Taoist Shaman: Practices from the Wheel of Life — Occult Philosophy

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Taoist Shaman: Practices from the Wheel of Life

Name: Taoist Shaman: Practices from the Wheel of Life
Price: 19.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781594773655

✍️ Mantak Chia, Kris Deva North

Reader Score

4.6

(1 review)

$19.99

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

Delve into the foundational shamanic practices that underpin Taoism with this insightful guide. Authors Mantak Chia and Kris Deva North illuminate the Taoist Medicine Wheel, a system rooted in the Five Elements, the Chinese zodiac, and the profound trigrams of the I Ching. Discover its principles, from the cosmic interplay of Yin and Yang to the Eight Forces, and how these ancient teachings inform traditional Chinese medicine and esoteric spiritual alchemy. This work offers a unique perspective on Taoist spirituality, connecting it to its earliest, ecstatic roots.

Chia, Mantak; , North, Kris Deva

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“...the book shows Mantak Chia, and his co-author, Kris Deva North, further extending one of the most promising aspects of the contemporary world...the growing popularity and influence of authors like these, who seek to outline a common way forward that draws on the wisdom of diverse experiences, is an area of promise and hope.”

— Reg Little, New Dawn Magazine, January 2012

🏛 Destiny Books 📅 2011 📖 192 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781594773655

Fun Fact

Mantak Chia and Kris Deva North offer a compelling re-evaluation of Taoism's roots, firmly establishing its shamanic heritage. This book excels in explaining complex concepts like the Taoist Medicine Wheel with clarity, integrating the Five Elements, Zodiac, and I Ching into a coherent system. While it provides excellent foundational insights into esoteric practices, those seeking only advanced, practical exercises without historical context might find sections less direct. It's a significant contribution to understanding Taoism's broader, ancient spiritual landscape.

📝 Description: Taoist Shaman: Practices from the Wheel of Life

The shamanic roots of Taoist practice - Explains the principles of the Taoist Medicine Wheel, including the Five Elements, the animals of the Chinese zodiac, and the trigrams of the I Ching - Includes exercises from the "Wheel of Love" to access the Tao of Ecstasy - Contains illustrated teaching stories about the Eight Immortals Thousands of years ago the immortals known as the Shining Ones shipwrecked on the Chinese coast. Passing their shamanic practices--such as ecstatic flight and how to find power animals and spirit guides--on to the indigenous people, they also taught them the wisdom of the Medicine Wheel. From the Taoist Medicine Wheel came the principles of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, the Eight Forces, the Chinese zodiac, and the I Ching. The Taoist Medicine Wheel can also be found at the foundation of traditional Chinese medicine and the esoteric sexual practices of Taoist Alchemy. In the Taoist Shaman, Master Mantak Chia and Kris Deva North explain the shamanic principles of the Taoist Medicine Wheel, how it is oriented on the Five Elements rather than the Four Directions, how it relates to the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac and the trigrams of the I Ching, and how it aligns with the Eight Forces of the Pakua. Through illustrated teaching stories, the authors show how the energetic principles of each of the Eight Forces are reflected in the Eight Immortals. Revealing the wheel's application to sacred sexuality, they offer exercises from the "Wheel of Love" to strengthen and deepen relationships as well as providing a means to access the Tao of Ecstasy.

📑 What's inside

Acknowledgments Putting Taoist Shamanic Techniques into Practice
1 Taoist Shamanic Tradition--from Mystery to History
2 The Taoist Medicine Wheel
3 The Five Elements
4 The Eight Forces
5 The Twelve Animals
6 The I Ching Hexagrams and Daily Life
7 Shamanic Practice
8 Spirit Guides
9 Comparison with Other Traditions
10 Creating Power Fields
11 The Wheel of Healing
12 Turning the Wheel of Love
Resources Bibliography About the Authors The Universal Tao System Index

💎 Expert review

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💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This text offers a rigorous exploration of Taoist shamanic practices through the Medicine Wheel framework. While comprehensive regarding Five Elements and I Ching trigrams, it demands serious engagement with complex metaphysical concepts. It is not suitable for readers seeking light, introductory spirituality or those uninterested in traditional Chinese medicine theory. The dense integration of esoteric alchemy may overwhelm casual readers looking for simple self-help advice. However, for dedicated students of Eastern philosophy, the depth provided here regarding cosmic interplay and spiritual evolution is both necessary and profoundly insightful.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

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Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking to understand the ecstatic, shamanic roots of Taoism will find this guide invaluable. It illuminates the Taoist Medicine Wheel, connecting cosmic Yin-Yang dynamics and Eight Forces to practical spiritual alchemy. Those interested in Chinese zodiac influences and Five Element theory will appreciate how these ancient teachings inform both traditional healing and esoteric practice. This book serves as a bridge between philosophical Taoism and its earlier, mystical foundations, offering a unique perspective for practitioners of energy work or students of comparative religion who desire depth beyond surface-level spiritual concepts.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.6/5

★★★★★

If you are drawn to the mystical origins of Taoism, seek to understand its shamanic underpinnings, or wish to explore practical energy work through a unique framework, this book is for you. It offers a fresh, illuminating perspective for both seasoned practitioners and curious newcomers alike.

Reader rating

4.6

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This text offers a rigorous exploration of Taoist shamanic practices through the Medicine Wheel framework. While comprehensive regarding Five Elements and I Ching trigrams, it demands serious engagement with complex metaphysical concepts. It is not suitable for readers seeking light, introductory spirituality or those uninterested in traditional Chinese medicine theory. The dense integration of esoteric alchemy may overwhelm casual readers looking for simple self-help advice. However, for dedicated students of Eastern philosophy, the depth provided here regarding cosmic interplay and spiritual evolution is both necessary and profoundly insightful.

❓ Frequently asked questions

It refers to ancient practices like ecstatic flight, seeking power animals, and connecting with spirit guides, which are presented as the ancestral roots from which Taoist spiritual traditions evolved.

The Taoist Medicine Wheel is uniquely organized around the Five Elements rather than the traditional four cardinal directions, and it intricately integrates concepts like the Chinese zodiac and I Ching trigrams.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Shamanic Taoist Origins

This book unveils the profound historical connection between ancient shamanic practices and the development of Taoism. It explores how concepts like ecstatic flight, communication with power animals, and spirit guides, believed to be introduced by the mythical 'Shining Ones,' became integral to the Taoist worldview, offering a fresh lens through which to understand its spiritual depth.

The Taoist Medicine Wheel

At the core of this work is a detailed exposition of the Taoist Medicine Wheel. Unlike conventional medicine wheels, this system is oriented by the Five Elements rather than cardinal directions. It integrates the Chinese zodiac, the I Ching's trigrams, and the principles of Yin and Yang, presenting a comprehensive framework for understanding cosmic and personal energetic flows, vital for both spiritual growth and health.

Ecstatic Practice & Alchemy

Beyond theory, the book delves into practical applications, including exercises from the 'Wheel of Love' designed to access the 'Tao of Ecstasy.' It highlights how the principles of the Medicine Wheel are fundamental to esoteric sexual practices within Taoist Alchemy and traditional Chinese medicine, providing pathways for profound personal transformation and energetic cultivation.

📜 Historical context

Thousands of years ago, legendary 'Shining Ones' are said to have brought ancient shamanic practices to the Chinese coast, profoundly shaping indigenous spirituality. These teachings, including ecstatic states and spirit communication, merged with local wisdom to form the Taoist Medicine Wheel, which eventually informed the foundational principles of Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and even traditional Chinese medicine.

📚 Glossary

Taoist Medicine Wheel
Shining Ones
Five Elements

📔 Questions to reflect on

Reflect on which of the Five Elements (Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water) you feel most aligned with today, and how that alignment manifests in your energy and actions.
Consider the concept of 'ecstatic flight' or connecting with a 'power animal.' How might you begin to explore these ideas in your own spiritual or meditative practice?
The book speaks of ancient origins. How do you see these millennia-old shamanic and Taoist principles applying to the challenges and opportunities of modern life?