Tarot and the Medici Patience. Grimoire

Chapter 9 What, indeed, are these little creatures made of?

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Rice Beyond high walls, behind closed doors, a mortal struggle—within it, an immortal destiny.201

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In previous chapters, we discovered that all objects, processes, and events of The World can—when you attune yourself to them—be confidently assigned to a grand system of energetic patterns.

This fact has been confirmed time and again by practical experiments, and so is hardly up for debate. After all, the classics of theater and poetry have been saying as much since time immemorial.

And, moreover, there exist some rather refined and coherent theories explaining this very state of affairs. Take, for example, Feng Shui, Daoism, and assorted others.202203

For example, in such arts as Wu-Shu, Kung-Fu, Tai-Chi, and the like. There exists the notion of dividing all fighting styles into several principal directions:204205

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Rice Once the body is brimming with strength, the specifics of what or how become irrelevant. It truly doesn’t matter how, when you get right down to it. A fool is still a fool, even in Africa.206

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1. The styles of the Earth element—for instance, the bear, Elephant, bull, and so on—these are movements both slow and mighty, imbued with the power of the whole body. Stances solid and unyielding, as immovable as the mountain itself. Energetically attuned to the Muladhara chakra and the red force. The focus of attention flows to the legs and the tailbone.

The hallmark of such styles is that ever-popular superpower—tenacity and sheer survivability. For instance, hurling a boulder that weighs a ton.

Or, pierced with sharp objects like a pincushion, continuing to dole out stern—yet entirely righteous—retribution upon the foes. At least, until the end of the workday. Or the workweek. Or until the enemies themselves run out.

Such styles in Europe were practiced by Knights and berserkers. The rage and frenzy of Northern berserkers are specifically tied to the activation of the Muladhara chakra (or even lower—author's note).207

It is no wonder they so often draped the pelt of some hapless bear, tiger, or other poor creature across their shoulders. In myth and legend, they are frequently depicted as bear-warriors, jaguar-warriors, wolf-warriors, and similar illustrious personages.

The majority of the serial exploits of epic heroes—Heracles being a prime example—commence with the slaying of a beast and the ceremonial donning of its skin.208209

Socialization in society typically involves athletes, models, bodyguards (the unarmed sort—bouncers), builders, and bankers.

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Rice Patient and deliberate, water will make its way through any wall. As the saying goes, without water—'you're neither here nor there.'210

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2. The style of the Water element—for example, the tiger (or the leopard or Wolf, in different Schools). These are, as a Rule, soft and fluid ('lazy') movements.

At more advanced levels of mastery, the technique reveals abrupt transitions into firmness. Short, streamlined stances, sticky close combat, with fluid vertical escapes and an unexpected hardness. That is, all those traits that are native to water.

The Tiger style places special emphasis on entering a trance state, achieved through the 'tiger's breath' and 'tiger's roar,' as well as channeling and concentrating totem energy in the claw-fingers.

In Leopard style, attention is focused in the lower back. In these styles (especially Leopard), at a high level of technique, special emphasis is also placed on wave-like movements.

Energetically attuned to the Svadhisthana chakra and the orange energy. The hallmark of this style is sensitivity, charm, and charisma—including of the more sensual variety. The signature move of the style lies in making an impression and beguiling others, as well as a certain talent for inflicting wounds.

The supreme Siddha of this style is command over the currents of time—the ability to pause it locally, if only for a moment. For instance, the Tiger style boasts the so-called Roar of the Overlord—a deeply guttural sound that briefly paralyzes one's foes.211

The myriad ‘iron shirts,’ ‘iron’ arms and legs, and ‘dragon’s skin’ too are kin to this particular school of style. These techniques rest upon the local displacement of time across the fighter’s flesh.

Upon the surface of the fighter’s body, time slips—if only for the blink of an eye. Thus, it is impossible to pierce the ‘skin of yesterday.’

Socialization amid the tribe usually recruits: Actors, venerable connoisseurs of antiquities, wines, and art; chefs; investigators; keepers of personnel; kept women; and gigolos.

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Rice Fire dwells within everyone from birth. And without Fire, there is no movement.212

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3. These are the styles of the Element of Fire—such as, for instance, the Snake style.

Above all, these are supple, 'boneless,' undulating and spiral motions, with a particular emphasis on that trembling sensation in the fingers.

A special focus is placed on cultivating flexibility, for it is the secret to conducting the energy native to this style through the body and limbs.

Within this style, one hones the art of channeling energy not only through one's own body, but through the body of one's opponent as well.

Moreover, when channeling energy through an opponent’s body, one brings about changes in the functioning of their internal organs. For instance, one might paralyze an opponent—permanently or temporarily, ‘poison’ them, or even heal them, and so forth.

Indeed, this is what gave the style its legendary name. Adept practitioners of this style possess keen understanding of the human Organism, both as a unified whole and in the finest of its parts.

They are, likewise, well-versed in medicinal herbs, remedies, and their mysterious effects upon the organs of humans.

Thus, adepts of this style often find themselves socialized in society as healers, apothecaries, medicine men, bone-setters, or massage therapists of various kinds.

An emphasis on the Manipura chakra, channeling yellow (not to be confused with golden) energy. The signature flourish of the style is the talent for transmuting both one’s own and others’ bodies and energies. For example, this encompasses the art of healing—that is, not simply suppressing symptoms, but transforming the actual root of the malady.

And, on the flip side, there is also the ability to ‘poison’—that is, to intentionally block the functioning of organs at the physical level (for instance, through pharmaceuticals—poisons—or by some other method).

For example: acupuncture, acupressure, or a well-aimed strike to the intersection points of the nadis.213

A classic illustration is the 'snapping' finger strike at an acupuncture point, inevitably resulting in the opponent's paralysis.

The more elaborate variant is the 'Touch of Death'—a clandestine, seemingly 'ordinary' touch to a particular acupuncture point, culminating in death after a certain interval.

The deadline for Death’s arrival may fluctuate anywhere from a handful of heartbeats to days, months, or even years.

An illustration of such a blow can be found, for instance, in the film Kill Bill 2 (2004), when the Black Mamba dispatches Bill.

Exponents of this tradition include the 'Serpent' schools, Tai Chi Chuan, Ninjutsu, Su Jok, schools of acupuncture, Kunoichi, Kundalini Yoga, and the like.

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Rice It is something everyone always needs. No Air – then disaster.214

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4. Styles of the air element – such as the renowned Monkey, Crane, Eagle, and Fan styles, among others.

Attention is focused on the chest, the Anahata chakra, the element of Air, and the 'green' energies.

Mastery of the style is often practiced atop elevated places—pillars, lianas, branches, and the like.

In training, movement along 'trajectories' is emphasized, which is essential for ultra-fast maneuvers.

In the 'crane,' for instance, there is also the skill of concentrating the strike—and its energy—at a single point. Focusing a blow to a single point made it possible to pierce the armor of heavily armed and enchanted foes. Similarly, the ‘crane’ was often brought to bear against ‘iron’ styles, such as ‘iron shirt’, in the alchemical discipline of Qi Gong. The ‘crane’ found favor among imperial households as a trusted personal style, famed for its effectiveness and superiority over adversaries versed in rival traditions.

Within the ‘eagle’ style, the art lay in channeling energy to the very tips of one's fingers—and, indeed, into the opponent's body—alongside profound work with the style's totem.

The ‘eagle’ style often served the purposes of military reconnaissance, combining totemic practice with the singular skill of Astral projection to gather intelligence—returning, naturally, with findings from the field.

Moreover, the 'eagle' and 'falcon' styles allowed for effective practice of painful techniques and holds. They were often employed by guardians and security to capture criminals alive, with the goal of subsequent interrogation and trial.

The 'monkey' style is distinguished by low stances, rapid, 'chaotic' movement across any surface or architecture (these days one might call it parkour), as well as unexpected combinations of holds and throws.

A hallmark of the 'monkey' style is that it stands among the rare few capable of thwarting an opponent wielding firearms—thanks to quick, compact, unpredictable movements, and a knack for outguessing both attacks and impending peril. Indeed, it was forged expressly to oppose projectile weaponry and the refined, tiered systems of defense.

Likewise, a distinguishing trait of the Air styles is agility and a certain mastery over the play of probabilities.

For instance, if you spot someone in a film rolling double sixes twice in a row, or striking the target after the third ricochet, rest assured—they are almost certainly a practitioner of one of the Air styles.

These styles may also confer fleeting bursts of superhuman speed, and the uncanny knack for anticipating events, attacks, and enemy blows.

A Chinese mandarin brandishing a fan—absurd as he may appear to the European eye—may, on closer inspection, be a bona fide practitioner of the Air style.

A master able not only to foresee palace intrigues, but also attacks and blows, moving with breathtaking swiftness, displaying fantastic agility, and accomplishing many, many other feats besides.

For example, a master of Air might be a dazzling stock market player, conjuring wealth in the best traditions of their style—quite literally, out of 'Air.' Or, to be more precise, the art of anticipating what is yet to come.

Socialization, as a rule, encompasses all things connected to the management of complex systems, construction, and forecasting.

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Rice Born amidst the whirlwind of the Void, Metal is mightier than anything else in existence. It forms the bridge to the rainbow dream. Even children know this.215

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5. Styles of the Void, of Metal—take, for example, the Dragon style. As a Rule, it emerges as the sum of all preceding styles, possessing all their strengths, free of their weaknesses and vulnerabilities.216

Traditionally, it is mastered only after studying the previous four styles, through special initiations or by diving into dedicated trance techniques and work with totems. Sometimes, one’s training undertakes its auspicious beginnings with the Dragon style, serving as the primordial rung towards mastering the elusive remaining styles needed to complete the mythical quartet.

A keen concentration upon the Void and the Vishuddha chakra—a shimmering blue spectrum of energies—is encouraged.

Practitioners of the Void style—provided their mastery and circumstances are on par—inevitably triumph over the stalwart forms of Earth, Water, Fire, and, dare we say, Air.

Ordinarily, the Dragon wields the techniques of its sworn antagonists when entering the ring. Thus, one might see Air rising against Earth, Fire clashing with Water, or—should the spirits be particularly mischievous—a cunning blend of two or three styles facing just one.

Well, it's only logical. Truly—what is the point of battling an Element or style with its exact counterpart?

The signature trick of this style is omnipotence, versatility, and an all-encompassing nature.

The Siddha of the style—a leap into the Void, that is, teleportation, as well as the Siddhis of all the preceding styles! 217

Not a bad toolkit, wouldn’t you say?

For example, the ability to fly just as ably as to swim, to pass through stone, water, Fire, and even to inhale the vacuum of space.

Thus, the ‘dragon’ sooner or later turns into a cosmic Voyager and begins their pilgrimage up the staircase of Shadan a`Kar.218

The standard-bearers of the Void style are, as a rule, schools of the 'Dragon' persuasion.

The 'Color' of the Dragon in a school's title typically determines the particular Element or chakra towards which that School's disciplines are skewed.

For instance, the School of the Black Dragon concerns itself with martial disciplines impervious to any Magic whatsoever.219

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Rice Well, here it arrived and, just like that, it began—ended, and yet never came to fruition. There's no need to weep or to laugh. Where it died—there it was born.220

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6. As for the Styles of Death—think necromancy, the alchemical arts of poisons, demonology, and other such amusements.

In applied terms, this style comes in many flavors—the assassin schools, for example, or the more totemic establishments patterned after the Scorpion, the Spider, the Mantis, and so forth.

The art of mastering this style typically involves extinguishing consciousness and then activating the subconscious. It is, in essence, a metamorphosis into a flawless killing machine—if one is into that sort of thing.

And, as a matter of course, these Schools tend to delve into the secrets of Death and the World of the Dead.

The focus, predictably, falls on non-human energies and the Chakras. The color of this energy is, as a Rule, black or silver. In the grand tradition of Necromancy, it's an eye-searing, poisonous green—an unequivocal nod to its direct ties with the Styles of Life and, naturally, Shamanism (the 17th Arcana).221

The signature move of this style? Hypersensitivity to the faintest signals, the patience of a saint, adaptability, survival, and movements best described as 'unerringly precise.'

And, lest we forget, the uncanny knack for slipping from one world into another. From the realm of the living into Limbo, and back again. And, mind you, sometimes for truly epic stretches of time.222

Those same vampires, who slumber in their coffins for years, are classic representatives of the Death Style.

The social circle of Death specialists typically includes: surgeons, resuscitators, oncologists; morticians; robotics engineers.

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Rice The chain of incarnations stretches on and on. Someday—it will come to pass.223

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7. Ways of life—Shamanism, theurgy, and various 'Upper' styles.224

For example: Taekwon-Do (in its primordial essence), Tao, all sorts of 'Cloud Hands,' 'Golden Clouds,' 'Golden Towers,' 'Golden Dragons,' 'Dawns,' 'Buddha Hands,' and so forth. – styles that emphasize the meditative-trance state aimed at the ‘Upper’—the paradisiacal worlds (typically focusing on specific denizens of these realms or even parts of their bodies).225226227228229

A variant of this style—indeed, its true primordial essence—is the noble art of combat with a sword and chakra.

The crowning feature of the style lies in an array of ‘paradisiacal’ bonuses. For example: cheerfulness, health, optimism, resilience, intuition, longevity, mastery in the art of healing (up to and including resurrection), and so forth.

Socialization typically involves: ecologists, veterinarians, healers.

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Why, you may ask, was this entire Kung Fu panopticon invoked here?

Because the styles of martial arts—much like the entire world—are apportioned according to the fundamental Prime energies.230

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Rice Everything in this world is quite simple. There are two, and then—another four.231

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A similar division is found in Magic: Magic itself splinters into several principal domains—the Magic of Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Void (Metal), Death, and Life.

In other words, the entire World is composed of several fundamental types of energy.

Moreover, the fifth of these – Metal or the void – is, quite obviously, a superposition of the four primary ones.

Meanwhile, Death Magic can be seen as the lower limit of the magic of the void (ether). And Life Magic, conversely, marks the upper limit of the magic of the void (ether).232

Thus, from an energetic perspective, the World divides into the following projections of a six-faced cube—

1) Four projections onto the vertical faces – Earth, water, Fire, and Air.

Take note that Fire stands opposite Water, while Air faces the Lands;

2) above, it is bounded by the facet of Life;

3) below—by the facet of Death;

4) and in the center rests the primary space of the cube: ether, Metal, or the void (variously named by different schools and philosophies).

So, it is safe to declare: the entire World and any given thing is composed of four elemental energies (for simplicity, the energies of Death and Life are not counted as ultimate boundary cases), as the principal philosophies would have us believe.

Consider, for instance, Christianity. There, the cross serves to symbolize the very architecture of the world.

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Rice I set out alone upon the road. Is it possible, perhaps, that when alone, one encounters far too many enemies?233

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Homework Section No. 9.

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Rice. The nutshell of knowledge is hard. But we—well, we are not accustomed to retreat! To crack this shell shall aid us—an ordinary squared notebook!234

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1. Enumerate the heroes and idols of your childhood, drawn from adventure films, action flicks, books, and so forth. No fewer than ten, if you please.

Compile a list.

Analyze what qualities allowed them to emerge victorious.

Indicate which of the aforementioned properties of the Elements these qualities correspond to.

Through which Element did Domino, from Marvel comics, manifest her superpower?

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2. Find emblems and symbolism that feature the Snake. To which organizations and structures does this symbolism pertain?

What does it symbolize?

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3. Find emblems and symbolism featuring a skull or bones, whether currently or historically used. To which organizations and structures does this symbolism pertain?

What do they symbolize?

4. Identify emblems and symbolic imagery where the Eagle is or has been used. To which organizations and structures does this symbolism pertain?

What does it symbolize?

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5. Identify emblems and symbolic imagery where the tiger, lion, or leopard are or have been used. To which organizations and structures does this symbolism pertain?