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Does anyone use yoga directly in their magical practice, to effect and direct their energy, or do those who use it do so as a 'side practice' like energetic exercise?

For those who do, how do you incorporate it (and other eastern energy practises) directly into your magic works? Ant books on this?

Manonthepath, I expect some input from you

I use Yoga and Qigong and Taiqi for a variety of metaphysical purposes on several levels. These practices exist both as distinct from, and as a part of my magickal practices.

With respect to magick, I often use Qigong and Yoga to put myself in a proper frame of mind, so to speak. One one level I use it to alter psychic oscillations and brain waves to help me focus and tune in to the energetic dynamics I'm looking to interact with. For example, before I begin a ritual invoking Mars or Diana I meditate using yoga or Qigong. Some might perhaps view this as the equivalent to grounding or cleansing. On another level I have used Taiqi to open myself up to Mars and a Tengu or two as they coexist physically with me to instruct me in fighting and to conduct certain physical modifications such as Iron Shirt and stuff. During my Yogic or Zen meditations I am often enlightened or expanded by an energy I refer to as Diana. I use the Wuxing as a frame of reference to interpret many of the insights I gain. It provides a helpful context.

With the exception of the Wuxing and some of the geomancy practices of Chinese alchemy, I don't often use this stuff for direct spellwork though. At least I don't think I do. Your question makes me look more deeply into the contexts of mt practices and I thank you. I'd be happy to try to answer some specific questions you may have on this. It's a vast topic and my Wuwei practices tend to prevent me from being too organized in my practice.

Hello Manofsands,

Yoga is a broad subject. Are you referring specifically to the asanas or postures? That is just one part. I don't use them the only physical forms I use are mudras. There are a few works that I would recommend that will have you develop a solid theoretical foundation as well as practical techniques.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/147910 ... PDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/812151 ... PDKIKX0DER

http://www.amazon.com/Vijnana-Bhairava% ... ava+tantra

The mudras are the hand positions, right?

I've wondered on those as well. Most that I've seen seem to deal mainly with healing specifics. Does any of the books you have suggested reveal a wider scope of mudras?

On that note, when I talk of using yoga in magic, it is less for the strengthening or cleansing of the vessel and more for the manipulation and directing of energy during a ritual.

Hello again Manofsands,

Yes, the mudras are hand postures. There are a wide variety and uses, they are not just for healing. I am not interested in healing myself since I am a fighter and not a healer. You can use mudras for chakra mediation, which is what I do, or you can also use mudras for the Elements. There's a lot of information out there and I dug out and old PDF that I printed long ago and found the link again. It is here and while not perfect you can get some good information and learn some techniques:

http://kujiinressources.com/freestuff/M ... e_book.pdf

Yoga and Magick both have as their foundation to enter into different states of consciousness. The Shiva Sutra says “By infusing his energy of Will, the embodiment of that which is willed occurs at once.” (1:19) That is the definition of Magick in the West. How is this done? “The three lower states of consciousness (waking, normal dreaming & blank unconsciousness) are enlivened by the fourth (Turiya), in which lives the power of creativity.” (3:38) Creativity here is not artistic, but control of the Elements. Why should this be so? Because, “The individual experient in whom Consciousness is contracted has the universe (as his bodies) in a contracted form.” Pratyabhijnahrdayam, Sutra 4. This is all exactly the same as Hermeticism saying “As above, so below” because each human is a microcosm. The difference is, that in India there have been many people who have been working on this path, exploring this path and perfecting this path for a very long time. A tantra like the Vijnana Bhairava has 112 techniques called dharanas whose aim is to help you center your awareness to reach these magical states of consciousness. This is exactly what you need to work magick.

The difference is where the two paths go from there. You may not at this point in your life want to go off and become a sparkly or a wave on the ocean of Eternal Bliss. That's fine; like everyone you'll get there anyway and if you work with your chi/prana magically you may return in your next life as a naked guy walking around India with matted hair and carrying a skull (an Aghori: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEpJdHS1pV0 ). I would suggest you learn from these Yoga techniques (I'm not talking about the Aghori here, but in general) what you can and that you use them responsibly.

In my experience, the energy work techniques of Robert Bruce have also been very helpful. He is getting much more commercial than he used to be but there is good info there.

Alotta great info. Thanx Asurendra. [pray]

Ashida Kim has some most excellent works on the use and implementation of hand positions in Kuji Kiri, if this is the direction you want to take. combined
with Ross Heaven's book can be of use. these have a defininte Japanese perspective.

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Spiri ... 1594771071

http://www.ashidakim.com/