Daoist Talismans for Healing

This essay explores practices of the Daoist Dipper Arts school in Colorado. We focus on peaceful healing arts. More specifically, we engage in embodied practice to invoke the principles of healing in magical charms called talismans (fu). Our mission is to facilitate inner peace for healing self and community. For example, sitting in meditation allows us to cultivate enough stillness to be reflective rather than reactive. The phrase “sitting like a mountain” is indeed a way to calm the body and feel the rivers of qi internally. This stillness moves our nervous system from the sympathetic fight or flight to the parasympathetic system, where we modulate our emotions and feel renewed, relaxed and healthy. We practice the work of the sage and study the Yijing.

With the continued threat of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), we need techniques to heal ourselves and others. Qigong is a form of preventative medicine that can boost our immune system. The talismans are infused with qi and are provided here to augment your health. These benevolent spirits were specifically invited to help us cope with COVID-19. Metaphysical medicine is a powerful adjunct with physical medicines. And in some cases, the metaphysical may be the only medicine available to those in need of healing support. These techniques are available to all who may have an interest in expanding their own healing skills, especially in this time of the pandemic. I would like to explain my creative process and teach you how to use these healing talismans.

The information in this essay is for educational and meditative purposes. All ongoing CDC (Center for Disease Control) and medical directives should be followed. Let us re-envision the pandemic as a rite of passage for collective transformation! Experience for yourself how the talismans utilize sympathetic resonance of the Yijing for healing. Observe the Way, and all is accomplished.

The hexagrams of the Yijing were used as the language of these talismans. “Hexagrams are the first stage in that emergence of language from change, that folding of the Cosmos around onto itself to name and describe itself” (Hinton 2015, vii). The associations are endless and multivalent. When we write down the lines of a given hexagram, should think of yin lines as divided lines and yang lines as undivided lines (Kohn 2019, 50). The Yijing can be a voice of harmony between breath, no breath, voice, and ink.

Daoist talismans have a long history in benefiting communities. The Chinese history of ancient talismans might have started with the Hetu ([Yellow] River Chart) and the Luoshu (Writ of the Luo [River]). The first one can be conceived as a celestial treasure map and the second is a terrestrial treasure map. The celestial map points out the yang order of the first part of the yearly spring creation patterns of the five phases. The Luoshu points to the post-heaven state of change to describe the destructive phase of the cycle we perceive as fall. Together they allow for the flow to undulate. Nüwa and Fuxi are considered the original yinyang dragons who originated life and techniques to nourish qi. As consestors and ancestors, these spirits continue to provide support for divining. Their talismans continue to be effective. These transformational dragons are called Root-Breath and Lady She-Voice. (Hinton 2015, vii).

Treasure Registers

Daoist practitioners go through several stages in order to receive a book called a treasure register (lu) from Unborn Dipper Source, a Celestial Healer. The order is: pledge, vow, oath, precepts. Specifically, an oath of secrecy is given before thunder magic training with the pearl of undifferentiated equanimity born from the vital breath of spontaneity. The inner authority must also be followed. Do not go by revelation, tradition, or hearsay. Prove every belief against your own experience. Verification is a path to spirituality. If your path leads to benefit and authenticity then walk on and abide.

The register of the Daoist Dipper Arts school is a list of supernatural entities over which an initiate has command bestowed during an ordination rite. It is also a list...