Min Tzu - Chinese Taoist Sorcery.pdf

MIN TZU CHINESE TAOIST SORCERY THE ART OF GETTING EVEN Those entering the realm of magic and sorcery for the first time must keep a few esoteric principles in mind. Firstly, rituals have a two-fold nature: they can be used to help people or to destroy them. Prayers to the gods bring increase to the sorcerer and curses cast on enemies bring about their ruin. Ideally, sorcery should be employed to maintain good health, obtain wealth and contentment, and achieve a long life. Secondly, it is said that the surest way to achieve self-destruction is to tell one's worst enemy or best friend about the source of one's success. After all, today's friends may be tomorrow's enemies. Vision Press Films Los Angeles PRESS N F O IL VISI MS CHINESE TAOIST SORCERY: THE ART OF GETTING EVEN Copyright © 1992,2000 by Min Tzu All rights reserved. It is expressly forbidden to reproduce, publish or disseminate all or part of this work covered by the copyrights herein in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical (including e-mail, internet, photocopying, recording, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems)— without the prior permission of the author and publisher. A Vision Press Films Book Printed in the United States of America Library of Congress Cataloguing Number: 00-103971 ISBN 1-9295-49-03-2 The author and publisher of this book are not responsible for any harm that readers may incur by performing the rituals or spells contained herein. This book describes traditional methods of Chinese sorcery, both ancient and modern, and is not intended to persuade readers to believe in or practice sorcery. Any person attempting such rituals is doing so at his or her own risk. ii A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library The Ancient Taoist Principle of Reciprocity States: "If you do me a favor, I will return a greater favor to you but if you hurt me, I will not offer the other cheek. If you insult me, I will punch you; if you punch me, I will break your arm; if you break my arm, I will break your leg; and if you break my leg, I will put you in a coffin." iii ALSO BY MIN TZU: Taoist Sex Secrets The Military Prophecies of China Chinese Money Principles: The Road to Riches Pa Kua: The Gentleman's Boxing HISTORICAL NOVEL White Tiger, Blue Dragon: The Gentlemen Boxers VIDEO: Chi Fa: Chinese Breathing Techniques These items available from Vision Press Films: P.O. Box 641278 Los Angeles, CA USA 90064-1278 Fax: (310) 474-4293 Email: [email protected] Website: http://seercom.com/visionpf iv A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library CONTENTS Foreword....................................... xi Everyone Eventually Becomes a Ghost.............. 29 Haunted Places................................. 29 PART ONE: An Overview of Sorcery............... 1 The Crowing of the Rooster....................... 30 Haunted Streets................................. 30 Opening the Temple's Door....................... 1 Dealing with Ghosts............................. 30 Seeing the Sun for the First Time.................... 2 The Advantage of Being a Ghost................... 30 The Religious Infancy of Mankind.................. 3 Stage Ghosts.................................... 30 China: The Middle Kingdom...................... 5 Good-Natured Ghosts............................ 31 The Meaning of Chi, Man's Life Force............... 8 Unlucky Times to Die............................ 31 Haunted Houses................................ 31 PART TWO: The Basic Rituals.................... 10 Spirits of the Wilderness.......................... 31 Sudden Materializations.......................... 31 Setting Up the Altar............................. 10 Benevolent Spirits and Children................... 32 Knocking at Heaven's Door....................... 10 Accidents Caused by Ghosts...................... 32 Closing the Ceremony........................... 12 Ghostly Songs................................... 32 The Seven Basic Rituals.......................... 13 Ghosts and Dogs................................ 32 1. Ancestor Worship........................... 13 Ghosts of Murdered People....................... 32 2. Breaking Misfortune......................... 14 The Allure of Ghost Stories....................... 32 3. Stepping into Misfortune..................... 14 Ghost Hunting.................................. 32 4. Expelling Ghosts............................ 16 Nasty Ghosts................................... 32 5. Ritual for Good Health....................... 17 Invited Ghosts................................... 32 6. Asking the Gods for Wealth................... 18 Ghosts Move in Circles........................... 33 7. The Circle of Wizards........................ 19 Ghosts and Light................................ 33 Powerful Spirits................................. 33 PART THREE: The Guidelines................... 21 Food for Captive Ghosts.......................... 33 The Three Powers of Ghosts...................... 33 The Nature of the Hereafter...................... 21 Ghostly Disturbances............................ 33 The Mistul...................................... 21 The Presence of Demons.......................... 33 The Purgatory.................................. 22 Religious Roots................................. 22 The Nature of the Devil.......................... 33 Hell Is Both Cold and Hot........................ 22 Satanic Priests................................... 34 Divinities....................................... 22 Devil Worshipers................................ 34 Gods Walking on Earth.......................... 23 Warding Off the Devil........................... 35 Devils at the Altar............................... 35 On Taoism..................................... 23 Strange Murders................................ 35 Taoist Beliefs.................................... 23 Bargaining with the Devil........................ 35 The Road of Taoism.............................. 23 Calling the Devil................................ 36 Shunning Excessive Pride......................... 24 War Is the Devil's Curse.......................... 36 Taoism Is a Chinese Religion...................... 24 The Teachings of the Gods........................ 36 Polarity........................................ 24 A Contract with the Devil......................... 36 The Thief of Time................................ 25 Satanic Potions.................................. 36 The Dark Knight................................ 36 The Nature of Ghosts............................ 25 Satanic Rituals.................................. 37 Stray Ghosts.................................... 25 Evil Altars...................................... 37 Seeking Ghostly Explanations...................... 25 The Devil's Disciples............................. 37 Ghosts Appearing at Seances...................... 25 The Power of Demons............................ 26 Learning to Die................................. 37 Ghostly Apparitions............................. 26 Picking Up One’s Steps........................... 37 Sea Ghosts...................................... 27 Spirit and Body Separation....................... 38 Benevolent Spirits............................... 27 Accepting Death................................ 38 Ghosts Need Food............................... 27 The Ghost Gate.................................. 38 Wandering Ghosts............................... 27 The Long Sleep.................................. 38 Funeral Masses.................................. 27 Forgiving Enemies............................... 38 Photographing Ghosts........................... 27 Heaven Has Eyes................................. 38 The Rosary..................................... 27 The Tunnel’s Light............................... 39 The Physiognomy of Ghosts...................... 27 Incorrupt Corpses............................... 39 Ghostly Whispers............................... 28 Premature Death................................ 39 Cold Ghosts.................................... 28 Strange Facts of Life and Death.................... 39 A Demon's Touch............................... 28 What Is Death?.................................. 40 The Ghosts of Victims............................ 28 Forestalling Death............................... 40 Playful Ghosts.................................. 29 The Last Meal................................... 40 Seventh Day Ghosts............................. 29 Death and the Five Elements...................... 41 v The Importance of Burying a Corpse Intact.......... 42 Conversations with Ancestors..................... 56 The Function of Funeral Rituals................... 42 Flushing Out Ambushers......................... 56 Military Funerals................................ 42 Intimate Funeral Ceremony....................... 42 The Magic Wand: The Chinese Wooden Sword..... 56 The Dead Walking among the Living.............. 42 Magic Shield.................................... 56 An Animal’s Fear of Death....................... 43 The Chinese Sword.............................. 56 Recognizing Ethnic Enemies...................... 43 Similarities between Traditions.................... 56 Unavoidable Calamity........................... 43 The Chinese Sword in Japan...................... 57 Dying Young.................................... 43 Forging Swords................................. 57 The Ten Thousand Faces of Death................. 43 The Essence of Swordsmanship................... 57 The Three Skulls................................ 43 Swords and Sorcery............................. 57 Nobody Lives Forever........................... 44 The Vigil of the Heads........................... 57 Burning Documents or Books Before Dying.......... 44 The Dead Also Love Flowers...................... 44 Thievery: Getting Rich without Capital............ 58 Thieves Are Everywhere......................... 58 The Principles of Reincarnation.................. 44 Cursing All Thieves.............................. 59 Choosing Where to Be Reborn..................... 44 The Bridge of Sorrows........................... 45 Studying Chinese Sorcery....................... 59 Voluntary Relationships.......................... 45 Teachers....................................... 60 Returning to the Place of Departure................ 45 Sorcery Initiation................................ 60 Yuan Fen: Predestined Relationships.............. 45 Esoteric Learning................................ 60 Positioning Graves.............................. 46 Sorcery Risks................................... 60 Guarding Graves................................ 47 The Rule of Precedence........................... 60 Cryogenics...................................... 47 Sorcery Battles.................................. 60 Remembering Past Lives......................... 47 Dry Runs....................................... 60 Child Geniuses.................................. 47 Self-Importance................................. 60 Born to Suffer................................... 48 Character Changes Fate.......................... 60 It Is Useless to Commit Suicide.................... 48 Mistaken Actions................................ 61 Extraordinary People............................ 48 One School, a Thousand Methods................. 61 The Hidden Danger of Hospitals.................. 49 Concentration Versus Talent...................... 61 Retribution..................................... 49 Sorcery Manners................................ 61 Natural Fame................................... 49 Master Magicians............................... 61 Cremation...................................... 49 The New Replaces the Old........................ 61 Three Taoist Teaching Principles.................. 61 Geomancy: The Fate of Houses and Places......... 49 The Secret Essence of Mantras..................... 61 House Construction Hexes........................ 50 The Many Levels of Skill......................... 62 Animals in Architectural Design................... 51 One Road at a Time.............................. 62 Coveted Houses................................. 51 Self-Discipline.................................. 62 Supernatural Shadows........................... 51 The Art of Listening............................. 62 Opening a Grave............................... 51 Where to Find Help.............................. 62 Tall Constructions............................... 52 Sudden Illumination............................. 63 The Fate of Buildings............................ 52 Quantity Counters Quality........................ 63 House Warming Ritual........................... 52 Sending the Cat to Fetch the Mice.................. 63 Cave Spirits.................................... 52 Practice Makes Perfect........................... 63 Underground Spirits............................. 52 A Hidden Dragon............................... 63 Buildings....................................... 52 Testing One's Vocation........................... 63 Yearly Spiritual House Cleaning................... 53 Excessive Good Luck............................ 53 PART FOUR: The Spells......................... 64 Absorbing Prosperity by Osmosis................. 53 Finding Evil Objects............................. 53 Hexing Dolls................................... 64 Unlucky Visitors................................ 53 Special Dolls.................................... 64 Unfriendly Neighbors............................ 53 The Esoteric Power of Plants...................... 65 In the Calm of the Night.......................... 54 Hexing Tools................................... 65 Protecting the House............................. 54 Hexing through Mirrors.......................... 65 Resurrecting a Doll.............................. 65 The Nature of Icons............................. 54 Recycling a Doll................................. 65 Where to Place Icons............................. 54 Burying Corpses in the Snow..................... 65 It Is Hard to Be a God............................ 54 Manmade Gods................................. 55 The Chains of Love............................. 66 Catholic Icons................................... 55 The Coffin Curse................................ 66 Temples Do Not Talk............................ 55 Cursed Potion.................................. 66 Military Temples................................ 55 The Demise of Great Men......................... 66 Holy Pictures................................... 55 Spell for Forbidden Love......................... 67 vi A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library Closing All Doors............................... 67 Candle Warnings................................ 79 The Anti-Wedding Spell.......................... 67 Altar Room..................................... 79 Marriage Spell.................................. 67 The Eight Candles Ritual......................... 79 The Seed of Return.............................. 67 The Four Directions.............................. 79 The Thread of Love.............................. 67 Hovering Flames............................... 79 The Moon Fairy's Spell........................... 68 Starting Enterprises.............................. 80 Double Doll Hex................................. 68 Incense......................................... 80 The Black Thread Spell............................ 68 The Flame of Life................................ 80 The Perils of Seducing a Woman.................... 68 Better Dead than Spurned......................... 68 The Sacred Rope................................ 80 Lascivious Ghosts................................ 69 The Rope as a Door.............................. 80 The Returning Path.............................. 69 The Rope as a Circle............................. 81 Departed Love.................................. 69 The Rope as Courage Giver....................... 81 Antagonizing Spells............................. 69 Buried Spell.................................... 69 Holy Water..................................... 81 The Living Ghost Curse.......................... 69 How to Use Holy Water.......................... 81 Marriages Made in Heaven....................... 70 Five Types of Holy Water......................... 81 Cursing a Marriage.............................. 70 Marriage Bonds................................. 70 The Secret of Prayers............................ 81 Goddess Chang.................................. 71 The Influence of Prayers.......................... 82 Spells for Marriage and Divorce................... 71 Voiced Curses................................... 82 Catching the Prey............................... 71 Sorcery in Matchmaking.......................... 71 The Sacred Mirror and the Devil.................. 82 The Three Moon Hex............................ 72 Seeing the Future................................ 82 Playboys....................................... 72 Summoning Spirits through a Mirror............... 83 The Fairy Rides a Donkey........................ 72 Mirrors on the Wall.............................. 83 The War of the Sexes............................. 72 Ghost-Hunting Mirror........................... 83 Better Poor but Alive than Rich and Dead........... 73 Scaring Ghosts.................................. 83 Countering Passion Spells......................... 73 Defensive Sorcery............................... 83 The Weak against the Strong: Avenging Spells..... 73 The Double Coffin Spell.......................... 83 Avenging a Wrong.............................. 73 The Eyes of the Doll............................. 83 The Circle of Revenge............................ 73 Change Directions Instead of Moving the Mountain.. 83 Hereditary Curses............................... 74 The Black Flag................................... 84 A Demon Entering a Temple...................... 74 Premonitions.................................... 84 Target Shooting................................. 74 Neutralizing a Hex............................... 84 Yellow Hide.................................... 75 Extra Supernatural Protection...................... 84 The Three Nails Curse........................... 75 The Onion Ritual................................ 84 Buried Doll Curse............................... 75 Dangerous Jobs.................................. 84 Tormenting Curse............................... 75 Ritual for Three Sorcerers......................... 85 Double Death................................... 75 The Glass of Water Test........................... 85 An Ancient Curse............................... 75 The Wall of Knives............................... 85 Dying with the Eyes Open........................ 75 The Scarecrow Hex.............................. 76 Food Spells.................................... 85 The Buried Cart Curse........................... 76 The Dog's Life Spell.............................. 86 Humiliating Curse............................... 76 A Curse to Cause Impotence...................... 76 Spells against Enemies.......................... 86 Poisoning the Tiger.............................. 76 Exorcisms...................................... 86 The Drinking Hex............................... 77 Urination Jinx................................... 87 Enviousness.................................... 77 Rain: The Tears of Heaven........................ 87 Extinguishing the Flame.......................... 77 Lethal Ritual.................................... 87 Avenging Ancestors.............................. 77 Hexing a Victim's Shadow........................ 88 Transferring Curses.............................. 88 Rituals to Protect Babies......................... 78 Pursuing Enemies in the Afterworld................ 88 The Crib Shield................................. 78 The Dark Moon: The Symbol of Evil Sorcery........ 88 The Red Cord................................... 78 Gossip: Stabbing without Drawing Blood........... 89 The Egg Ritual.................................. 78 Disarming Spell................................. 89 Earrings for Boys................................ 78 Paralyzing Others with Spells..................... 89 Dressing Boys as Girls........................... 78 The Seven Stones Curse.......................... 90 Fighting Words with Words...................... 90 Candles and Incense............................ 78 Protection against a Fire Curse.................... 90 Candle Spells................................... 79 Plucking the Fruit: Hexing Enemies................ 90 Extinguishing an Enemy's Life.................... 79 Pillow Curses................................... 90 vii The Half-Moon Curse............................ 90 The Dangers of Sorcery......................... 105 Effigies and Photographs......................... 91 The Sorcerer's Diet.............................. 105 The Entangled Feet Curse........................ 91 Excessive Offerings............................. 106 Bewitching a Chess Player........................ 91 Masks........................................ 106 The Dog's Death Curse........................... 91 Urgent Petitions................................ 106 The Quarreling Family Curse..................... 91 Sacrificial Customs............................. 106 God Punishes Evil Sorcerers...................... 91 The Periodicity of Rituals........................ 106 Lending Personal Objects......................... 92 Scissors....................................... 106 Are Spells Harmless?............................ 92 Negative Luck................................. 106 A Hex to Damage the Heart....................... 92 Displeased Gods............................... 107 Spinning a Chair................................ 92 Small Bells.................................... 107 Last Ditch Defense............................... 92 Large Bells.................................... 107 Fingerprints.................................... 93 Fair Punishments............................... 107 Rice at Weddings................................ 93 The Many Lives of the Dragon................... 107 Flood Curse.................................... 93 Rituals and Weather............................ 107 Dividing to Win................................. 93 Family Breakups............................... 107 The Power of the Eyes........................... 93 Witchcraft Kills Saints and Sinners Alike........... 108 Cunning Sorcerers.............................. 108 PART FIVE: A Selection of Sorcery Principles...... 95 Heaven's Records.............................. 108 Keeping an Eye Open........................... 108 Priests Can Also Go to Hell...................... 95 Murphy's Law................................. 108 Religious Sexual Abstinence...................... 95 Innate Fears................................... 108 The Unending Search for Good Spells.............. 95 The Shadow of Disaster......................... 108 The Principle of Confession....................... 96 Military Sorcery............................... 109 The Task of Priests.............................. 96 The Secrecy of Rituals........................... 109 Tickets to Paradise............................... 96 Asking Heaven for Sons......................... 109 Discrediting Sorcery............................. 96 Divine Works of Art............................ 109 The Evil in Religion.............................. 96 Ancient Curses................................. 109 Closing the Door Behind You..................... 96 New Projects.................................. 109 Business and Religion............................ 96 Sorcery Partnerships............................ 109 Personality.................................... 110 On Religion.................................... 97 Trances....................................... 110 Becoming a God................................. 97 Fighting against Instinct......................... 110 The Meaning of Religion......................... 97 Sorcery and the Military......................... 110 Diamond Cuts Diamond......................... 97 The Meaning of Friendship...................... 110 Miraculous Miracles............................. 98 Playing with Fire............................... 110 The Religion of Sorcerers.......................... 98 The Gods Like to Help People.................... 110 Alms.......................................... 98 The Average Success Rate of Rituals.............. 111 Ancestor Worship............................... 98 Objects of Bad Luck............................. 111 Modern Religions............................... 99 Crossroads.................................... 111 Initiation into Unknown Cults..................... 99 Lucky People Are Divine........................ 111 Sorcery and Religion............................. 99 Possessed or Mad?............................. 111 Gratitude...................................... 111 Flying Witches................................. 99 Ambitious Sorcerers............................ 112 Unlucky Beatings............................... 100 Fireworks..................................... 112 The Man Behind the King....................... 112 Rituals Change but Do Not Create Things........ 100 Domestic Perils................................ 112 The Sweetness of Revenge....................... 100 Fate and Fortune............................... 112 The Eternal Sorcery Question.................... 101 Food Comes from Heaven....................... 112 The Five God-Elements......................... 101 The Hand of Fate............................... 113 Rituals for Descendants.......................... 101 Feasts for the Gods............................. 113 The School of Colors............................ 101 Burning the Bird's Nest......................... 113 The Power of Pyramids......................... 102 Flattery....................................... 113 Fake Sorcerers................................. 102 Single-Mindedness: Formula for Success........... 113 Misplaced Compassion.......................... 102 Chi Depleting Gatherings........................ 114 Beasts Dressed as People........................ 103 Secondhand Objects............................ 114 Immortals among Men.......................... 103 Undying Loyalty............................... 114 The Ladder of Success........................... 103 The Name of God.............................. 114 World Mysteries............................... 103 The Supreme Power of the Sorcerer............... 114 The Living Are More Dangerous than Ghosts...... 104 Is There a Creator?............................. 114 A Temple's Fire Is Its Life........................ 104 Father Heaven, Mother Earth.................... 114 The Shape of Sorcery Attacks.................... 104 Metaphysical Intuition Is Better than Logic......... 115 The Will to Practice Sorcery...................... 105 The Eternal Warfare of the Classes................ 115 viii A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library The Five Lucky Blessings........................ 115 Family Spells.................................. 128 Modern Mediums.............................. 115 The Odor of Sanctity............................ 128 Weapons Are Evil.............................. 116 Searching for the Perfect Man.................... 129 The Wailing Woman and the Wind............... 116 The Good Luck of Orphans...................... 129 It Does Not Pay to Kill with Magic................ 116 Gods Can See into the Human Heart.............. 129 Human Angels................................. 116 Old Battlefields................................ 129 Even Gods Need Rest........................... 116 Prisons........................................ 129 The Worldwide Family of Sorcery................ 117 Happy Bearers of Bad News..................... 129 Lucky Streaks.................................. 117 The Celestial Judge............................. 130 The Divine Merits of Great Works................ 117 The Need for Funeral Rites...................... 130 The Power to Change the World.................. 117 Blessings in Disguise............................ 130 The Quality of Offerings......................... 117 The Perils of Joy................................ 130 Disposing of Ashes............................. 117 Spirits of Ancestors............................. 130 Many Gods Were Once Men..................... 117 Tears Are Unlucky.............................. 130 The Widespread Influence of God................ 118 Hexed In-laws................................. 130 The Danger of Confused Petitions................ 118 The Golden Rule............................... 131 The Appeal of Sorcery........................... 118 Begging with Sword in Hand.................... 131 God's Chosen People............................ 118 False Prophets of Doom......................... 132 Gods Dislike Perfect Beauty...................... 118 Writings on the Wall............................ 132 Think Twice Before Changing Religions........... 119 Blemishes..................................... 132 God Knows Best................................ 119 Unlucky Habits................................. 132 The Pit of Disaster.............................. 119 Birds of a Feather Flock Together................. 132 Beware of Having Your Picture Taken............. 119 Slipping on a Small Stone........................ 132 Making Dreams Come True...................... 120 God Is Not Feminine............................ 132 The Insolence of the Ruling Class................. 120 Professional Sorcerers........................... 133 People Acting Like Animals...................... 120 Stray Pets..................................... 133 What’s in a Name.............................. 120 Empty Sacrifices................................ 133 Spells to Quell Agitated Waters................... 121 At the Gates of Hell............................. 133 Using the Sacred Sword to Fight Tornadoes........ 121 The Benefits of Defeat........................... 133 Birthday Ritual................................. 122 Curses of the Dead............................. 133 The God of Physiognomy........................ 122 Effective Advantage............................ 134 Rituals for Education............................ 122 The Human Aura............................... 134 Sacred Tools against Vampires.................... 122 Aged Sorcerers................................. 134 The Short Death................................ 122 Victory Is Never Certain......................... 134 Sunrise Rituals................................. 123 How to Make Good Friends...................... 134 Big Fish, Small Fry.............................. 123 Protecting a Son................................ 135 Morgues and Funerary Parlors................... 123 The Purifying Power of Fire...................... 135 Tainted Vehicles................................ 123 The Hanged Man’s Hand........................ 135 Timing........................................ 123 The Seventh Star God............................ 135 Changing the Image............................ 124 Kings and Sorcerers............................. 135 Talking with God............................... 124 Revengeful Employees.......................... 135 Victory in Defeat............................... 124 Hiding the Diamond............................ 135 East and West.................................. 125 The Pentagram................................. 136 The Twelve Doors of Fate........................ 125 Sorceresses.................................... 136 A Life for a Life................................ 125 Ten Month Pregnancy........................... 136 Spiritual Traveling.............................. 125 A Life for a Life................................. 136 How to Be in Two Places at the Same Time......... 125 Three Fatal Mistakes............................ 136 Minor Gods.................................... 125 Death by Lightning............................. 136 Good Sorcerers Are Feared...................... 126 Solidarity...................................... 136 The Attraction of Fame.......................... 126 Pitiful Sight.................................... 137 Sorcery Pilgrims................................ 126 Screening Associates............................ 137 Grandiose Plans................................ 126 Never Ask for a Favor........................... 137 The Power of Dragons.......................... 126 Versatility..................................... 137 Last Minute Converts........................... 126 Lawsuits Are a Curse........................... 137 The Voice of Conscience......................... 126 National Sorcerers.............................. 137 Scale Models................................... 127 The Value of Honed Skill........................ 137 A Good Ending................................ 127 Old Wine...................................... 137 Meeting Evil................................... 127 Provisional Altars.............................. 138 The King of the Mountain....................... 127 The Human Body and Sorcery.................... 138 Disappearing Bodies............................ 127 Reluctant Divinities............................. 138 It Is Not Easy to Be a God........................ 128 Cleaning the Aura.............................. 138 Three Worlds.................................. 128 Water and Fire................................. 138 Beauties and Beasts.............................. 128 The Power of Animals in Sorcery................. 138 ix Magician, Help Yourself......................... 139 The Cross..................................... 148 Ritual to Abate a Storm.......................... 139 Myriad Wishes................................. 148 Wooden Fish, Wooden Sword.................... 139 How Many Rituals?............................. 148 Battle Plans.................................... 139 Protecting the Rituals........................... 148 Knowing When to Retreat....................... 139 Turning to the Past............................. 148 Watching an Enemy's Funeral Procession Pass By... 139 Competition Determines the Winner.............. 149 The Esoteric Importance of Rulers................ 139 Ta Tung: The Golden Age of Mankind............ 149 Avoiding the Company of Unbelievers............ 140 The Success of Strange Movies.................... 149 After Mass the Priest Is Forgotten................. 140 Wooing Lady Luck............................. 149 Minister of Sorcery............................. 140 The Limitations of the Human Body.............. 149 Heaven Is Not Deaf............................. 140 Why Chinese Monks Do Not Have Surnames...... 149 The Advantage of Knowing Sorcery............... 140 Supernatural Creatures.......................... 150 Affinity of Spirit................................ 140 A Sip of Wine.................................. 150 Incredulous People............................. 141 When Might Is Not Right........................ 150 False Gods.................................... 141 A Sorcerer's Environment....................... 150 The Value of Chinese Sorcery.................... 141 Martyrs Always Die the Same Death.............. 150 Death Has Many Faces.......................... 141 Not Only Primitive People Are Superstitious....... 152 Witchcraft Battles............................... 141 Gargoyles..................................... 152 The Might of Spells............................. 141 Circus Sorcerers................................ 152 The Power of the Snake......................... 141 Mysterious Caves.............................. 152 Witchcraft's Lethal Emanations................... 141 What Is Life?................................... 152 Negative and Positive Days...................... 142 Indirect Attack................................. 153 The Rules of Propriety.......................... 142 The Debt Incurred for Killing..................... 153 All Roads Lead to Heaven and Hell............... 142 Good Luck Is Essential.......................... 153 The Appearance of Demons...................... 142 Bodyguards Are Useless........................ 153 Celestial Omens................................ 142 Rolling Stone Curse............................. 154 Time Waits for Nobody......................... 142 Counterspells.................................. 154 The Crystal Ball................................ 143 The Never-ending Work of Sorcery............... 154 The Curse of Answered Prayers.................. 143 Revenge Is a Net................................ 154 A Hen Ruling the Roost......................... 143 Two Dragons Fighting for a Single Pearl........... 154 Skilled Sorcerers............................... 143 Too Many Enemies............................. 155 Lucky Times................................... 143 Life Is Fleeting................................. 155 The Mysteries of Life............................ 143 Unbreakable Spells............................. 155 The Death of Evil Sorcerers...................... 143 Evil against Good.............................. 155 Esoteric Marks on the Forehead.................. 144 Full Moon Ritual............................... 155 Dangerous Dragons............................ 144 The Wanderer's Curse.......................... 155 Celestial Fire................................... 144 The Dangerous Human Sense of Smell............ 156 Exorcising with Human Blood.................... 144 The Dragon's Tail.............................. 144 Appendix..................................... 158 Hexes and Axes................................ 144 A Giant Being Led by the Nose................... 144 Index......................................... 159 True Sorcerer.................................. 145 Downward Mobility............................ 145 Swallowing Elephants.......................... 145 Hell on Earth: Living Abroad..................... 145 Heaven Has Eyes............................... 145 Sorcery Methods............................... 145 Overly Sensitive People......................... 145 Hired Killers................................... 145 Sex in Sorcery.................................. 145 The Celestial Army............................. 146 Peaceful Places................................. 146 Monasteries................................... 146 Always Add One More.......................... 146 Seeking a Personal God......................... 146 To Kill a Dead Person........................... 146 Dragon's Gait, Tiger's Eyes...................... 147 Orthodox Rituals............................... 147 People with Evil Auras.......................... 147 Daredevils.................................... 147 The Downfall of Nations........................ 147 Sorcery and Diplomacy......................... 147 Caution Before Action........................... 147 x A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library Foreword The Chinese have designed many ingenious strategical methods for dealing with enemies. They include Taoist sorcery, the most lethal and least known method known to date. Although its influence has always been fathomless, when Taoists designed rituals that could be used to affect whole armies and governments, their rituals attained a sublime level of metaphysical superiority. Taoist rituals are as destructive today as they were when first created thousands of years ago. The secret of their timelessness lies in the fact that the power of gods, demons, and the Supreme Being never changes. Thus Taoist rituals are forever. xi A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library Part One AN OVERVIEW OF SORCERY OPENING THE TEMPLE'S DOOR Gods, demons, and spirits are immortal. They do not die, they last forever. Composed of Chi energy, they have no need to breathe, no definite form, and cast no shadow. Because man is uniquely positioned between Heaven and earth, he naturally possesses the intuition and extrasensory powers needed to communicate with the gods. He uses many methods to contact the divinities such as meditation, prayer, Chinese sorcery, and divination. But alas, not everyone believes in the effects of sorcery, the fastest and most effective method of them all. This unfortunate skepticism has dogged mankind from the very beginning of its history and kept many people from enjoying the happiness that sorcery can bestow upon them. If happiness means attaining everything one's heart desires, then Chinese sorcery is capable of making people happy. Sorcery is a branch of religious Taoism whose esoteric principles were compiled to help those who have met misfortune. Aggravated and incensed by life's injustices, these individuals suffer through each day, hoping for a reprieve from their anxiety. This reprieve is possible for those who resort to the use of sorcery. Sorcery can easily be put into practice and has been time-tested and proven beyond doubt. For thousands of years, many people have tried Chinese sorcery in their quest to taste of the milk and honey of life, trusting it to help them achieve their goals. It has given them the opportunity to change their lives and to obtain the esoteric powers with which they have turned their dreams into reality. Sorcery undoubtedly exists, but the invisible process by which it works has not been unraveled by scientists, philosophers, or anthropologists because it cannot be fully explained by scientific logic alone. As a result, when confronted by divine mysteries, intellectuals can only disguise their lack of knowledge about such matters by scornfully dismissing them as primitive superstitions. But the fact remains that man can manipulate divine forces through rituals. Long before Shakespeare had expressed wonder at the endless number of inexplicable things that exist in the world, Chinese sorcerers had compiled a great deal of information about mystic phenomena. They understood that few people and even fewer enterprises could succeed without the aid of sorcery. They also knew that it was a sign of Heaven's generosity to mankind that of all living creatures, man is the only one capable of summoning gods and demons at will. However, those entering the realm of magic and sorcery for the first time must keep a few esoteric principles in mind. Firstly, rituals have a two-fold nature: they can be used to help people or to destroy them. Prayers to the gods bring increase to the sorcerer and curses cast on enemies bring about their ruin. The ancient teachers of metaphysics cautioned against using rituals and spells for selfish and dishonest purposes. Ideally, sorcery should be employed to maintain good health, obtain wealth and contentment, 1 Part One and achieve a long life. Secondly, it is said that the surest way to achieve self-destruction is to tell one's worst enemy or best friend about the source of one's success. After all, today's friends may be tomorrow's enemies. There are nine progressive levels of Chinese sorcery. The rituals included on these pages will provide people with more than enough occult power to allow them to deal with most predicaments in life. SEEING THE SUN FOR THE FIRST TIME The Taoist theory about the beginning of the universe explains that originally, nothing existed but a Great Void. The Perfect Creator filled the void with fundamental Chi energy until light emerged from the darkness. Eventually, matter was formed and the birth of what we know as our universe took place. Under the influences of time, space, Chi energy, and the Yin and Yang forces, everything began to take its place in the gigantic void. Galaxies, constellations, stars, and planets assumed their positions in space. On this planet, matter was divided into an ethereal sky above and a solid earth below, but everything else was in chaos. Volcanos constantly erupted, covering the surface of the earth with lava, and the sea moved from one place to another without restraint as the earth tilted back and forth. Earthquakes shook the solid mass of land causing it to separate into continents and form mountains and valleys. Fire, earth, and water constantly counterattacked each other in cycles of violent turmoil. After millions of years, the unchained elements gave shape to our world and the earth began to settle down as its magnetic field became more stable. Orbiting around the sun, the earth was now accompanied by a moon that gave rhythm and stability to the movements of the sea. This equilibrium made it possible for elementary forms of life to appear in water. A positive-negative cycle of the water, fire, wood, metal, and earth elements was initiated that would eventually generate the Four Seasons, causing forests and deserts to be formed and life to flourish on land and in the sea. For human beings, life on earth began in a harsh way. Chinese tradition holds that long ago, when man's ancestors abandoned their tree-dwelling life for one in caves, the earth's Chi energy was still disturbed and unsettled. The surface of the land was covered by massive mountains, swamps, and a dense fog whose darkness could not be pierced by the light of the sun. The ever-present mist prevented the sunlight from warming up the ground, and produced a numbing dampness. Several kinds of semi-human beings evolved from the earlier ape-like creatures that had left the trees to live on the ground. Some had two heads, an ape's face, or three eyes. Others had only one eye or an animal's head. There were also giants and midgets, as well as several other equally strange beings. Many of these creatures fell victim to the bad climate, to predatory beasts and birds, and to the battles for supremacy that they waged among themselves. In these skirmishes, most giants were killed by the more resourceful men born of the interbreeding that was taking place between the groups. This new type of human being was keener of intellect than its predecessors and was neither too tall nor too short. One of the Chinese principles of nature states that a small and compact man will survive better than one who is oversized, and this smaller but sturdier type of man outlived all the others. This primitive creature sought relief from the cold by building crude fires. He kindled the fires with the sparks generated by natural fires, by rubbing pieces of wood together, or by striking a flint with a rock. In this manner, he duplicated the awesome wonder of the fires he saw produced by volcanic eruptions and lightning strikes. These were the first manmade fires in history. Eventually, he was able to fashion torches that he used as he wandered in the lightless world around him. Man faced an additional danger in the form of the monstrous animals and birds that ruled the land. The forests were inhabited by clawed beasts that proved to be man's mortal enemies. The swamps were crawling with reptiles of all kinds that killed anyone who stumbled upon them. Ferocious flying serpents, now known as dragons, abounded, along with countless other types of predators such as giant snakes and creatures that were half-bird and half-animal. Their presence forced primitive man to seek the safety of 2 A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library An Overview of Sorcery caves or elevated places. He also learned to gather in small groups to defend himself against these predators. Even today, this struggle between man and beast rages on. The presence of beasts, the lack of daylight, and the rigors of uncontrollable climatic conditions prevented people from migrating at will. They lived in a permanent state of semi-darkness and it was impossible for them to keep track of time. During that period, gods and demons occasionally revealed themselves to man in ways that, sadly, are not possible in today's bright world. Through these encounters, he learned a little about the nature and shape of lesser divinities and demons, and also about God and the Devil. Ages later, when the Chi energies of the sky and earth were somewhat settled, the volcanoes erupted less often and the earthquakes subsided. The thick fog covering the world gradually disappeared, the sun shone in full splendor, the rhythmic cycle of the Four Seasons was established, forests began to grow, and rivers to flow. In this agreeable new world, many forms of life began to flourish and man even learned to migrate. By the time he had spread out all over the world, the human race had become divided into five categories based on the color of the skin: yellow, brown, white, black, and red. Once man began to migrate and travel, he was subjected to changes in vegetation and climate that were not always good for his health and he often became sick after eating raw vegetables and uncooked meat. Fortunately, his diet became more diverse after he mastered cooking. The subsequent invention of cookware made possible more sophisticated and creative methods of cooking, and allowed him to travel long distances because he was able to feed himself on a better diet. This ancient man was resourceful. He invented tools that he used to make his environment more habitable. Because his hands were less powerful than an animal's paws, he invented traps and sharp weapons. Since he lacked fur, he covered himself with animal skins that protected him from the cold and rain. In China, man began to measure time and space. He also discovered the way to plant and harvest many types of grains. He learned to predict the weather by observing the movements of the stars and planets, and of the sun and moon. He invented the wheel and was able to calculate weight and measurement by using elementary systems of mathematics and geometry. He developed a basic method of recording incidents by using a knotted cord. He also began to realize that he had a special nature that set him apart from all other living creatures and began to bury his dead to prevent their corpses from being exposed to the savagery of animals and birds of prey. In short, man became the king of all creatures on earth and was well on his way to becoming civilized. THE RELIGIOUS INFANCY OF MANKIND In China, the progress of early man was enhanced by the development of a culture based on group life. Within this cultural order, different clans were formed, each one electing its own leader. This practice continued until the Chinese developed the concept of imperial rule which proposed that the country be unified under one man who would act as its political, religious, and military leader. He would be considered the First Son of Heaven, the Father of the People. When the First Emperor of China came into power, he gathered all of the separate clans into one nation. The monarchy began with this emperor, about five thousand years ago, and ended in 1912 with the Manchu ruler Pu Yi, the last emperor of China. The First Emperor was succeeded by the Emperor of Heaven, who promoted learning among the masses. He taught people to calculate the hours of the day using a variety of devices such as the water clock. When the exact length of both night and day could be determined, people could better organize their working and resting schedules. The Emperor of Heaven was succeeded by the Emperor of Earth, who was followed by the Emperor of Man. The following ruler, the Emperor of Fire, taught people how to use fire to clear agricultural land, 3 Part One to forge metals, and for many other purposes. Afterward, the Emperor of Wood taught his subjects how to build houses, boats, tools, and many other objects out of wood. The lunar calendar was invented during the reign of Emperor Fu Hsi, by combining calculations of time, the cycle of the Four Seasons, and the movements of the planets. From then on, the constellations were depicted as figures and animals known to man. Fu Hsi also produced the first version of the I Ching, or Book of Changes, and invented the fishing net. He instituted the basic principles of private property and promoted the creation of the first system of writing. Marriage and family rules were also established at this time, to strengthen society. The Water Dragon Emperor promoted the development and classification of medicinal herbs. This knowledge has proven to be one of the greatest blessings ever bestowed on mankind. Embroidery was also invented during his reign, to embellish the art of cloth-making. In fact, the Water Dragon Emperor's imperial robes were the first to be embroidered with astrological symbols that displayed a knowledge of astronomical principles. Later rulers promoted inventions such as the plow, increasingly sophisticated farming methods such as irrigation, and small-scale trading based on bartering. The reign of the Yellow Emperor was characterized by great progress on all levels. It was a time of great inventions such as the sail, and of cultural advances such as metal casting, silk production, military archery, the creation and use of metal coins as money, the research and use of chemical substances (or alchemy), and the development of Taoist principles. This emperor was the first to create the hereditary post of Court Historian, who was required to record the good and bad events that occurred within the Empire, and the just or evil actions of the emperor himself. These records were to be used to help succeeding generations by allowing them to learn from the mistakes of their ancestors. Everything was going well for the human race but because of some cosmic upheaval, nine additional suns joined the earth's own sun and their blazing heat beat down on the land with great intensity. The horrific, oversized animals and birds died with the dramatic change of temperature and climate. The overwhelming heat dried swamps, scorched crops and vegetation, and caused water to evaporate at a high rate causing massive droughts. To survive the fiery temperatures, people had to seek the protection and coolness of deep caves. They also learned the art of constructing tunnels so they could live underground and escape the murderous heat. In these tunnels, they learned how to grow crops beneath the earth, mine metals, construct wells, and preserve foods. In time, the additional suns disappeared and people were able to emerge from their subterranean dwellings. In gratitude to the gods, they erected tall pyramids in which they worshipped the single remaining sun that allowed life to again thrive on the earth’s surface. After the calamity of the ten suns, a period of intense rains followed. The incessant rains flooded the earth. The rising and shifting of the sea level caused by the torrential downpours almost wiped out the population and upset the earth's climate. Few people escaped from this disaster and when the rains stopped, it became obvious to the survivors that the earth's axis had shifted. They realized this when they noticed that the stars and constellations in the sky were no longer in their old positions. The remaining people dedicated their lives to draining the water left by the rains. Afterward, they built dams and dikes, and dried swamps. This work went on without interruption for hundreds of years. Among the people who survived the Flood, some were sensitive to the presence of divinities. It was easier for these gifted people to contact the gods and demons. The Chinese named these individuals "the chosen ones." These few men were educated for the sole purpose of sacrificing directly to deities and were given special training to develop their supernatural abilities from an early age. Their lives were totally dedicated to religion. They communicated with the world of spirits through religious ceremonies and acted as sacred intermediaries between people and gods. When the gods communicated with these early priest-mediums, they gave them information about the underworld. The priests received details about the origins of mankind and the existence of powerful forces 4 A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library An Overview of Sorcery in the world beyond. The gods also revealed the names and ranks of lesser and greater divinities and their degree of influence over man's world. In general, the peaceful relationship that existed between man and gods at this time reflected the benevolent celestial influences prevalent on earth. Neither side asked for too much from the other; gods received ceremonial sacrifices from people and granted their prudent wishes in return. Five thousand years ago, during the reign of the Yellow Emperor, a school of knowledge called Taoism surfaced. It contained information about alchemy, religion, and many other branches of knowledge. Religious Taoism teaches that there are three main forces governing the spiritual world. They are the two great opposing, yet complementary powers—God and the Devil—and their ruler, The Supreme Being. God is a benevolent expression of the universal Chi force, who wishes well to man and keeps peace on earth. The Devil is negative in nature, hates peace, and only wants war, disorder, and strife to reign on this planet. These two divine forces, also called Yin and Yang by the ancients, wage an eternal battle, each trying to vanquish the other. The Supreme Being is the peerless power that maintains the balance between God and the Devil. God, the Devil, and all other minor gods and demons are subordinate to this august and singular power. This Perfect Creator is the beginning and end of everything that exists. According to Taoism, good and evil cannot destroy each other, otherwise the universal equilibrium would be disrupted and the earth destroyed. These two divine powers possess equal strength and influence over man’s world and if one became superior to the other, both would disappear and the universe would disappear along with them. The Supreme Being, God, and the Devil form a Sacred Triangle that presides over the world of the living and the world of the dead. Man, Earth, and Heaven form another triangle that, when combined with the first one, creates the six-pointed star. This double triangle is one of the best-known symbols of Taoist mysticism. In the old days, people learned rituals from the priests and all went well between men and gods. But the Prince of Darkness became jealous of this cozy relationship and began to disrupt the prevailing spiritual harmony. The first signs of his pernicious influence were seen when some of the people who had previously been content with their lot selfishly began using sacred rituals to ask the gods for personal power, apparently unafraid of divine retribution. Since people already possessed a few rituals of great value, the priests were unable to make them exercise prudence once they had tasted their power. Religious disorder ensued and lasted for many centuries. At that juncture in history, about two thousand years ago, Taoist priests codified all rituals to keep them from falling into the hands of ambitious individuals, thus closing the doors of high religious learning to all except a few monks and priests. In so doing, they managed to centralize religious power but they also generated unexpected religious disorder because without proper direction, inexperienced laymen began to perform incomplete Taoist rituals that only brought evil spirits into this world. CHINA: THE MIDDLE KINGDOM From the beginning of Chinese history until the turn of the twentieth century, two hundred and eighty emperors have ruled the Celestial Empire. During that time, an incredible wealth of knowledge has been accumulated, knowledge that has had a significant influence on other nations. The Chinese call their country Chung Kuo, or the Middle Kingdom. This name is represented in writing by two ideograms, one meaning the center of something, such as a target's bull's-eye, the second meaning country. The name indicates that due to the richness of their culture, the Chinese have for thousands of years considered their country to be the center of the universe. Long ago, Confucius re-established the concept of ritual and laid out the rules of proper conduct to be followed by all civilian, military, and religious officials. The duties of all government officials were clearly delineated within the hierarchy. He also separated purely religious practices from the rituals of sorcery. Before his time, priests had practiced both religion and sorcery. He was the first to draw a line of 5 Part One distinction between the two by stating, "I will not speak of supernatural affairs. I respect spirits but I also keep my distance from them." On the basis of his profound and pragmatic point of view, the practice of sorcery was separated from the practice of religion. From that point on, priests have had to follow clearly stated religious ethics. The Confucian principles of ceremony also reaffirmed the structure of the family unit. This concept emphasized the importance of the father and elder family members and clarified that the role of the family is to allow all blood-related individuals bearing the same surname to gather and provide mutual love and support, sheltering each other from the heartless outside world. Confucian principles of ceremony were also evident in the religious aspects of royal protocol. They dictated that only a man who was first among equals could offer sacrifices to Heaven on behalf of the nation. As the Son of Heaven, the emperor was the only mortal who could offer sacrifices directly to the Supreme Being. Since the emperor led his subjects in all matters pertaining to Heaven, earth, and man, he called himself the "Father of the People." He never referred to himself as an individual but humbly used the pronoun "We." In the distant past, most countries outside China were not very enlightened. For example, just a few centuries ago, England was a fairly backward nation, while now it is considered to be an advanced country. When early Chinese sailors began traveling abroad a few thousand years ago, they discovered that compared to the progress the Chinese had achieved in arts and sciences, foreign peoples were still literally "living in trees." These sailors planted the seeds of culture in places as far distant as Mexico. Many centuries later, people from Japan, Korea, Persia, and other Muslim countries went to China in search of knowledge. According to Chinese records, even the ancient Greeks and Romans had contact with China more than a couple thousand years ago. Europeans were introduced to Chinese wisdom comparatively recently, initially through the writings of Arabs and Persians. When the Moors invaded Spain in the eighth century A.D., they brought books on science and literature that had been influenced by Chinese thought. When Spaniards studied these Arabic works and went on to become famous philosophers, they cleverly ascribed their sources to Greek writings. In the Middle East, priests and merchants had also known about China for centuries, but had kept quiet about it. When their Mediterranean counterparts traveled to China, they realized that this country was in effect the “Well of Knowledge.” Naturally, they also tried to divert attention from the country that would become the source of Western intellectual enlightenment. Remember, in those days, China was like the United States is today, a country in which there is a convergence of great wealth and knowledge. Modern historians continue to attribute many things of Chinese origin to other cultures, especially to Mediterranean and Japanese cultures. In this way, China's importance in providing the missing link between the European dark ages and the Renaissance has been obscured. The most cursory study of European history and art reveals the extent to which China has influenced the West and how many Chinese ideas and inventions have been incorporated into Western culture. In past centuries, Europeans adopted, among others, the principles of herbal medicine, carpentry, military uniforms, of using gun powder for military purposes, of civilian and military ranking systems, of military signals and formations, of wine distillation, fashion, embroidery, tailoring, dying clothes, and of perfumery. They learned how to build houses with raised triangular roofs and dove-tailed joints, and to use tools such as the square, compass, hammer, and wheelbarrow. They also copied Chinese toys like the top, stilts, yo-yo, swing, kite, and merry-go-round, and children's games such as jumping rope and playing hopscotch. In the early European world of fashion, the styles of the Tang and Ming Dynasties inspired many of the designs of religious, military, and civilian clothes. The Manchu high-collared upper garment later had a great impact on European fashions that can still be seen today in the classical styling of European military uniforms. 6 A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library An Overview of Sorcery It is also now known that Western astrology is not based on ancient "Babylonian" teachings, but is actually a Westernized version of Chinese astrological principles based on solar rather than lunar calculations. In art, many artists were inspired by Chinese works. The enigmatic smile on Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, for instance, is but a carbon copy of the beatific smile of an ancient Buddhist statue in China, where statues with similar smiles can still be seen today. Western entertainment was also transformed by Chinese expertise. Theater was first imported to Europe from China, although impresarios loved to say that it was brought from Greece. In literature, many European writers wrote works that were based on Chinese tales. The story of the playboy extraordinaire Don Juan, for instance, is just a European version of the Chinese story about the notorious womanizer Hsi Men, as told in the famous novel Ching Ping Mei, or Golden Lotus. The feats of Robin Hood and his Merry Men are also strikingly similar to legendary Chinese martial arts exploits like those of rebels and monks in the novel Heroes of the Marsh. The stories of a round table and a sword thrust into a stone as told in The Legend of King Arthur are also reminiscent of Chinese martial legends in which knights displayed the strength of their Chi energy by driving arrows and swords into rocks. The tale of Cinderella existed in China long before it became a part of Western folklore. The Chinese custom of binding women's feet explains why the shoe that Cinderella lost would only fit her small foot; it was indeed a very small shoe. A variation of this tale tells of a prince who went looking for a girl who had lost a jade ring and how he ran a contest open to all women in China, to see whose finger would fit the ring in question. There are also older Chinese versions of many other Western stories such as those of Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, and many others. On a more literate level, Voltaire for one admitted that his philosophical ideas had been modified by the writings of Chinese sages. The situation reached absurd proportions, however, when European writers began to attribute famous Chinese statements to European personages. Phrases such as "Let them eat cake," "The sun never sets for the Chinese," and "My kingdom for a horse." In the past, China's commercial trade with foreign nations was restricted, except when foreign rulers such as the Mongols in the Yuan dynasty or the Manchus in the Ching Dynasty sat on the Dragon Throne. During these periods, foreign traders such as Marco Polo were allowed to trade freely with China. These men brought fabulous inventions and great knowledge back to a still primitive Europe, where people eagerly assimilated anything Chinese. The early days of trade with China made the fortunes of a small group of Europeans, whose descendants still control Western economies to an important degree today. These men shrewdly ensured that the trading monopoly was held by members of their own race. They protected this monopoly by force and by spreading spurious myths about huge man-eating beasts in the seas, dangerous gangs of killers on the roads, and other tales of terror that deterred faint-hearted merchants from following those who traveled to the East. Anyone who wanted to follow the route to China but was not a member of this powerful group was likely to be assassinated. One of the reasons that Europeans traders protected their exclusive contacts with China was because they wanted to initiate a large-scale system of banking in the West just like the one they had seen in China. They did not want outsiders to upset their future plans to transfer their profits from trading into banking, where they expected to increase them a hundredfold. Long before Marco Polo brought paper money to Venice, Chinese merchants had developed special mathematical principles that, when applied to trading, allowed them to increase the magnitude of their transactions. This was no small feat. It allowed traders, who had been confined to small scale buying and selling, to trade with cities all over the empire. However, because silver and gold ingots as well as strings of coins were the accepted forms of currency, a large business transaction such as the buying of expensive 7 Part One merchandise or the financing of huge army payrolls necessitated the transfer of great amounts of heavy metal currency. This bulky fortune was difficult to store or transport and was easily detected and stolen by thieves. Money exchangers and merchants were, therefore, required to store their fortunes in vast vaults and to hire large numbers of employees and bodyguards to carry and protect them. To solve this problem, the Chinese invented paper money and banks. From then on, merchants could carry large amounts of money as a single hand-written bill that was backed by both the government and bank in which the cash had been deposited. This bill was payable upon presentation to any commercial institution. In this way, mathematics, paper money, the art of banking, and the principles of trading were combined to streamline and increase business. For the Chinese, one of the benefits of being able to exchange gold for paper currency was that it made it possible for them to burn real spirit money for their ancestors. Before this time, people had placed gold coins and other treasures in people's coffins so their spirits would have money to pay for their expenses in the afterworld. At any rate, since China did not have a patent office, anything foreigners saw in that country was theirs for the taking. Many Europeans, from traders to kings, depended on the flow of inventions that filtered back from China to maintain and increase their fortunes. In the early days, most foreigners visiting China could easily obtain most of the knowledge possessed by common people, although some methods such as those used to make silk and porcelain were never voluntarily given to outsiders. The Chinese held the world monopoly in the manufacturing and trading of these items, and jealously guarded the techniques used to produce them. Envious of such profits, European rulers and merchants offered large rewards to anyone—tradesmen, diplomats, priests, or other China-bound spies—who could obtain these secret methods. Two Catholic monks were the first to bring the coveted silk-making method to Europe. They did this by smuggling several silkworms out of China inside their hollow walking staffs. Once Westerners began to produce silk, they were able to break the Chinese hold on the market. Until that time, the Chinese had supplied the West with the silk worn by everyone who could afford it. Records show that even Julius Caesar wore robes made of Chinese silk. As time passed, countless other inventions, ideas, customs, objects, and tools found their way to Europe. They included: the printing press; firearm designs; the idea of using fingerprints to identify individuals; the loom; passports to control the movement of people across borders; the spur; the horse harness; the principles of taxation, paper and book making, hypnotism, puppetry, and forensic pathology; the spherical earth theory; the concept of the circus and stage theater; ink making methods; the idea of using salt as currency; the umbrella; bridge building techniques; the idea that ordinary citizens could write censuring memorials to the throne; the garden designs seen in European gardens; irrigation techniques and the means of constructing wells and water wheels; stringed musical instruments; express mail delivery; the list of animals that could be tamed to serve man; horse breeding and riding techniques—still evident in the Spanish school of riding; the principles of perspective in painting; and many others. The list of ways in which China changed the direction of European civilization could go on and on, but what has been said is enough to allow one to understand why China means "the center of the universe." THE MEANING OF CHI, MAN'S LIFE-FORCE A new era is now dawning for mankind. As the curtain opens on a new century, a new play with new performers is about to replace the one that is currently running on the world stage. After a period of fifteen hundred years, the order of power is about to change drastically. From now on, those who understand the principles of Chi, the vital energy of the universe, will rule the world. The future of any nation will soon be measured by the level of intelligence of its citizens and the strength of their Chi energy. Since the measure of a person's intelligence is commensurate with the 8 A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library An Overview of Sorcery amount of Chi energy in his body, the knowledge needed to increase an individual's internal power will soon be of paramount importance to all. But what is Chi energy? Chi is such a powerful, complex, and elusive energy that for want of a better word, Taoists gave it the name that is also the symbol for the universal womb that gave birth to all things. Taoists have concluded that there is nothing in the world as precious as the knowledge of Chi. Today, non-Chinese people debate whether or not man possesses Chi energy. Yet few realize that he could not live without it. Chi is the vital energy that causes blood to circulate in the body. Chinese acupuncture and the art of pulse taking are based on an understanding of the way that Chi energy moves in the body. The principles of Chi energy are at the root of all Taoist branches of knowledge such as medicine, religion, music, martial arts, military strategy, and even of arts such as painting and literature. Man comes in contact with Chi even before birth. A human fetus is nourished by the Chi energy of his mother, which reaches him through the umbilical cord. When he is born and the umbilical cord cut, he emits his first cry and begins breathing, thus nourishing his body for the first time with the earth's Chi. Together with the food he consumes, this Chi becomes the sustaining force of his life until his death. At the moment of his birth, man's spirit is pure and the radiance of his Chi energy is absolutely unadulterated. This purity is not yet stained with sins, Original or otherwise. His Chi force is as pure as refined gold and it can be said that he has a bit of God in his body. He only learns to sin as he grows up and becomes contaminated by the evil ways of the world. The amount of natural internal force that each person possesses will affect him as he grows older. People with small amounts of Chi tend to be weak, while those with great amounts tend to be strong. Chi does not distinguish between race and color; all human beings have internal power. Chi gives the body life, strength, health, and beauty. But most people are raised on a poor diet that reduces their body's natural Chi. The aging process also causes a weakening of Chi energy. A person dies when his internal power can no longer sustain his body. After his death, a person’s Chi energy leaves his corpse through the top of his head as a spirit that travels to the hereafter. If an object passes in front of a person's eyes very slowly, he will be able to perceive it clearly, but not if it passes by very quickly. In modern times, the fast pace of life prevents people from being able to concentrate on vital matters such as the meaning of Chi energy. Unfortunately, man possesses a dangerous tendency to regress and self-destruct. But time moves inexorably onward and the few scattered survivors of the next world war will have to be as strong and intelligent as their prehistoric forefathers because they will again have to live in caves. It stands to reason that when civilization is reborn, those with a knowledge of Chi energy will rule what is left of this world. Meanwhile, practitioners of sorcery know that it is essential to increase one's internal power and that during the performance of rituals, ghosts are attracted by the brilliance of the lights on the altar and by the sorcerer's Chi energy. The radiance and force of this internal power frightens evil ghosts and attracts good ones. Chi is the only human quality that ghosts fear and respect. People with great amounts of internal power are the ones best suited to perform religious rituals because their excessive Chi provides them with the vitality of body and mind needed to confront ghosts in battles such as exorcisms. This energy also acts as a shield for the sorcerer. The reason that female sorcerers are not always successful when they attempt to perform exorcisms, funeral rites, or other powerful ceremonies is that they possess lower amounts of natural Chi than their male counterparts. This difference is due to the hormonal composition of male and female bodies. Men are born with the extra physical energy needed to challenge the world at a very young age. Women can perform most rituals with the same degree of efficiency as men but if they attempt to fight off extremely powerful evil spells, they may not have enough Chi energy to emerge victoriously from the battle. Many churches understand this Taoist principle and refuse to ordain female priests. On the other hand, women make excellent spiritual mediums because they generally have more control over their will power than men do. 9 Part Two THE BASIC RITUALS SETTING UP THE ALTAR To conduct a sorcery ritual, the magician sets up an altar in his house, in a room used exclusively for this purpose. The ceremony can then be properly opened and closed in full accordance with Taoist religious principles. During the performance of a ritual, doors and windows are kept closed and the windows covered with blue or red curtains. Care is also taken to ensure that people do not frequently enter or leave the room; otherwise, the summoned divinities could depart in anger. The altar itself, also called the sacrificial table, is square and represents the symbolic shape of earth. It is set up in the center of the room or against the northern wall, and covered with a yellow cloth. When the magician stands in front of the altar, he faces north. Two red candles are set on the upper part of the table, one in each corner. The roundness and light of the candles represent Heaven and with the table-earth and the officiant-man, they form a symbolic trinity that merges with the one formed by the Chi force, the Yin, and the Yang. This is the key symbol needed to enter the metaphysical world. The magician can place any icon he prefers at the top of the altar. Other objects placed on the table include: a wooden sword or medium-sized knife used to expel evil ghosts, a small incense burner, a cup containing a small amount of uncooked rice, a small bowl filled with water and another with wine, a large ashtray in which spirit money is burnt, and a bowl filled with fresh fruits. The sorcerer is aware that until he lights the candles and burns spirit money, the doors of the spirit world will remain closed and the gods will not be able to hear his pleas or accept his offerings. When the officiant opens the ceremony, he becomes part of the Taoist triangle of power formed by Man, Earth, and Heaven. In this triangle, he represents mankind as he stands or kneels on earth and elevates his offerings to Heaven. In this way, he attracts benevolent divinities to his side, those most inclined to offer kind assistance to people. The type and color of the clothes he wears are less important than the attitude he displays toward Heaven during the ritual. Nonetheless, he avoids wearing white clothes. The use of a small, round cap is optional. Once in the midst of a ritual, its effectiveness often depends on the name of the deity invoked by the magician. If he does not call a particular god, the identity of the spirits answering his invocations will be unknown to him. KNOCKING AT HEAVEN'S DOOR: Opening the Ceremony On the day he does his ritual, the officiant first selects the correct time to open the ceremony. The ideal time is during daylight hours, when the influence of the sun is strongest on earth. Rituals performed at night, when the earth is under the influence of the moon, appeal to evil entities. 10 A Collection of Sacred-Magick.Com < The Esoteric Library The Basic Rituals To begin the ceremony, the officiant washes his hands and puts on clean clothes. He pours fresh water and wine into the cups on the table and puts fresh fruits in the bowl. Doors and windows are closed or covered to prevent strangers from interrupting the ceremony and disturbing the peaceful aura of the ritual. He then approaches the table and lights the candles. He writes the word "Tao" in red ink on a sheet of white paper and puts it between the candles. He brings his palms together in front of him in a praying position and respectfully bows three times toward the altar. At this precise moment, the ceremony is considered open. A metaphysical bridge has been built between this world and the one beyond. The officiant uses the bridge to unite him with good spirits, or to separate him from bad ones. To remain in total control of the supernatural powers under his command, the officiant concentrates fully on the ritual. No other thoughts enter his mind during the remainder of the ceremony—no thoughts about his family, his job, his schedule for the day, or anything else. His mind is absolutely focused on Heaven above and earth below. Next, the officiant dedicates the ritual to a specific god through the written petition. This is an important aspect of sorcery because once he has entered the spirit world, he will receive no help from its inhabitants if he just wanders about aimlessly. This situation is similar to ente

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