Divination Systems

by JagmOHaN Singh Sekhon June 29, 2021

Being aware of your body in meditation is vital.
It’s not something separate from the meditation, and is not an optional extra. It’s an integral part of the process of meditating, and it’s necessary to spend some time setting up your posture and taking your awareness through your body if you want to meditate well.
The more awareness that you can take into your body as you begin your meditation, the better your meditation will go. Otherwise it’s a bit like trying to bake a cake without bothering to mix the ingredients first, and without checking to see that the oven is warm enough.

Set up your posture

After you have set up your posture (see previous pages), feel free to take your awareness through your body.

Body awareness and relaxation

Start by becoming aware of your feet, and with the contact you have with the floor. Really let your awareness fill your feet. The more you become aware of your feet, the more you can allow them to relax. Let the muscles soften and lengthen.
Once you’ve done that for a minute or two, take your awareness from your feet through the rest of your body, “letting go” as you move through all the different muscles. Become aware of your legs, your thighs, your hips, your back, your shoulders, your arms and hands, your neck, your head and face. When you become aware of a particular area of your body, then soften, relax, let go.
Notice the subtle change in the quality of your experience as you first become aware, and then relax. Often you’ll notice more energy, or tingling, or even feelings of pleasure, as your body relaxes.

Pay particular attention to the following parts of your body, where lots of tension is commonly stored:

The back of the neck
The shoulders
The hips
The thighs and calves
The jaw
The muscles around the eyes
The brow

Once you’ve gone through your entire body, area by area, become aware of your body as a whole.

Then center your awareness on your belly, sensing the calming, rhythmic motion of your belly as you breathe in and out.
Relax, soften, let go. Now you’re ready to begin meditating. Actually you’ve already begun.
Trying to foresee the future has been an aspect of human life for centuries. People always want to know what is to happen next so as to prepare for it or try to change it. Shamans, witches, and oracles have been some of the few positions in particular societies who were in charge of the important duties of forecasting the future. However, as human cultures grew and diversified, many people sought to divine the future for themselves. Rather than going to a specific person with special powers to receive visions or premonitions, humans would learn to use tools that would let just about anyone see future answers for the questions they asked. If you are seeking a tool that can help you see the future for yourself, take a look at these useful items to find one that calls to your spirit.

Tarot Cards

Tarot Cards are most likely one of the most well-known divination tools and extremely popular for the budding psychics of the modern age. They began as a card game in medieval Europe, particularly in France. However, during the eighteenth century, these cards transitioned into a way to foretell the future to those skilled enough to know the meaning written in the cards. While they seem complicated at first, any beginner’s deck generally comes with a small book for a basic introduction. These pamphlets will not only tell you the methods to arrange the cards while asking a question but will also tell you the meaning of each card, which is of vital importance when learning how to use the cards for predicting the future. Many decks have been developed since tarot has been used for divination. Until you know how to properly use the cards, you might want to stay with a standard or simplified deck that is composed of the traditional seventy-eight cards.

I Ching Divining Coins

I Ching Divination is a very old method for predicting the future. It first arose in China as a way for the sages of ancient China to provide divinely informed consultation to the wealthy and nobles. The earliest evidence of this practice comes from roughly 2700BC. The fact that it has survived this long gives credit to its usefulness in seeing into the time yet to come. There are actually two tools for two different I Ching methods — the yarrow sticks or stalks method and coins. Coins were generally only used by the wealthy during the early years of this technique because they had access to the money. However, coins are considered to be far easier to use than yarrow sticks since it requires less tediousness. This I Ching coin method still takes time as you compose a hexagram using the numbers accumulated from the tossing of your coins — heads indicating yang for three points and tails for yin for two points.

Runes

Runes began as a writing system for Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet. However, early evidence suggests that they were utilized for reasons of magic in addition to their practical writing uses — particularly in medieval times when “victory runes” were carved into swords either in the blade or hilt. Runes are relatively new to the uses of divination magic though, having only been used this way since the beginning of the twentieth century. The runes are printed, drawn, or engraved individually onto tiles. Wood is the preferred medium of the tiles since it comes from the living spirits of trees. The runes are then drawn from a pouch and laid out to resemble the technique of tarot or tossed into the air and allowed to freely land like I Ching coins. Most people prefer to make their own rune set as it leads to more accurate results.

Spirit Boards

Spirit boards, also known as Ouija or talking boards, have been seen in numerous cultures over the ages — including 1100BC in China and 540BC in Greece. Even though it has these historic starts, the late nineteenth century and the whole of the twentieth century tried to turn it into a toy to be used by children at slumber parties. However, the rise in the legitimate uses of a spirit board to seek out unknown answers and predictions on the future have been taking place recently. The board itself consists of a standard alphabet and the numbers zero through nine with several boards including several quick phrases such as “yes,” “no,” and “farewell.” A user simply has to have one of these boards and its accompanying planchette to communicate with beings of the spirit world. However, inexperienced users need to be advised that possession has been known to occur by drawing in evil spirits. Beware.

Crystal Balls

A psychic hovering over a crystal ball in a dimly lit room is one of the most common visions a person thinks about when considering how to see into the future. The use of crystals in divination can be seen as far back in time as the Druids of early Britain. Crystal balls themselves are popular as the crystal part of them is considered to heighten an individual’s psychic awareness while the ball allows for an easy way to look for answers without having to learn complicated methods or techniques. For someone just beginning to learn the art of divination or scrying, which is when images given are interpreted for meaningful information, crystal balls are quite useful. It is best to pick out a crystal ball in person though as opposed to over the internet as a crystal is a very personal object. Some people prefer crystals without any imperfections for sterility while others think no coloring or clouding means it is lifeless. If picking up a particular crystal does not feel significant in your heart or spirit, it is probably not the right one for you. Meditation while holding your crystal ball in a calm, quiet setting before looking for images is absolutely necessary if you want real information as opposed to nothing or useless pictures.

Scrying Mirrors

Scrying is basically just a word to describe seeing psychically for divination purposes. One does this through many possible mediums. Scrying mirrors are very common ways to receive images this way. The key is that the surface one looks into is flat, meaning a completely flat mirror instead of a curved ball so that the images are direct instead of skewed. This divination practice is one of the most widely accepted, spanning time, geography, and beliefs. To this day people still practice such rituals as looking into a mirror in a dark room on Halloween to see the face of a future spouse. Having your own special mirror to use for scrying though will purify the act into being something that you can practice daily with this object and this object alone as opposed to using it to brush your teeth and tell the future.

Pendulums

While most people think pendulums are simply used to moderate the seconds in a grandfather clock, the act of using a weight suspended at the end of a chain to point out simple answers on a flat mat or piece of paper has been around for much longer. Many times the end of the chain is connected to some type of hook or handle to keep a person’s subconscious from influencing the answer pointed to by the pendant, crystal, or simple weight located at the opposite end of the chain that hovers over what most refer to as a pendulum circle — a circle with yes, no, and maybe written around its edges. Pendulums are best with specific questions since their answers are so simple. Before using the pendulum each time though you must purify it. Dipping your weight of choice in salt water or wafting the smoke of burning sage all around your pendulum are the two most preferred methods of purification.

Tea Cups

The act of drinking a cup of un-strained tea then reading symbols, shapes, or images shown in the remaining dregs is a widely known practice of divination. Some people even like to use coffee grounds or wine sediment for the same techniques. A simple tea cup and tea leaves rather than modern bags can provide a person a way to divine the future without any big frills or difficult techniques. However, sometimes the images can be representative of symbols — meaning that if you read your own cup a working knowledge of standard symbolism (like a mountain for a hindered journey or a snake for falsehood) is very helpful. Also, specialized fortune teller cups have been created that have interior images in the cup to help with the divining with tea leaves. The most three common types of these specialized cups are playing card cups, zodiac cups, and individualized symbol cups.

Dowsing Rods

Dowsing rods are used for a specific type of divination — finding things or places — more so than forecasting the future or seeing future events. The most common types of dowsing rods are used to find metal or ore deposits, gemstones, oil, ground water, or even grave sites. A dowsing rod itself is a L-shaped or Y-shaped twig or rod. The most common is a Y-shaped branch plucked fresh from special trees such as hazel, witch-hazel, or willow. This rod is this held by the user who walks around a target area, awaiting a dip, incline, or twitch in the branch when the item for which the person is searching is just beneath them.

Lithomancy Gemstones

Lithomancy, the way to see the future by analyzing the way a specific set of stones or gemstones arranges themselves when dropped, is one of the oldest forms of divination. Countless cultures throughout history have been known to use it. It is so ancient that its definite origins have been lost to time, leaving historians clueless as to how it began, how the original technique was conducted, or how it evolved into the many methods we see today. Numerous ways to perform and interpret lithomancy exist, but they all need specific stones just for the act. Traditional sets in the most popular way include thirteen stones with six for major topics asked about by diviners (new, luck, magic, health, life, love) and seven for the primary signs of ancient astrology (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn). Newer sets like to include extra stones for the rest of the planets in our solar system.

Kundalini

Kundalini is a Sanscrit term from ancient India that identifies the arising of an energy and consciousness which has been coiled at the base of the spine since birth, and is the source of the life force (pranic energy, chi , bio-energy) that everybody knows. Yogic science suggests that this energy triggered the formation of the child in the womb, and then coils 3 ½ times at the base of the spine to hold the energy field in stasis until we die, when it uncoils and returns to its source.
Kundalini may unravel and arise from the base of the spine (or sometimes from the feet) due to spiritual practices, or in response to life events, and when this happens it may move gradually, uncoiling like a snake, or quickly and explosively, into the gut, the heart or the head. This event can be startling and chaotic, frightening or blissful, and it usually triggers months and years of new sensations and changes in the person who awakens it. It may feel like the body’s wiring has moved from 110 to 220, and it takes time to adapt to it. It is understood in the eastern tradition to be a significant adjunct to spiritual realization, but it is rarely recognized as such in western traditions, although Christian mystics have often been said to have intense energetic or physical problems.
It is possible to find acknowledgement of this spiritual movement in many yogic and tantric traditions, Tantric Buddhism, Taoism, gnostic mystical tradition and some Native American teachings, and indigenous societies. An image of a rising snake in the body signifies its existence in the esoteric art of many cultures. The capacity to intensify and raise energy in the body has been explored for thousands of years. It is a natural human potential.
Kundalini awakening can trigger a wide range of phenomena, both positive and negative. It can cause significant changes in the physical, emotional, sensate and psychic capacities, cause stress in vulnerable areas of the body, open the heart and mind to major shifts in perspective, and cause many unique and unfamiliar sensations including shaking, vibrating, spontaneous movement, visions, and many other phenomena.
Kundalini awakening offers a profound opportunity for those called to follow a spiritual path. It gradually releases many patterns, conditions and delusions of the separate self. It can be threatening to the ego-structure because a person may feel a loss of interest in their old life and identity, and consciousness may go into unfamiliar expansive or empty states that are disorienting. It also makes people who are unfamiliar with it afraid they are ill or losing their minds. So understanding is important.
Like any energy of creation (prana, electricity, atoms) this energy can be activated and misused by those who are not spiritually motivated or have not completed this process and are therefore not free of personal patterns. It is very helpful to understand the process and the intention of your own life force as it awakens you so that you may discover wisdom, love and authentic direction in your own life. Simplicity, contentment, unconditional acceptance and presence are hallmarks of an awakened life.

Yantra Yoga

The Sanskrit root word yan means “change.” Tra refers to a “tool,” so the word yantra can be literally translated to mean a “tool of (for) change.”
Yantra is the arcane science of number, name and form. It is a subset of jyotish (vedic astrology), which interprets the inherent mathematical/numeric structures that are the fundamental organization of the Universe (known also as sacred geometry), those forms, structures and relationships which also lie deep within the collective unconscious of man.
The term yantra is most commonly used in connection with complex geometrical forms called rupa, which serve as meditation devices, or mandala dharana. These geometric structures impart a hidden or concealed meaning and serve as keys to unlock latent human powers and energies. When one has the key to the meaning encoded within the geometric/mathematical structure of a yantra, powerful knowledge is gained.
Yantra then, is a spiritual exploration through mathematics, a sophisticated meditation upon numbers which systematically analyses the manifest world of number, name and form, and explores their relationships.

Yantra provides a method by which to know one’s self better, to understand one’s purpose in life, and to learn to live in tune with the ever-changing cycles of nature, rather than out of tune with them.

Mantra Yoga

A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or a group of words that are repeated verbally or mentally. They are very specific articulate sounds whose proper utterance leads to an awakening of the consciousness through the unification of the subconscious, the conscious mind and the cosmic consciousness.
This yoga, which has its origins in the VEDAS, is that of setting the microcosmic being, the worldly self, into resonance, through the agency of various imitative sounds, called vacaka, with the various subtle energies of the macrocosmic universe.
This invocation (mantra) is a special name or symbol which embodies in a mysterious manner the power and quality of the vacya, or that thing which it indicates. So then, it is possible through mantra to develop a connection or relationship (resonance) with that thing, be it a higher power, or certain psychic force. The most profound of the mantras is the Pranava AUM.

Tantra is defined as follows:

One by which the puruShArtha chatuShTaya can be attained and that which protects the aspirant from the fear (of death and duality), the learned call that `Tantra’.

The characteristics of a Tantra are described as below:

The Tantras are classified into three sets: viShNukrAnta, rathakrAnta and ashwakrAnta, with sixty-four Tantras in each category, resulting in a total of 192 Tantras.

Agamas are technically different from Tantras and as defined as below:

The classical number of Agamas listed in works like IshAnashivagurupaddhati, jayadrathayAmala etc is 28.
Apart from these, the third category is of the samhitA-s, chiefly vaiShNava in nature with the exception of some works like dakShiNAmUrti, durvAsa, hayashIrsha, dattAtreya etc. The samhitas are so many in number that nothing deifinite can be said about the same:
Also, by including the samhitAs under Agamas, the number of Agamas becomes `large’ as well.

Tantras are again divided into two chief classes: yAmalas and DAmaras. yAmalas are described thus:

The chief yamaLas are of Rudra, Brahma, Skanda, Vishnu, Uma, Ganesha and Jayadratha. The chief DAmaras are of durgA, Saraswati, Gandharva, Brahma, Shiva and that dealing with Yoga.
When we define a word in Sanskrit, we distinguish three levels of definition: 1. literal meaning (as found in the dictionary), 2. etymological meaning (the meaning derived from the word’s root), and 3. nirukta, or “interpretive etymology,” a traditional Indian exegetical reading which seeks to explain why that word is the appropriate one for what it designates. For example, for the word tantra the primary relevant meanings in the dictionary are “framework, system,” as in a system of practice, “doctrine, theory,” and “scripture” — in this case, a scripture teaching a system of practice. (Note: even literal meaning is contextual, and this is why tantra never means “loom” or “weave” in a spiritual context, but only in, y’know, a weaving context.)
Number 2, etymological meaning: the verbal root of tantra is √tan, “to expand,” followed by the suffix tra, which is usually an instrumental suffix. Hence tantra means “an instrument (tra) for expansion (tan)”. There is only ever ONE correct etymological meaning of a word.
Number 3, nirukta: “a tantra (i.e., tantric scripture) is so called because it expands (√tan) on the topics of mantra and the principles of reality (tattvas), and because it saves (√tra) us from the cycle of suffering.” That is the standard nirukta, found in the Kāmikā-tantra, but there can be more than one; and indeed, modern teachers have created their own interpretive etymologies.
Even though the basic meaning of tantra is “scripture,” in time the term came to denote specific kinds of scriptures, those that we now characterize as Tantric. In this usage, the word tantra is synonymous with āgama.
The word “tantra” literally means a technique or a technology. This is an inner technology. These are subjective methods not objective methods. But in the current understanding in society, the word “tantra” refers to very unorthodox or socially unacceptable methods. It is just that certain aspects are used in a certain way. It is not any different from yoga. It is a limb of yoga called tantra yoga.
The human mechanism is a composite of the physical body — an accumulation of food consumed; the mental body — the software and memory part that makes individuals function in specific ways; and the energy body — the fundamental upon which these two are housed. What is beyond this is non-physical.
The compulsive and cyclical nature of the body and mind render themselves a barrier for higher possibilities. Tantra is to go beyond, so that compulsiveness of the body and mind does not keep us trapped in our limitations. It is about learning to use the body, not as oneself, but as a stepping-stone to deliver this being to the highest possible dimension.
The simple principle of tantra yoga is: whatever can take you down can also take you up. The ways in which a man usually sinks in his life are through food, alcoholic drink and sexuality. Tantra yoga uses the same three vehicles to rise up. Unlike sexuality, which tends to find release at the lower level of the energy system, tantra is about building our energies to the fountain-head of the uppermost dimension of the energy system, so that one’s energies spill from the top. Of the different energy manifestations in the body — referred to as the 114 chakras — spilling from the top three is considered the highest. If you have to build up to this, every basic instinct, including the sexual instinct, emotions, intellect and survival process must be used to build and hype the energy system. The intention is to deploy all instincts for which a certain amount of energy is dedicated in the body. If one goes into an actual sexual act, the build-up and the purpose of it will be lost.
But once people start using certain substances, they must be in a certain state, otherwise it just becomes addiction. This needs extreme discipline, a kind of discipline which is not possible for most people to even attempt. When people walk this kind of path, if a 100 people take it up, 99 will end up only as drunkards.

Left and right-hand tantra yoga

However, this is what is known as left-hand tantra which is cruder technology. It involves various rituals. There is also a right-hand path which is very refined technology. These two are completely different in nature. The right-hand path is more internal and energy-wise, it is all about you. It does not involve any ritual or outside act as such. Is it tantra? In a way it is, but the word yoga includes all of them together. When we say yoga we are not excluding any possibility — everything is there in it. It is just that a few perverted people saw a certain type of process which is purely left-hand tantra where there is certain usage of the body.

Tantra Yoga

Tantra is the ancient Indian science of energy activation and control, based on the Shiva-Shakti principle of polar energies, similar to the concepts of solar and lunar energies in hatha yoga. Its aim is to remove the separation of these energies within the human being so that the cosmic union may become a direct experience.
The term tantra, however, is often misunderstood and carries with it several misleading connotations today, many of which revolve purely around sex.
There are two major divisions or paths in tantra: the vama marga (left hand path), and the dakshina marga (right hand path). Vama marga tantra deals with principles of energy in a materialistic, exoteric and literal manner, whereas the dakshina marga tantra deals with them in a subtler, esoteric and more refined manner.
Vama marga is a rajasic and potentially dangerous form of this school of yoga, while dakshina marga can be seen as a sattvic (higher) and evolutionary path.
The dakshina margis of the evolutionary school interpret the directives of the Tantras and Agamas, the classical tantric texts, in a metaphorical sense, cultivating a body of practices to awaken the kundalini energy. They use internal rituals and symbolic concentrations and meditations, which lead to a harmonizing of all the energies of the being and lead to transcendence to higher states of awareness.
The vama margis practice entirely different rituals, as they understand the teachings in a literal manner. Hence, the vama margis often break social taboos, which may be justified by understanding that their goal is not sensual gratification, but self-transcendence in the context of bodily existence. But this is a dangerous path for the uninitiated, and too often misunderstood and grossly misused.
Tantra has its own fully developed secret language (sandha bhashya) and unless the student fully understands this language, he may lose himself in the body rather than transcend it. For this very reason, the practice of tantra should never be approached except under the guidance of a qualified and realized guru.

Tai Chi — Feng Shui

Originating in ancient China, tai chi is one of the most effective exercises for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits. For many, it continues as a lifetime journey.
There are many styles and forms of tai chi, the major ones being Chen, Yang, Wu, Wu (different words in Chinese) and Sun. Each style has its own features, but all styles share the same essential principles.
The essential principles include mind integrated with the body; control of movements and breathing; generating internal energy, mindfulness, song (loosening 松) and jing (serenity 静). The ultimate purpose of tai chi is cultivate the qi or life energy within us to flow smoothly and powerfully throughout the body. Total harmony of the inner and outer self comes from the integration of mind and body, empowered through healthy qi through the practice of tai chi. Tai Chi for Health programs are modernized tai chi incorporating medical science to deliver health benefits more quickly.

Just what is tai chi?

There is much more to tai chi than one can see, and virtually no one can describe such a complex art in one simple sentence. Yes, it’s aesthetically pleasing, easy and enjoyable to practice. It can be a meditation and an integral exercise for all parts of the body and the mind. It brings tranquility and helps you think more clearly. Tai chi can be many things for different people; regular practice will bring better health and wellness.
The flowing movements of tai chi contain much inner strength, like water flowing in a river, beneath the tranquil surface there is a current with immense power — the power for healing and wellness.
With consistent practice, people will be able to feel the internal energy (qi 氣), convert it to internal force (jing 勁) and use it to generate more internal energy. This process would greatly enhance tai chi development, leading to a more balanced mental state; at the same time your fitness, agility and balance will improve. The unique feature of tai chi is that it is internal. Internal means building the inner strength from inside out, therefore you can continue to develop at any age.
Numerous studies have shown tai chi improves muscular strength, flexibility, fitness, improve immunity, relieve pain and improve quality of life. Muscle strength is important for supporting and protecting joints and is essential for normal physical function. Flexibility exercises enable people to move more easily, and facilitate circulation of body fluid and blood, which enhance healing. Fitness is important for overall functioning of the heart, lungs, and muscles. In addition to these components, tai chi movements emphasize weight transference to improve balance and prevent falls.
Aside from the health benefits, tai chi runs deep and strong. It’s easy to learn and becomes a way of life for many practitioners. Yet, because of its depth, no one ever knows it all, and thereby lies the fascination and the never-ending challenge of the art. There will be times, no matter how brief, when a practitioner will enter a mental stage of tranquillity, moving to a different world, time, and space, a world where there is no schedule, no hustle and bustle. Yet the person still feels very much a part of the world. In a non-religious sense, it’s a spiritual experience. Such an experience is so satisfying that it is beyond words. Being part of the world, being in harmony with the world and nature, thus is the paradox of tai chi, health and beyond.

Definitions and Origins

Feng shui is an ancient art and science that was formalized over 3,000 years ago in China. In literal translation feng means “wind” and shui means “water.” In Chinese culture, wind and water are associated with good health, thus good feng shui came to mean good fortune. Conversely, bad feng shui means bad luck or misfortune.
Some elements of Feng shui practice date back at least 6,000 years, and it contains elements of various branches of scholarly study, including physics, philosophy, astronomy, and astrology. It is related closely to closely to the Taoist vision and understanding of nature, particularly the idea that the land is alive and filled with Chi, or energy. Other concepts shared between feng shui and Taoism include the polarities of yin and yang — the polar opposites that cannot exist without the other — and the theory of five elements.
Feng shui is sometimes thought to be the art of placement — understanding how the placement of yourself and objects within a space affects your life in various areas of experience. It is a complex body of knowledge that teaches us how to balance and harmonize with the energies in any given space — be it a home, office, or garden. Its aim is to assure good fortune for the people inhabiting a space. Although regarded by some in the scientific community as a pseudo-science, feng shui has had an impact on the aesthetics of interior design and the architectural layout of living and working spaces, both in its native eastern and, more recently, western cultures.
Since good fortune comes in many forms, including better health, a successful career, or a fulfilling love life, feng shui practice includes detailed tips for almost every area of your life. The main tools used in analyzing the feng shui of any space are the feng shui compass and the bagua.

Two Basic Feng Shui Principles

The principle of yin and yang. The Taoist theory of yin and yang is essential to feng shui. At the core of this principle lies a belief that a balance of the feminine (Yin) and the masculine (Yang) in our lives is necessary to maintain a good flow of Chi and a content, happy, successful life.
In Taoist and Feng shui theory, yin and yang are opposites that are dependent upon one another and which must always be in balance. The principle of duality — the idea that all things are balanced blends of two things — is at the root of yin/yang theory. While most other spiritual philosophies believe in opposing dualities, such as good vs. evil, the Chinese Taoist system believes that balance and equilibrium between opposites is the desirable state. Discord occurs when one principle outweighs the other.
The principle of five elements. Also central to Taoism and feng shui is the theory of five elements. By tradition, feng shui practice holds that all things consist of varying degrees of five elements. In the feng shui system, wood, fire, earth, metal, and water are the five elements, and each is represented by certain colors that can help us bring harmony to a particular space.
The five elements can interact in any number of ways, some constructive and some destructive. In the constructive cycle, for example, water provides moisture for trees (wood) to grow; wood then becomes a fuel for fire; the residue of fire is ash or soil; the ash/soil is the essence of earth minerals that form metals; and as metal cool, they allow water to condense, completing the cycle. In a destructive cycle, on the other hand, metal can cut wood; and wood can grow over and consume soil.

The Feng Shui Bagua

The feng shui energy map, or bagua, is an octagonal grid containing the symbols of the I Ching, the ancient oracle on which feng shui is based. Knowing the bagua (pronounced “bag-wha”) of your home and of the rooms within it will help you understand the connection between different areas and specific aspects of your life experience. The bagua is essentially a mapping chart by which you can assess and improve how different parts of the home affect specific areas of your life, such as love, health, or wealth. You can use it to determine how to position furniture and other objects within the room for the maximum positive benefit.
The bagua map is used by first orienting yourself to the main entrance to the house, or the entry to an individual room, then using the map to identify the different key areas of the space. Then, specific items can be positioned in those key areas to enhance their feng shui. For example, the place defined as the wisdom area is a good place for a small stack of books, while the love/relationship space is a good place for a wedding photo.

A feng shui compass is a specialized form of an ordinary magnetic compass. In fact, the magnetic compass was originally invented for use in feng shui, as a tool for positioning buildings and objects within buildings in accordance with cardinal directions for specific feng shui purposes. Before the invention of the compass, directions were determined by astronomical instruments, such as the astrolabe. Also called a Luo-Pan, the feng shui compass is used to access deeper information about a site or a building. It consists of bands of concentric rings arranged around the magnetic needle. In Chinese, luo means “everything” and pan means “bowl.” This can be interpreted to mean that the feng shui compass contains all the mysteries of the universe.
The feng shui compass is used to determine the proper orientation when using the bagua energy map. In order to take an accurate reading for your feng shui work, you do not necessarily need a traditional feng shui compass, just an accurate magnetic one. If you decide to go deeper, owning a traditional feng shui compass can bring more complex insights to your analysis.

Feng Shui “Cures”

Feng shui offers a variety of cures to improve your life. From the use of aquariums to attract prosperity to the use of crystals, fountains, or clocks for other personal goals, there are many ways you can improve the energy in your home or office with solid, good feng shui practices.
Feng shui focuses on colors, as well. It is amazing how effectively carefully chosen colors of wall paint, furniture, or accessories can affect the energy flow in your home. If you love to decorate anyway, you might as well choose color palettes that are beneficial to your life. Feng shui can guide you through this.

Different Schools of Feng Shui

There are several different schools of feng shui. Among the traditional schools are those that use the feng shui compass. Others, such as the Black Hat Sect Tantric Buddhist Feng Shui (BTB, for short), incorporate Buddhist teachings into the practice. There is also a modern feng shui school that has been adapted to the Western lifestyle.
You will also encounter a strong culturally-specific symbolic aspect of feng shui that should be used intelligently. Once you master the basic level of feng shui, you will start seeing powerful results and will come to understand why feng shui is used extensively in homes and offices all over the world.
Although some levels of feng shui are easy to understand and apply, the core knowledge takes years of study. Just like traditional Chinese medicine, feng shui knowledge is deep and complex. The more you learn about it, the more there is to explore.

Schumann Resonance

The earth’s atmosphere is made up of different layers. One of the layers of the atmosphere is the ionosphere, which is responsible for auroras, such as the northern lights. It is in this layer of the atmosphere that the Schumann Resonance can be found.
The Schumann Resonance vibrates at a pulse of 7.83 Hz and it is said to be the heartbeat of mother earth.
When a person’s brain waves resonate with 7.83 Hz, it has been shown in scientific studies to be an essential requirement for physical and psychological health. Laboratory research has also shown that exposing living cells to the Schumann Resonance had the effect of increasing their immune protection.
Many experts believe that the wide range of artificial Electromagnetic frequencies we are surrounded by every day, (including electrical appliances, wifi and mobile phones), masks the natural beneficial frequency of the Earth. This can cause us to feel more stressed, fatigued and out of balance.
Therefore by ‘tuning’ in to 7.83 Hz we get back to a state of resonance or attunement with the planet’s own magnetic frequency and experience the benefits which include enhanced reading/learning, rejuvenation, balance and grounding. Other benefits include ESP activation, anti-jetlag, anti-mind control and improved stress tolerance.
It is also common to feel oneness with everything around us, which is often described in ancient teachings, and is quite simply ‘Harmonic Resonance’ with the frequency of our planet.
Experiments have been done on people by removing the vibrations of the Schumann resonance at 7.83 Hz in their environment. Sure enough, the subjects reported migraine headaches, emotional distress, and other health problems. After just a short period of exposure to 7.83 Hz, the subjects instantly felt better. This really shows how important the Schumann Resonance is to our general well-being.
There are several methods that you can use to experience the Schumann Resonance. One of the best methods is to use auditory stimulation that helps the brain’s vibrations become aligned with 7.83 Hz such as brainwave entrainment (BWE).
The primary function of brainwave entrainment is to help tune the brainwave rhythms of the person to specific frequencies. During this process your brain will produce more desirable types of neuro-chemicals and less of the undesirable ones. In other words you’ll feel better more often.
Today you can experience the rejuvenating 7.83 Hz: Simply download this beautiful ambient music album that has been mixed with the Schumann Resonance frequencies using BWE. The music has also been specially enhanced for deep relaxation.

Asana

Asana is traditionally defined as a “comfortable seat” that is the seated posture used for meditation. More typically now in yoga, the term is used for any physical posture of Hatha yoga. It is the third limb of Patanjali’s eightfold path of ashtanga, following after the yamas and niyamas.
Asana practice is considered important by yogis because it helps to keep the physical body healthy. Given that the body is the vehicle for the spirit, looking after the physical body is important for spiritual development. Practicing asanas can also have a range of emotional and energetic benefits, increase discipline and concentration, and ready the mind for meditation.
In Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, asana is defined as a “steady, comfortable posture.” The sutras do not specify any particular poses, but require simply that in practicing asanas, a position which is both steady and comfortable should always be sought.
Historically, texts and teachers have described different numbers of asanas. The classic texts of Hatha yoga refer to 84 asanas as taught by Lord Shiva, often with the first four of these being considered necessary to achieve spiritual perfection. These are siddhasana, padmasana, bhadrasana and simhasana.
Other teachers and texts have suggested that there are an infinite number of possible asanas, or as many asanas as there are beings. Sri Dharma Mittra, a yoga teacher well-respected by the contemporary schools of Iyengar, Ashtanga Vinyasa and Sivananda yoga, catalogued a list of 1,300 yoga asanas.
It is recommended that asanas are practiced with an empty stomach and without using excessive force or pressure. Asanas can be combined with pranayama practice to enhance the benefits of the poses. They should always be practiced with mindful awareness, uniting the body, mind and breath. Specific asanas can be practiced to help alleviate specific health problems or physical issues.
There are many benefits of asana practice in general. Asanas help increase flexibility and strength. They stimulate all of the physiological systems of the body, including the circulatory, immune and digestive systems. They help develop the mindfulness and focus needed for meditation. On a more subtle level, they are said to stimulate the energetic body, opening the chakras and the nadis.

Mudras

A mudrā (muːˈdra; “seal”, “mark”, or “gesture”) is a symbolic or ritual gesture performed by the hands, often used in practicing Hinduism and Buddhism; it is a spiritual gesture that acts as an “energetic seal of authenticity”. Most mudras are performed with the hands and fingers often in combination with movements of the wrists, elbows, and shoulders; some involve the entire body. Hundreds of mudras are used in the ceremonies, dance, sculpture and painting iconography (i.e. representations of Buddha). In the yoga and spiritual practices, of Indian religions and traditions such as Dharma and Taoism, mudras have been used for thousands of years to assist in meditation and/or healing.
In yoga, mudrās are hand gestures used in conjunction with pranayama (yogic breathing exercises), and are generally done while seated in Padmasana, Sukhasana or Vajrasana pose. Mudras act to stimulate different parts of the body involved with breathing and to affect the flow of energy in the body and even one’s mood. The specific hand gestures and positions act as “locks” to guide energy flows and reflexes to the brain. By curling, crossing, stretching and touching the fingers and hands, we can manipulate the mind body connection as each area of the hand corresponds to a certain part of the mind or body.
On a more spiritual level, practicing specific mudras is an outward representation of one’s inward intentions. There are many different mudras and it is said that meditating on a specific mudra will help manifest certain hopes, energies, or devotions into your life. Mudras are a way to concretely see what we want to be, what we need most. When your hands come into a mudra, it allows a physical connection with an intangible wish.

How to do a Mudra

The most well-known mudras are simple to do and are those performed while meditating in lotus position or seated in a straight backed chair. Start each Mudra session by “washing” your hands (rub your hands against each other about 10 times, hold hands before your Navel Chakra) this will help energy to flow in your hands.
To perform Dhyani Mudra, place both hands like bowls in your lap, with the left hand on top and two thumb-tips touching (see photo).
Placing the palms together in the “Namaste” greeting gesture where the hands are held in front of the chest, the palms touching, is the Atmanjali Mudra.
In each Mudra, exert enough pressure to feel the flow of energy but not enough to whiten fingertips. To use a mudra effectively, keep it for at least a couple of minutes, however it is more effective to do them 15 minutes or so. You might spread that time over the day, but you could also make it part of meditation. Some mudras are simple enough so that you can even do them with your hands in your pockets, without attracting attention.

Divination Systems was originally published in Extreme Life Goals on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.