心神 ~

There is some evidence of physical Hebrew Bible manuscripts written well before the New Testament. Radiocarbon dating and the handwriting style of various Dead Sea scrolls (Isaiah, Psalms, Deuteronomy, etc.) places them between 300–100 BCE. The Great Isaiah Scroll is often dated around 150–100 BCE. As far as the New Testament, Jewish communities in Egypt translated the Hebrew Bible into Greek in the Hellenistic period. Surviving Greek papyrus copies from before the 1st century CE include: the Rylands Papyrus 458 (Deuteronomy), roughly 2nd century BCE the Papyrus Fouad 266 (Genesis/Deuteronomy) about 1st century BCE the Nahal Hever Greek “Minor Prophets” roughly 50 BCE–50 CE. The Letter of Aristeas (2nd century BCE) mentions the translation, showing that it was known and used. It's true that many religious relics have disappeared, but as you say, the texts do remain. Which texts remain in their original authored form is debatable. To some Christians, it doesn't matter that the Bible (various scriptural canons by branch) is their only inheritance, because to the ones who value the Gospel and the teachings of Jesus, there's no greater treasure in the world. Proverbs 2:4–5 “If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.” Matthew 13:44–46 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.” If you think you’ve underrated it and you want to know what you're missing, read it. You don't need to be Buddhist to read the suttas, or Taoist to read the Dao de Jing, or Christian to read the Bible. There's a lot to be inspired by even if you don't subscribe to everything presented. When I first took an interest, I moved through the entire thing chronologically, on audiobook, at 1.5-2x speed. I quickly got the broad strokes and picked up details I wouldn't have if I weren't listening to it. David Suchet has audio recordings on YouTube that are quite nice. Knowing the genre of what you're reading is also helpful for engaging with it (ie narrative, historical accounts, poetry, etc). Once you have a mental framework for the Tanakh / Old Testament / New Testament, it becomes easier to engage in apocryphal literature of both Jewish and Christian tradition. That helps to develop a fuller picture of the traditions outside of the mainstream presentation, and you'll begin to see where threads connect to non-Abrahamic lineages.

Would that suggest that the practice of internal alchemy (depending on what that looks like) is incompatible with original Taoist "wu-wei" philosophy? If the two are not compatible, why is internal alchemy attributed to Taoist thought and practice? Who developed internal alchemy and why, and was their pursuit "Taoist" in nature, or a subversion?

In your estimation: What is the dying and rotting process? What is the yin-as-death-and-degradation/ascension-expansion/purification-refinement process? How do these processes differ on both a practical and metaphorical level? Why is it important to prevent degradation and death?

This is a very interesting perspective. I asked ChatGPT to consider what karmic script white Anglo-Americans may be playing out, and it had this to say: 1. Ancestral Memory and Disconnect Many indigenous and non-Western cultures have retained deep links to dreamwork, ancestors, and spirit because survival demanded it. Guidance from visions, intuition, or collective rituals was essential for navigating uncertainty. For white Anglo Americans, especially those shaped by centuries of Enlightenment rationalism, Protestant mental frameworks, and colonial expansion, there was a cultural severing from intuitive and ancestral memory. Dreams and spirit were demoted to “irrational,” while reason, efficiency, and control were elevated. The karmic imprint here is loss of embodied connection, a forgetting of how to listen. 2. Spiritual Purpose of White Anglo Americans From a karmic perspective, souls incarnating in Anglo contexts may have chosen it not to inherit an unbroken lineage of spirit, but rather to learn how to reawaken what was forgotten. Their spiritual challenge is not an automatic connection, but the discipline of rediscovery: To bridge intellect with intuition without dismissing either. To humble the mind and allow heart and body to remember their rightful place. To transform alienation (from land, body, ancestors) into deep reverence for life and the Earth. 3. Karmic Connection In both Kabbalah and Sufi frameworks, karma or qadr manifests as the correction of past imbalances. For white Anglo Americans, some key karmic corrections could be: From domination to stewardship: healing the karmic wound of colonization by becoming protectors of the Earth and allies to indigenous wisdom. From abstraction to embodiment: shifting from living in the head to re-entering the body, land, and senses. From isolation to interbeing: dissolving the illusion of individualism and rediscovering kinship with all peoples, creatures, and worlds. In this way, the absence of strong inherited dream/ancestral capacities may itself be the “teaching field”—a harder soil that requires conscious cultivation, so the lesson is deeply earned. Thus, the Anglo karmic path is not to “become like others,” but to integrate their mental organization and rational clarity with the reawakened ancestral spirit. The synthesis is their dharma. White Anglo Americans, karmically, are here to learn how to remember spirit after forgetting it, to reconnect intuition with intellect, and to transform the legacy of separation into one of integration, stewardship, and humility before the living cosmos. Their lack is their teacher. Their task is not to envy the natural gifts of others, but to midwife a new balance—one where the mind bows to soul, and the heart leads once again.

@qin00b This is my favorite Baduanjin sequence with Br. Thich Man Tue of Plum Village. I don't worry about reps, I just follow along with the video and since it's the only one I follow for Baduanjin, it's consistent for me. It's 40 minutes long, but he has shortened versions as well. I'm not a qigong specialist, but I know there are considerations to practice. Your leg challenges may have been how you performed the sequence. It may also relate to the state you practiced in, or how quickly before or after you ate or took a shower, which can affect Qi flow.

@Taomeow recently mentioned Tiger being one of her four pillar animals, which got me thinking about my pillar animals aside from my daymaster (Metal Snake). In light of recent conversation about the fall of Dao Bums, our various goals, and the different ways we interact, I thought it would be interesting to discuss basic elements of our Bazi charts. I used bazi-calculator.com and input my birth date, time, and location (accounting for time zone offset and daylight savings). Then I took the names of each of my pillars and read about the daymaster characteristics on Hidden Sun to get an idea of how my animals relate to one another. Though only one pillar is the daymaster, I'm still using the daymaster descriptions that I have access to in order to get a general idea of the element/animal relationship. This is obviously very surface level and doesn't include a myriad of Bazi factors and metaphysical "math," if you will. But I still think it's fun and would love to learn a little more about everyone. Here's a bit about what my animals are like, which combined gives a very interesting overview. My animals are Earth Dog (Wu Xu), Fire Snake (Xin Si), Wood Snake (Yi Si), and Water Monkey (Ren Shen). Wu Xu - Earth Dog - Straightforward Xin Si - Jade Snake - Attention Yi Si - Wood Snake - Versitile Ren Shen - Water Monkey - Unpredictable I also took a look at the animals' relationships to one another: I think these descriptions are spot on, and even align somewhat with my western astrological signs Taurus, Earth Dog - Stable, Structured, Straightforward; Sagittarius, Fire Metal Snake - Charming Adventure Seeker (well, the snake still contains some fire so.. not a perfect comparison, but oh well; and Gemini, Water Monkey - Emotional Depth, In Constant Motion. My Taurean/Gemini, earth/air nature has always been at odds. Interesting to see that replicated with Earth Dog and Water Monkey relationships. I also always thought my "cold, stoic, aloofness" stemmed from my Xin Si pillar, but I see now that it comes from all of them in different ways. I quite like how I communicate, though I can see how it would benefit me to be less impersonal. It would likely benefit others to see that much of what appears as coldness in my social interactions stems from a dual desire for self-protection and self-development, not from maliciousness or judgement. I definitely love learning. It's half a safety coping mechanism (hoarding knowledge) and half... it just feels great. Like it's what I was built to do. But because I love learning for its own sake and I know the joy of discovery and/or receiving an enlightening resource, I also love curating resources for others. So in that way, I hoard, but also give. So what are your animal pillars and their personality descriptions? How well do the descriptions relate to you? What overlap is there between your natal charts of various astrological systems? What insights does your chart provide for how you interact with others, and how others can better interact with you? What animals (expressed through other people) do you engage well with, and which ones less so?

You're very welcome, I had a lot of fun putting it together. Pay close attention to the 6th and 10th houses for career guidance. Discovering mysteries and helping people out is all over your chart. Teaching children, I'm not so sure. There's nothing to strongly indicate you shouldn't, but this chart does indicate significant relationship difficulties and a tendency to be domineering at work. Teaching and maintaining relational management is a part of childhood development. You may be uniquely suited to assist, having had to learn strategies to overcome your own relational challenges. Or you may find teaching many developing, emotionally unregulated children to be overwhelming and overstimulating. Additionally, as someone who eschews conformity and wants to do things your own way, you may find yourself constrained by the strict rules of conventional schooling. If you truly have a desire to teach children, you may want to find alternative avenues. If you enjoy technology like the chart indicates, perhaps something like teaching children tech literacy would appeal to you. Since your North Node represents your lesson to be learned in this lifetime, it's also helpful to consider in conjunction with the career houses. North Node in Libra brings the conflict between the pursuit of harmony, balance and adjustment in a relationship on the one hand, and self-awareness and self-development on the other. Your North Node is in the 5th House (fun, hobbies, children, romance). So you likely do benefit from the playful, wonder-filled influence of children. Playfully express creativity, go on a stage and get some recognition and admiration See life as an invitation to play Be careful not to lose your identity and waste energy when distracted Your Chiron is in the 5th House (I think mine is too. My Chiron is in the 8th House, but it's in Leo, so the wound is incredibly similar). Your wounded healer and your life lesson are located in the same house, which is tough. But probably for good reason. So you have an innate need for recognition and admiration you may never receive. It's important to become your own source of validation and approval, recognizing the quality and worth of your own work. Play because it's fun, not so someone will admire you. Learn to meet the needs of others Develop understanding, thoughtfulness and sensitivity in a relationship Be more adaptable and stop asking for self-sacrifice from others Beware of egocentrism and self-indulgence for fear of losing independence

Ascendent (appearance, presentation) in Cancer (Moon) (emotions, instincts, roots, mother) in 1st House (Mars, Aries) (Creation: self, physical body, beginnings) Sun (self, individuality, personality) in Cancer (Moon) (emotions, instincts, roots, mother) in 2nd House (Venus, Taurus) (Abundance: possessions, values, money) Moon (emotions, instincts, roots, mother) in Cancer (Moon) (emotions, instincts, roots, mother) in 3rd House (Mercury, Gemini) (Curiosity: communication, learning, short trips) Planet in it's own sign (Moon in Cancer) 4th House (Moon, Cancer) (Security: home, family, roots, one parent) True Node and Chiron (wounded healer, inner teacher) in Libra (Venus) (sensuality, love, harmony, pleasure) in 5th House (Sun, Leo) (Home: fun, hobbies, children, romance) Pluto (Scorpio) (transformation, regeneration, power) in Sagittarius (Jupiter) / Scorpio (Pluto) (transformation, regeneration, power) (cusp) in 6th House (Mercury, Virgo) (Analysis: work, health, daily routine, pets) Planet in it's own sign (Pluto cusp in Scorpio) Capable, mystical, philosophical Ability to improve working environment Ability to create personal transformation through desires Domineering with co-workers and employees (especially when Pluto is active) Jupiter (Sagittarius) (happiness, optimism, expansion) in Capricorn (Saturn) (restriction, order, maturity, time) in 7th House (Venus, Libra) (Harmony: committed relationships, marriage, legal affairs) Descendent (partners, compatibility, suppressed qualities) in Capricorn (Saturn) (restriction, order, maturity, time) in 8th House (Pluto, Scorpio) (Renewal: death, joint resources, sex) Neptune (Pisces) (fantasy, illusion, spirituality, imagination) in Capricorn (Saturn) (restriction, order, maturity, time) and Uranus (Aquarius) (originality, freedom, revolution) in Aquarius (Uranus) (originality, freedom, revolution) in 9th House (Jupiter, Sagittarius) (Wisdom: higher education, foreign travel, knowledge) Planet in it's own sign (Uranus in Aquarius) Midheaven (public persona, career, social standing) (Aquarius) (Uranus) (originality, freedom, revolution) 10th House (Saturn, Capricorn) (Persistence: career, reputation, public images) Forward-thinking visionary, intellectually curious, driven by a desire to explore unconventional ideas and concepts Excels in research and development Not content with traditional paths, drawn to unconventional professions that allow them to express their individuality Natural inclination toward social activism and humanitarian work Likely to pursue careers in fields at the forefront of scientific and technological advancements Drawn to fields that involve science and technology, including research, artificial intelligence, and space exploration Thrives in environments that encourage creativity and independence, where they can challenge the status quo and create their own rules Benefits from seeking out opportunities that allow them to express their creativity and individuality while still collaborating with others towards a common goal Saturn (Capricorn) (restriction, order, maturity, time) in Aries (Mars) (activity, energy, courage, assertiveness) in 11th House (Uranus, Aquarius) (Innovation: friends, organizations, humanitarianism) Venus (Taurus, Libra) (sensuality, love, harmony, pleasure) in Gemini (Mercury) (thinking, communication, intellect, learning) and Mars (Aries) (activity, energy, courage, assertiveness) in Gemini (Mercury) (thinking, communication, intellect, learning) in 12th House (Neptune, Pisces) (Connections: endings, everything hidden, the subconscious)

Will you share a link to the post? I'd love to read more about this.

Here's what I've found so far: WATER DOG (REN XU) IN DAY PILLAR The Dog in the Day Pillar, representing the self and personal relationships, suggests a person who values loyalty and honesty in their relationships and often seeks partners who share their ethical values. (DestiPath) Water Dog | Taoist Astrology: a Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition by Susan Levitt Ren Water | Ba Zi - The Four Pillars of Destiny by Serge Augier ———————————————————————————————— WOOD RAT (JIA ZI) IN THE MONTH PILLAR In the Month Pillar, the Rat suggests a career path that might involve constant change or require adaptability and quick thinking, like careers in media or technology. (DestiPath) Wood Rat - The Gift of Knowledge | Hidden Sun Wood Rat | Taoist Astrology: a Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition by Susan Levitt Jia Wood | Ba Zi - The Four Pillars of Destiny by Serge Augier Eating God (Knowledge and Intelligence) | Ba Zi - The Four Pillars of Destiny by Serge Augier ———————————————————————————————— EARTH DOG (WU XU) IN THE YEAR PILLAR The Dog in the Year Pillar often reflects how one is perceived by society – as reliable, trustworthy, and perhaps a bit conservative. It can suggest a life path that involves caring for others or standing up for what is right. (DestiPath) Earth Dog | Taoist Astrology: a Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition by Susan Levitt Qi Sha (Power, Discipline and Organization) | Ba Zi - The Four Pillars of Destiny by Serge Augier

Okay, so it sounds like we've settled on Ren Xu (Water Dog). Give me some time and I'll look it up in the two books I've got on hand!

This is a picture of my four pillars (hour - day - month - year). If you like, you could upload something similar, to make it easier for us to analyze together.

Green represents wood, yellow represents earth. So the day pillar HS is Ren water. Is the EB block in the day pillar dog, and is the block color green or yellow? I think it matters mostly for northern vs southern hemisphere. Outside of that the calculator works out universal time, so it I don't think it'll change anything.

What color is the dog block, and what color is the block above it?

Ah, I mistyped. Xin Si is Metal Snake, not Fire Snake. So there should be only four animals total, displayed on the earthly branch (EB) of each pillar. The pillar combines the top block (element) with the bottom block (animals). For example, even though the second block in my day pillar is red, my daymaster is not Fire Snake. It's Metal Snake, because grey (metal) is the color of the top block.

@Bhathen Thank you for sharing this channel! I'll be sure to watch. I imagine you know quite a bit about your daymaster already. Just for fun (and for anyone else who's a Wood Tiger), I've pulled what I could find on the Wood Tiger using Hidden Sun and two other books. I didn't use it here because it doesn't contain broad overviews like the other two books, but I think Calculating the Bazi by Karin Taylor Wu is a good resource for learning how to create and analyze charts by hand. Wood Tiger - Gift of Honesty | Hidden Sun, Paulynne Cheng Wood Element | Ba Zi - The Four Pillars of Destiny by Serge Auguer Wood Tiger | Taoist Astrology: a Handbook of the Authentic Chinese Tradition by Susan Levitt

The full picture will be less accurate without the hour pillar (first column) but you can still get a basic overview without it by focusing on the other three pillars individually. You could start by reading about your daymaster (day pillar, column two), which if I remember correctly, carriers the strongest energy of the four pillars. Each pillar has two main parts, the heavenly stem (element) and the earthly branch (animal). Combining the two parts displayed in the day pillar provides a basic profile, such as Ding Si, Fire Snake (which I also see displayed as today's pillar). Various elements interact to form beneficial "combinations" or harmful "clashes" and "destructions." Each pillar contains additional energy, like the hidden heavenly stems, na yin, and flying stars. The presence or absence of certain elements in the hidden heavenly stem row can influence whether or not a pillar is "rooted" or "supported" by the same element. Each heavenly and hidden heavenly stem also carries one of the Ten Gods (like Hurting Officer or Direct Wealth), which is another expression of energy added into the equation. I haven't figured out na yin yet. The stars are a part of Purple Star Astrology (ziwei doushu), and each star carries auspicious or inauspicious energy that influences how the elements in each pillar respond to one another and at what times.

I lost a loved one who never wore his good shirts because he was perpetually waiting for the right opportunity. When he died and I was left to sort through his belongings, I decided I would never live that way. I discovered minimalism and let go of anything that wasn't useful or beautiful. I felt free of the weight of a lifetime of things, and began to use and appreciate what remained. When I discovered feng shui, I had finally moved into my first home and just wanted to make a beautiful space that looked and felt good. Learning about feng shui led me to discovering it's true Daoist origins, and to reading about flying star feng shui, bazi, ziwei doushu, inner alchemy, the Yellow Emperor, the Queen Mother of the West, etc. A difficult beginning to my journey, but I'm very grateful for where it's led. It's been a while since I've read the book! I think I prepared for 2025's energy in late 2024 just so I wouldn't forget at the new year. But it would be a good idea for me to double check. Let me know what you think of the book, it'll be nice to swap notes!

@Sahaja I extracted some of the main points and within the spoilers I included Paulynne Cheng's full write up from her site, Hidden Sun. Ren Zi - Water Rat Hour Pillar - Fruit - Governs 49-late life, progeny, old age, legs and feet Intelligent, adaptable, amiable, genial Benefits from focusing efforts on careers or businesses that require a large amount of interaction with the public Self-assured, dauntless, independent, authoritative, open to taking charge under any circumstances Strong desire for constant exploration and constant learning Adept at playing the long game Ongoing emotional issues or unhealthy behaviour like escapism 'Me time' to rest, self-soothe and self-care are a must In times of doubt, remember towering ambitions Ding You - Fire Rooster - Gift of Perspective (Daymaster) Day Pillar - Flower - Governs ages 32-48, self, spouse, middle age, marriage, romance, waist and abdomen Positive, attractive and exuberant personality Ability to view things from new perspectives Natural ability to inspire, influence, motivate and enlighten Loves the limelight and revels in being centre stage Charismatic, charming, confident, persuasive, passionate Ability to link different concepts and ideas together to create new insights or breakthroughs Innovative can-do attitude, thrives on challenge Willing to abandon a struggling strategy in favour of developing new tactics Rebellious, fiercely independent, prefers to be in control, reluctant to accept advice Benefits from learning to recognize (and to accept) genuine support Fickle, restless, adventure seeking idealist Dislikes restriction and authority, needs the freedom to pursue intellectual curiosities without external interference Geng Xu - Metal Dog - Gift of Toughness Month Pillar - Seedling - Governs ages 17-31, siblings, assistance, early career Possesses mental and physical strength, stamina, and endurance Tough, proud, resourceful, unyielding Can be pleasant and diplomatic, in spite of natural ruthlessness and aggressiveness Courageous, convicted, confident, intuitive, self-willed Rejects submissiveness and compliance Has the mental and physical strength to take on any challenges and handle any hardship in pursuit of goals Ambitious, rebellious, defiant in the face of limitations Craves material security, financially conscious Potential to develop depression due to boredom and unresolved restlessness Sceptical about own powerful intuitions, benefits from learning to trust personal instincts Tends to present as domineering, aggressive, ruthless (yes, again) and very out-spoken Ability to use dominant personality to motivate teams to greater heights Benefits from being mindful to not frequently overrule other opinions and leave behind an environment of diminished morale Desires to be useful, thrives in love and friendship Yi Wei - Wood Goat - Gift of Shrewdness Year Pillar - Root - Governs ages 1-16, childhood, parents, grandparents, early tribulations, head and face Ability to tap into and make full use of every ounce of resource Instinctively a good networker, quick judge of character, adverse to competition and needless entanglement Prioritizes relationships with those deemed worthy and capable of helping attain your goals Taste for luxury living, willingness to work for that ideal lifestyle Spiritually gifted, has an interest in non-conventional wisdom Prefers to develop own mind and intuition independently from others Persevering, reliant, persistent, tenacious Reactionary to external circumstances Desire for control, demanding, critical of others out of survival mechanism Perceived as loner preferring independence and solitude Domineering in relationships, many acquaintances, few friends Benefits from cultivating strong sense of purpose

Clearing by Martha Postlethwaite Do not try to save the whole world or do anything grandiose. Instead, create a clearing in the dense forest of your life and wait there patiently, until the song that is your life falls into your own cupped hands and you recognize and greet it. Only then will you know how to give yourself to this world so worth of rescue.

What Begins by Danusha Laméris What begins in beauty, ends in beauty. What begins in sorrow, ends in sorrow. The seed once planted, soon in full bloom. If grief, then grief. If anger, anger. They say the first week of any love affair reveals its end. Give me the child at seven, and so forth. And didn't the world begin with a bang? Hard to argue for another truth. But I have seen a heart worn thin, take to small repairs, have watched a blue jay, born wild, eat out of a woman's hand. And didn't we begin as tadpoles, curled and gilled? I want to think the starting place is only one location on a curve that we can follow to another end. And then, begin again.

Instructions for the Journey by Pat Schneider The self you leave behind is only a skin you have outgrown. Don’t grieve for it. Look to the wet, raw, unfinished self, the one you are becoming. The world, too, sheds its skin: politicians, cataclysms, ordinary days. It’s easy to lose this tenderly unfolding moment. Look for it as if it were the first green blade after a long winter. Listen for it as if it were the first clear tone in a place where dawn is heralded by bells. And if all that fails, wash your own dishes. Rinse them. Stand in your kitchen at your sink. Let cold water run between your fingers. Feel it.

Quite the endorsement! I've had zero experience with auras, but I'll be sure to read it and get back to you about it. Since you enjoy this kind of thing, I also recommend Your Hidden Symmetry by Jean Haner. It's a fascinating presentation of 9 Star Ki, which is a simplified Japanese astrological system based on Taoist astrology and related systems. Using only the day, month, and year of birth, it provides interesting personality insight. But what I enjoy most about it is the section on each decade, and how energy flows for each individual in each year based on their birth information. So for example, in a 9-year cycle, year one is a time of uncertainty, beginnings, drafting plans. Year two is a time of planting seeds, year three for nurturing growth, etc. I'll need to take a peek at the book again to see what energy each year carries. I think I'm currently in year two or three of my current nine year cycle.

What little I know is that bazi is a natal chart used for understanding personality and compatibility, especially for determining auspicious marriage arrangements. It's a snapshot of the stars at the time one was born, represented in four pillars (hour, day, month, year). Each pillar then represents a different stage of life. The year pillar spans ages 1-16, and represents childhood, parents, and grandparents, waist and abdomen. Taking into account the placement of various auspicious and inauspicious stars in each pillar (displayed at the bottom of a chart, usually), it can be reasonably determined whether someone had a peaceful or a traumatic childhood or parental relationship. Fire Horse energy in the year pillar will appear in a person's personality, health and wealth circumstances, and relationships differently than if the Fire Horse were present in the hour pillar, which influences ages 48-60, progeny, old age, legs and feet. An experienced Bazi reader can foresee patterns in charts that indicate success, wealth, romance, death, affairs, etc during specific years and decades. It's an incredibly complex system that is difficult to learn and it's very expensive to get a reliable reading from someone, with mostly good reason. So day to day I don't use it all that much, outside of better understanding myself, loved ones, and associates. Now, it can be determined how "balanced" a chart is, which would take into account the distribution of elements, and how "weak" or "strong" a chart is because of that. So someone lacking fire in their chart may benefit from intentionally developing fire energy in their life, like enthusiasm and passion. Someone lacking wood will need additional assistance developing leadership and discipline. In that way a chart can be worked with consistently, though the focus is on the elements and not the animals. Ziwei doushu (Purple Star Astrology) uses the same birth information to create a different chart that, while also yielding information about personality and compatibility, I think is more useful in a fortune telling sense. I think TaoMeow is the expert-in-residence on both bazi and shamanism, so I'm sure she'll have a more in-depth, holistic perspective. I do like tarot (I love a good puzzle), but I only have one deck (The Chinese Tarot by Jui Guoliang), and I don't turn to it much. I much prefer the I Ching. Yes, systems like the Myers-Briggs paved the way for my eventual interest in Bazi, though I've never fully determined if I'm an INFJ or an INTJ.

From the author's description: I think the author misunderstands the first noble truth (or maybe I do), which is that suffering exists. Or depending on the translation, reads: "The truth of suffering (dukkha)." I understand that to mean that there is a truth about the nature of suffering (and therefore exists), which the rest of the noble truths elaborates on. That's quite different from the idea that everything is suffering. From the author on the white school: From the "Christian" perspective, fear and sorrow can be released in the way suffering can be released, by realizing the nature of suffering in light of the true and transient nature of all things, thus making way for inner joy and peace. Sounds pretty Buddhist. Isn't the failure to perceive the fact that existence is pure joy... ignorance and illusion? The defining feature of the black school? In that sense, shouldn't Buddhism be considered a "white" school? Or is Christianity actually a "black" school? I guess I disagree with the categorization, and I'm not sure how it's very useful. I interpret Lao Zi, Buddha, and Christ to have been explicit that the highs and lows of joy and sorrow exist, both caused by our own inner turmoil, and that there is a way to free oneself and find equanimity by meditating on the illusory nature of the human experience from the eternal perspective.