

Hebrew

in a simi simila larr mann manner er

alch alchemi emical cal

Drac Draco o

and and Pola Polari riss does does in mode modern rn

Draco Draco wrap wrapss aroun around d

this this info inform rmat atio ion n

(rl) (rl) is the the mouth. mouth.

the the sign signif ific ican ance ce

as the the Big Big Dip Dippe perr

 best guess is that ancient Taoi Taoist st

15/

time time the the cons conste tell llat atio ion n

Taoi Taoist st Alch Alchem emy. y.

to the the head head as fou found nd in the the Seal Sealin ing g of the the

Five Five Sens Senses es form formul ula. a.

In Abra Abraha ham' m'ss same same purp purpos osee

of   Sepher Yetzirah   deals deals with with the the Seve Seven n Doub Double le

4

Chapter 

The North North Star Star and the Teli

and from them them emanate emanated  d  three Fathers Fathers and their offspring offspring.. Seven are the the plan. ets and their host, Twelve Twelve are the the diagon diagonal al boun
A rule rule of Ten Ten,, Thre Three, e, Seve Seven n and and Twelve Twelve,, and and h appo appoin inte ted d over over them the the Teli Teli,, the the cycl cyclee and and th heart. The Three Three are fire, fire, water, water, and air; fire fire abovc, abovc,   Wille',  below and air mediating between them. A siHn  0 1 thes thesee thin things gs is that that the the fire fire supp suppor orts ts wate water. r.   M ~ I II

152

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

hums, Shin hisses and AId, a breath of air which  places them in equilibrium. 2.   The Teli in the Universe

 purple

Purple

throne.

Western

The cycle of the year like a king over his dominion. The heart in the soul is like a king in war.

alchemical

formula: the fire supports

tial Dragon) Everything analogy  North

beyond

in the universe revolves

to the Cosmic to the Heart

tioned,

another

Heart.

In Western

water. ''The Teli (Celes-

is like a king upon his throne."

Being whose

Star seems appropriate.

erence

in the midst of the

around it, from this regal viewpoint. Crystal

is the

Aryeh Kaplan says that the ref-

refers to the Heart

name for the Crystal Alchemy,

The

Palace

of Heaven.

As men-

Palace is the Heavenly

it was called the Philosopher's

is no longer

the North

interest only. Thuban

Star: Polaris is. If I were teaching

today, I would substitute

purple

this.

Polaris and the Big Dipper for Draco!

is the color

Alchemical

beyond

It   is the pur-

eyesight.

of alchemical

Tradition',

transformation

in the

Purple is the seventh

ray. To

modern

day followers of the teachings

necting

with the purple light of alchemy

of Saint Germain,

con-

is at the heart of the

system. To find this perfect correlation ern Alchemy

is extraordinary.

ence the star energy requires first learned of drawing tially it requires  practice

els of alchemy, sensing

between Taoist and West-

Actually, being able to experidiligence

When But with

more real. As you climb through

the body and mind become

describing

I

star energy, it seemed almost silly. Ini-

and experiencing

subtle

the effects

energies.

the lev-

more attuned There

of this gradual

tion: that which was real becomes false becomes

and practice.

the active use of the imagination.

it becomes

expression

Stone. Actually, much of this is of historical

purple,

 ple of the violet ray of transformation.

is like a king upon his

We can see that the Teli is mentioned

153

The North Star and the Teli

to

is a Taoist transforma-

false while that which was

real.

A simple Taoist star energy exercise

is to pick any star in

The cycle of the year revolves around them, the constellations

the sky (it could be Polaris), and imagine that its light is spi-

of the

zodiac

raling down into your eyes. Do this a few times and you will

around

them, from our vantage

revolve

As often mentioned,

around

them,

the

universe

revolves

find that it soon feels like more than imagination.

point here on Earth.

the   Sepher Yetzirah   contains

mysteries

something

spiraling

You can feel

down: the light of the stars.

within mysteries.

 Aleister Crowley and the  Book of the Law

Star M agick I am uplifted in thine heart; and the kisses of the stars rain hard upon thy body."   (The Book of the Law, II. 62, 1904) We have travelled their energies  purple

now to the stars themselves

down into ourselves.

light from above.

and drawn

We have drawn down the

The true light of the North

Star is

In the Western twentieth

Kaballah,

century

ti,e Law. This strange wossed out anyone

one of the great mysteries

is that of Aleister book has either

Crowley

delighted,

who has ever read it.

of the

and   T h e B o o k o f   baffled,

or 

154

The Tao

Crowley

claimed

& the

Tree of Life

that on three consecutive

8, 9, and lOin   1904, while on his honeymoon Rose in Cairo, Aeon

spontaneously

This was accomplished

announced

nate being, who referred Paar-Kraat."

the presence

of three consecutive

when

a chapter

tually became the focal point of Crowley's

she (Nuit),

Rose

However,

unconscious

this mysterious

of Hoor-

stars and identification universe

book even-

In Egyptian

mythology,

Her body contained

life. He believed it

would excreted

pass

her

each morning.

plays an important

of Taoist Alchemy.

"the unveiling

absorbed

referred

of the company

Nuit was the Goddess

Crowley

I predict

to

This is actually

of 

swallow

during

the

development describe.

the sun, which night

and

be

of   T h e B o o k o f t h e L a w ,   Nuit has a conspace and Hadit

 point within infinite space. If you grasp the concept,

is any

it is sim-

 ple. In infinite space, any point is equally in the center of that space. To become aware that you are in the center of infinity is the proper heavens discussed,

mindset.

is in the center

By the same token, every star in the of infinite

will be

)

space. And as previously

each person is a living embodiment

of energy from

It involves

ual organ

within

within the brain resulting

the the

in full

of the pineal gland. The sensation

is difficult to

It is as if the pineal gland has become

the male sex-

which

the pituitary

is brought

to orgasm

by the undulations

of 

gland which acts as a female sexual organ, while

gland that directly connects

"every man and every woman is a star."

sexual formula.

 body. They have intercourse

of the Sky.

referred to the first chapter 

infinite

learn

system.

an advanced

 Nuit who proclaims

Nuit represents

Kabbalists

of a male   (yang)   and female   (yin)   entity

the thalamus

sort, Hadit.

Kabbal-

The Congress of Heaven and Earth

of   T h e B o o k o f th e L aw as the "Book of Nuit" or "Liber Nuit." It is In the cosmology

Western

to the higher levels

that as Western

into the Kabbalistic

creation

body

role in modern

be known.

all the planets and stars in the night sky.

through

of the self as being in the center of the

more about Taoist Yoga many of the Taoist practices

work that Crowley

At the end of each day, she would

found." (11.3)

ism.   The Book of the Law   has many analogies

as   T h e B o o k o f t h e L a w or   Liber L. Vel Legis   is, in large part, concerned with star magick, heaven."

is nowhere

I don't want to explore The Book of the Law   here in any great

his life.

cannot

the circumference

the center, as

depth. My point is that star magick, drawing energy from the

there really was an Aiwass or merely a projec-

tion of Crowley's

is a star. In the

words of Hadit, "In the sphere I am everywhere

The

of a book on each

nights. This short three-part

came from a higher being. It changed

the stars. Thus, every man and every woman

of Aiwass, a discar-

to himself as "the Minister

Rose then channeled

Whether

nights: April with his wife

Egypt, a new era was born for mankind.

was proclaimed.

155

The North Star and the Teli

acts as the cauldron.

The thalamus

with the North

At an even higher level, the intercourse side the physical

is also the

Star. takes place out-

body in the spirit body between

a heavenly

God and Goddess. Franz Bardon in   Initiation into H ennetics (between

pages 16

and  17) has a wonderful

full color picture of what he calls the

first tarot

the head

crown, heavenly

card.

Above

and above the crown man and woman

image as representing

of the central

figure is a

is a clear globe within which

are copulating.

the procreative

He describes

positive

a

this

and negative

156

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

157

The North Star and the Teli

forces which stand for the creating act of the universe. Clearly, Bardon was familiar with this formula though he never specifically refers to it anywhere else in his writings.

imagine it condensing

into a single point within the bottle.

This is sort of like the  Tsimlsum.The next step involved the creation of the primordial man, Adam Kadmon, at the point of 

To a Hebrew Kabbalist, what is being described here is intercourse between the higher Shekinah (Binah) and the

concentration.

Great Father (Chokmah).

Hebrew

verse. However, after the light from Adam Kadmon's eyes

sources that describe such practices. But then again, there really are no words that could adequately describe intercourse

shown into Kether, Chokmah and Binah, the next sephirah Chesed was not strong enough to contain the light of original

 between the positive and negative creative forces in the uni-

creation and it shattered. It was this shattering of the vessels

verse. Remember, Chokmah consciousness is beyond the ver bal powers of the intellect.

that brought chaos and evil into the universe. It was necessary that a second creation take place. This time the light issued 

I know of no authentic

From the eyes of Adam Kadmon came the

emanation of light to fill each sephirah and create the uni-

forth from the forehead of Adam Kadmon and this time the

 Return to the Source The highest light is the clear light. It is beyond the purple light. In the Hebrew Kabbalah, it is the clear light that is unmoving and unchanging, that pervades all of creation. It is like the canvas upon which the universe is painted. In Lurianic Kabbalism, the clear light preceded all of creation. It is the   fi n S o ph A u r, the Limitless Light. As stated, Lurianic Kabbalism is immensely complex. Luria's version of  creation was stunning. Prior to creation, the   fi n S o ph   was limitless. In order to allow creation to take place, the fin Soph   has to create a space in which creation could take place. To accomplish this, the  fin So ph   contracted into itself. It contracted to a single point. This is known as the  Tsimlsum.   However, despite the contrac-

tion, there remained an essence of the  fin Soph,   a higher light that lingered in the space the   fi n S o ph   had contracted from. To conceptualize

this, imagine a bottle filled with wine. Pour 

out the wine and there will still be the aroma of the wine lingering in the bottle. Now, instead of pouring out the wine,

sephiroth held. But, it is the shattered sparks from the original creation that the Lurianic Kabbalist must unify and return to the   fin Soph   to fulfill the original plan of creation. All religions seem to have a tradition of a nigher light, a light of heaven, a clear light. Kabbalistic Judaism and Taoism are no different. Taoists call rejoining this light the Return to the Source or the Union of Heaven and Man. After intercourse between the divine man and divine woman in the Congress of Heaven and Earth, the spirit body obtains immortality and merges with the Higher Light of the Tao, the   Wu

Chi.

There are legends of Taoist Immortals who could leave their bodies on earth in a state of suspended animation and  travel through space for years on end before returning to their   bodies. One such recent legend tells of a detachment of Communist soldiers finding a group of non-decaying, but not apparently living bodies in a cave. The bodies were ordered burned. In time, the Taoist Immortals returned to earth only to find  their bodies had been destroyed. Their methods of revenge taken against the soldiers would make for an interesting novel.

158

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

How can I describe merging with the Source, returning to Heaven? I cannot. It is the ultimate mystical experience reserved for the very few highest adepts. Occasionally, an adept will contact or be contacted by a discarnate immortal. Both Taoists and Kabbalists tell similar  stories. The great Rabbi Joseph Caro   (1488-1575)

was a

member of the circle of mystics living in' Safat, Israel in the early sixteenth century which included Isaac Luria and Moses Cordovero.

~

Caro had a heavenly mentor called by the Kab.

 balists a Maggid. His Maggid taught him kabbalistic secrets.

Conclusion

He recorded these communications in his diary. Rabbi Moses Hayyin

Luzzato   (1707-1746),

a Lurianic Kabbalist, also

claimed to have a maggid. Isaac Luria himself is reputed to have had a Maggid as well. There are numerous Taoist legends of similar experiences. And here ends my attempt to explore the highest levels of  Taoist Alchemy and the Kaballah. I hope [ have been successful in at least making some of the concepts comprehensible.

.-...-"

I and differences

nthis short book, I have attempted to show the similarities between Jewish Kabbalism, Western Kab balism and Taoist Yoga using the shamanic structure of Upper, Middle and Lower World as a reference point. It is, by no means, complete. However, to the best of my knowledge, no such other comparison exists. In her    1978   book,   Kabbalah, The W ay of the Jewish Mystic (Shambala Publications Inc.), Perle Epstein spends three and  one-half pages on "Parallels To Taoist Meditation" at the end  of a chapter on Jewish Kabbalistic practices (pp.   69-72). Her  information was scant, but it is the only reference I've ever   previously seen to any similarity between the Jewish Kabbalists and Taoist Yoga. There may be others. This is not a scholarly, exhaustive work. Western Kabbalists often wrote about the Taoists. They have adopted the  I Ching   which, according to legend, was created by the Taoist sage Fu Shih over   5,000   years ago, as a system of divination. Now it appears that the Microcosmic Orbit and sexual practices are also making the crossover. For too

159

The Tao

160

long,

the practices

Taoists

of both

were secret, As I have

exchange

of information

be fore,

this book

and the

little available

as time

and practice

I hope

Kabbalists

was actually

stated

 

Tree of Life

the Western

so there

compa re.

the two groups.

&the

goes

will continue

to

on

the

between

lays the groundwork

for 

There seems to me to be little chance ists will be able to adopt Kabbalism

is truly

a religious

but, strictly

gion. Taoism is a religion synonymous

ian, for example. gion. A jewish  jewish

nal. It probably

benefits

ultimate

book

to expand,

availability

Chia has moved

and 

tempts Eve and 

23.   Therefore, the Lord God sent him forth from the Garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. of the Garden the Cherubim, and the flaming sword  which turned everyway, to keep the path to the Tree of Life." So, we see the real reason for the expulsion:

what

As I

back to his native Thailand.

to me that I may not have clearly

the immortal

reaching

defined

entrance

For the Taoist, the method spirit body and eventually

Tree of Life and

gaining

immortality.

of Eden. The goal

is to gain

and eat from the Tree of Life (or if you are a Taoist

to find the Golden Cherubim

th

the

to keep man

in each of us is an Adam or Eve in exile, seeking

the way back to the Garden

Cherubim.

Flower).

My final piece

The way was guarded of information

then,

by the

is that the

are the Angels of Yesod in the world of Assiah. Use

this information

and Taoist Yoga for they were th

same. The goal was immortality.

from

Somewhere

and the

make this a certainty.

But, this is not so. I'll let the Bible speak 

22. And the Lord God said, Behold the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also of the Tree of  Life, and eat, and live forever.

mys-

slowly, throughout

of its practices

it was the eating of the fruit of 

of Good and Evil that was the rea-

for itself: (Gen.   3:22-24)

was origi-

knows

from Eden. As the

24. So he drove out the man, and he placed at the east

the door for many to follow.

to grow and mature

son for the expulsion.

Meditation

to fully elucidate

Providence

understood,

the Tree of the Knowledge

to any reli-

for the Hebrew

and Evil and they are expelled

story is popularly

no need to

for this chapter

Divine

of the system

goals of Kabbalism

of Good

must be jewish.

practice

an entire

Only

the world. The first-time

It occurs

2 of Genesis

3, the serpent

on the Sepher Y etzirah   will add some

Taoist Yoga will continue

He opened

(not a diagram),

in Chapter 

3. In Chapter

and 

was to find and 

again in Chapter

It is not

the future holds.

write, Mantak

both jewish

the Tree of Life first appears

Chia is a Christ-

a resurgence.

My research

deserves

new directions.

undeniable

sage. For the Kabbalist,

the goal is the same. The method

eat the fruit of the Tree of Life. As a concept

they are not a reli-

can belong

by definition,

is enjoying

a fashionable

new food for thought.

in every and Taoist

is absolutely

Kabbalist

tics. I hope that my chapter

these

speaking,

Taoist Yoga. Mantak

Kabbalist,

Kabbalism

system

that is now almost extinct.

A Western

has again become

an immortal

Western,

a way of life, or a per-

with Taoist Yoga. There

 be a Taoist to practice

or 

wrong with

Kabbalism

Yoga are not. They can be considered

Kabbal-

Kabbalists

But, there is nothing

sense of the word, while both Western philosophy

that jewish

much of the Western

the Taoists into their system.

sonal

 become

161

she and then Adam eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge

future exploration.

this. jewish

Conclusion

wisely. It's a new age that we live in.

i r J

 Appendix  Meditations All of the meditations

on the following pages, except the

Healing Love meditation which was given by Mantak Chi", are transcribed, with a little editing, from classes I have held 

/

over the years. The meditations are self-explanatory. You can refer to the appropriate text and diagrams before doing the meditation. There is no set time or place for them to be done. However the Fusion of the Five Elements is best when done in the morning. The meditations

work best if they are read to you or 

recorded on a tape recorder and listened to through head phones. There is a great deal of information contained

in

them. If you are reading them, you should be able to get great  benefit from them as long as you're not distracted. You don't have to do an entire meditation. You can pick  out parts that you like or want to work with. The important thing is regular daily practice. 163

164

A note on Taoist meditations. five major organs

Colors associated

and five elements

with the

are used in the medita-

 just above

the two eyes. Not quite as high as the eyebrows

 but above the bridge of the nose. This point is known

tions. For the kidneys and Water Element, I use the color sap-

Mid-Eyebrow

 phire

blue. This

 Now imagine

color

for the water

is how I learned

 black for sapphire

Element

it. The

traditional

Taoist

is black. Feel free to substitute

blue if it feels more comfortable

to you.

So, here they are, have fun with them.

165

Appendix A

 

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

comfortable

or Third

as the

Eye.

that just in front of you, at a distance with, is someone

you feel

you love or admire very dearly.

This person is smiling at you. They are smiling right into your  eyes. Your eyes light up with a smile and you smile back at them.

Taoist Meditation

1

Feel the smile move into your left eye. And then into the right eye. Feel as if both eyes are actually smiling. The two eyes are

THE INNER SMILE AND THE SIX HEALING SOUNDS

Sit up straight chair to support

in your chair, without

using the back of the

you. and both feet on the

ground. Clasp

this hand with the right hand, palm facing downward.

Allow

positive energy begins. Feel the smile in the outer 

of the left eye. Feel it at the bottom

of the left eye,

then the top of the left eye. Feel the inner corner

of the left

Place your point of concentration

on the tip of your nose-as

down at the tip of the nose. Try and get in touch

with the feeling at the tip of the nose. It may tingle. Can you on the tip or does it seem that there

the left or to the right? Try and establish feels as if the right eye is looking the left eye is looking either direction.

the left eye. Feel the whole left eye smiling, the whole eyeball and the socket.  Now, we do the same for the right eyeball. Feel the outer cor-

hands to rest in your lap.

Close your eyes and sit quietly for a moment.

concentrate

of restoring

eye smile. Feel the inside of the eye smile. Then the back of 

Place your left hand in your lap, palm facing upward.

if looking

poles in the body. It is in the eyes that the work 

corner

Keep your knees fairly close together,

the clasped

the positive

a balance

is a pull to so that it

down at the right tip and 

down at the left tip, with no pulling in

ner smile ... the bottom

the top ... the inner corner

interior

and the back of the eye. Feel the

eye relax with smiling, loving energy. Feel as if both eyes are smiling. Now, lift up the outer corners of your lips into a smile. Feel your cheekbones the outer

corners

of your eyes crinkle

raise up and 

up into a real smile.

 Now, your whole face is smiling.  Now

reestablish

into a smiling,

Breathe easily and relax.

enter  just above the bridge

... the

your

connection

with

the smiling

face of 

your loved one. If you like, you can see this face transform

Sit like this for a few moments.

 Now slowly bring your point of concentration

of the right eye

up to a point

of the nose, to the point between

and 

golden

sun. Feel the smiling

golden

into your eyes and feel your eyes smiling.

lift up the corners

of your mouth

toward

energy

Continue

the outer corners

to of 

166

The Tao

& the

Tree of Life

your eyes. Now, feel a real smile. When

 Ap pe nd ix

you can really smile

like this, you feel good, you feel relaxed. When smiling like this, it's impossible

you're really

to feel sad or depressed.

more you smile, the more habitual

it becomes,

The

so it becomes

easier and easier to smile.  Now,

any impatience,

feel any hatred

to your upper

palate just

melt away like gray smoke

and pass right out of your body. So, inhale one more time and  exhale.

H-a-a-w-w.

 Now, quietly keep your concentration alize your heart surrounded

raise the tip of your tongue

167

A

on your heart and visu-

by brilliant

red light.

heart bask in the red light and fill with the positive emotions

 behind your teeth. And let it remain there. Now, feel the smil-

of love and joy. Do the healing

ing energy

w-w. And feel your heart smiling with joy and love.

move down to the roof of your mouth.

roof of your mouth tense without reversed

Feel the

relax and smile. This area is often very

our even realizing

and we are looking

it. It is as if our eyesight

downward

were

into ourself.

sound one more time. H-a-a-

 Next,

we smile into our lungs. As you inhale

nose,

feel a connection

between

Smile to the lungs, thank them for breathing alive. Feel the lungs relax and expand.

 breastbone.

the

like a turtle's neck withdrawing The eyes continue

to smile into the center

is the area of the thymus gland

into the body.

making

of the chest. This

gland. To the Taoists,

is the organ of rejuvenation.

lungs

the thymus

As we age, it gets smaller 

is s-s-s-s-s.

the healing

associated

Inhale sound

your 

and keeping

The healing

and then exhale

s-s-s-s-s.

The

sound for 

while

negative

you

slowly

emotions

by the Taoists with the lungs is sadness and depres-

sion. As we make the healing imagine

through

the nostrils and the lungs.

Move the smile down into the center of the chest, behind the As you do this, your n~ck relaxes and contracts

Feel your 

sound and smile into the lungs,

that any feeling of sadness or depression

just break 

and seems to shrivel up. So, smile into the thymus gland and 

up and like gray smoke just pass right out of the body. Do the

feel it begin to grow and blossom,

healing

like a flower opening

up.

 Next,

move the smile into the left side of the chest,

into the

and keeping

heart. You might  blossom

your blood

circulating.

a-a-w-w. Inhale and slowly vocalize Smile down and do the healing

sound s-s-s-s-s, you feel the posi-

H-a-a-w-w.

the sound as you exhale. as if it were coming

of your heart. Inhale. Feel any negativity

by a metallic

white metal, cool and crisp. And 

sound for the heart. H-

sound

the lungs are surrounded

as you again do the healing tive emotions up straight

 Now, we are going to do the healing

that

white light. Like a metallic

like a flower.

the sound

imagine

it

feel it loosen up and relax. Feel it open and 

right from the center

 Now,

leave.

Feel your 

heart. Smile into your heart. Say hello to your heart. Thank for beating

sound again. Inhale, then exhale s-s-s-s-s. Smile down

into the lungs. Feel sadness and depression

Stay here as long as you like.

of courage

and righteousness

in your seat and feel confident

 Now, reestablish

fill the lungs. Sit and courageous.

the smile in your eyes. Lift up the corners

your mouth, crinkle up the outer corners of your eyelids. Feel that smiling sun and one more time see the white metallic light

Exhale and make

surround

in the heart.

time. Inhale. Exhale s-s-s-s-s. Sound it directly in the lungs.

Feel

of 

and full the lungs. Do the healing sound

one more

168

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 

Appendix

169

A

 Now, we are going to move the smiling energy into the liver. The liver is a large organ on the right side of the body behind 

 Now, we put our concentration on our two kidneys. They are

the lower part of the rib cage, beneath the lungs. Smile down

cage. One on the left side and one on the right. The bottom of 

to the liver. See if you can feel something there on the right side. Say hello to the liver. Thank it for aiding in digestion

the kidneys is at a point opposite the level of the navel. Smile down to your kidneys. Thank them for filtering your blood 

and detoxifying the body. The healing sound of the liver is

and removing liquid waste, keeping you healthy and alive.

sh-h-h-h.

The healing sound for the kidneys is ch-u-w-a-a-a-y, like the

So inhale and then exhale and slowly do the sound. Do you

word "chew" sounded quickly and "way" sounded slowly.

feel any heat coming out of the liver;>Can you feel it relax!

Softly make the healing sound. Inhale. Exhale ch-u-w-a-a-a-y.

 Now, smile down to the liver. The negative emotion associated 

Smile down to the kidneys and feel them relax and cool down.

with the liver is anger. Smile down and make the healing sound 

Make the healing sound again. Inhale. Exhale as you make the

sh-h-h-h. Feel the anger and the heat melt out of the liver like

sound ch-u-w-a-a-a-y. The negative emotion of the kidney is

gray smoke and pass out of your body. Sh-h-h-h.

fear. When you feel afraid, the negative energy of the kidneys is

Sit up in your chair, smile down to the liver and visualize the

controlling you. The healing sound breaks up that fear. Now,

liver surrounded by a brilliant emerald green light. The Taoists

smile into the two kidneys and see them surrounded by a deep

referred to the liver as the Green Dragon. So, visualize the

 blue color--sapphire

liver filled and surrounded by the color of the Green Dragon.

smoke, passing right out of the body. It is replaced with the pos-

Feel the liver begin to fill with its positive emotion-kindness. Think of some kindness that you've done for some person,,,---maybe a stranger with no thought of reward or some kindness someone did for you that they didn't have to do and how good it made you feel and how it made you smile. And sense how the positive emotions and the smile and the sound tie

located on the back side of our body at the bottom of the rib

blue. All negativity melts away like gray

itive emotion of the kidney, gentleness. Make the healing sound  again. Inhale. Exhale and make the sound ch-u-w-a-a-a-y. Feel the fear change into a sense of gentleness. As ifyou could sense the gentle side of nature. Smile down into the kidneys. Feel the gentleness spread out into your whole body along with the kindness, courage and joy from the other organs.

together. Now, one more time reestablish the smile. Lift the

 Now, move your point of concentration

corners of the lips and crinkle the corners of the eyes and 

spleen. The pancreas runs across the body at waist level from

smile down into the liver, see it surrounded by bright emerald  light and do the healing sound sh-h-h-h right inside the liver.

the bottom of the liver across to the left side where it is inti-

Sense that kindness. Can you feel the liver now! Is it tingling,

on the left side of the body at the bottom of the front rib cage.

or bubbling, or softening UP!

Smile into the pancreas. Thank it for producing insulin and 

If you feel like rocking in your seat, that is O.K. It helps the energy move within the body. Make sure both feet are on the

regulating your blood sugar level. And smile into the spleen

ground. You want to keep in touch with the earth energy.

to the pancreas and 

mately connected with the spleen which is a fist-sized organ

170

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

Appendix A

and thank it for silently doing its work of producing

antibod-

 joy, kindness,

gentleness,

ies to fight off disease.

the genital

The healing

sexual desires

sound for the spleen and pancreas

like the word "who" sounded feel the sound

vibrate

when it is sounded spleen.

The

out slowly. You might actually

more in the area of the solar plexus

out upon exhalation.

Smile down to the pancreas.

wh-o-o-o-o.

down

emotion

Make the healing

of the spleen-pancreas

to the spleen-pancreas

sound 

is worry. So,

and make the healing

control

wh-o-o-o-o

and feel worry

 become

like a dark gray smoke and dissipate

from your body.

Imagine

your spleen,

Exhale,

make the sound

your pancreas,

the whole

going to the left side of the body, surrounded

This helps you to get in touch with your 

and begin

to bring

Reestablish What

your sexual energy,

midsection

by a brilliant yel-

tongue

around

When

in this meditation.

and the back of your lips. Circle the

nine times in either

and circle six times in the opposite

Feel the mouth

Imagine

 pIe, to hear what they say. That you can listen with fairness.

the saliva.

Make the healing

Place the tip of your tongue

and see the bright yel-

time,

make the

healing

sound

wh-o-o-o-o

and 

into the five major

to your genital Smile

organs.

area. See the whole

and feel the whole

area bathed

genital

cooler

and more relaxed.

Smile into the genital

thank

it for performing

the

removing

waste and providing

functions pleasure.

Now, smile region

in a grow

region and 

of producing

life,

Smile and feel love,

all the

behind 

direction

to hold the smiling happiness

and absorb

than

energy. it into

on the roof of your mouth,

pull

the neck muscles and with a gulping

sound swallow the saliva, forcing it down. Feel the inner smile travel down your throat

smile down to the spleen. Feel yourself open up. now smiled

a smiling sun radiating

your chin in and tighten

low color smile down to the spleen.

Circle

fill with saliva. Now, smile into the

It will act like a magnet

other people. That you're calm enough to listen to other peo-=---

sound wh-o-o-o-o

direction.

you have done this, put the tip of the tongue

Feel that you're open to

you are learning

between

way around.

saliva.

Feel openness.

by it.

the smile in your eyes.

the front of your teeth

 before.

 pink color.

not be controlled

You

We want to increase the flow of saliva in the mouth.

Feel open to all the things

down

control.

I want you to do now is to swallow saliva in the Taoist

manner.

if you're expanding.

We've

them under

THE MIDDLE LINE

low color. Smile down into the bright yellow color and feel as

more

flow into

 Now, return your smile to your eyes.

the teeth

One

and courage

The way to do this is to put the tip of your tongue

sound again. Inhale.

should

friendliness

So smile down to the

Can you sense a tightness in the solar plexus area?

negative

smile

is wh-o-o-o-o,

organs.

171

and into the stomach. organs of digestion.

Feel it continue

and esophagus

to move through

Smile into the small intestines

all the

which are

about seven yards long in the middle of the abdomen. Smile into the large intestines,

the ascending

on the right side by the hip bone, colon

colon, starting

then across the transverse

to the left side and down the descending

colon,

into

172

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

173

A

 Ap pe nd ix

the sigmoid colon which lies within the pelvis and finally into

loving energy enter the top of the twelve thoracic

the rectum and anus. The large intestines

tebra and move slowly downward,

are about a yard and 

a half long. the smile in your eyes and see if you can feel

sensation

throughout

tem. Lift up the corners corners

one by one. Feel it descend 

down the back, down to the level of the heart. Then down to

 Now reestablish that smiling

(chest) ver-

your entire

of your mouth

digestive

and crinkle

sys-

the outer 

the level behind the solar plexus. Down to the point behind the navel where it enters the five lumbar (lower back) vertebra. Feel it continue known

of the eyes.

all the way down until it reaches the triangular bone

as the sacrum. It continues

the fused vertebra

to go down right through

of the sacrum all the way down to the coc-

THE BACK LINE

cyx, the tailbone.

Feel the smiling energy move into the left side of your brain.

 Now, feel as if your whole brain and spine are filled with the

Inside just the left side of the brain. Forget about everything

smiling, loving energy. With golden light. Just relax and feel it.

else. Feel the whole left side just light up and smile and relax.

 Now,

Feel the whole

spreads

left side of the brain isolated.

Feel the smile

feel the smile

move

up and

down

the

spine

and

it

out into the entire nervous system. Feel all the nerves

move back and forth, up and down and all around the left side

in the body, and in the arms and legs, hands and feet, fingel  ~

of the brain.

and toes. Feel as if your entire nervous system is smiling.

 Now, move the smile over to the right side of the brain and 

 Now, move the smile back into the two eyes and we'll do Ih(

forget about everything

last of the six healing

else except

that smiling right side of 

the brain. Feel it light up. Move the smile around  backwards,

upwards,

down, and around and feel the whole right side of 

the brain smiling. the left and right side, the wall between

the two hemispheres

of the brain, feel that smiling energy go

right there.

down the center.

Feel as if there

Go all the way down

cerebrum  back down

down through down

 Now, right between

and the medulla.

is no longer any wall

sounds,

the Triple Warmer.

As you dll

this, you feel like a wave is moving from the top of the helld, your neck, through

the chest, torso, abdomen,

the legs. All the way down to your feet and feel IIny

remaining

negativity

your fingertips ---=

Ready. Smile

in your body move right

out throullh

and toes. in the eyes. The

sound

Feel that smiling

through

the body. Inhale and then exhale slowly making th

healing

sound. Establish

the back of the head

until

going

it finally enters

the

Feel it like a wave

of the TripI

Warmer

energy

is he-e-e-e-e.

healing

to the back of the head to the

moving

the smile again. Inhale,

now exhal

 point where the back of the skull and the neck meet.

he-e-e-e-e.

Feel the smiling energy enter

 Now, relax. Smile in your eyes. And we will collect

into each vertebra

the spinal column.

Now, smile

of the seven cervical vertebra

of the neck,

one by one, moving slowly downward

until it gets to the base

of the neck and enters the spinal column itself. Feel the smiling,

down

Do it one more time.

the navel. Put your concentration

energy

in the area just behind

navel, which is your center of balance. You want to collecl

lit th 111

174

energy because your body. So, imagine navel

 Ap pe nd ix

The Tao  &  the Tree oj Life we don't want to leave it scattered

you're

forming

and we will move

a three-inch

the energy

all through

circle around

from above

the

the navel

Taoist Meditation

THE MICROCOSMIC

There

ferent breathing

Do this nine times. Imagine energy circling around the navel

ing or sitting.

nine times.

open the Governor

reverse

the direction

each circle imagine the center collect

of the circle six times and with

the energy

coming

closer and closer to

of the navel as if you're tying off a knot. And you

the energy.

techniques

through

the inhalation expands

until they get warm and massage your 

face, your forehead,. nose, ears. This is a facial chi massage.

There

Channels

is to

which comprise

used to help get the energy

the lower abdomen

of breath and contracted it to a beach

the

is expanded

to In

during

with the exhalation.

I

belly.

It

on exhalation.

of Abdominal

Microcosmic

Orbit,

Breathing. each

method could be used as the basis of a meditation. rapidly, Abdominal

Breathing.

ball in the lower

and contracts

are many variations with

of all methods

the Orbit is called Abdominal

on inhalation

combined

Dif-

Orbit.

like to analogize

Slowly open your eyes.

denominator

basic type of breathing

circulate

Orbit.

can be used. It can be done stand-

and Functional

this type of breathing,

 Now just relax for a minute.

Rub your hands together

ORBIT

The common

the Microcosmic The

2

are many ways to teach the Microcosmic

down the left side to below the navel and up on the right side.

 Now,

175

A

When

breathing When done

Breathing is known as Bellows Breathing or 

Quick Fire. When

done slowly, it is referred to as Slow Fire.

The

of Abdominal

effectiveness

 pulling

up on the

perineum.

 b~een

the back of the genitals

different

variations,

on the inhalation, exhalation,

pulling Americans

and in advanced

during the inhalation

Breathing The

is enhanced

perineum

is the

by point

and the front of the anus. In

up on the perineum

can be done

seem to favor pulling up on the techniques

and exhalation.

the pull is maintained  In the meditation

here,

most of the pulling up will be done during inhalation. Sit up in your chair without support

you.

using the back of the chair

to

176

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

Sit with your knees close together. ground.

Your hands

are clasped

 

Both feet firmly on the

in your lap, your left palm

facing up, right palm down.

Appendix

Smile

into your liver. Surround

Put your point of concentration

Inhale. Exhale. Relax.

sapphire

on the tip of your nose. Be

the liver with an emerald 

green light and feel your liver smiling. Smile into your kidneys.

Close your eyes. Breathe regularly.

177

A

Surround

your two kidneys

blue light and feel your kidneys

Smile into your spleen and pancreas.

with a

smiling.

Surround

your spleen

aware of any muscular pull to the left or the right. Balance out

and pancreas with a bright yellow light. Feel your spleen and 

the pull so that there is no pull to either side.

 pancreas

After a few moments,

raise your point of concentration

to the

mid-eyebrow. Imagine

smiling.

Reestablish

the smile in your mid-eyebrows.

Smile down to

the Navel Center, the   Tan Tim.   It is right underneath

a friendly

smiling

face. It could be a loved one or a

the navel.

Two to three inches inside. The navel is the point where we

fantasy lover or it could be the smiling face of a baby. Feel the

originally

smile go directly

original energy. It is our Earth Center, the   Tan Tim.

into your eyes. Your left eye begins to smile

and your right eye begins to smile. You lift up the corners your mouth and feel your cheekbones

of 

raise and the corners of 

your eyes crinkle up into a smile.

from our mother.

Smile into the navel. When  balanced.

face and scalp. It moves

It is the source of 

the Navel Point is open, you feel

When the navel point is closed down or obstructed 

it results in sloppy, picky, or distracted

The smile moves over your whole down through

drew energy

Bring your concentration

behavior.

back to the mid-eyebrow.

Be aware

your face to the roof of your mouth

which

of the smiling energy in front of you. Inhale. Draw the energy

relaxes as you smile. You raise the tip of your tongue

to the

into your mid-eyebrow.

upper palate just behind the teeth. The happy smiling energy goes down your tongue,

through

your throat

and moves to

the thymus gland in the center of your chest behind the sternum or breastbone.

like a flower. The thymus

tion. It is activated

draw energy

to the thymus

gland. Inhale down to the navel area. Use the abdominal Don't

breath.

Each inhalation

exhale unless I tell you to. Don't

is a small sip of air. expand

the chest as

you inhale; expand your lower abdominal.

Smile into your thymus gland. Feel it expand and open up and   blossom

Inhale,

is the gland of rejuvena-

by smiling.

Hold your breath

the heart with a bright

light and feel it smile and blossom

red 

like a flower. Feel happi-

ness in your heart. Smile into your lungs. Surround

and get

warmer. Ex~.  Now,

Smile into your heart. Surround

in your navel and feel it expand

inhale

abdomen

and exhale

rapidly.

Expand

with short quick abdominal

out through

the nose. Do eighteen

and contract

breaths. breaths.

the

Breathe in and  The

navel area

should become much warmer. This is Bellows Breathing. your lungs with a metallic

white color and feel your lungs smile.

 Now, smile

down

to the Sexual

known as the Ovarian

Palace.

For women,

it is

Palace and is about three inches below

I~III

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

178

the navel. located When

In men,

it is known

 Ap pe nd ix

as the Sperm

at the base of the penis beneath

Palace and is

When

the pubic bone.

the Sexual Palace is open, you have a sense of creative

and personal

power. When

it is closed down,

it is difficult

to

When

Put your concentration

on the Sexual Palace. Now, move the

back and forth from the Sexual Palace back up to the

the Kidney When

Point. This is located

Move the energy

were washing

Inhale.

Inhale up to the

the Kidney

by your past.

The energy

rises up to

on the spine opposite

the

Point is open one feels gentleness.

it is closed you feel fear of being taken advantage

the Kidney

Up then down.

is open you feel balanced.

Inhale and pull up on the perineum.

 Navel Point and then down again. Do it a few times as if you the channel.

the Sacral Point

179

it is closed you feel as if you are imprisoned

navel. When

enjoy life.

energy

coccyx.

A

of.

down to the Sacral Point then back up to

Point. Exhale. It moves down to the Sacral Point.

It moves up to the Kidney Point. Wash the channel.

 Navel Point, exhale down to the Sexual Palace.

 Now, inhale again, pull up on the perineum

and the energy

Smile

moves

This

down

to the Perineum,

Energy can escape the perineum

the Gate of Life and Death.

from this point so it must be sealed. When

is open you feel grounded.

When

it is closed 

up the spine

opposite

to the Adrenal

the solar plexus.

one feels a sensation

When

of freedom.

Point.

the Adrenal When

is located 

Point

is open

it is c1osed, there is a

down you feel insecure.

feeling of burden

 Next you must pull the energy around the coccyx so it can rise

Again, move the energy down to the point below, the Kidney

up the spine and enter the Governor use the three

step contraction

tract the perineum,

the point

Channel.

To do this you

Adrenal

Point.

between

the sexual organ and 

channel

opening.

the movement

Do the three step contraction the perineum,

inhale again without

above the anus on the backside.

energy

feel the

up the back all the way to the base of the skull, the Jade Pillow,

Exhale. As your 

the Small Brain Point. When

rhythmic.

inspiration.

again. Inhale, contract and contract

the

the muscle about an inch

Feel the energy come around 

the lower part of the body.  Now press down on the ground

up to the

 Now, inhale again, pull up on the perineum and the energy rises

exhaling

anus. Now inhale again and contract

inhale

the anus itself.

becomes

method

Point,

Do it a few times. Wash the route,

the muscle about an

the anus just below the coccyx. improves,

down to the Kidney

First inhale and con-

the anus. Take a second sip of air and contract

technique

Exhale

method.

 Now take a third sip of air and contract inch above

Point.

and obstruction.

the Jade Pillow is open, you feel

When it is closed, you feel that life is suffocating.

Wash the channel.

Moving

the energy down to the Adrenal

Point then back up to the Jade Pillow. Exhale down, inhale up. Pull in the chin a little, straighten the perineum \nd this point

the neck. Inhale, pull up on

the energy rises to the Crown

by imagining

a line drawn

Point. Locate

from the mid-eyebrow

with your feet and feel the

 point over the top of the head. This line intersects a second line

rise up the lower part of the spine to the Sacral Point.

drawn from the top of the right ear over the top of the head to

This point

is located

an inch or two up from the tip of the

the top of the left ear. The point of intersection

is the Crown

180

The Tao

&

the Tree of Life

Point. Three inches below the Crown Point is the Pineal Gland  Point. When the Pineal Gland Point is open you can receive guidance from higher forces and you radiate happiness. When closed, you can have delusions, illusions, headaches, erratic

 Ap pe nd ix

A

181

 Now move the energy up to the Pituitary Point and down to the Palate Point. Inhale up, exhale down. Do this a few times. Wash the channel.

Inhale again, pull up on the perineum, the energy moves

 Now inhale, pull up on the perineum, pull the energy up to the Crown Point. Exhale, the energy goes down through the Pituitary Point, the Palate Point, down the tongue to the Throat Point. This point is located in the lower part of the throat. It is the communication and dream center. This is traditionally a weak point that is hard to protect. When the Throat Point is open you speak more eloquently. When it is

down to the mid-eyebrow point. Three inches inside the skull

closed you feel an unwillingness to change.

mood swings and may feel you are a victim or slave. Move the energy down to the Jade Pillow then back up to the Pineal Gland Point. Do this a few times. Exhale down, inhale up. Wash the channel.

at the mid-eyebrow

point is the Pituitary Point. When the

Pituitary Point is open you feel wisdom. When it is closed, there is a sense of indecision. Move the energy back and forth between the Pineal and Pituitary Points. These points are within the brain. Feel this center of your brain expand and light up. This entire area is known as the Crystal Palace. Make sure your tongue is raised to the upper palate directly  behind the teeth. This is known as the Palate Wind Point. Further back on the hard palate is the Fire Point. Even further   back at the beginning of the soft palate is the Water Point, directly beneath the pituitary gland.  Now inhale, pull up on the perineum, draw the energy all the

Move the energy up to the Palate Point and down to the Throat Point. Do this a few times. Feel the energy going up and down the throat and tongue.  Now inhale. Pull up on the perineum, the energy rises up the spine to the Crown Point. Exhale, it descends down the Functional Channel through the Throat Point and down to the Heart Point. This point is between the nipples for men or one inch up from the bottom of the sternum (breastbone) for  women. It controls the thymus gland. When the Heart Point is open love, joy, happiness, honesty and respect are felt. When it is closed one feels under attack and sorry for oneself. Move the energy up to the Throat Point, then down to the Heart Point. Wash the channel a few times.

way up to the Crown-Pineal Point. Then exhale down to the Pituitary Point, then down to the Palate Point also known as the Heavenly Pool.

Exhale and the energy moves down to the Solar Plexus Point. When the Solar Plexus Point is open you feel you can take risks. When it is closed there is a sense of panic and worry.

By moving the tongue back and forth on the palate, the best

 Now move the energy up to the Heart Point and down to the Solar Plexus Point a few times. Inhale up, exhale down.

 position can be found for t he energy to pass through the palate to the top of the tongue. This is experienced as a current, a sensation of electricity, coolness, warmth, tingling, numbness, or  something sufficiently different to warrant attention.

 Now exhale and lower the energy to the Navel Point. Then raise the energy to the Solar Plexus Point and lower it to the  Navel Point a few times. Wash the channel.

\

18 2

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

You have now completed one circulation of the Microcosmic Orbit. Once you feel the flow of energy, it is not necessary to wash the channel. Just move the energy in a continuous orbit, using the mind to direct the   Chi. With the concentration

on the Navel Point do a few rapid 

Abdominal Breaths to heat up the Navel Center. Exhale, pull up slightly on the perineum and the energy descends to the Sexual Palace. Exhale again and it goes down to the Perineum Point. Pull up lightly on the anus and then an inch above the anus and the energy moves from the bottom of the Functional Channel into the Governor Channel to the Sacral Point.  Now inhale and the energy rises to the Kidney Point, to the Adrenal Point to the Small Brain Point Oade Pillow) and up to the Crown Point. Exhale and the energy descends to the Pituitary Point (or mideyebrows) to the Palate Point, down to the Throat Point, Heart Point, Solar Plexus Point and back to the Navel Point.

18 3

 Ap pe nd ix A

Taoist Meditation FUSION

OF   THE

3

FIVE ELEMENTS

Sit up straight in your seat, not using the back of the chair to support you. Place your left hand in your lap, palm up. Cover with your right hand, palm down, so that your hands are clasped in your lap. Put your concentration on the tip of your nose. Feel a tingling at the tip of the nose. Be aware if there is a pull of the muscles more to the left or to the right. Try and balance it out. The Taoists found that doing this, looking down toward the tip of  the nose, was the fastest way to gather the energy together  and concentrate the mind.  Now move the point of concentration

up to the point

 between and slightly above the two eyes. This is the Third  Eye, or Mid-Eyebrow Point. Imagine that a few feet in front of you can feel the warmth oj the sun. Picture a happy smiling face on the sun, smiling into

Do as many circulations as you want to.

your eyes. Feel your eyes smile back. Lift up the outer corner 

At the end of the meditation, you collect the energy at the navel. Circle energy clockwise around the navel either nine or 

of the mouth, raise them toward the eyes. Feel your cheek 

thirty-six times. This circle is about three inches wide. Start-

as you smile. Feel a real smile in your eyes. Imagine your left

ing an inch and one-half above the navel, circle from above to

eye is smiling and your right eye is smiling.

the left side of the navel, to below the navel. Come up on the right side.

Raise the tip of your tongue to the roof of your mouth. And 

 Now reverse the direction. Do this six or twenty-four times.

yourself, smile to the roof of your mouth. Feel the roof of 

The energy moves counter-clockwise. As you come to the final

your mouth soften. It seems to rise up and expand.

circulations around the navel, pull the energy closer and closer 

 Now, smile down through your tongue and into your hellrt

to the navel and then directly into the navel on the final circle.

and feel that smiling, loving energy in your heart.

May the C hi  be with you.

Feel it expand into the lungs.

lift up and the outer corners of your eyes crinkle up a little bit

looking inward as if you could turn your eyes and see insid 

The Tao

184

&the

Tree of Life

 Ap pen dix A

185

3

5

1

7

Figure 32: First Layer of the   Pa Qua

Figure 33: The Complete

Then into the liver.

quickly

Smile into the kidneys.

the entire digestive smiling,

 Now, smile into the spleen.  Now, reestablish

that smile in your eyes. And we're going to

swallow saliva down our throat. To do that we put our tongue  between

the teeth

and the outer

lips and circle the tongue

nine times. Then,

through

the large intestines

putting

the tongue

cling in the other direction

behind

the teeth and cir.

six times.

 Now imagine that you're chewing

the saliva, moving the jaw

to the colon.

Through

tract from the throat to the anus, feel that

loving energy.

Reestablish

that smile in your eyes. Feel that smile center now

in the point

between

the two eyes. Feel your neck growing

heavy. Your head growing

heavy. And like a turtle pulling its

head into its shell, feel your head sink down. Your neck grows loose. All the tension and tightness

reverse,

Pa Qua

in the neck melts away.

Smile now from the eyes into the left side of the brain. Then smile into the right side of the brain.

 back and forth. And while you're doing this fill the saliva with

Feel the smile go right down the center of the brain, between

the happy

the

smiling golden

energy from the smiling sun. Now

raise your tongue to the roof of your mouth, straighten

your neck and with a gulping

saliva. Feel it move down through stomach,

through

the

small

pull in the chin,

sound swallow that

the esophagus

intestine,

feeling

and into th it movin

two

medulla, tebra

hemispheres,

down

past

the

cerebrum

into the neck and the smile passes through

in the neck. Feel the smile quickly

moving

and

the

each verdown and 

enter the spine itself and quickly move down from the level of  the top of the shoulders

to the point behind

the heart, down

186

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

to the

point

 behind

the navel, down through

behind

the solar

plexus,

down

the vertebra

 Ap pen dix A to the

point

of the sacrum

 breath.

Now, take a third breath and pull up on the perineum.

And at the level of the perineum,

and all the way down to the coccyx.

Exhale and we'll do it again.

 Now smile into your sexual organs.

down.

 Now bring your concentration

back up to the point between

your two eyes. We're now going to begin building the   Pa Qua in the front of the body. The   Pa Qua   is built up of eight sides. It is formed

inside the body, behind

the navel, about

three

You can begin

on the left side. A line straight

side of the navel. Then

connect

45 degrees downward

line across. Then a line

on the right. Then a line straight down.

line 45 degrees Then

up at the left

that line with a 45-degree

line to the top. At the top a straight

the bottom.

Take another

pushing

 between

on the left side between

the kidney and the peron the right side

down to the bottom.

A line across

the eighth line is 45 degrees upwards.

You may want to move around or rock your body as you sit. Inhale

again,

energy

layer. Then inside of that, form a third layer.

 perineum.

line inward so that there are eight lines inward, cutting

the P a

point about

from the kidneys

 point of concentration

we put our concentration

Form a collection  breastbone,

The organ we'll begin with is the kidneys.

heat from the heart

of 

it; the coldness

could

three

into that collection

inside that collection

point

two kidneys. Try to sense the two kidney organs, on the back 

collection

side above the level of the navel.

or chi follows.

exhaling,

pushing

down on the diaphragm.

pull in ontthe abdomen

and take anothe.

drawing

Move

your 

the

inches wide. Feel a flow of 

the rib cage on the back on the left and right side. Feel th

breath

and, if 

to the heart and feel the heat there.

approximately

move

on our heart.

your mind into it and will the hot energy

take a deep

at the

point in the center of the chest, beneath

use this   Pa Qua   to collect the element energy from the organs.

and look inward towards the back, the bottom

collecting

into the perineum.  Now,

Using your mind,

Its color is deep sap-

sense real cold energy

you can't actually feel it, just imagine

Qu a   into eight sections and in the center visualize the   rai Chi

We're going t

from the kid-

point at the perineum.

is cold.

You might actually

a ball

inches wide. Draw the

blue. So sense that cold blue energy

symbol. This is an energy net. A Taoist energy collector.

three

and sense

Feel the energy

neys moving down to the collection The

of the angles of the layer, draw a straight

up on the perineum

down from the kidneys.

form a second

At each intersection

pulling

there. A collection ,energy

 phire

Without

Take a

the kidney and the perineum.

the first layer of the web. Now inside that layer 

 Now,

the diaphragm

Now as you pull up, sense a

ineum. Now pull up and sense a connection

We've created

concentrate

Inhale,

a ball of energy.

sip of air, pull in the abdomen.

third sip, pull up the perineum. connection

visualize

Exhale.

inches wide.

Another

187

point.

It's as if you

yourself, to gather

or move into the

point. The mind moves the energy, and the ener~y So use your mind to draw the chi from

heart into the heart collection

point in the center of   til('

  YOIII

I",~I

I

188

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 

Appendix

A

189

See the red color. You can even imagine a small flame burning

to the collection point. The color of the liver energy is emer-

in the center of your chest. See that flame burning with the

ald green. Bright green. See and feel that green-colored

 bright red color of the Fire energy from the heart. Feel the heat.

filling the collection point on the right side of the   Pa Qua at

 Now, you're going to split your concentration in two. Part of 

the navel, this glowing emerald green ball. This is wood 

your concentration

energy, the chi of the liver. Leave this ball at the right side of 

goes down to the perineum collection

chi

 point. The other part of your concentration remains at the col-

the   Pa Qua.

lection point in the center of your chest. Exhale and as you

 Now, put your concentration on your lungs. The left lung and 

inhale pull up on the perineum and feel that cold energy drawn

the right lung. The chi of the lungs is cool and dry. Like a

up your body into the   Pa Qua   behind your navel. Exhale and  feel the hot energy move down to the   Pa Qua  as you relax the

 piece of metal, cool and dry to the touch. Not as cold as the

 perineum. Inhale and pulling up on the perineum feel the cold  chi rise to the   Pa Qua.  Exhale and feel the hot energy descend. Continue doing this. Inhale and pull the cold energy up, then exhale, relax the perineum, and pull the hot energy down. Keep it in the center of your body in the  Pa Qua  which acts like a web to collect and hold the hot and cold energies.

water energy. Cool and dry. The collection point for the lung energy is on the left side of  the body, opposite the liver collection point. So on a point straight down from the left nipple, just outside the   Pa Qua at the navel, form a three-inch ball. Feel this cool, dry energy  being drawn from both lungs. It may feel as if energy from the right lung is being drawn into the left lung and then being

You feel, in the middle of your body, this cold energy and this

 pulled straight down. Or it may feel as if the chi is coming

hot energy mixing together. Start consciously mixing the hot

simultaneously from the left and right lungs directly into the

and cold  ch i   inside the   r a i C h i   symbol in the center of the Pa

collection point.

Qua.   The web pulls it in and holds the chi. It can't escape from

the web. The web draws the cold towards the center and draws the heat towards the center and it mixes and blends there.  Now put your concentration on the right side of your body, on the liver. The liver is a large organ on the right side below the lung, under the rib cage. Feel it there. The energy of the liver is warm and damp or moist. See ifyou can sense that warm, damp chi.   You might feel the palms of your hands begin to sweat.

The color of the lung energy is metal)ic white and its element is metal. See that metallic white color fill the collection point, drawing the chi from the lungs to the collection point on the left side of the   Pa Qua.  Now again we split our concentration

to the liver collection

 point on the right side and the lung collection point on the left side. We spiral the energy from both into the   Pa Qua.   Feel the wood and metal energies spiraling in, joining with the fire

The collection point for the liver is on the line straight down

energy of the heart and the water energy of the kidneys. The

from the nipple at the right side of the navel. Feel a round 

ancient Taoists referred to the wood chi as the Green Dragon

collection point form there. Feel it begin to draw this warm,

and to the metal chi as the White Tiger. So we mix the Green

damp energy down. Feel it moving right out of the liver down

Dragon and the White llger with the fire energy of the heart,

190

T he

Ta o &   the Tree of Life

which is Heavenly Energy, and the water energy of the kidneys, which is an Earthly Energy. We mix the four energies or  elements in the   Pa Qua   in the center of the body.

 

Appendix

A

191

cold energy rise up the spine. Exhale, feel the hot energy move down. Feel the two energies mixing in the  Pa Qua  on your back  so that the   Pa Qua   is neither hot nor cold any longer.

 Now, put your concentration on the spleen on the left side of  the body. Sense a fist-sized organ at the lower left part of the

 Now, on the right side form a three-inch ball at the level of 

rib cage. The energy of the spleen is neutral. It's not hot, it's

the navel. Collect the residual moist, warm energy of the

not cold. It's not cool or dry or warm or moist. Neutral

liver. If it helps you to use the colors, by all means use them. The color of the wood chi is emerald green.

energy. We spiral the chi of the spleen directly into the P a

 Now, on the left side, form a three-inch ball at the level of the

Qua.   Its color is bright yellow. See this yellow energy spiral-

navel and collect the residual cool, dry energy of the metal,

ing right into the   Pa Qua   mixing with the other four energies.

the lung chi. And spiral these two energies, the wood and the

The element of the spleen chi is earth. So mix the earth chi with the other four elements: Fire, water, wood, and metal.

metal into the back   Pa Qua.   So you've now mixed the energy

 Now, put your concentration

Qua, into the Tai Chi symbol, and feel all the elements blend 

 back, we do not mix in the earth energy of the spleen. The earth energy is only mixed into the front   Pa Qua.

together. Feel the hot fire energy, the cold energy of the water, the warm damp energy of the wood, the cool dry

 Now, on the right side form a third    Pa Qua   at the same level as the other two. Quickly form a ball at the level of the hip

energy of the metal mixing with the neutral energy of the earth in the center of your body.

and feel any cold water energy remaining on the right side

 Now, on your back, directly opposite your front   Pa Qua,   pic-

And above at the level of the heart, just under the armpit, cre-

ture a second   Pa Qua.   Just duplicate it, as if you had a mental copy machine. Now picture a collection ball at the level of 

ate another collection point. Collect any residual hot energy. Pull up on the perineum and inhale and feel that cold energy

your sacrum, just above the lowest point of the spine, just above the coccyx.

rise into the   Pa Qua.   Exhale and relax the perineum and the hot energy descends into the   Pa Qua.

Feel that little ball three inches wide. Feel it collecting any of  the residual cold water energy.

The web holds that energy. The   Pa Qua   web holds the energy and draws it into the   Tai Chi  symbol.

 Now above, picture a collection point just inside the spine, opposite the heart collection point. Feel the hot energy from

 Now, behind the   Pa Qua   at your right side, on your back,

right into the center of the Pa

the heart, any residual energy, rushing to that collection point.  Now inhale, pull up on the perineum and feel the cold energy rise up to the   Pa Qua   on the back,. Exhale and feel the hot energy move down to the   Pa Qua.   Inhale, pull up and feel the

of the fire and the water and the wood and the metal. On the

drawn to this collection point.

form another collection point. Gather the cool, dry energy of  the lungs there. And on the front side form another collection  ball and draw any residual energy from the liver, the moist, warm wood chi. Spiral these two elements, the wood and the metal from the front and the back into the right side   Pa Qua.

19 2

The Tao

&the

Appendix A

Tree of Life

 Now, we repeat this process on the left side. Form a  Pa Qua on the left side. Form a collection ball at the left hip. Draw in any remaining cold energy. Form another collection point at the level of the

19 3

Feel them spiral toward each other. Right into the center of  your body. We call this the Cauldron, the Ta n T Ie n .   Spiral the energy from the front   T a i C h i   and the back   Tai Chi. The  blended energy of the five elements. The fire, water, wood,

heart, under the left armpit. Draw in any residual hot energy.

metal and earth.

Draw the fire and water energies into the  P a Q u a   on the left

Blend it and harmonize it in the center of your body.

side. Inhale, pull up on the perineum, feel the cold energy rise

 Now, from the left and right sides spiral the energy from the

into the   Pa Qua. Exhale, relax the perineum, and feel the hot energy descent into the  Pa Qua.

two  Tai Chi   symbols into the Cauldron. Spiral in from the left

If you can, you can draw both elements simultaneously, using

If you like, you can reverse the spiral. Feel it move in different

your mind to direct the ch i   from below and above.

directions. See if the energy is stronger either way. You can

 Now, behind you, on the left side form another collection

 play with the chi. Feel it.

 point. Draw in the energy of the metal.

 Now, at the very center of your body feel that energy begin to

And in front, form the final collection point, and draw in the

grow very strong. It congeals. It congeals into a Pearl.

wood energy from the liver.

Spiral from the front and back, the left side and the right side.

Spiral these two into the left  Pa Qua.   Mix it with the fire and  water chi. Blend all the elements together. You have now collected the energy of all your major organs

side. Spiral in from your right side.

Feel the Pearl, sense it. See it if you can. A gleaming pearl. You can see it silvery white or golden. Shining. Feel it contract more and more so that it's no bigger than a pin head.

into four   Pa Quas.   One in the front. One on the back and on

Keep drawing energy in from the front, back, right and left

the right side and left side. All the   P a Q u a s   are within the  body, under the skin.

and the Pearl expands. Now, take that Pearl. You're going to

 Now, we are going to spiral all those energies into the very

Move the Pearl down to the perineum. Use the three step

center of our body. About three and one-half inches inside of 

contraction

us. Behind the navel. Beginning with the front  Tai Chi. Feel the front   Tai Chi   symbol begin to spin. Feel it begin to spin in whatever direction you feel comfortable with.

move it. method. Contract

the anus, finally contract

the perineum, then contract

the muscle above the anus just

 below the coccyx. The Pearl enters the coccyx. It rises up the spine, up the backbone. Past the sacrum, past the Door of Life  behind the navel, past the solar plexus and the heart, to the

 Now, feel the   Tai Chi   symbol on the back also begin to spin. It

 back of the neck, through the neck. Pull in the chin a little

could be in the same direction as on the front  Tai Chi,  it could   be in the opposite direction.

 bit, raise your tongue to the roof of your mouth. Pull up on the perineum. Feel that Pearl go up to the top of your head.

194

The Tao

 Now, direct Third

it downward.

Eye. Down

of your tongue

Tree of Life

Exhale. Direct

through

 

it down with your 

raised and feel the Pearl move from the tip of 

your esophagus,

your navel. Collect

195

Appendix A

Taoist Meditation

4

the tip of your nose. Keep the tip

your nose into your tongue through

& the

and down through

past the solar plexus and down to

the Pearl into the Cauldron,

HEALING

LOVE-THE

GOD AND GODDESS

your throat, the   Tan Tien.

This meditation

is adopted

from the final Teacher

session held in the United States at Vassar College 1994 just prior to Mantak

Training on July 21,

Chia's return to Thailand.

Feel the Pearl there. Let go of the   Pa Quas. The   P a Q u a   in the front and the back, the left and right sides all dissolve. We begin to collect

energy

the

above, circle from above to

the left of the navel to below the navel. Come up on the right

meditation

with your sexual energy only describe

into the navel. From above

navel, about an inch and one-half

It is an advanced

to get you in touch

and then connect

will make use of the three   Tan Tiens: 1 )   Lower 

Ta n Tien-behind

the navel, 2) Middle

Tan Tien   has two ver-

at the solar plexus and one in the heart,

side. Do this nine times. This is clockwise.

Upper    Tan Tien in the center of the brain-the

Then reverse the direction

The three   Tan Tien are interconnected

of the energy. Do it counter-clock-

wise six times. And draw it directly

into the navel on the final

you to what I can

as cosmic sexual energy.

The meditation sions-one

designed

to the Microcosmic

Crystal

and 3) Palace.

and are also connected 

Orbit.

circle. Take a deep breath.

Relax. Slowly return to the room.

Rub the palms of your hands

together

until they get warm

and massage your face. As you practice Fusion much  points.

You should organs

more proficient,

you can do the

faster. Form the   P a Q u a s .   Form the collection in. But, it takes practice.

TIENS:

sit far forward

are past the edge.

underwear

and become

Draw the energy

STEP I: THE THREE TAN

that

allows

  Begin by sitting up in your seat. on the seat so that the

Males

the

should

testicles

sexual

wear loose-fitting

to hang

freely.

Clasp

hands, left hand up in palm. Close your eyes. Imagine way around

inside your skull looking

within from bottom done.

to top. Physically,

But, by looking

muscles

downward

and simultaneously

lips of the vagina,  backward

that you can turn your eyes all the up, then down, this cannot

and pulling

be actually

in on the eye

pulling up on the testicles

you actually

then

or the

feel that the eyes are rolling

and around.

The left eye is yang.   This is symbolized right eye is yin   symbolized

by a young boy. The

by a young girl.

196

Inhale.

The Tao

&the

Men, look down toward

 

Tree of Life

the testicles.

Women,

look 

Appendix

197

A

 Now, we will raise the   Jing   sexual energy

down toward your ovaries. Exhale. Men, pull up on the testi-

Tiw.   You should be feeling a connection

cles, then the perineum,

the sexual organs

cyx. Women,

the anus and an inch below the coc-

pull the Jing from the ovaries to the lips of the

vagina, gently pull the lips of the vagina closed, then the anus and an inch below

The eyes direct   Jing   sexual

the coccyx.

energy

from the testicles

or from the ovaries and lips of the

vagina,

into the opening

of the coccyx and up the spine to a

 point behind the lower    Tan Tiw   at the navel, the Door of Life. Imagine

that you are pouring the Jing sexual energy

lower    Tan Tien which you can visualize as a cauldron on three legs. Inhale and look downward. are relaxed.

Exhale,

into the standing

The sexual organs

pull up on the testicles

or draw sexual

energy from the ovaries to the lips of the vagina, close lips of  the vagina and pull upward

and backward.

rises up the spine and is poured  behind

directly

The   Jing   energy into the cauldron

the navel.

when you

 process is called Turning So, once

to the Upper  Ta n

between

the eyes and 

pull in or up on them.

This

the Water Wheel.

again we inhale

and look from above

to below.

Exhale. Pull in on the eye muscles as inner eyesight

turns past

the genitals.

Pull up on the sexual organs and the eyes direct

the jing up the spine, through the head where it is poured

the neck and up to the top of 

down into the Upper    Tan Tien or 

Cauldron. This is done nine times. The

sexual energy

allowed

that

is brought

to remain there. However,

drip down

to the cauldron

up to each cauldron

is

you might feel it seem to

beneath

it or all the way back 

down to the sexual organs. This is okay. STEP liTHE HEAIITANDKIDNEYCONNECfION: IRRIGATING THE

As the eyes seem to turn inward, you actually feel the testicles

HEART:When you feel impatient

moving.

 push toward

Do this a total of nine times.

heart and seem to pull it back further into our body.

After the ninth exhalation,

To accomplish

this, you do the heart healing sound, h-a-a-w-w.

This removes

heat from the heart. We then pour this heat

the sexual energy energy

rolling of the eyes, and raising of 

to the lower    Tan Tien, we begin raising the

nine times to the Middle

Tan Tiw behind

the solar 

 plexus. Inhale. The eyes turn down-

ward from above to below. Genitals

are relaxed. Exhale.

in on the eye muscles. The eyes seem to turn inward. and jing energy

Pull

Pull up

rises up the spine

to a

 point slightly above the solar plexus and pours into the caul. dron at the solar plexus. Do this nine times.

down to the kidneys and the psoas muscles in the lumbar area of the lower back.

It is done in the same manner.

on the sexual organ

or tense, your heart seems to

the front of your body. In Step II, we relax the

Inhale and direct your concentration

to your heart. Exhale

slowly making the healing sound, h-a-a-w-w. You feel heat coming out of the heart. It seems to move back toward the spine.  Now direct it down to the kidneys. The energy of the kidneys is normally

cold especially

when you feel fear. The heat from

the heart warms up the kidneys.

198

The Tao &  the Tree of Life

 Ap pe ndi x

199

A

Repeat this process

at least six times doing the heart healing

STEP IV: THE GOD AND GODDESS: Imagine

sound and bringing

the hot energy down to the two kidneys.

and female having sex that a naked

 Next, exhale down to the psoas muscle in the lumbar area of 

appear. They are the most handsome

the lower back. This muscle spreads

have ever seen. The

has a tendency

to contract

out from the spine and 

and cause lower back pain and 

stiffness. The psoas muscle does not like cold. Too much cold  kidney

energy

contracts.

causes it to contract.

When

you feel fear, it

When the psoas muscles are warmed up, they relax.

So, exhale and allow the hot energy to overflow from the kidneys down to the psoas muscle.

Do this six times. Feel the

 psoas muscle warm up and relax. Allow your concentration ground.

 blue water energy. This energy rises past the psoas muscles to From the kidneys,

erect

Suspended

it rises up the spine

and is

the male

male god and goddess and beautiful beings you

male god is well-muscled

male sexual organ. The goddess

with a perfect

with a well is awesomely

figure, beautiful breasts and vagina.

in space above your head they begin having sex.

Feel the intensity

and excitement

grow. Imagine that you can

feel them moving together. They produce a sexual fluid that drips down from above as they continue

to move down your legs and into the

From the earth itself, inhale and pull up cold sapphire

the kidneys.

formed  beautiful

above

copulating.

This cosmic sexual fluid drips down from

above into your brain. It fills your brain with feelings of ecstacy. Allow the brain to fill with this heavenly it flow down the front channel

sexual fluid, then let

into your heart.

 poured back into the heart. This is called Irrigating the Heart.

When

your heart fills up, it flows down into the solar plexus.

The

When

the

heart

is then pulled

back by doing

sound and we repeat the entire Step" STEP 111:MALE AND FEMALE:Picture

the heart

healing

in your

sexual

organs

When

in your heart a perfectly

a perfectly

formed

the navel area fills, the sexual fluid flows down to the

naked 

STEP V: THE POWER LOCK OR  BIG DRAW:Once the heavenly sexual fluid is brought

the position

sexual fluid flows

genitals.

female. (You can reverse

fills, the cosmic

down to the navel.

process.

formed naked male. Picture

solar plexus

of the male and female if it

makes you more comfortable).

Draw to bring

down to the genitals,

this energy

you do the Big

up the spine and into the brain.

Inhale a short deep breath of air. Then push the tongue up to the roof of the mouth

and clench

the teeth.

Pull the chin

Bring the male and female to the top of your head. They are

inward toward the back of the neck. Pull in the muscles of the

 both beautiful.

eyes and look upward and inward toward the Upper    Tan Tien.

They are totally attracted

to each other. The

male is pure   yang   and the female is pure   yin.   They begin hav-

Contract

the anus and pull up on the genitals,

ing sexual intercourse

 buttocks.

This activates

ination. you like.

at the top of your head. Use your imag-

Take as much time as you like. Engage in foreplay

if 

ual energy

up the spine.

perineum

and 

the sacral pump which sends the sex-

20 0

The Tao &the Tree of Life

Clench

the fists and arms.

Use your toes to claw into the

ground.

Keep the shoulders

and chest relaxed.

All of this is done at the same time and is not as complicated  as it sounds. Sexual energy is drawn up the spine and into the brain. Spiral it there. If you're a man, draw this energy down to the navel. It is too hot to keep in the head. If you're

a woman,

you can leave the sexual energy

in the

 Appendix

 brain. It's much cooler than the male sexual energy.  Now, you can take a deep breath and relax.

~

 Kabbalistic

Meditation

1

THE LIGHTNING FLASH, THE SERPENT'S PATH, AND THE MIDDLE PILLAR  To perform Hebrew

this meditation,

it is necessary

to know the three

letters known as the Three Fathers. They are Yod ('),

He (i1), and Vav (i). These

three

letters

are permuted

used to seal the room in which the meditation directing

various

permutations

and vav in six directions; (west), right side (south),

of the three

up, down,

takes place by letters

forward

yod, he,

(east),

left side (north).

This formula is given in   The Sepher Yetzirah: He selected three letters from among the simple ones. And sealed them and formed them into a great name Yod He Vav And with this he sealed the universe in six directions. I want everyone

to close their eyes. 201

and 

back 

202

The Tao

&the

 

Tree of Life

Sit up in the seat. Feet on the ground.

Using your imagination,

 Now, we begin by doing some deep rhythmic

breathing.

four.

 Now

four. Exhale,

two, three,

imagine

glowing,

Inhale, two, three four. Exhale, two, three, four. two, three,

thest limits.

you out into infinity

.To your right

and to your left extend the seals out into infinity.

Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four.

Inhale,

push these six seals out to their fur-

Before you and behind

four.

Exhale, two, three,

203

B

Above infinity and below infinity.

Start to a count of four. Inhale, two, three,

Appendix

bright,

Picture

four. Continue

above your head a triangle getting

there

shoots

upward,

brighter.

this glowing triangle

triangle,

pointing

above your head and, from that

down right into the top point of your 

like this for a while. Each count should be at least one second 

crown

long.

above to the top of your head.

Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four.

 Now, it moves from the top, which is Kether, to the right side

Try and keep this rhythm.

of the head, which

Imagine

that you're

looking

upward

even though

your eyes

like a lightning

And you look above and you seal the highest

heights with the

letter Yod ('), with the letter Heh   (il),   and with the letter Vav

(1).

shoulder,

which is Chesed.

shoulder,

which is Geburah.

chest, which is Netzach.

('),Vav

is Chokmah,

and you seal the depth

with the letter Yod 

(1), Heh   (il).

behind

you and seal it with Heh   (il),

Vav (1), Yod ('). You look to the right (il) .

from

to the left side of the head,

is lIphareth

your throat and into your right

Now, across your body to the left Now, down to the center of your  and then into the right hip, which

Across into the left hip, which

moves into the genital

is Hod. Then,

it

area, Yesod. Then down to your feet.

This is Malkuth.

You look forward and seal it with Heh   (il),   Yod ('),Vav (1). You look backward

of light coming

which is Binah.  Now, it moves down through

are closed.

You look below

flash, a bolt

Let it move down into your feet and actually

You look to the left and seal it with Yav (1), Heh   (il),   Yod (').  Now we've sealed this room or this space in six directions.

your 

feet and into the ground. And below your feet is a downward

and seal it with Yav (1), Yod ('), Heh

through

Let the energy descend

into that downward

Hold it there for a moment  brought

triangle. pointed

triangle.

and feel that the energy that you

from above is grounded

we feel connected

pointing

to the earth.

down into the earth so that

The Tao &the Tree of Life

204

 

Appendix

B

205

 Now, slowly we can feel our energy want to rise up. Feel it as

So, again picture that upward pointing triangle floating above

if it were bubbling under our feet, slowly wanting to move.

your head. See it gleaming, intensifying. Almost like a storm

Like a giant snake or giant serpent, it slowly rises up from that

cloud ready to send out that Lightning Flash.

inverted triangle and moves up to the bottom of our feet-

And-poof-it

Malkuth.

sends out the flash to the top of your skull.

 Now, to the right side of your head, to the left side. Down

It circles the bottom of the feet and slowly rises up our legs. It

through your throat to your right shoulder. Across to your left

comes up to our genital area and slowly circles around our 

shoulder, then down to the center of your chest. Now, down

groin-Yesod.

It

to the right hip, across to the left hip. Now, down to the gen-

circles the left hip and moves across the body and circles the

itals and down the legs into the feet. Ground it into the

right hip-Netzach.

inverted triangle.

And moves slowly up to the left hip-Hod.

Now, it moves upward to the center of 

the chest and circles around l1phareth encompassing the area of our solar plexus and heart. It then moves upward to the left shoulder, circles the left shoulder-Geburah.

Let it rest there, grounded into the earth.  Now, once again we're going to let it rise, taking the Serpent's Path. Coming up slowly from the ground, circling the feet, moving slowly up the legs and circling the genital area.

It moves across the body and circles the right shoulderChesed. It moves up through the throat-Daath,

and circles

Daath.

Moving to the left side, circling there. Moving across the  body to the right side, circling there. Moving up through the torso, circling around the center of the chest. To the left

 Now, up to the left side of the head, the left side of the

shoulder, circle. Across to the right shoulder, circle there. Up

 brain-Binah-circles

to the throat. It circles the throat. Up to the left side of the

Binah and moves to the right side of 

the brain and circles Chokmah.

head. Circle.

It moves upward and circles around the highest point in the

To the right side of the head. Circle. Then up to the top of 

head-Kether.

the crown and circle there. Then it slowly rises to the upward 

Then it moves upward and continues up, up to the upward 

 pointing triangle above your head.

 pointing triangle.

 Now, slowly. From this central triangle above your head, pic-

We've now gone through the Lightning Flash and the Ser-

ture and feel the energy descend to a sphere about three

 pent's Path.

inches in diameter at the top of your head. This sphere is

 Now, once again, we'll do the Lightning Flash, but faster this time.

Kether. Picture Kether glowing. In the sphere of Kether, God's name is Eheieh (Eh-hey-yeh). I Am. Just feel as if the top of your  head is floating. Floating along with the godhead, Kether.

206 

The Tao

&the

Tree of Life

Appendix B

207 

 Now, slowly feel the energy descend to our throats. Daath.

 Now, bring the energy in your feet down to the downward 

Picture a circle encompassing your throat. Inside the neck is a

 pointed triangle below your feet.

white, brilliantly glowing sphere of light. The God name of 

 Now, maintaining that downward pointing triangle, we take

Daath is Yod He Vav He Elohim (EI-oh-heem). Picture the

the Serpent's Path upward. To Malkuth, circle up to Yesod in

sphere of knowledge and experience glowing inside your  throat.

the genital region. It circles Yesod and moves to the left hip.

 Now, the light descends once again to the center of the chest,

It circles Hod and moves across the body to the right hip Netzach. It moves up to the center of the chest-lIphareth.

in the area between the heart and the solar plexus. Right in the center of your chest. This is lIphareth.

It circles and moves to the left shoulder. Circles and moves across the body to the right shoulder. It circles, then moves to

Picture this area glowing with a brilliant sphere of light in the center of your chest. The God name of lIphareth

is Yod He

Vav He Eloah (EI-oh-ah) Va Daath (Da-ath). See the light in the center of your chest.  Now, once again the light descends. Picture a glowing sphere

the throat and circles, then moves up. Circles the left side of  the head then moves across to the right side of the head and  circles.  Now, picture it going upward to the top of the head and circling there.

encircling your genital area. Picture the light descending from lIphareth to Yesod.

 Now, it continues to rise and enters the upward pointing trio

Feel yourself energized. Feel your life force energy increasing.

 Now, picture that upward pointing triangle.

The God name of Yesod is Shaddai (Shad-eye) EI Chai (guttural sound like "ch" in loch and "eye" like the organ of sight).

We split our consciousness and are also aware of the down-

angle above your head.

ward pointing triangle below our feet.

Feel the whole genital region alive with the light. The light of  God.

The triangle above contains the energy of Heaven. The trian-

Finally, the light descends one more time. Picture a sphere

 Now, from above, pull that upward pointing triangle down.

encompassing your feet and the light descends from Yesod  down to Malkuth.

gle below contains the energy of the Earth. Down into the top of your head. Through your head, through your throat and into the center of your chest.

Picture a glowing sphere of light at your feet. The God name for Malkuth is Adonai (A-don-eye) Ha Aretz (Ah-rets).

So that now, in the center of your chest, you are visualizin

We've now brought the light from above down through the

 Now, direct your consciousness below and pull the downward 

Middle Pillar of Kether, Malkuth.

 pointed triangle upward. Through your feet, legs, genitaL,

Daath, lIphareth,

Yesod and 

an upward pointing triangle.

abdomen and up to the center of the chest in lIphareth.

208

Th e

Ta o

&the

Tree of Life

The two triangles interlock and join.

 

Appendix

 Ka bba listic

Me dit ation

209

B

2

You have the downward pointed triangle of the Earth, joining with the upward pointing triangle from Heaven. It is inside a

BUILDING

sphere in the center of your chest. And it forms a six-pointed  star. It unites the energy of Heaven and Earth.

 beginning of the Lightning Flash meditation using the Three

For a minute or two, let's meditate on this heavenly and  earthly energy combined inside of us now. We begin to breathe rhythmically again. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Continue breathing slowly and rhythmically on your own.

THE TREE OF LIFE AND THE AURA

Begin by repeating the sealing of the Six Directions at the Father Letters, Yod-He-Vav. sealed and expanded

Once the six directions are

into infinity, you begin

breathing

rhythmically. Take a deep breath to the count of four. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four.

 Now, we let go and the upward pointed triangle and the downward pointed triangle separate.

Exhale, two, three, four.

The upward triangle rises through our body.

Continue breathing rhythmically on your own.

The downward pointed triangle descends through our body and enters the Earth.

Do the Lightning Flash and Serpent's Path and then the Mid-

The upward pointed triangle leaves our body and goes back  to Heaven. We dissolve any images in our head and in our body. We dissolve the sephiroth. Take a deep breath. And let's slowly return to the room.

dle Pillar down the center of the body as taught in previous Kaballistic Meditation.

Do it at a rapid pace once you have

mastered these techniques. We pick up the meditation at the bottom of the Middle Pillar  with our consciousness in Malkuth, visualizing and feeling a  ball of light energy surrounding our feet. From the bottom of your feet, feel a ball of energy that actually extends from the level of your ankles, encompassing your  feet and actually extending into the ground, into the floor   beneath your feet. Feel a ball of energy form there.

210

The Tao

&

211

Appendix B

the Tree of Life

The ball rises up your legs, slowly to the level of your genitals

Feel the three sephiroth

into Yesod. It is the size of a small saucer, a saucer you would 

Chokmah.

 put a cup on. Feel the ball of energy at your sexual organs.

Binah. Feel the energy travel back and forth. Then, from Binah

Use your

mind

and your

will power

to move

the ball of 

energy.  Now, let the ball of energy rise up to the center of your chest at the solar plexus-heart

level of T1phareth.

the ball of energy growing more toward

concrete

form.

brighter

Take

your backbone.

that

Picture

and stronger, sphere

and

and feel

taking on a push

it back 

As you do that, you feel a tingling

mental triangle connecting  Now, from Chokmah

Similarly,

See and feel it encompass

from the bottom

the entire neck and throat

of your chin to where your neck connects

on the right, feel the energy

descend 

Feel a ball of energy

on your left side, descending

left shoulder,

Chokmah

Daath.

and Binah.

form at your right shoulder. This is Chesed.

This glowing

the level of 

Kether, Chokmah,

down to the level of the right shoulder.

 Now,

rises to the throat,

Feel a line go from Kether to

across the middle of your skull to

up to Kether go back and forth. You can feel a triangle form. A

rush of energy going toward your head. Going upward. ball of energy

connect.

From Chokmah

form a ball of energy

connect

at Geburah.

Feel the energy

travel

from

at the level of your right eye down to your right

shoulder, Chesed

the sephiroth.

from Binah to your 

then across the upper to Geburah

portion

of your chest. From

at your left shoulder,

feel the energy

go

 back and forth from the left side to the right side, from the

with your chest.  Now, the ball of energy

rises again all the way to the top of 

the skull. Picture and feel it as a ball of glowing

light floating

halfway within and halfway above the top of your head. This is Kether.

right side to the left side. Actually feel energy moving across the

body.

Geburah

Now, and

Chokmah

connect

you

down

Chokmah,

feel a great

to Chesed

Binah,

rectangle

across

Chesed, of

to Geburah

force

and  from

and up to

Binah at the level of your left eye. And across to Chokmah.

We've now run the Middle

Pillar both down and up the cen-

ter of the body.

now.

Go back to your right shoulder. Now, feel the energy descend 

From the top sephirah, m'ave downward

You should feel this very strongly

from Kether,

feel a shaft of energy

to the right side of your head. Feel a ball of 

energy

form at the right

extend

from your

right

side of your eyeball

head

that seems

to

out past your ear. This

is

Chokmah.

into T1phareth

Similarly, T1phareth

Return to Kether and feel the energy go out to the left side of 

chest.

your head.

T1phareth

 past your ear. This is Binah.

from your left eyeball

out

is a sphere

from the left shoulder,

at the level encompassing

feel the energy descend

so that we form a triangle

left shoulder Form a ball of energy

which

the heart and the solar plexus in the center of the chest.

and your right shoulder

Feel the energy

circulate

that encompasses

into your 

and the center of your 

from your right shoulder

to

in the center of your chest, up to your left shoulder,

then across your body. Feel that triangle.

III!

212

The Tao &   the Tree of Life

 

Appendix

213

B

,

,I

You can now begin to really feel this energy body taking shape within you.

 Now, from your right hip, feel the energy descend to Yesod at

 Now, from your right shoulder, you feel the energy go down

Similarly, from the left hip, feel the energy descend from Hod 

the sexual organs. Feel a ball of energy form there.

the right side of your body all the way to your right hip. Form

to Yesod. From the left hip to your sexual organ. So, here we

a ball of energy in your right hip. This is Netzach. Feel the

have a small triangle connecting

energy at the right hip. Form a ball there. Feel it grow  brighter.

organs. Feel the energy circulating there.

both hips and the sexual

 Now, from your right hip, feel the energy descend all the way

Similarly, on the left side, feel the energy descend from your 

down to your foot. Feel the energy go back and forth, up and 

left shoulder down to your left hip where you feel a ball of 

down the right leg and into your right foot.

energy form there. This is Hod. Now, connect the left hip,  Netzach, with the right hip, Hod. The whole area of your  chest, torso and abdomen forms a large rectangle of energy.  Now, return to lIphareth

From the left side, from Hod, feel the energy go down your  left leg, down to Malkuth in your left foot. Move it up and  down. Feel that energy connect with your right foot, form a

in the center of your chest. You

 ball of energy in both feet, it moves up the right leg to Net-

already can feel the energy from your right shoulder and left

zach, then across the hips to Hod. This forms a large triangle.

shoulder descend into lIphareth.

And now from lIphareth,

feel the energy descend on the right side into your right hip. You can feel that connection. From lIphareth,

again feel the energy descend on the left side

into Hod. And feel this giant triangle in your body. From lIphareth

to Netzach

then across the body at the level of 

your hip into your left hip at Hod. Go back and forth and  establish the energy there. Then from the left hip up to the center of your chest.

 Now, we have connected all the sephiroth and created all the intersecting paths.  Now, again bring your awareness to the top of your skull and   begin to move the energy down the left side of your body. All the way down. Down the side of your head, past your shoulder, down your arm and the left side of your body. Down your left leg. Down to your left foot. Then have it move into your right foot and it begins to travel up the right side. Up the right leg past the right hip, up the right arm and side of 

Feel the energy in your right hand. This is also Netzach. Move energy from your right shoulder to your right handfrom Chesed to Netzach.

the body, up to the right shoulder, past the right ear and back 

Feel the energy in your left hand. This is also Hod. Send 

exhale, the energy goes down the left side of your body. As

energy from the left shoulder to your left hand-from rah to Hod.

you inhale, two, three, four, the energy goes up the right side

Gebu-

to the top of the head. You can synchronize the movement with your breath. As you

of your body. Exhale, two, three, four and the energy moves down.

214

The Tao

&the

Tree oj Life

 App end ix

Inhale, two, three, four and the energy moves up. Continue  body.

circulating

the energy around the sides of your 

 Now, again move your point of concentration

B

215

Continue drawing the energy up through your feet and out the top of your head. A connected system. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is lost. The

to the top of 

your head. We will now circulate the energy down the front of the body to the feet and then up the back of the body to the top of the head.

energy circulates as bright light. Bring your concentration

back to the top of your head. To

Kether. Feel that ball of energy at the top of your head. Slowly feel that ball of energy at the top of your head loosen

Down past the face, throat, chest, hips, legs, feet. Then,

itself from your skull and start to rise up. It rises up slowly. It

up the back of the calves, thighs, buttocks, back, neck to the top of the head.

is no longer in your body, but is outside your body where

Exhale and the energy goes down the front of the body, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four and the energy goes up the back.

you're now touching the next level. We are now touching the level of Yetzirah. And you may sense another whole Tree of Life above you. But for now, you will explore no further. But, next time you do this on your own, you may go higher and form the sphere

Continue doing this. Down, two, three, four. Up, two, three, four.

you have formed a whole Tree outside yourself and circulate

 Now, put your awareness on your feet. And as you inhale feel

the energy through all the paths above you.

the energy that we have created seem to come right up

But for now, let's collect the energy. Slowly feel the energy

through the soles of our feet and travel up our body. Travel up

dropping back down into our body, down from our head and 

the Middle Pillar. As we inhale, it goes all the way up to the

slowly move toward the ground and into our feet.

top of our head. And as we exhale, the energy spews out of  the top of our head like a shower all around us. 360 degrees. Forming an egg-like aura around us. As we inhale, two, three,

above, you may form another sphere and another sphere until

Put your awareness on your feet. Feel you are connected

to

the ground you stand on and the earth below you.

four, the energy is absorbed through the soles of our feet and 

Breathe deeply, two, three, four and feel this ball of energy

travels up the Middle Pillar and when we exhale, two, three, four, the energy showers out of the top of our head.

dissolve.

Inhale, two, three, four. The energy is absorbed up.

room.

Exhale, two, three, four. The energy sprays out above and  descends all around us.

At your own pace, open your eyes and come back. Take a

We have built an aura, a mental aura around our body.

Breathe deeply, two, three, four and feel yourself return to the

deep breath and feel that you are fully back to the real world  of Malkuth.

216

 Kabbalistic

The Tao

&the

Meditation

Tree of Life

3

 

Appendix

B

217

Breathe rhythmically. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four and make the sound Sh-h-h-h. Inhale, two, three,

THE THREE MOTHER LETTERS MEDITATION

four. Exhale, two, three, four, Sh-h-h-h. As you continue to

Begin by Sealing the Six Directions.

 breath like this, you notice a strange thing happening. It's as

Close your eyes. Begin breathing rhythmically to the count of four. Inhale, two, three, four.

if the air itself is coming right through the skin of your body and into your chest. Picture yourself. You're standing outside in the same place as you were before. Under a clear blue sky. It's a warm sun up

Exhale, two, three, four.

above, but the air has a sort of crispness to it. And as you

Inhale, two, three, four.

inhale, you can feel the air coming right into your chest.

Exhale, two, three, four.

Coming through the skin in front of your body, in the back of 

Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four.

your body, right through the skin of your arms and arlllplh, left and right side. How delightful. It's as if you no longer even need your IUIlI<'

Continue breathing deeply and rhythmically on your own.

The air penetrates right into your body. And as you exlHdc,

Picture yourself outside on a beautiful sunny day. The sun is  bright overhead and warms your forehead and the hair on your head. It feels good. So bright and warm. It fills your  whole head with heat. Youcan feel the heat radiating. Youcan see the light of the sun in your whole head. Lighting it up.

you exhale right through the skin of your body. And it reel1> .1

Continue breathing rhythmically as you do this. Remember  you're standing outside on a beautiful, sunny, warm day. It's a  bright sky with the sun up above as if it were created just for  you. Picture in your head the letter Shin  (ID ).   It looks like a "W". It's sound is Sh-h-h-h. It is the Mother Letter of fire. Fire is the energy that brought forth the sun. The sun is just a local expression of the power of the Shin.

the flesh and bones of your whole body.

if there were a different type of skin on your body. Somclhill rubbery and elastic yet porous at the same time. And wh(,,11 you really think about it and put your concentration then, the air seems to go right through the skin and penetrate illlo Continue breathing rhythmically. Inhale, two, three, four and  . the air passes right through your skin. Exhale, two, three, four  and the air passes out from the bones and flesh below the skin. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four.

Whenever you want to bring forth the fire energy, just picture the letter Shin (ID )   in your head.

Picture the letter Aleph (~) in your chest. Aleph is the leller 

Continue to stand outside on this beautiful day. It's as if the sun is in your head. As if you are the sun. Radiating.

letter Aleph and make the sound Ah-h-h-h. Feel the air Iwin

that sounds like Ah-h-h-h. Silently, to yourself, picture th right through your body.

218

The Tao &the Tree of Life

 

Appendix B

219

Continue to breathe rhythmically. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale the air right through your skin. Ah-h-h-h. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale Ah-h-h-h.

Breathe in rhythmically and feel that cool water coming right

How delightful a feeling, as if we are floating on air. And our   body seems to grow lighter and less weighty. And we can just float around.

Inhale, two, three, four.

Continue floating as you breath rhythmically. And you realize that you're still standing out there although it feels as if you're floating. And the sun is overhead and the Shin is in your head, and the Aleph is in your chest. And you suddenly become aware that you are standing in a  beautiful pool of water. It's been there all this time but you weren't even aware of it until now. You're in a pool. And the water comes right up over your  hands which are by your sides up to the tops of your wrists. And up to the level of your navel, covering your lower  abdomen. That water is cool. And it feels good. And the whole lower  half of your body feels cool. And you can feel that coolness coming in through the tips of your fingers. And as you continue to breath in rhythmically, you feel the coolness coming

through your body. Right up the tips of your fingers and up the tips of your toes. And through your skin.

Exhale M-m-m-m-m. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale M-m-m-m-m. And you're standing in this pool of water. A beautiful pool Look in front of you. You can see that you're standinH III .1  pool. You can see the sides of the pool. It's long and 1'(,"('\.111 gular. Beyond the pool you can see trees. And the sky is cry~t.d   hili above you. Ah-h-h-h. The air is coming right into your (   1ll'\1 and right through your skin. It feels good. Inhale, two,

1111'"

,

four. Exhale Ah-h-h-h. The

fiery sun above. Sh-h-h-h.

Inhale, two, three, f011l

Exhale Sh-h-h-h. Picture the Aleph in your chest. Let it sink to the lowest (Joillt in the chest. Let it sink all the way down to the level of til solar plexus.

right into the tips of your toes. Right into your toes and up

Right at the level of your solar plexus you can see the letter 

your legs and your thighs and your buttocks and sexual organs. A coolness in your belly right up to your navel. Cool.

Aleph inside your body. The Aleph is the ancient Hebrew let" ter for our letter "A".Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale Ah-h-h.h,

M-m-m-m-m-m. That feels good. Picture the letter Mem   (0).

 Now feel the heat in your head. The fiery heat encompassin

Picture it inside your body hanging just below your navel.

your head slowly sinks down. The Shin, which looks likl,;(

Make the sound M-m-m-m-m and feel that coolness down there.

"W," sinks down to the top of Aleph. All the way down to your solar plexus. Picture the Shin sitting on top of the Aleph. From below, feel the coolness of the water and picture thl." h -t ter Mem. See the letter Mem slowly float to the top of til

 Ap pen dix

B

221

water. Right to the bottom of the Aleph. You feel a joining of 

separates and moves up toward your head. The Aleph remains

the three letters. The Mem, the Aleph, and the Shin at your 

in your chest.

solar plexus. The fire of Shin sits on the Aleph of air and the

The Shin moves back up to your head. The Aleph, the air,

Mem of water sits below the Aleph of air. The M~m supports the Aleph and the Shin.

dissolves in your chest and you breath regularly. And the

 Now, picture both the Shin, the fire above, and the Mem of 

Make the Healing Sound for the Three Mothers, Sh-h-h-h-

water from below, move right into the Aleph of air as if they

ah-h-h-h-m-m-m-m.

were being absorbed. And in that one place you feel the joining of the heat and the cool and the mediating air and feel them mix there. Feel them mix so that you have coolness and  heat, dryness and moistness mixing around. Feel them all slowly neutralize. Feel the different elements mix and neutralize into a homogenous blend.  Now, feel it begin to spin. So that it appears that there is just a jumble of letters, the Aleph, the Mem and the Shin, spin-

Mem, the cold water, moves down to your lower abdomen.

Sound out the letter Zain (z). Z-z-z-z-z. The energy shoots down your leg like a jolt of lightning. It grounds you deep into the Earth. Down below your feet, past the base of the  pool. You feel grounded and attached to the earth. To the Kabbalist, water is the source of the Earth element. Slowly continue

to breathe

regularly. And when you feel

ready, open your eyes and come back to the room.

ning around forming a circle, forming a sphere, forming a sephirah in the very center of your body. Now, let the spin continue rapidly in a clockwise direction.

r J

 Now, slowly stop and reverse the direction of the spin. Let it spin around.  Now stop. Just let your mind concentrate

on the joining of 

the Shin, Mem and Aleph. Fire, water and air in the center of  your body. And breathe rhythmically. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Inhale, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. The letters begin to move back to their proper place. The Mem moves below, down to the lower abdomen. The Shin

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The Tao

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Tree of Life

T ao is t W a y s t o T ra ns fo nn S t re ss i nt o V it al it y.   Healing Tao

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Aaron, 12, 36 Abraham, 12, 14, 72, 74, 76, 80, 89,150-151 Abraham Abulafia, 14,76 Abyss, 29, 34, 102 Adam, 12, 119,157,161

106-107,119,156-157 Body of Light, 112, 116 Bubbling Spring, 66 Carl Gustav Jung, 40 Carlos Castenada, 2 1

Adam Kadmon, 157

Charles Luk, 40 Chesed, 29.30, 34,97, 104, 106-

Akasha,36 Alchemy, 16,27,39-40,42,51,61,

107,157 Chi, 7, 19-23,25-28,35-36,41-45, 50, 58, 63, 65-66,68, 100, 112, 124-126,141,143-145,148,

68,72, 75-78, 80, 84, 86, 89, 93,99,111,114,116,125-126, 132,139.140,142,146,148. r J

149,151-153,155,158 Aleister Crowley, 8, 18, 88,96, 110, 123, 128-129, 139, 153 Aryeh Kaplan, 18,20,72-73,75, 81,84,88,90,150,152 Astrology, 16,89 Ayin, 19-20,22,97,105,107

157 Chi Kung, 21, 41, 50 Chokmah, 20, 25, 27.29,97,102, 104,106-107,156-157 Christ Consciousness, 29 Christian Kabbalah, 14-15 Congress of Heaven and Earth, 155,157

Belt Routes, 61, 63-65,141 Big Bang, 24-25 Big Dipper, 143-147, 149-152

Control Cycle, 56 Correspondences, 33, 52, 59, 74, 77,82-83,88-89,91,98-100,

Big Draw, 49, 133 Binah, 25, 27, 29, 97,102,104,

127, 150 Creation Cycle, 60-61, 141

227

228

 

The Tao and the Tree o f   Life

22 9

Index

Crystal Palace, 146, 148-149, 152 Crystal Room, 146-149

Homo Sapiens, 1-2, 81

Daath,29,101-104 Don Juan, 21-22

I Ching, 28, 36, 40, 58, 124, 159 Immortal Child, 112, 115-116

Merkabah, 70-71,73-74

Draco, 150-152

Inner Alchemical Agent, 59, 80

Microcosm, 29, 31-32, 51

Sabbath, 120-122 Saint Germain, 153 Sealing of the Five Senses, 115,

Early Heaven, 32

Inner Smile, 46, 48, 100 Iron Shirt Chi Kung, 50

Microcosmic Orbit, 43-46, 49, 56, 61,65,87,103,109,112,131,

148-150 Secret of the Golden Flower, 8, 40,

Earth Energy, 26-27, 56, 61, 68 Ein Soph, 19-23, 36,95, 112, 156157 Ein Soph Aur, 22, 156 Eliphas Levi, 17 Five Elements, 32, 36, 50-56, 59, 65,91,140-141,143-144 Franz Bardon, 33,69,71,73,75,

Isaac Luria, 15,76, 158 Israel Regardie, 98 Jesus, 15 Jewish Kabbalism, 8, 13-16, 159160 Jing, 49, 63, 66, 68, 124, 133 Johann Reuchlin, 14-15 Joseph T aitazak, 75

77,81-85,87,89-93,98,110, 139,155-156

Judaism, 28, 75,119,123,157

Fu Shih, 124, 159

Kabbalah, 2, 7-8,11-18,21-24,29,

Functional Channel, 43, 45 Fusion Of The Five Elements, 5051,59,65,140,143-144 Geburah, 29-30, 34,97, 107

Human Plane Energy, 26-27

34,52,69-76,89-90,93,95, 98,110-111,118-120,127, 130, 139, 156, 159

104, 106-

Mantak Chia, 41-42, 49, 54, 59, 63,80,110,116,124-125,129131,135,139-140,145,160

43,49 Self-Intercourse,

133,140-141,143-145,159 Microprosopus, 29, 31-32 Middle World, 3,6-8,26,81 Moses, 11-12, 14,34,75,118,158

Serpent's Path, 105-107 104,

106-107,127  Nirvana, 8  North Star, 114, 139, 141, 143146,148-153,155,157

Gershom Sholem, 74-75

Kan And Li Formulas, 66, 79, 107 Kether, 23, 25,27,29,97-98, 100107, 157

 Nuit, 154-155 Outer Alchemical Agent, 59 Ovarian Breathing, 49, 131-134

Golden Dawn, 18, 96, 98-99, 129. 130

Ko Hung, 39, 125-126 Later Heaven, 32

Ovarian Kung Fu, 49

Golem,73

Lesser Enlightenment, 109

Governor Channel, 42-43 Great Work, 8, 116

Lightning Flash, 105-107

Hadit, 154-155 Hatha Yoga, 2

43, 80, 87,

Lower World, 3-6,8, 15,20,26, I

71,81,99,

Heavenly Energy, 26-27, 68 Hebrew Kabbalah, 17-18,69, 127,156

118,

Hebrew Kabbalists, 9, 17, 21, 26, 28,33,91,117

120, 159

Pituitary Gland, 45, 155 Positive and Negative Arm and Leg

Shamanism, 2-3, 7, 142 Shekinah, 118-123, 156 Simeon Ben Yohai, 118 Six Healing Sounds, 46, 48, 85, 102 Soul Body, I12-114 Spirit Body, 40, 59,68,112-114, 116,137,142,155,157,160 Supernals, 25, 27 Tai Chi, 21,23,25-28,35-36,50, 58,100 Tan Tien, 43-44,53-56,58-59,61, 87,114,131,140-142,148-149 Tantric Sexual Yoga, 50, 110

Macgregor Mathers, 96

Prenatal Chi, 44

Macrocosm, 29, 52, 51 Maggid,158

Qlippoth,15

42,44,46,48,50,52,54,56,58,

Rabbi Akiva, 69-70, 73 Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan, 18,20,72-73, 75,81,84,88,90,150,152

60,62,64,66,68,70,72,74,76,

Rabbi Joseph Caro, 158

114-116,118,120,122,124-

Rabbi Joseph Gikatalia, 14 Rabbi Moses Hayyin Luzzato, 158

126,128,130-132,134,136, 138,140,142,144-146,148-

Rabbi Philip Berg, 18, 118

150,152,154,

Hermetics, 155

Magick, 2, 8, 88,116,

Holy Guardian Angel, 116

Philosopher's Stone, 152 Pineal Gland, 45, 141-142, 155

Shaman, 1-7,9,20-22,37,81

Power Animals, 3,6

Magical Child, 129-130

Hod, 29-31, 34,97-98,104,106107

Pa Qua, 58,141 Pearl, 58-63, 68, 142

Sexual Kung Fu, 50, 63, 68 Sexual Magick, I16

Lurianic Kabbalism, 15-16,23,25, 156

Hermes Trismegistus, 76 16, 33,73, 76, 82, 87,

114, 137, 141-142

Seminal Kung Fu, 49, 135 Sephiroth, 14, 16,23-25,28-29, 31,36,74,89-91,93,95-96, 98-99,102,106-107,109,157

Moses Cordovero, 158 Moses De Leon, 118  Nagual,22  Neanderthal Man, 1, 81  Netzach, 29-31, 34,97-98,

Raziel,12 Return to the Source, 156-157

126, 128-

130,137,152,154-155 Magus, 8-9, 22 Malkuth, 32, 34, 87, 97-99,101102,104,106-107

Routes, 65,109

Tao, 2, 4,6,8,12,14,16,18,20, 22,24-26,28,30,32,34,36,40-

78,80,82,84,86,88,90,92,9596,98-103,105-107,109-112,

156-158, 16~ 162