Taoist Metaphysics

This video lecture will be a beginner-level overview of Taoist metaphysics, which will begin with the Taoist mythology for the origins of the universe, cover Taoist expressions and esoteric thought on reality as it has been created by our minds and by physical matter. Concepts of magic and non-physical entities will also be addressed.
While the audio portion of the lecture gives a cursory overview of the Wu Xing five phases and the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua, you can pause the video screen at various intervals and copy down a comprehensive body of reference material on both Wu Xing and Ba Gua metaphysical correspondences.
Video #4 covers how the spiral sequence of creation mentioned in earlier videos drive the creation (and the expansion) of the universe according to Taoist metaphysics, which eventually leads the Chinese occultist to the Lo Shu magic square and ritual magic devised from the magic square and the Big Dipper. Working with the eight trigrams of the Ba Gua through the Eight Immortals will also be addressed briefly.
You are watching Video #4 in a six-part video lecture series.
Full playlist for the video series: www.tinyurl.com...
***
THIRTEEN TAOIST PRINCIPLES OF CRAFT
(From the Huangdi Yinfu Jing, circa 600 AD)
The thirteen Taoist principles of craft I've outlined here is derived from the Huangdi Yinfu Jing (黃帝陰符經), which gets translated into the Yellow Emperor's Classics of the Esoteric Talisman.
Documented references to it date to the Tang Dynasty, 618 AD to 907 AD, though apocryphally, the text is believed to date back to the Zhou Dynasty, 1046 BC to 256 BC. The text is considered to be both a philosophical work and also a medieval instructional manual on metaphysics or how to operate spell-crafting.
The following supplemental handout is a written addendum to Video #4. These thirteen principles are central to Taoist metaphysics and I regret forgetting to mention them in the video lecture. So please download the handout and review after watching Video #4.
13 Taoist Principles (PDF download): benebellwen.fi...
You can also download the DOCX editable version, linked in the companion blog post: wp.me/p32or0-3Pi
***
Taoism is a nature-based religion, philosophy, and tradition of sorcery native to China, formed around 600 B.C. One hundred years later, Buddhism enters China and a modality of it--esoteric Buddhism--is blended in with Taoist magic. This introductory lecture series will cover the ontology, theory, history, and cultural practice of sorcery at the intersection of esoteric Buddhism and Taoism.
Video 1: Introduction to Buddhist-Taoist Esotericism
Video 2: History of Taoism and Buddhism in China
Video 3: Taoist Sorcery and Its Cultural Practice
Video 4: Taoist Metaphysics
Video 5: Chinese Occultism as a Syncretic Practice
Video 6: Taoist Magic in Contemporary Times
***
All videos in this series are closed-captioned for the deaf, hard of hearing, or those whose native tongue isn't English. I've also made my best attempt at accommodating for the blind. If there is room for improvement in these regards, I'm open to friendly critique. Thank you!
***
Reference Links:
Feng Shui Basics, benebellwen.co...
“Practica of Esoteric Craft” is a free video tutorial series with supplemental PDF handouts to download. This landing page will take you to past episodes on setting sacred space, a form of Chinese divination called moon blocks, forms of Taoist magic like poison magic (Ku) and thunder rites, and more: benebellwen.co...
Learn more about The Tao of Craft, read excerpts, download free reference materials, and Fu talismans or Chinese sigil instructables: benebellwen.co...
***
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Learn more about the course here: benebellwen.co...
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[@andreaw9795]

As a Chinese American that doesn't have access to my Chinese heritage, I cannot express the feeling I had finding this treasure. Thank you for all that you do, I'm beyond grateful!

[@timboggs4132]

18:00 LOL "Just get the god damn book"! I'm sold...

[@BoyDiviner]

I have a similar painting of the 8 Immortals in my house - so shocking to see it in your video. This video is a great summary of a lot of things I learned through my esoteric lessons in Singapore - some of which I spend a lot of money learning. You're incredibly generous and I really hope people watching this realize this

[@BenebellWen]

Thank you! I'll be candid, though-- I don't think people watching realize that the content of this video series so far is the content in courses that instructors charge hundreds of dollars for. =P

[@BoyDiviner]

Benebell Wen in a way I wish you charged for this course so people can better appreciate the content. Also (I have spent THOUSANDS) hahaha

[@JJ-po1qk]

Seriously I payed 300$ on some ritual magic. I love that book and these videos. It showed up on suggested and it is truly a gold nugget. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@lohshookhoo3937]

@@BoyDiviner😊😊

[@CalloohCalley]

So, I'm five minutes in and I've already learned more about Taoism than all my years of (admittedly surface level) research. I LOVE your channel!

[@ziq2188]

You narrated the subject matter very well. Indeed seasoned !!! You are Chosen 👋🏼👍🏼

[@chloebell333]

I am a student of TCM currently and found you researching a paper on Daoist Alchmey and just bought your book off of Amazon - really impressed with what you have stated and excited to read more. Great series - thank you

[@abignothing]

i am vibrating with knowledge

[@dr.gaosclassroom]

Thank you. This is a great video and it offers a lot of knowledge I missed of my culture. Growing up in mainland China, I was aware of this kind of practice, but did not have access to this kind of knowledge. Thank you so much for this video. It complement my knowledge of Chinese philosophy and culture which is of academic nature and lacking the cultural and practical aspect such knowledge!

[@GoldenEmperor5Manifest]

I will definitely be buying your book, I've spent so many years flailing trying to understand esoteric Daoism. I accidentally successfully petitioned a divine being at some point 10 years ago while roughly following Dr. Jerry Alan Johnson's book. That said, I didn't compute his way of teaching it, I've learned far more from your videos in just a few days. I saw your channel some years ago and thought "She's just selling a book, she won't have good information", boy was I wrong about that. I've got to learn Chinese, hopefully Mandarin will be a good basis but I'm concerned it won't be. Anyway, so as for the moral code you mentioned, I think it's fair to say that Daoism is a theory, arguably scientific and what you do with that knowledge is truly up to you. I've seen the rituals of capturing ghosts, no matter how I feel about it, it's still just the implementation of Daoist theory. Regarding the philosophy divide, my understanding is that some choose to take the writings of Laozi and Zhuangzhi as the beginning and end of all Daoism. Nothing mystical, nothing esoteric and nothing religious, just pure philosophy on doing not doing, nature and duality. Often that's simply closed-mindedness that leads someone to assert nothing more can be found by exploring Daoist thought.

[@Peppers_mintus]

Indeed, nothing more can be found within Daoist thought!

[@lionelinx7]

This is actually crazy, the spiral number sequence I didn't know about but makes so much sense omfg

[@hagbardc623]

Copy that! getting book now. This is probably the best and most comprehensive teaching I've ever seen, and I've been studying this stuff for a while now. Thanks again for your sharing of the great treasures. You are a shining gem!

[@BenebellWen]

Aww, thank you! It's been a pleasure to share.

[@aleksandertopolski895]

This is the most logical and deeply spiritual cosmological and cosmogonical concept I ever heard. Exactly what I've been looking for for years. I'm buying this book.

[@soq2u]

OMG so packed full of information I NEEDED to hear! This has totally expanded my views on metaphysics and there are many things here that resonate with me much stronger than many Western ideologies I've heard for years. The vast majority of information in here I have never heard and had a hard time finding in my typical google searches. DEFINITELY investing in your book! Thanks so much for the content!

[@mumoftwoboysjoshjames4100]

I have just binge watched all 5 episodes... can you tell me where the 6th episode is please? I have ordered both of your books and I'm so excited to read them :) Your website is so impressive that I've purposely dug out my old printer that was buried away in storage and even bought ink just so I can print all the paperwork to do your free courses! I'm hoping to be an expert in Taoism by the end of the week LOL. I'm sending my thanks and appreciation from across the pond in London x

[@McDevitt2000-hi6kq]

Just watched this today and learned the significance of the symbols on a ying yang medallion I've had for years that's been draped around a statue of a laughing Buddha. Thank you for that!

[@GyokkoRyuKosshijutsu]

I've heard of some of these topics in passing before, I'm very grateful to stumble upon this channel. Thank you for sharing and I will pick up your book this week.

[@charleswheeler6673]

Loving this series!!

[@joelmosier125]

J. Terran Taoism explained- left to right. People, Plants and animals- Flow from left to right, negative to positive. All Planets- Rotate Left to right. Air currents- Flow Left to right. Ocean currents- Flow Left to right. Ocean water/Salt Positive charge/Ocean Waves- Curl Left to right. Water (Curls down a drain)- Curling Left to right. Tornadoes/Seen from above- Rotate from Left to right. Taoism 101 Thank you for sharing your video.

[@akultisgod5538]

this channel exists!?!?! yesssssss!!!!

[@Sirach-pv5xv]

Wonderful video...just brilliant....WOW🙏 I have been studying every system of occult alchemy and magic...looking for common denominators...I pull them out and use them...this has been invaluable to me...seeing things from different perspectives, different traditions, through out time and space... Just love this video🐍🦅

[@khileshjairamdas8410]

I see many resonances with Hinduism 1) underlying monism that expresses as multiplicity 2) deification of natural forces; sects worshipping these as literal, others seeing them as metaphors pointing to the One, and everything in between 3) variety of subsects 4) more animistic, naturalistic occultism especially the further back you go

[@dawndaybreaker1003]

Brilliant sister! Formidably informative and full of sage advice and insights! Thank you so much for sharing this with the world! Namaste!

[@sassyntexas]

Thank you so much for your generosity. I am very much enjoying this series. I already have your book. I cannot wait to dive in! I am truly indebted to your free sharing this wonderful information. 💗💗💗

[@Aldarinn]

You are a true scholar. Humbled by your depth and knowledge.

[@Skeed]

Wow I love your explanation of this. So many see to have big problems with understanding this. 💜☯

[@paul1887]

"In that book, which is my memory, on that first page of the chapter that is the day when I first met you, appear the words, "here begins a new life." La Vita Nuova or Vita Nova is a text by Dante Alighieri published in 1294. It is an expression of the medieval genre of courtly love in a prosimetrum style, a combination of both prose and verse.

[@danieltaylor9079]

Everything you do is awesome. Great companion series to the book. Thank you

[@Asuraskeye]

I just began my daoist journey I’m so thankful for the way. Sanfeng pai longmen and ChunYang disciple

[@thecyrusj13]

By the way I find your videos very interesting. Prior to this my only exposure to Taoism was the Tao Te Ching and Zhuangzi.

[@christinejorja]

Very interesting and I need to get a copy of your book. It will be interesting to see how this mixes with Thai Occultism as I have become deeply involved in that over the past 2 years.

[@TheMaddBlackMann]

I love your channel. Just discovered you. Hope all is well in 2021

[@tribalwoman138]

Totally enjoying this series thank you Benebell

[@MaharionPendragon]

You can actually do a full semester's lecture, going by your material. This is Bachelor degree stuff. You are amazing, but you already know that :)

[@Gemmagic84]

Thanks Benebell, I just watched this whole thing absolutely riveted. I really appreciate you sharing this to help me deepen my practice. Bless you 🙏

[@angelaace8985]

you are an amazing teacher, i feel your speaking right to me. i was just looking for higher learning. and you have given me the most amazing new adventure. I won't go into myself here, but I completely follow you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge..

[@LadyVTavora]

The Eight Immortals! YYYEESSS! Thank you, Benebell! We gonna get some juicy knowledge about the six Jade Maidens next?!?!? #ImAppreciativeNotGreedyIPromise

[@digimajou]

I have the book - I love the Tao of Craft! And I have just begun to binge watch this series. I am grateful for and love all that you are sharing! You are a generous wealth of knowledge and dedicated practicioner. Plus an incredible artist. Thank you! There's but one point I can't agree with - your Good must beget Evil and making Evil always creates Good argument. Are "Good" and "Evil" not judgements that themselves come from the western imperial framework? You speak of good and evil as if interchangeable with light and dark. But this is discrimination and judgment saying light is good and dark is bad. And where does that judgement come from? Not the Tao. It is a matter of Light AND Dark, and not light VERSUS dark, that is the material, nature, and energy of the Universe. Dr. Bayo Akomalafe speaks wisely from an African Indigenous lens about this. He and his activism is awesome, and he is an epic voice in de-colonization right now. Btw, from your series, I am learning that the qi gong I practice on the regular is both esoteric and exoteric. It is meditation, magic and transformation of my bodyself (jing, qi, shen) and the universe of which I am a part of - Tien Ha Tai Ping! I am part of that chinese diaspora you speak of, and you are a linguistic, artistic, healing bridge to my cultural inheritance. Xie Xie !!!!

[@kumikititap]

OMGulay, so the pentagram is basically the cycle of Creation and Cycle of Destruction! I've got the I Ching Book and Divination, both on my shelf, ive got to read it again from this point of view. thank u so much for the light. Namaste

[@JDdollars]

This is some very good work.soo detailed and the knowledge is soo hard to come by thank u .

[@theshirecrier-310]

Amazing work! Thank you and i wish you many blessings on your journey!

[@marklance5921]

Deep Edit: You deserve a more elaborate response but that's the only word that I can express at this time.

[@McDevitt2000-hi6kq]

Your website is amazing btw!

[@joelmosier125]

J. Terran Taoism explained- 8 Eliments; Left hand/ 4 Auras located on each (Square part) of each finger just above the palm. (Negative side). Right hand/ 4 Auras located in the same place. (Positive charge). NOT to be confused with the (Aura) on your Skin v.s. (Auras) on Certain parts of the Human body. Auras- Forehead, both cheeks, NOT around the mouth. Auras- Bottom of feet (NOT on the balls of the feet). Auras- located in the (Crotch area) Only known, Never seen out of RESPECT. All Terrans UNDERSTAND this I am J.Terran the only Terran to be born on Eden. Thank you for sharing your video.

[@josephcarbone5379]

Excellent series

[@ConjurersTable]

Very excited to begin this series!

[@onyxman8]

Now I have to study a new esoteric tradition! Curse you Wen! (Just kidding) Your presentation is so wonderfully engaging and straightforward from one concept to the next. I know I will enjoy your book and learn a lot. Blessed Be!

[@tewtravelers9586]

I just realized why I can’t make Jungian or MBTI personalities scale with the Yi or Bagua. When you were speaking about metal and logic/ intuition being so closely related I knew the difference between East and West perspective on this subject prevents perfect overlap between the systems. Now I can move on.

[@simont.b.2660]

多谢 (for thanking you again and the algorithms)

[@eshesherall303]

Oh my gosh, my head is spinning. In a good way. I am brand new to ALL of this information, coming from a traditional christian "baptist" background. Which book should I start with first? I've purchased I Ching and Holistic Tarot, and I now have Tao of Craft in my Amazon cart. You have opened up a brand new world to me. I now consider myself a christian mystic. Thank you so much for giving of your time and talent to help others find their own path.❤

[@AmethystAscension]

I love this. I'm going to have to get your other book too....lol. Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge.

[@Spectre2434]

I love the interspersed profanity!

[@joelmosier125]

J. Terran Taoism explained- East -Negative charge leading the rotation of the planet. West- Positive charge following the East. South- Negative charge/Location of the Sun-Sunlight causes gravity Flowing (Positive to negative). North- Positive charge/Northern lights (Green color) CHI/Lifeforce (Green color) Positive charge/Arua of (People, Plants and animals).

[@HappyHeretic1035]

Benebell Wen would be such a great guest for the Duncan Trussell Family Hour… just throwing that out there hoping it will manifest…

[@marco_polyglot]

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you

[@jamieloom22]

thank you for your generous sharing of this incredible, mind blowing information

[@jrocket98]

I love your site, i love you!!! Thank you!

[@leisurelyarting]

❤️😚🙏 thank you sister for making these videos.

[@1amjapan]

Thank you, I thouroughly enjoyed your lecture. I've been aware of Taoism for some years now but this was perfect for where I'm at in my own learning and experiments. The last ten minutes were especially interesting for me as I've often struggled to reconcile the percieved differences between religious and philosophical Taoism. Your explanation makes a lot of sense to me and remind me of Ramsey Dukes approach, which I am also a great admirer of. I've now added your book to my reading list and look forward to learning more. If you have a chance to reply I would love to know of any resources where I can learn more about the history of Taoist thought and practice? Being in the north of england there's limited opportunities to find reliable sources of information on it i.e. people to ask. Again, thank you for this resource which I look forward to re-watching in order to add to my current, very basic knowledge. The universe is trully generous, best wishes.

[@drmoreirafilho1]

Thanks very much for the information! Waiting the next book! Greetings from Brazil!

[@ricardopenamcknight6407]

You're quite well versed in these subjects so I was hoping you might be able to help provide me with some insight. I've been looking into Mo Pai Nei Kung and I'm interested in understanding what the 72 levels might be. My understanding based on what has been revealed by two western students or supposed students of mo pai is that the first four steps are meditation and cultivation of yang chi in the lower dantian, condensing the chi in the lower dantian, mobilizing the lower dantian, pushing it downward to collect yin chi, and finally merging yin and yang chi in stage 4 of 72. I'm trying to understand what the 72 could be through the lens of numerology. According to the western supposed students the 72 levels correspond to 72 chakras in the body and that when all are filled or opened one reaches ultimate enlightenment. I've seen a few references to there being 72 chakras or energy centers but can never seem to locate a source for that idea or an identification of where they supposedly are, just that there are 72.Makes sense that it would be 72 because that corresponds to the 72 letter name of god and the 72 goetic demons. Still, having trouble tracing these ideas about 72 chakras and I was hoping that since this mo pai tradition supposedly began in china with the same originator of tai chi chuan that you might have a little more insight being more well versed in daoist esotericism.

[@between666]

I believe we all gave it up to be human. Looking forward to undressing.. I unintentionally bumped a key and 58:54 led me to the I Ching.

[@BaronUnderbite]

you are good dude. well done, these videos fucking rock. You speak of Taoist mysticism in such an eloquent well grounded way. A true practitioner

[@philmcdonald6088]

you're also a smart merchandiser you go girl.

[@kamthinlow7546]

Ms Benebell, is the bright circle of light refers to the Big Bang which leads to the formation of the universe

[@davidhollifield4794]

I love watching your videos Bebebell..thank you for helping me remember..

[@Spectre2434]

I love underground vigilantes ! They remind me of the Mahasiddas

[@LameBushido]

Wow! Amazing content so much better than all the pop Toaist BS KZbin is full with. Im sure you know the ones ;)

[@swedish_sadhguru3854]

Now this is really interesting. I'm familiar with the yogic sciences from India and this is a bit similar. What rituals could I perform to better my career and health and wellbeing? Thanks, very good video!

[@dalegillman5287]

This is a wonderful video - it was just what I was looking for. You had some wonderful definitions of “metaphysics”. If you don’t mind me asking, what are your credentials?

[@garytyme9384]

Could I just add: The saying "As Above, So Below" is a misinterpretation of the original text. The original text actually states: "it is up from the bottom, and down from the top". The true meaning = how it operates from the bottom up, is not the same as how it operates from the top down - just look at society for that proof. Moreover, this is not the same as "as above, so below" by any stretch of the imagination. FYI: Time is not a thing as time is only a measure of the passing magnitudes, and space is also not a thing as space has no properties, only attributes i.e., space is the absence of a thing, like a shadow is the absence of light. BTW: Metaphysics is actually the study of the underlying substrates of phenomena i.e., the noumena.

[@willvincentparrone3339]

Coming from a western-atheistic perspective, I honestly saw a lot of these as mumbo-jumbo new-age stuff. However, your conclusion has a good point: Even if I don't like the religious aspects (The dieties, pantheons, etc.), that is still a manifestation of the Tao in a sense, it may not be my path but it is a path nonetheless. Looking forward to videos like these.

[@Spectre2434]

Fangshi sounds very amazing

[@pantheonastrology9020]

“Just get the goddamned book” Lmao great video thank you!

[@master_ov_light_and_dust]

you are so wise

[@chrisgartland1967]

Beautiful Job !!!

[@sp8cetime]

Hi Benebell, I have a question. In the context of a project, Wood is birth. Fire is expansion. Earth is stabilization. Water is return. What is metal ? Would you define it as "refinement"? Wikipedia defines it as harvest, but I don't see how that can be applied in the context of a project. Can you give an example of company that is currently in metal phase? Thank you for your great work. You're a mover in this field.

[@mauricioniebla3162]

Very good video, i loved it. Saluts from Uruguay (Y)

[@sp8cetime]

Please make an extended video on the five phases! Chinese New Year is coming up !!

[@alberttham81]

Very well explained thanks 🙏🙏🙏

[@walterdelong6324]

You write on page 25 of your book that the Later Heaven sequence is based on the 3x3 magic square, but I can find no evidence of this being the case. Do you have an explanation or source for how the King Wen trigrams relate to the numbers in the 3x3 magic square? Thank you.

[@nemesistrap3773]

I know you're not going to (probably) but a breakdown of all the different lineages would be really cool.

[@BenebellWen]

Haha that would certainly be a tough one. I wouldn't even know where to begin. If I leave one out, I'd feel bad. Some that have been really public and thus documented in history and the cultural consciousness are mentioned in my book though. =)

[@nemesistrap3773]

@@BenebellWen I'm going through your book from start to finish now. This metaphysics lecture really helped. Yeah I just found a lot of that info in Appendix J.

[@thihsareb]

I’m going to get the god damn book. As soon as I get your I Ching book which I have on order.

[@vulpesvulpessapiens]

Something I want to ask you: What do you think of considering the third to not encompass only man but all animals and flesh-and-blood spirits? Since animals can cultivate to immortality, too.

[@piknikker]

The five pentagrams in Christianity also represent similar stages of change, with the resurrection of creation.

[@thecyrusj13]

Has anyone noticed the parallel with Judaism (and by extension Christianity) that the creation story is similar since man was made out of the dust of the earth by the Lord (or Heavenly Father)? I wonder what the general opinion among Taoists is on Christianity. Since there is some harmony between Buddhists and Taoists is there any harmony between Christians and Taoists?

[@BrotherCecil]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@GaryJaron]

At 9:46 you listed the Five Elements both visually and orally. However, the order you said them in and the order on the screen were not the same. You said, "Wood, Fire, Earth, Water, and Metal." But on the screen, you wrote them out as Wood-Fire-Eath-Metal-Water. So my question is: which is the order that you meant?

[@carlosjohnson8625]

The Seven Star Dipper,the home of the Seven Star Lords. There are actually nine stars. However,the two that we can't see emit a dark light. Only those who have a very strong relationship with the Stars and have become one with the Tao can see the other two.

[@johnspears6277]

😂 just get the goddamn book, love it. Thanks for the new knowledge.

[@Cosmic_Mage]

You are appreciated!!!

[@kennethchapin8722]

Heaven and earth regard all things as straw dogs, My god you are beautiful.

[@billmichalski6893]

I found full cosmic liberation by not looking for it. Sincerely, William Michalski Jr

[@CireNosille]

Wonderful!

[@PianoChuck]

4:55 I don’t understand how the 3 creates the 5 changing phases. I would like to understand tho.

[@kevinu.k.7042]

Very good and most clear. Thank you. I was surprised you use the term plenary for old yin and old yang. Do you not refer to them as old at all in your practice?

[@dbeebee]

Hey Benebell, I am more of a Druid in my practice, but I’ve heard many times before that adepts suggest learning magical traditions outside of your first or primary practice. I wanted to possible take up the Tao of craft. Is it possible to practice Taoist craft with more of an elemental focus, rather than invoking specific divinities? While I want to pick up this practice, I also don’t want to neglect my preexisting religious commitments, so I’m hoping to not invoke divinities. Thank you!

[@rondab16]

Where do you talk in more depth about the spiral sequence of creation? I can't find it in this playlist and don't really understand it as presented in this video. Thank you.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

🙏

[@BG-cw8fu]

Hi. Very interesting channel. I was givern a bi jade talisman from my qiqong and taichi teacher who came to New York from China. It is round with a hole in the middle and I wore it as a necklace. He explained that it came from a Chinese emperor thousands of years ago. I have since lost it, but I realize that my life has changed for the worse without it. Do you know anything about these bi jade

[@christianperla7126]

Beautiful tables you handle about + - 15:00 min concerning 5 elements. Where can I find those? Don't know if come from one source or various. Could you provide them or at least indicate where to find them?