Editor's note: This
will
be a regular feature in Silver Star Journal. Any and all readers are
encouraged
to submit reviews that they feel pertain to the magickal community. We
also actively seek publications of all kinds for review in this space.
Send
submissions (or requests for a snailmail address for review books and
mags) to:aion@psychicsophia.com In this Issue we have book reviews by:
Shade Oroboros
Jacob
StarSeed
Papa
Nick
Hermeticusnath
(Taoism 101)
Reviews by Shade Oroboros
A Short History Of
Myth by Karen Armstrong, Canongate 2005, 179 pages. This
brief work is intended to be an introduction to a series of novels,
each based on major myths by various well-known authors, which will be
published simultaneously in many languages around the world in an
attempt to restore some semblance of meaning to our empty lives. There
could be few better choices to open the project than the best-selling
scholar of religions Karen Armstrong, who give a luminous and concise
outline of the evolution of mythology that parallels the changes in
human culture. Divided into historical periods (Paleolithic hunters,
Neolithic farmers, early city-states, the Axial Age that saw us utterly
transformed by a nova-like burst of influential philosophers and
prophets, the aftermath of the often unfortunate development of the
monotheist traditions, and the mutations that have brought us to modern
and post-modern times), this is an inspiration to anyone who actually
thinks about the ways we live and believe and guide our lives and
children, not to mention magicians working with the formulae of the
various Aeons.
The Mysteries of
Mithras: The Pagan Belief That Shaped the Christian World by Payam
Nabarz, Inner Traditions 2005, illustrated, bibliography, 230 pages.
There once was a religion whose savior god was born of a virgin on
December 25th and whose baptized followers partook of a Eucharist of
bread marked with a cross and of wine symbolizing his holy blood every
Sunday. Unfortunately, this was a very long time before Jesus. The
Persian Mithra, Roman Mithras and Vedic Mitra is the patron of one of
history's oldest mystery cults, influencing Zoroastrians, Hindus,
Christians, Sufis, Yezidis, Gnostics, Freemasons, the legions of the
Roman Empire, Celtic Britain and the Golden Dawn. The author covers a
vast amount of uncharted history, iconography, literature, practice and
belief, exploring the rituals and grades of initiation, related gods,
goddesses (notably Anahita) and myths, and a range of contemporary and
magical revivals. An important element is the ancient text known as the
Mithras Liturgy, included in Silver Star 4 by the courtesy of the
author, who also reconstructs a series of self-initiations and a useful
festival calendar. There are some great illustrations, including an
altar cleverly designed with piercings representing constellations lit
from below, and both ancient and modern temple sites. There is also a
guide to resources including both print and the internet.
Spiritual
Merchants: Religion, Magic and Commerce by Carolyn Morrow Long,
University of Tennessee Press 2001, illustrated, notes, bibliography,
index, 314 pages.
A fascinating study from a former conservator at the Smithsonian's
National Museum of American History, who explores both the beliefs and
later commercialization of Voodoo and Santeria. The first half is one
of the best available and most detailed histories of the African
origins, European influences, and diverse development of these
traditions, covering the Latin-Catholic colonies, the unique culture of
New Orleans and its hoodoo queens, and the conjure and root-work of the
Anglo-Protestant South, ranging from the earliest records to the
present day. The second half explores how these forms of practice
developed as businesses, in drugstores and pharmacies, botanicas and
websites, and often as mail-order catalogs viewed as highly suspect by
the postal authorities. This is the saga of many fascinating
personalities and hidden customs, of the secretive use of herbs, oils,
floor-washes and candles, of Follow-Me powders and Jinx-Removing
aerosol sprays, of the evolution of folk-charms into the era of
cyberspace and of the manufacturers and dealers of unique products.
"All items sold as curios only!" There are 60 unusual
illustrations and a closing essay on High John the Conqueror root. You
should play the blues while you read this book.
Voodoo and
Afro-Caribbean Paganism by Lilith Dorsey, forward by Isaac Bonewits,
Citadel Press 2005, illustrated, bibliography, index, 210 pages.
An important and very informative mass-market introduction to the whole
range of Afro-Caribbean magical traditions, covering all of the island
nations and both North and South America: Vodou, Santeria, Ifa, New
Orleans Hoodoo, Candomble, Shango, Obeah, Macumba, Palo Mayambe,
Espiritismo, and more. From the diverse developments of the African
gods and other indigenous spirits into contemporary culture and saints
in disguise, the author explores the priesthood, pantheons and
practices of these long-persecuted and now rapidly expanding forms of
spirituality, and includes physical and internet resources and a guide
to their music and (mostly terrible) films. It is very sad to note that
these vital and living syncretistic traditions are not only routinely
abused by both governmental and Christian religious authorities, but
also regarded with incredible ignorance and racism by most white
neo-pagans and new-agers today. They could learn a lot from listening
to living teachers instead of relying on shallow books.
Fang and Fur Blood
and Bone: A Primal Guide to Animal Magick by Lupa, Megalithica Books
2006, illustrated, bibliography, index, 224 pages.
A thorough and practical guide to ancient shamanic techniques that are
still valid today, and an exploration of tribal totems, domestic
familiars, spirit evocations, personal evolution, shape-shifting and
lycanthropy, mythological animals and self-created hybrid beasties, and
many more aspects of mystical interaction with the diverse forms of
life that share our world. The approach is empathetic and
down-to-earth, clearly drawn from years of experience in internal,
astral and physical practice and including advice on working with
animal parts that may shock the vegetarians among us. The author also
covers controversial issues such as traditional animal sacrifice and
disputes among the online Otherkin communities, as well as simpler
considerations about respect for your pets, environmental concerns, and
her support for animal rights groups. A deeply personal book.
Amulets: Sacred
Charms of Power and Protection by Sheila Paine, Inner Traditions
2004, 192 pages, bibliography, index, many illustrations.
An outstanding and extremely visual academic volume, exploring
talismanic lore through many linked categories such as use and
intention, symbolism and spirits, colors and materials. By examining
parallel examples cross-culturally we see how similar humans worldwide
are in all essentials: their concerns, instinctive symbolism, tribal
customs and occult practices. Many people today seem to rely on magical
words alone, but in most older traditions there is always a material
basis, a charm or potion or fetish or sigil of some kind. There are in
fact some very good reasons for earthing one’s intentions in a solid
form. The author is an expert on tribal cultures and textiles with
several other volumes to her credit.
Amulets, Talismans
& Magical Jewelry by Barbara Black Koltov, Ph.D. Nicholas-Hays Inc.
2005, 149 pages, bibliography, index, many illustrations.
Another absolutely beautiful book documenting the whole range of Jewish
and Middle Eastern magical and decorative traditions, touching on the
origins of religion, protection from the Evil Eye, qabalistic number
and letter mysticism, Hebrew and Islamic calligraphy, scripture and
prayer, daily life and adornment. The author is a noted Jungian also
known for The Book of Lilith and other works.
Now That’s What I
Call Chaos Magick by Greg Humphries & Julian Vayne, Mandrake &
Liminalspace Publications, bibliography, index, 187 pages.
Beginning with a concise outline of the history of Chaos Magick, the
two authors present a lively series of very personal records: tantric
pujas, druid death rites, Samhain celebrations, Santeria-based Holy
Guardian Spirit and fantasy-based group sigil workings, and even a
rather remarkable wedding. These illustrate the range, potential and
vast creativity of the movement, and close with a series of excellent
exercises and some truly thoughtful explorations for the future. I
really liked this book, it shows that Chaos is not dead, just mutating
into the diversity implied by its original impetus. To be alive and
meaningful, Magick really should be a genuine work of Art!
Kaos
Hieroglyphica; Alchemy for the New Aeon by Anton Channing, forward by
Jaq D Hawkins, Mandrake Press 2005, illustrated, bibliography, index,
198 pages.
This more specifically focused volume analyzes and expands upon the
Colors of Magick outline proposed by Pete Carroll at the dawn of the
Chaotic era, re-mapping and expanding the possibilities and tweaking
the system. There is also an interesting discussion of the possible
antecedents of the eight-arrowed Chaosphere symbol in ancient times and
pagan myth, as distinct from the infamous sword & sorcery epics of
Michael Moorcock and the tattoos of post-Goth couture. There are
insights into the elements and planets, Aeonics, Timothy Leary’s Eight
Circuit model of consciousness, the Kaobala, and the acid test for
Chaos Magick: practical exercises. In a publishing market dominated by
Golden Dawn re-hashes and endlessly repetitive Wicca 101 books, it is
nice to see actual thinking about how to bring scientific sorcery into
the future!
Musings of a
Thelemite by Frater Da’Neos, Alchemy Press 2005, illustrated,
bibliography, 161 pages.
A thoughtful series of essays illustrating one man's personal journey
from devout Baptist Preacher to gung-ho Thelemic Gnostic. The most
substantial section explores the implications of the Aeonic formulas of
the Mother Goddess, the Father God, and today the Thelemic Horus-Child.
As one might expect, there are some fairly scathing insights into the
fictions of both early and modern Christianity, with strong influences
from Friedrich Nietzsche, Joseph Campbell and Aleister Crowley. Essays
on the origins of Thelema, the structure of the Qabala, the Star
Sapphire, the Knowledge & Conversation of the Holy Guardian Angel,
and some fiction and/or poetry follow, illustrated by some suggestive
collage-art. All in all, quite an intelligent piece of work. The author
may have some issues with modern culture and a tendency to rant a bit,
but then again so do I.
New Aeon English
Qabala Revealed by Gerald del Campo, Luxor Press 2002, illustrated,
bibliography, 75 pages. There have been a
number of attempts to discover “the order & value of the English
Alphabet” as prophesied in the Book of the Law, and usually I can’t
even begin to follow them. This is certainly one of the most coherent
and well-documented, from a known Thelemic scholar, and may indeed be
of use for those who tend to obsess about such things. There is a full
account of its origins, new methods of
developing sigils and magical squares, and a numerical dictionary of
words drawn from the Class A Holy Books.
The Hermetic
Museum of Alchemy & Mysticism by Alexander Roob, Taschen 2001,
illustrated, bibliography, index, 711 pages. A beautiful art
book with hundreds of plates drawn from the works of alchemists,
rosicrucians, magicians, freemasons, cabalists, mystics, artists,
surrealists and the other usual suspects, illuminated by an insightful
text much influenced by William Blake. Before modern science came
tramping in, this was the deep esoteric wisdom of western culture, and
the dream-like power of these diagrams and images reveals many insights
into the human mind. I love this kind of imagery; it strikes chords
with the deep mind.
Secrets of the
Magickal Grimoires: The Classical Texts of Magick Deciphered by Aaron
Leitch, Llewellyn Worldwide 2005, 432 pages, bibliography, illustrated. A massive and
valiant attempt to systematize the often fragmented grimoires of
medieval and renaissance ceremonial and demonic magick into a coherent
system. Many of these works were like recipe books, assuming that the
user already knew how to cook. By detailed textual analysis (and,
obviously, a lifetime of study) the author has compared multiple works
to rediscover the underlying conceptual framework and the fundamental
techniques, tools, symbols and practices. He gives a detailed study of
the sources and places the system in a modern context as well. This is
one big book, and in the history of western magick I believe it will be
considered a rather important one. Highly recommended.
Reviews by
Jakob StarSeed
The Pillars of
Tubal Cain by Nigel Jackson & Michael Howard, Capall Bann 2000, 286
pages (includes bibliography & index), illustrated.
The Pillars represent the ancient
foundations of wisdom in the craft, and this book is aptly named.
Stitching together many well-researched threads of ancient truth
concerning Luciferian gnosis, Jackson and Howard coherently explore the
real origins of the fallen angels, the Watchers, Set, Solomon's temple,
the Queen of Sheba, Lilith, Eden, the flaming sword, the all-seeing eye
and much more. I found so much of my own puzzle pieced together lucidly
in this book that even the scandalous glut of typos began to give it an
essence of archaic authenticity, purely because the content is so
illuminating - unafraid as it is of peering into the darkness.
The Nature of
Magic: An Anthropology of Consciousness by Susan Greenwood, Berg 2005,
242 pages (includes bibliography and index).
By actually forsaking the armchair
and actively exploring British neo-paganism Susan Greenwood presents a
modern anthropology of magic that isn't completely divorced from its
subject matter by several degrees of elitist anthropocentrism. The book
provides a solid academic approach to explaining magical consciousness
through the discussion of philosophy, myth, folklore, story-telling and
post-modernist discourse. Yet the author also offers some legitimacy to
her argument that magic is analogical, participatory and possibly
ecological by getting muddy with pagan protesters, dancing with
shamanic spirits, seeking Romany cures and running the wild hunt.
BOOK REVIEW BY
PAPA NICK
The Tao & The
Tree of Life: Alchemical & Sexual Mysteries of the East & West,
Eric Steven Yudelove, Llewellyn Publications, 1995, and Taoist Yoga and
Sexual Energy: Transforming Your Body, Mind and Spirit, Eric Steven
Yudelove, Llewellyn Publications, 2002.
The New Age book
market has long been flooded with tomes of varying quality on the
subjects of Tantra, Kundalini Yoga, and the sexual mysticism of the
East. The subject of Taoist Inner Alchemy, however, has remained
somewhat a mystery. Translations of old Chinese texts offered an
outline of how the Taoist Masters went about this transformative
process, but details have been lacking. That has changed in the
last 25 years. While still a
teenager, Mantak Chia, a native of Thailand, learned esoteric Taoist
practices from Master Yi-Eng (One Cloud) in Hong Kong. Chia moved to
New York in 1977, and by late 1981 had started taking on
English-speaking students. Yudelove was one of his early
students. Since 1983, Yudelove and other of Chia's pupils have
been teaching his Healing Tao system in the United States and
Europe. Until that time, the secrets of Taoist Yoga had largely
been restricted to one-on-one instruction from Master to pupil, and
only in the Far East (the TV program "Kung Fu" notwithstanding).
Yudelove, out of
all of Chia's students, is uniquely suited as a teacher of this subject
to the Western Magickal community because, prior to his studies with
Master Chia, he had already studied shamanism and Kabbalah, and his
writings reveal more than a passing familiarity with Thelema and Liber
AL vel Legis. His book Taoist Yoga... , is dedicated to Master
Chia and to "Jimmy Page, The Grand Sorceror of the Magick Guitar".
In The Tao &
The Tree of Life he is even more revealing. In the final chapter,
"The North Star and the Teli", he writes that the advanced formulas he
learned from Master Chia, never publicly taught, "...find a remarkable
correlation in the Sepher Yetzirah and the works of Franz Bardon and
even Aleister Crowley." Later in the chapter he states that in
the advanced stages of Chia's Healing Tao system, the practitioner is
not only connected with the "...forces of nature on the Earth, but with
extraterrestrial forces as well", the Chi of the planets and even the
stars. The section "Star Magick" both quotes and paraphrases from AL,
and in the following section, "Aleister Crowley and The Book of the
Law', he writes "...Liber AL vel Legis is, in large part, concerned
with star magick, the 'unveiling of the company of heaven'... The Book
of the Law has many analogies to the higher levels of Taoist Alchemy."
Among the gems in
The Tao & The Tree... is the chapter by that name, which focuses on
the inner energy exercises of the Golden Dawn -- The Middle Pillar, the
Lightning Flash and the Serpent's Path -- and illustrates how those
practices are very similar to the approach of Taoist Yoga's cycling of
energy from the feet to the crown and back. He notes that there
are 32 Paths on the Tree of Life (counting the Sephiroth) and that
there are 32 energy meridians used to channel energy in Taoist
Yoga. Other chapters include a comparison of the Sepher Yetzirah
with Franz Bardon's magical system and how those correspond to elements
of Taoist Yoga, an overview of the practices of Taoist Yoga, and the
sexual mysticism of the Zohar, Western Kaballah and Taoist
Alchemy. The Appendices comprise scripts for both Taoist
meditations and those based on Golden Dawn methods of building up the
Tree of Life in the Aura.
The most exciting
part of this book for me, though, was the tantalizing suggestion that
Liber AL contains passages that have parallels in esoteric
Taoism. I have long thought that, of all the ancient
philosophies, Taoism has most in common with Thelema, and that True
Will is much the same as wu wei, which is not so much "non-action" as
knowing when to act and when not to act, in accordance with one's inner
nature and the Way of the Universe.
Sadly, The Tao
& The Tree... has gone out of print, and a search at the time of
this writing shows used copies selling for from roughly $27 to
$56. I would love to see a revised and expanded edition of this
book printed in the near future (Eric, are you reading this?)
Taoist Yoga and
Sexual Energy focuses solely on step-by-step instructions on how to
practice Taoist Internal Alchemy; in fact, it is a 14-week course in
the subject, with illustrations and clear explanations of how to go
about what are, on first impression, some rather odd practices.
Each week includes an exercise for controlled breathing, chi kung
positions and sexual kung fu, and mind/spirit cultivation. You
will learn such things as breathing through the hair (luckily for bald
people like me, breathing through the hair follicles works too) and the
therapeutic benefits of generating and swallowing saliva (which is
actually concentrated Chi -- this will make sense if you read the
book). One of the first things I learned was how to make my penis
wink at me, which was quite a revelation, me being unschooled in the
finer points of the bedroom arts.
All joking aside,
this is an amazingly dense book, which provides more information about
the actual practice of Taoist Yoga than any other book I have
read. Even Yudelove's teacher, Mantak Chia, says in the foreword
"Eric has created a true Taoist spiritual masterpiece. I am just
amazed at how he has woven together so many intricate Taoist teachings
and made them simple to comprehend and accomplish".
Kundalini Yoga has
long been one of the techniques Magickians have utilized in the Great
Work. The revelation of the secrets of Taoist Inner Alchemy
offers the opportunity to utilize "love under will" in new ways.
TAOISM 101
Long-winded book review(s) &
essay by Aspiring Sage, Hermeticusnath
The books:
What follows are
the core texts of Taoism. I list here a few of the translation(s) I
prefer. However, there are many many other translations of these texts
that are worth studying for their different angles and nuances on a
most complex subject. Many of them vary greatly to an amazing degree.
It is worth your time to look for the right translations for you.
•
The Tao Teh Ching by Lao Tzu
1) Translated by
Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English, Vintage Books, 1989 2) Translated by
Stephen Mitchell, Harper Perennial, 1991
• The Inner Chapters of Lao Tzu
Translated by Gia-Fu Feng and Jane English, Vintage Books, 1974
• The I Ching
1) Translated by
Wilhelm and Baynes, Princeton University Press, 1971 2) The
Illustrated I Ching, Translated by R.L.Wing, Doubleday & Co, 1982 3) ( With
Concordance) Translated by R. Ritsema & S. Karcher, Barnes &
Noble, 1995
•
Back to Beginnings by Huanchu Daoren
Translated by
Thomas Cleary, Shambala, 1994
Of all the
established religions in the world, the one that seem to attract Pagans
and other Nature-worshipers the most is Taoism. Yet I have found that
Taoism, by it's very nature, is one of those topics that people fling
about at parties allot without tremendous amounts of thought- which is
actually quite Taoist.....but there is some advantage to a little book
learning. Taoism is exceptionally cool as a basic fundamental belief
system upon which to place virtually any religious belief system one
wants to, especially one that is Nature-based. By its very nature,
Taoism is un-discussible; the key text of Taoism (the Tao Teh Ching)
lets us know right off the bat that if you can think, talk about,
conceive of or in any way ponder the concept of TAO, then you are in
error. Anyway, to understand what Taoism is, it is important to read
what the venerable sages of Taoism saw fit to write. There are many
books about Taoism, but there are very few 'core texts' of Taoism. In
this article I want to recommend these key writings and give a
rambling, mostly coherant overview of each book. As we explore
the texts, however, a number of short digressions on the topic seem in
order- just part of the Taoist prose. Taoism is the
root-philosophy of not only China but all of Asia. Such divergent
faiths as Buddhism and Hinduism have been clearly affected by Taoism
and though China is officially an 'atheistic' country today, most
Chinese still embrace at least some tenets of Taoism. This actually is
not a problem in that Taoism doesn't really embrace a 'God' in any
event! The basis of
Taoism is essentially 'letting go,' a real stretch for most Westerners.
Here then, in a few words, is the paradox of Taoism; Taoism is
essentially based on a very slim book of 81 short passages (The Tao Teh
Ching) written (or dictated by) another semi-mythological Chinese Sage
named Lao Tzu. This legendary visionary lived, it is said, around 2,500
years ago. The story goes that he had tried to teach the simple truths
of life but had given up on humanity and was riding his ox off into the
wilderness when a bridge guard, fearing this wisdom would be lost
forever, insisted that he write it down before leaving civilization.
This writing, then, is the aforementioned small book named the Tao Teh
Ching ('The Book of Tao'). Rather than try to ramble on about such an
amazing text (one you should rush out and buy), let me quote a few
passages. In general, it is recommended that everyone on the
planet read the Tao Te Ching as often as possible. It strikes me as one
of the few things that truly makes sense in this confusing surreal
world. Here then is a 'melody' of bits and pieces from the Tao Te Ching:
"The Tao that can be told is not the
eternal Tao The name that can be named is not the
eternal name...
The unnamable is the eternally real...
Yet mystery and manifestations arise
from the same source...
Being and not-being create each
other....
Practice not-doing and everything
will fall into place...
The Tao is like a well; used but
never used up It is like the eternal void: filled
with infinite possibilities...
The Tao is called the Great Mother,
empty yet inexhaustible it gives birth to infinite worlds. It is always present within you You can use it any way you want.
The Tao is infinite, eternal. Why is it eternal? It was never born; Thus it can never die...
The supreme good is like water Which nourishes all things
without trying to....
When you are content to be simply
yourself, and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you.
We work with being, but non-being is
what we use....
Each separate being in the universe
returns to the common source Returning to the source is serenity...
Since before time and space were, the
Tao is. It is beyond is and is not. How do I know this is true? I look inside myself and see.
Open yourself to the Tao, then trust
your natural responses; and everything will fall into place."
- All quotes taken from the Tao Te
Ching translated by Stephen Mitchell
This open-minded
nature-based philosophy imbues and binds the second major text of
Taoism: the I Ching. Almost everyone
knows the I Ching, a nifty little oracle using coins, right? But few
realize that it isn't simply a fortunetelling device, in fact it is a
book of magic, an entire system of communicating with the cosmos that
is Nature based. Taoist belief pervades it with cosmic humor and
flashes of insight that are far from rational or earthly. It is
important to appreciate this spirit of detachment. This is a mysticism
that is so basic to Eastern philosophies and spirituality that in order
to work with the I Ching in any meaningful way it needs to be
understood. Why? Because the I Ching is NOT a fortune telling device,
nor is it a predictor of the future or a therapeutic device, at least
in the Western sense, at least as far as I understand it. To a Taoist
accurately predicting the future (whatever that is!) is rather beside
the point. One should be in the PRESENT, that is the goal of living and
of being. What the I Ching was created to do is to help people
understand the flow of reality (Tao) about them in order to better 'go
with the flow' and live a real life. The I Ching is
very likely the oldest book ever written. The actual texts were said to
have been written by a legendary emperor of China (Fu Hsi) who existed
in prehistory some 3-4 thousand years ago. Fragments of I Ching symbols
(trigram and hexagrams) have been discovered carved on bones that have
been carbon- dated even older than this. It is clear that the I Ching
is one of the oldest spiritual and divination systems in the world, if
not the oldest. The texts that go to make up the book called I Ching,
as we now know them, were written down and annotated by King Wen
(translated as 'King Writing' or 'King Pattern') who was the founder of
the Chou Dynasty about 1000 BCE. He had plenty of time to take
this ancient system and get it all in written order as he was being
held captive by an enemy for many years. It was he who organized the 8
trigrams and the resulting 64 hexagrams (more on these later). These
symbols and the writings he added roughly resulted in the system we
have today. This, then, is the
general legend of the I Ching. Some historians have said differently,
that the I Ching is in fact the bundled-together far-flung bits of a
thriving and creative indigenous Chinese Shamanic tradition. The
visions, images, symbols, concepts and omens scattered through this
venerable system do resemble such unearthly elements. The truth is
probably a mixture of the two histories, that a decentralized shamanic
tradition became codified and finally synthesized about the basic
symbols of the I Ching, then this natural melding was organized and
written down. In any event, what
is known is that by the end of the 'Warring States Period,' about
around 200 BCE, the practice of 'throwing yarrow sticks' and actually
consulting the 'official' I Ching as a state omen was more or less
established. The very old primary mode of consulting the spirits had
previously centered around touching a hot poker to a tortoise shell and
then reading the cracks that occurred. A legend that ties this together
tells of the demi-god Fu Hsi contemplating a tortoise shell one day and
seeing in its 8-sectioned back the lines of the 8 primal trigrams. This
legend may point to a transition in prehistory from a
cracks-in-tortoise-shell divination system to divination with a set of
symbols that represented the different possibilities found in the
tortoise-shell omens. As we can see by
this short and altogether too murky history of the actual I Ching, many
of the points are in dispute and legend and fact are constantly woven
together. I prefer to think of the I Ching as a body of knowledge that
organically evolved and emerged from the Animist / Shamanic nature
religions of prehistoric China. What gave form to this mass of
visionary information, something we can not avoid discussing, is the
root religion/philosophy called Taoism. I recomend three
particular translations of the I Ching; The Wilhelm/Baynes is still the
classic and is probably the best all-around prose translation. The Wing
Illustrated I Ching I consider the most practical as an
oracle and the new Ritsema/Karcher translation has the most literal
character-by-character translation- great for intuitive flashes and
comparative symbolism. The Western model
of existence emphasizes striving, battling, independent competition,
'making something of yourself,' changing and improving on reality and
making the world a 'better place.' The Eastern view, implicit in the I
Ching and its veneration of Nature, could not be farther from this. As
it says:
"They (ancient sages) put
themselves in accord with Tao and its power, and in conformity of this
laid down the order of what is right. By thinking through the order of
the outer world to the end, and by exploring the law of their Nature to
the deepest core, they arrived at an understanding of fate."
-Wilhelm/Baynes I Ching, Ch1.Shuo Kua
While the Tao Teh
Ching gives us the essence of the Taoist understanding of the universe
and the I Ching gives us a practical way to comprehend how we can best
flow with the Tao, the writings (and mad-cap antics) of Chung Tzu, the
wild and hilarious wandering Taoist sage, drive the lessons home in
earthy, practical here-and-now stories. The best collections of his
writing are usually called the 'Inner Chapters,' though when you simply
need more you can find collections that have the 'Outer Chapters' as
well- these are writings attributed to Chung Tzu later and are probably
written by others, but they are all great fun. Whether it is a
butcher expounding on his craft, three friends laughing at a pal's
funeral or a hungry monk trying to catch a fish for dinner, Chung Tzu
(a student of and contemporary of Lao Tzu, it is said) gives us short,
funny Taoist sit-com zen stories that deeply teach while making us
laugh. A classic portrait of Chung Tzu says more about his work than
any quote- he is a disheveled monk, hair akimbo, standing outside of
his hermitage at night, laughing at the moon. If you have to ask why,
you miss the point...Chung Tzu tells us all to forget everything and
flow with the Tao- and if we do, we will be filled with an
inexpressible joy- easier said than done! So, we
should do nothing? That is the best course of action, according to the
him. Yet for most of us caught up in the joys, sorrows, compulsions,
attractions and repulsions of life (myself included) this is simply not
an option. So, what is the next best thing? His little tales all say
the same thing: Be aware of this natural 'flow' of the energies and
forces of existence, truly seek to be aware and flow with them as much
as possible, to be 'one with the Tao.' Not because it is cool or
spiritually hip, but simply because 'those who fight the Tao do not
last long.' In other words, going against the currents about us is not
healthy, it is like planting seeds in Winter or trying to kiss an angry
partner, such wrong actions at the wrong time are both foolish and self
defeating. These three, then,
are the basic texts of Taoism, but there are several others I find very
fascinating and worth studying. The best of the bunch is a later Taoist
scholar who, while not in the same league as Lao Tzu or Chung Tzu, is
still a classic author to read first thing in the morning to get your
Taoist day going. Back to Beginnings is a collection of Taoist
meditations written by Huanchu Daoren, a retired Taoist scholar, around
1600. His parables and simple thoughts and meditations are very
common-sense and day-to-day. He talks about how one should live hour by
hour and how important the right attitude and harmony of emotions is to
the practicing Taoist. Let us end on this fine quote:
"If the mind is illuminated there is
clear blue sky in a dark room. If the thoughts are muddled, there
are malevolent ghosts in broad daylight."
- Huanchu Daoren (translated by
T.Cleary)
