Appendices

The Earlier Heaven Sequence is a Journey … a fantastic and intimate subject for us all!

I recommend spending important time staying with each of the “Gua” (a Gua has eight palms and there are 8 Gua … thus 64 palms) for at least a month each.  Then periodically revisit for extended practice until you start to see the Form in its “Gua” Nature! Or try one month for each Palm over 5 years to complete a cycle!!

Again, our goal here is to better understand “Nature”, and our relationship(s) within this Profound and daring dilemma we call “Life” … It is paramount to acquaint ourselves with our own constitutions!!!

The Elements in their Interactions and Intimacy create brand new Elements (“Dragons”) … both in positive and negative ways! It is our Imperative to fully and better investigate the possible Applications for this newfound Biological Science. Whether they be Martial, as with the Swimming Dragons form, or for personal, cultural, and Planetary Healing … we Must engage Ourselves in this Sacred Dance!!! For the betterment of ourselves and our children’s children.

The long-term goal is to investigate and Master the “Transitions” … that most ominous of moments IN BETWEEN the techniques!!! This allows you to flow seamlessly between any and all possible scenarios!! I am Serious … This is REAL!!! Pay attention to the Transitions!!!

These techniques are critical skills to be developed in order to have the adaptability necessary to fight … in actual combat … which has no rules … where all is pure Instinct!!

The place of “Forms” and “Technique” in Tai Ba Gua are only for the development of these Instinctual Skills and their more important counterpart “Internal Skills”, which include both the development of better and stronger Qi/Chi, and especially for Swimming Dragons, the development of “Scholarly”, or mental meditation that help inform the practitioner of the Natural Patterns of continuity within the “Chaos” of random events.

This is best practiced in “Free Style” sparring, where there is no preconceived “technique” or “form” … you simply go with the Flow of what you are dealt!!! This is where “Transitions” are so important again.

Allowing Instinct and The Tao to guide your movements you are able to “Seamlessly” merge the Elements!

This is how the “Tao” guides us through the ‘Hsing I’ of Tai Ba Gua … Transformation of the Elements.

“Transformation” is the Consciousness of Transitions!!

That being said, each “Move” contains two “Transitions” … each an opportunity to Balance your Chi.

Incoming and outgoing … Gathering and Releasing … Protect and Attack … Connect and Merge! These are the lessons of the ‘Transition’. Study and Understand how the Elements interact … inside yourself … what they ‘Become’ … The Tao is our Mirror.

The use of the “Fingers” in the form is All about Directing the Chi. The nuances in the form give you firm control over the execution of the Skills in your development of the ‘Elemental Instincts’ which the form and techniques are preparing you for! Yet in actual combat, a Spearhand is MUCH safer than an unsupported finger! Though often times, a TOUCH is all you need!

Practicing with an actual other person is imperative to utilizing this “Internal Practice” of “Transmuting of the Elements” …Allowing them to Become a New Element. One that you are already Transforming into the next! Flow without measure.

Thus, Beginnings and Endings are our paramount focus … We stay in one Element only long enough to see if it works … which of course, we don’t know! ‘Transitioning Elements’ is the most important practice to the martial, scholarly, or medical ‘Practices’ …Embodying each Element at their proper “Time”. That is the “Internal” Practice of Tai Ba Gua … paying attention to The Transitions!!! This is the key to success in combat.

-December 2018

The Palm descriptions given in this book are meant as reminders. Notes to be Recalled … Landmarks along The Way!!

It is important to recognize that these Ba Gua Elements are Alive and Change their Qualities within each moment … Therefore,

Embrace Change!!!!