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Tarot and Medici Solitaire
And likewise, the ability to 'poison'—deliberately introducing blockages into the physical workings of organs (for instance, through medicinal toxins or by other means).
For example, methods such as acupuncture, acupressure, or strikes to the intersection points of the nadis.107
A classic example is a 'snapping' finger strike to an acupuncture point, followed by paralysis of the opponent.
A more intricate variant is the 'touch of death'—an imperceptible, seemingly ordinary touch to an acupuncture point, which brings death after a certain period.
The duration before the arrival of Death may range from a few heartbeats to days, months, or even years.
A demonstration of such a strike appears, for example, in the film 'Kill Bill 2' (2004), when the Black Mamba kills Bill.
Representatives of this tradition include the 'Snake' schools, Tai Chi Chuan, Ninjutsu, Su Jok, schools of acupuncture, Kunoichi, Kundalini Yoga, and others.
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Fig. It is ever needed by everyone. Without Air, there is only misfortune.
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4. Among the styles allied to the element of Air are the famed traditions of Monkey, Crane, Eagle, Fan, and more.
The focus of attention is guided toward the chest, the Anahata chakra, the element of Air, and the 'green' energies.
Mastery of the style is frequently practiced in elevated places—upon pillars, vines, branches, and the like.
In training, movement along 'trajectories' is emphasized, for this is essential to attain movements of extraordinary speed.
Within the 'crane' stance, for example, lies not only this, but also the art of focusing a strike and its energy upon a single point. Such concentration of force into a single point allowed one to pierce the armor of heavily armed and enchanted adversaries. The 'Crane' was likewise often employed against the 'iron' styles, such as 'Iron Shirt,' in Qi Gong. 'Crane' was frequently favored by imperial families as a trusted personal style, granting effectiveness and superiority over adversaries skilled in other forms.
Within the 'Eagle,' mastery lay in channeling energy to the fingertips and into the opponent’s body, as well as working with the totem of the style.
The 'Eagle' style was often chosen for military reconnaissance, employing both the style’s totem and the art of astral projection to gather intelligence from afar and on the ground.
Moreover, the 'eagle' and 'falcon' styles allowed for the effective practice of pain techniques and holds. They were often employed by guards and sentinels to take criminals alive, with the aim of subsequent interrogation and trial.
The 'Monkeys' style is distinguished by low stances, swift, 'chaotic' movements across any surface or architecture (nowadays known as parkour), and unexpected combinations of holds and throws.
A distinctive hallmark of the Monkey style lies in its rare ability to resist an opponent’s use of firearms—made possible through swift, compact, and unpredictable movements, and a gift for foreseeing attacks and danger. Indeed, it was conceived specifically to counteract gunfire and advanced, multi-layered systems of defense.
Equally, a notable trait of the styles of Air is agility and a mastery of shaping probabilistic currents.
For instance, should you witness someone in a film cast two sixes in succession with the dice, or strike the mark after a third ricochet, you may be certain—this is almost surely a practitioner of one of the styles of Air.
These styles may also bestow bursts of supernatural speed, as well as the gift to foresee events, attacks, and the blows of adversaries.
A seemingly absurd Chinese official with a fan, viewed through European eyes, may in truth prove to be a practitioner of the style of Air.
A Master, adept not only at foreseeing palace intrigues but also anticipating attacks and blows, moving with astonishing swiftness, exuding fantastic agility, and accomplishing myriad feats beyond measure.
For instance, a Master of Air might become a remarkable stock player, conjuring wealth in the finest Traditions of their art—quite literally out of 'Air.' More precisely, a talent for foreseeing future events.
Socialization, in this context, often encompasses everything connected with navigating intricate structures, building new frameworks, and casting predictions.
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Fig. Born in the whirlwind of the Void, Metal is stronger than all things beneath the sky. It serves as a bridge for the rainbow dream—a truth known even to children.
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5. The styles of Void and Metal—for instance, the Dragon style. It appears, as a rule, as the sum of all preceding styles, possessing all their strengths without their flaws or vulnerabilities.108
Traditionally, it is mastered after one has studied the previous four styles, guided by special initiations or through the art of trance techniques and communion with totems. At times, training begins with the Dragon style, serving as an initial step toward mastering the styles that complete the full quartet.
A contemplative focus on emptiness and the Vishuddha chakra, the blue spectrum of energies.
The practices of the Void style tend to triumph—when mastery and all things are equal—over the styles of Lands, Water, Fire, and Air.
Typically, the Dragon wields the techniques of antagonist styles in contests. For instance: Air against Lands, Fire against Water, or a fusion of two or three styles facing one.
It is only logical. Indeed—what is the point of struggling against an Element or style with one exactly the same?
The hallmark of the style is its omnipotence, versatility, and multidimensional nature.
The Siddha of the style is a leap into the Void— a teleportation, along with the Siddhis of all preceding styles! 109
A rather fine array, is it not?
For example, the capacity to soar, to swim, to pass unhindered through stone, water, Fire, and to draw breath even in the emptiness of space.
Thus, the 'dragon' sooner or later becomes a cosmic Wayfarer, commencing his ascent upon the ladder of Shadan a`Kar.110
Those who walk the Void are, more often than not, disciples of the Dragon schools.
The 'color' of the Dragon in a school’s name typically reveals the School’s attunement to a particular Element or chakra.
For instance, the School of the Black Dragon – a path of warriors whose arts are invulnerable to any magic.111
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Fig. So it came to pass, and with its coming—began, ended, and slipped quietly away unfulfilled. There is no need to weep, nor to laugh. Where death has come, there is where birth also finds its way.
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6. Among the Styles of Death—such as necromancy, the pharmaceutics of poisons, demonology, and more.
Among the applied branches of this style are the various assassin schools and certain totemic Schools, such as those of the Scorpion, Spider, Mantis, and so forth.
The practice of mastering this style is, as a rule, linked with the extinguishing of conscious awareness and the subsequent activation of the subconscious. A transformation, in its way, into a flawless machine of death.
It is also customary in these Schools to delve into the mysteries of Death and the World of the Dead.
Attention is typically focused on inhuman energies and chakras. The color of energy is most often black or silvery. In classical Necromancy, it appears as a poisonous green, signifying its direct connection to the Styles of Life and Shamanism (the 17th Arcana).112
A hallmark of this style is an exquisite sensitivity to subtle signals, extraordinary patience, adaptability, resilience, and the 'infallibility' of its movements.
And also, the gift of 'slipping' from one world into another. From the realm of the living into Limbo, and back again. At times, this journey endures for remarkably long stretches.113
Those same vampires, lying dormant in their coffins for years, are classic representatives of the Death Style.
The socialization of Death’s specialists usually includes: doctors-surgeons, resuscitators, Cancer specialists; ritual services; roboticists.
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Fig. The chain of incarnations endures, unbroken. Someday—it shall come to pass.
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7. Ways of life—Shamanism, theurgy, and other 'High' paths.114
For example: Taekwon-Do in its primal essence, Tao, all manner of 'Cloud Hands,' 'Golden Clouds,' 'Golden Towers,' 'Golden Dragons,' 'Dawns,' 'Buddha’s Hands,' and so forth. – styles that accentuate a meditative-trance state focused on the 'Upper'—the paradisiacal realms—typically highlighting either their particular inhabitants or their bodily aspects.115116117118119
A variation of this approach (for us, and in truth, its original essence) is the genuine art of wielding both the sword and the chakras.
The hallmark of this style lies in its array of 'heavenly' blessings. For instance: cheerfulness, health, optimism, resilience, intuition, longevity, the gift of healing (even to the point of resurrection), and more.
Socialization typically occurs among ecologists, veterinarians, and healers.
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Why was this entire Panopticon of Kung Fu invoked here?
Because martial arts styles, like the world itself, are divided according to the fundamental Primary energies.120
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Fig. Everything in this world is remarkably simple. There are two, and to these, yet four more.
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A similar division appears in magic—for magic itself unfolds into several principal branches: magic of the Lands, Water, Of Fire, Air, Void (Metal), Death, and Life.
Thus, the entire world is composed of several fundamental currents of energy.
The fifth among them—Metal or Void—is evidently a superposition of the four primary forces.
Within this order, Death magic stands as the lower boundary of the magic of Void (ether). While Life magic marks the upper boundary of the magic of Void (ether).121
Thus, the world is energetically divided into the following projections of the six-sided cube—
1) Four projections upon the vertical faces—Land, Water, Fire, Air.
Observe that Fire stands opposite to Water, and Air opposes Lands;
2) above, it is bordered by the facet of Life;
3) below—by the facet of Death;
4) at the center lies the primary space of the cube: ether, Metal, or void—different names in different schools and philosophies.
Thus, one may confidently say that the entire world, and every object within it, is composed of four elemental energies (for simplicity, the energies of death and life are not considered as extreme boundary cases), as the principal philosophies recount.
For instance, Christianity. There, the cross symbolizes the world’s image.
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Fig. Alone I venture out upon the road. Is it, perhaps, that being alone means there are too many foes?
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Section Homework № 9.
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Fig. The kernel of knowledge is hard. Yet we are not accustomed to retreat! Even an ordinary checkered notebook will help us to crack it!
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1. Name the heroes and idols of your childhood from adventure films, action movies, books, and so on—at least ten.
Compose a list.
Consider what qualities enabled them to prevail.
Note to which of the above-mentioned properties of The Elements these qualities correspond.
Through which Element did Domino, from Marvel comics, manifest her superpower?
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2. Seek out emblems and symbolism in which the Snake appears. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
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3. Seek out emblems and symbolism in which the skull or bones are, or were, used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What do they symbolize?
4. Find the emblems and symbolism in which the Eagle is or has been used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
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5. Find the emblems and symbolism in which the tiger, lion, or leopard are or have been used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
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6. Find the emblems and symbolism in which the bear or bull is or has been used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
7. Find the emblems and symbolism in which the Dragon is or has been used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
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8. Find the emblems and symbolism in which bright light and rays of Light are or have been used. To which organizations or structures does this symbolism pertain?
What does it symbolize?
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9. Compose a portrait of the hero you would like to become.
What qualities must he possess?
Which Elemental qualities lie at the foundation of your hero?
Substantiate your choice.
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10. Decay, combustion, and explosion, from the perspective of chemistry, lead to the same result – dust, ashes.
How do decay, combustion, and explosion differ?
How might decay give rise to combustion?
In what circumstance can combustion, for the same substance, become an explosion?
Provide examples and substantiate them.
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11. Translate question 10 of this chapter, by analogy, into the process of a student's learning.
Identify three main approaches to learning, each with a different pace of student development.
How and why does a student's pace of learning change?
Substantiate your conclusions.
Cite historical examples that confirm your reasoning.
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12. Within the Cube of Elements, Fire is set opposite Water, Land is set opposite Air, and Life is set opposite Death.
The artist, in rendering the Cube of Elements, did not fully comprehend what he was illustrating, and thus introduced many errors and inaccuracies into the depiction.
Identify these and correct them.
Why must it appear precisely in this way?
Please give your reasoning.
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13. What is an absolute black body?
Give examples of an Absolute Black Body.
At least five, if possible.
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14. Compile a list of the names of the Dragon Schools.
On which disciplines of martial arts should each Dragon School place its emphasis?
Which Siddhis should be cultivated in each School?
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Fig. And now, a Kung Fu connoisseur—at the slightest provocation, he’ll strike you across the back!
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Chapter 10 One Matryoshka, two Matryoshkas, and a touch of the astral besides.
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Fig. Forgotten is the memory of what once was. And instead of Knowledge – only a letdown! For the amusement of the profane, the Matryoshka has become mere Khokhlomiziya.122
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As was revealed in the previous chapter, all things in this world are made of the four primordial elements – Land, Water, Fire, and Air.
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Fig. Let fairy tales remain mere fairy tales for some. And for others, everything is a sign. And let them still declare that Paradise does not exist! …for millennia. Those who have passed cannot confirm it. They are simply not here. Simply not here.
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The spectrum of these energies’ diversity is bounded above by the plane of the Element of Life. Upon crossing this plane, the Object enters the ‘+’ quantum state. In other words, it attains the level of Paradise existence.
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Fig. And to descend into Hell is all too easy. All it takes is to multiply graveyards. Where Life is absent, Hell arrives. Such is the business scheme, brother.
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The spectrum of these energies’ diversity is bounded below, accordingly, by the plane of the Element of Death. Upon crossing this plane, the Object enters the '-' quantum state. That is, it descends to the level of 'Infernal' existence.
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Both 'Heaven' and 'Hell,' in the first cycle of selection, are, in essence, peculiar parallel realities of our Lands.123124
The structure of these worlds is described rather precisely by the Tree of Sefirot and Qliphoth, respectively.
Thereafter, the 'Heavenly' and 'Infernal' worlds unfold along the fan of Worlds, a structure akin to the ladder of Sha dan Kara.125
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To understand how these elemental energies reveal themselves in the world, let us contemplate the manifestations of each, step by step.
All these considerations are made in relation to the structure of the human body:
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The Element of Land:
1) On the level of the ether (Muladhara chakra) – these are the fields of muscles and bones;
2) On the level of the astral (Svadhisthana chakra) – emotions such as confidence, tranquility, imperturbability, and so forth;
3) On the level of the mental field (Manipura chakras) – thoughts such as axioms, fundamental concepts, alphabets, multiplication tables, and the like;
4) On the level of the soul (Anahata chakras) – sociability, or, in other words, the capacity for work;
5) On the level of Karma-Destiny (Vishuddha-chakra) – talent;
6) On the level of the Ajna chakras – intuition;
7) On the level of the Sahasrara chakra – wisdom.
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The Element of Water:
1) On the level of the etheric field (Muladhara chakra) – these are the fields of lymph and blood;
2) On the level of the astral field (Svadhisthana chakra) – emotions such as attention and goodwill;
3) On the level of the mental field (Manipura chakras) – thoughts formed as lexical connections, stable phrases;
4) On the level of the soul (Anahata chakras) – tolerance;
5) On the level of Karma-Destiny (Vishuddha chakra) – craft;
6) On the level of the Ajna chakras – memory;
7) On the level of the Sahasrara chakra – religiosity.
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The Element of Fire:
1) On the level of the etheric field (Muladhara chakra) – these are the fields of tendons and nerves;
2) On the level of the astral field (Svadhisthana chakra) – emotions of persistence and perseverance;
3) On the level of the mental field (Manipura chakras) – thoughts of analysis and self-reflection;
4) On the level of the soul (Anahata chakras) – optimism;
5) On the level of Karma-Destiny (Vishuddha-chakra) – trial;
6) On the level of the Ajna chakras – reappraisal, illumination;
7) On the level of the Sahasrara chakra – transfiguration.
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The Element of Air:
1) On the level of the etheric field (Muladhara chakra) – this manifests as the structure of the network of blood vessels, bones, vessels in the lungs, and the process of gas exchange;
2) On the level of the astral field (Svadhisthana chakra) – emotions such as secrecy, elusiveness, and a yearning for novelty;
3) On the level of the mental field (Manipura chakras) – hypnosis and self-training;
4) On the level of the soul (Anahata chakras) – mentorship;
5) On the level of Karma-Destiny (Vishuddha-chakra) – learning;
6) At the level of the Ajna chakra – mysticism;
7) At the level of the Sahasrara chakra – channeling.
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The Element of Metal:
It is a superposition of all four preceding Elements and, depending on the proportion of its constituents, may become anything (naturally, at the corresponding level):
1) At the level of the Muladhara chakra, within the realm of Land energies – the etheric field of a person, energetic copies of all organs and parts of the body;
2) At the level of the Swadhisthana chakra, within the realm of Water energies – all emotions, experiences, and memories in an imaginal form;
3) On the level of the Manipura-chakra, in the field of the energies of Fire – thoughts, aspirations, dreams, will, knowledge;
4) On the level of the Anahata-chakra, in the field of the energies of Air – experience, relationships, love (as the dialogue of souls);
5) On the level of the Vishuddha-chakra, in the field of the energies of Void – fate, karma, vows and promises, principles, ethics, laws and rules, morality;
6) On the level of the Vishuddha-chakra – understanding, knowledge, hypnosis, alchemy;
7) At the level of the Sahasrara chakra—faith becomes a dialogue with God, a co-creative act, omniscience, and a transition to a new quantum plane.
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Fig. Such is the layered nature of man. So it was in ancient days, and so it shall be forevermore.
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These interpretations are offered merely as examples—just a few facets of the crystal, of which there are countless more.
When one contemplates the manifestation of elemental energies in the world, it is reminiscent of multicolored Russian matryoshkas, nested one within another—like shadows cast upon the walls by four suns of different hues, each shining perpendicular to the others.
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Section Homework № 10.
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Fig. There are objects, and there are shadows. And there is the realm of ghosts.
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1. Look up what 'shadow theater' is.
How is the shadow connected to the object?
Please give your reasoning.
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2. What figures can a person create with their fingers?
Find a dozen finger positions for shadow theater online and learn them.
Write a play for the dozen roles you've learned, and perform it yourself.
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3. How many objects took part in the play in task 2 of this chapter?
How many roles were performed?
Why do the first and second numbers not coincide?
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4*. Take several candles of varying chemical composition and thickness.
With a laser pointer (or a large lens), light the different candles one by one in complete darkness, and cast their flames in the beam.
Direct the light onto the flame so that its shadow falls upon a flat, light, and uniform surface.
Experiment with various candles, types of illumination, and distances until you are able to discern multiple layers in the flame's shadow.
Why does the shadow of a candle flame reveal several layers?
Observe, analyze, and record your thoughts and conclusions.
Substantiate them.
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5. How can different flowers and plants flourish in the same flowerbed?
Offer examples from personal experience.
How can thousands of different radio stations and broadcasts coexist within the same radio broadcast simultaneously?
Why do they not interfere with one another?
How can the same Element manifest in diverse ways on different levels?
What is an inner monologue, a dialogue, a Pyatnitsky Choir?
How can a choir be rendered as a monologue?
What is the cessation of the inner monologue?
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6. What distinguishing qualities might one possess when the Element of Land is well cultivated within them?
Draw a conclusion, and substantiate it.
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7. What distinguishing qualities might one possess when the Element of Water is well cultivated within them?
