The Tao of Craft

BOOK DESCRIPTION

For the first time in English,* Benebell Wen reveals the rich history and theoretical principles underlying the ancient practice of crafting Fu talismans, or magical sigils, in the Chinese Taoist tradition and gives detailed instructions for modern practitioners who would like to craft their own Fu. Fu talismans are ideograms and writings typically rendered on paper and empowered by means of invocations, ritual, and transferences of energy, or Qi. Talismans can be used for many purposes, such as strengthening or weakening personality characteristics, finding love, earning more money, or easing emotional tensions in the home. The Tao of Craft shows how metaphysical energy can be harnessed to amplify, strengthen, weaken, dispel, or block other metaphysical energy and to rectify perceived imbalances in the material plane. Supported by an abundance of detailed charts and images, this book serves as a step-by-step handbook that gives readers the knowledge and confidence to craft their own Fu talismans for personal empowerment.

Wen, author of Holistic Tarot, delves into historic and cultural contexts of the Fu, from the neolithic period of Chinese history to contemporary practices of esoteric Taoism. Providing a solid foundation in the principles of Eastern spellcrafting, she highlights the blending of Taoist metaphysical practices with Western approaches to magic by pointing out eclectic, integrating, and harmonizing facets from other cultures and religions.

Historically, Fu talismans were used by medieval Chinese for alleviating illness; averting misfortune, magical attacks, and curses; defending against assaults; and avoiding poverty. This book shows western practitioners that the skill and knowledge to develop an interactive relationship with spirit realms are still available to them today, and serves as a practical handbook for accumulating Qi energy from sources in the environment and channeling it in concentrated form into their own Fu talismans.

* Note. This is not technically a true statement. There are a handful of academic books that touch upon the subject, which you’ll find published by university presses. Many of these books are cited in The Tao of Craft. There are also a few obscure self-published books on the subject.

IN MY OWN WORDS…

I take a first principles approach here to teaching a diverse and general audience how to cast Fu talismans. Which is to say, I studied thousands of historical and cultural artifacts of Fu talismans spanning different dynasties, from different regions, to examine the core practice through its common fundamentals.

By understanding the practice in its most essential components (cosmological principles, underlying symbolic structures, ritual functions, and magical philosophy), I reconstruct a practical framework for contemporary practitioners.

The result is not to replicate any one lineage’s methods, which we should not be doing anyway, and instead, exploring the deeper underlying principles that give rise to the art of Fu talismans itself.

I didn’t want to teach by analogy (meaning, to present the forms, mimic the procedures, and have you reproduce somebody else’s forms and procedures). Instead, I want to answer the question, “What are the irreducible elements presented in all successful talismanic traditions?” We identify those common denominators and design a more universal framework for understanding Fu talismans.

Your goal is not imitation. Your goal is comprehension in depth and scope, and that is what Tao of Craft strives to give you.

PURPOSE & OBJECTIVE

My purpose for writing and sharing this book with the world is to introduce core Taoist practice in a way that can be operationalized by:

Those who are not lineaged,
who want to bridge cultural gaps so that they might better understand the context for esoteric Taoism, and
who cannot otherwise read or write Chinese, let along interpret classical Chinese.

I spent a decade studying and analyzing hundreds of texts from the Taoist Canons and books of methods (or grimoires) found in my family library. If I had to synthesize my findings into actionable and universally coherent elements, what would those elements be? The objective of The Tao of Craft is to set forth those elements to share the fundamentals of Taoist talisman crafting.

Glimpses into my personal Book of Methods (or grimoire)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Benebell Wen is a practitioner of various metaphysical arts. She studies tarot, feng shui, the I Ching, numerology, and both Chinese and Hellenisic astrology. Wen is the author of Holistic Tarot: An Integrative Approach to Using Tarot for Personal Growth (North Atlantic Books, 2015). When not lecturing, teaching, or writing on metaphysics, Wen practices law in California and New York. She is of Taiwanese descent and currently lives in Northern California with her husband James and the spirit of their beloved cat.