Acknowledgments The Universal Tao Publications staff involved in the preparation and production of Taoist Shaman extend our gratitude to the many generations of Taoist masters who have passed on their special lineage, in the form of an unbroken oral transmission, over thousands of years. We thank Taoist Master Yi Eng for his openness in transmitting the formulas of Taoist Inner Alchemy. We also wish to thank the thousands of unknown men and women of the Chinese healing arts who developed many of the methods and ideas presented in this book. We offer our eternal gratitude to our parents and teachers for their many gifts to us. Remembering them brings joy and satisfaction to our continued efforts in presenting the Universal Tao System. For their gifts, we offer our eternal gratitude and love. As always, their contribution has been crucial in presenting the concepts and techniques of the Universal Tao. For their efforts to clarify the text and produce this handsome new edition of the book, we thank the editorial and production staff at Inner Traditions/Destiny Books. We also thank Nancy Yeilding for her line edit of the new edition. We wish to thank the following people for their assistance in producing the original edition of this book: Vinod Solluna for his editorial work, Hirunyathorn Punsan for his graphic design work, Anamarta for photography, Juan Li for his color illustrations, and Kris Deva North for the shamanic diagrams. A special thanks goes to our Thai production team: Raruen Keawapadung, computer graphics, and Saniem Chaisarn, production designer. Kris Deva North wishes to thank his shamanic teachers, the Wakamba, especially Mwala Ibuti and Nethenge Ngube, Wakan of the Banjalong, Kumbahadur Gurung, Rowan Saille, Samara Hawthorn; Wa-Na-Ne-Che of the Lakota; Howard Wills; Rene Navarro for the original reading list. To Alexander West for Amazonian insights; Matt Lewis and adepts of the London Universal Healing Tao Center for allowing themselves to be guinea pigs in testing arcane techniques of Taoist ecstasy; the Grimstone Community 1999 to 2007 for their annual tolerance of the Din of Death. To Guillaume Bouteloup for permission to excerpt his thesis “Uses of the I Ching;” John Mark Eggerton for permission to use “Calling the Directions”; Dr. Sandra Goodman of Positive Health magazine for permission to excerpt “Calabash of Light”; Esther Jantzen for her notes on Howard Wills; Vinod Solluna for his contribution on the Western Dragon Tradition; and Anamarta for her love, support, patience, and inspiration. Contents Cover Image Title Page Acknowledgments Putting Taoist Shamanic Techniques into Practice Chapter 1 Taoist Shamanic Tradition—from Mystery to History Today’s Shaman Chapter 2 The Taoist Medicine Wheel The Medicine Wheel in Daily Life Chapter 3 The Five Elements Elemental Correspondences Beyond Elements Chapter 4 The Eight Forces Eight Trigrams Symbolize the Eight Forces The Forces of Nature as the Eight Immortals Meditating on the Eight Forces Chapter 5 The Twelve Animals Birth Years Layers upon Layers Chapter 6 The I Ching Hexagrams and Daily Life Gaining Insight into Our Phases of Life Problem-Solving with the I Ching Chapter 7 Shamanic Practice Role of the Shaman Expanding the World Rituals and Practices Secret Knowledge Initiation Meditation upon Death Chapter 8 Spirit Guides Using the Medicine Wheel to Access Spirit Guides Finding Guides in the Mundane Dimension Mapping the Way to Spirit Journeying to Meet New Spirit Guides World of Spirit Chapter 9 Comparison with Other Traditions The Medicine Wheel Around the World Calling the Directions Chapter 10 Creating Power Fields The Nature of Power Fields Using Medicine Wheel and Spirit Guides to Create Power Fields Respecting the Spirits of Place Chapter 11 The Wheel of Healing The Healing Circle Shamanic Guided Meditations Awakening Healing Light Chapter 12 Turning the Wheel of Love Preparation for the Wheel of Love Resources The Universal Tao Training Center Zen Shiatsu and Healing Tao Footnotes Bibliography The Universal Tao System About the Authors Mantak Chia Kris Deva North About Inner Traditions • Bear & Company Books of Related Interest Copyright & Permissions Putting Taoist Shamanic Techniques into Practice The practices described in this book have been used successfully for thousands of years by Taoists trained by personal instruction. Readers should not undertake the practice without receiving personal transmission and training from a certified instructor of the Universal Tao, since certain of these practices, if done improperly, may cause injury or result in health problems. This book is intended to supplement individual training by the Universal Tao and to serve as a reference guide for these practices. Anyone who undertakes these practices on the basis of this book alone does so entirely at his or her own risk. The meditations, practices, and techniques described herein are not intended to be used as an alternative or substitute for professional medical treatment and care. Any reader suffering from illnesses based on psychological or emotional disorders should consult an appropriate professional health care practitioner or therapist. Such problems should be corrected before you start training. This book does not attempt to give any medical diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or remedial recommendation in relation to any human disease, ailment, suffering, or physical condition whatsoever. The Universal Tao cannot be responsible for the consequences of any practice or misuse of the information in this book. If the reader undertakes any exercise without strictly following the instructions, notes, and warnings, the responsibility must lie solely with the reader.