Walking in a Sacred Circle Garden: Instructions, Notes, Links, Bibliography, Resources, Quotes

This webpage is a work in progress. It is my summer webpage project, starting on June 1, 2013.
Work will be completed by August 31, 2013. Please excuse the disjointed and incomplete presentation.

I often "Walk in the Sacred Circle," with the primary intention of relating to the meanings and associations of the Eight Energies (Eight Elementals, Eight Dimensions, Eight Bagua Trigrams) symbolized in our backyard outdoor Sacred Circle Garden. This is a practice of quiet meditation; and, a place for working on the integration of mind/energy/spirit (Yi/Qi/Shen) by means of a physical practice, ritual, and use of the active imagination. There are also many bodily benefits of this practice: warming up and awakening the body, conditioning and strengthening the legs and cardio-vascular system, learning to maintain a relaxed and upright posture, breathing deeply and properly, improving balance, and enhancing general awareness and sensitivity. Just being outdoors has numerous benefits for the body, mind, and spirit.

To provide variety and to relate to the meanings and symbolism of the Eight Elementals (Energies, Dimensions, Forces), I hold my hands in different positions while walking the circle. I think that each of these hand positions (i.e., mudras, symbolic hand positions, palm postures) help bring mental focus on one of the eight essential energies/dimensions of the cosmos, highlights those energies, and helps the mind concentrate and focus more readily. The Heart-Mind-Spirit-Energies (Hsin-Shen-Qi)
Circle Walking ritual practice helps to build and circulate the vital energy, Qi-Prana-Chi or Life Force in the body/mind of the practitioner; and, repeated and consistent work with this type of ritual exercise is Bagua Qigong.

My decision as to how I view Walking in the Sacred Circle ritual practice is based on my interpretation of the Eight Energies and Eight Dimensions of the Cosmos. My interpretations are based upon my research into Daoism, Neo-Paganism, Druidry, shamanism, rituals, geomancy, Trigrams and I Ching, divination, nature mysticism, and styles of walking mediation; as well as practical experiments in these areas.

My wife, Karen, and I have constructed a "Sacred Circle Garden" (Nemeton Grove, Reflection Circle, Serenity Circle, Circular Sacred Garden, etc) which can be used for this kind of Heart-Mind-Spirit-Energies (Hsin-Shen-Qi) Circle Walking ritual and meditation practice as well as for other ritual, magickal, mystical, seasonal, outdoor relaxation, and celebratory activities.

Adults and Children, Hawks, Owls, Birds, Cats, Dogs, Lizards, Snakes, Toads, Bats, Raccoons, Insects and other Critters have visited our Sacred Circle Garden thus far. We welcome all Fairies, Elves, Unicorns, Dragons, Phoenixes, Spirits, Guardians of the Four Directions, Gods and Goddesses, and Wee Folk to our Sacred Circle and we leave offerings of food, water, gifts, and incense to welcome all of them. We would get very unnerved if a real Lion or Bear appeared in the Nemeton while we were present; but we do hope that they are thriving somewhere else in the Wild on this planet. We live in a rural area near Red Bluff, California, in the Northern Hemisphere.

Consider Wang Shujin's Baguazhang advice that, "The definitions above are just rough explanations of a much larger picture. As for the details, it depends upon the learner himself to study, question, consider, analyze, and practice in order to find deeper meaning. The eight forms should also be examined and practiced individually. In conclusion, the more diligently you study the greater your return. Bagua Zhang forms imitate the nature of heaven and earth. Follow the principles of yin-yang and harmonize with the seasons, and you will benefit humanity by developing a more universal view of life. Embracing the yin-yang fish and treading the ba gua diagram you will walk the circle as though striding through the cosmos."
- Wang Shujin, Bagua Linked Palms, Translated by Kent Howard, 2009

A Daoist monk at the Baiyunguan temple in Beijing practices his Bagua stepping
in one of the many courtyards tucked away in the compound.

My research into related topics are all published in my blog or on webpages on the Internet:

Walking in a Sacred Circle Garden
A Walking Meditation Routine by Mike Garofalo
Instructions

1. The Sacred Circle walking path should be cleared of all chairs, tables, benches, or other obstacles. The center ring of our Sacred Circle is about 18 feet in diameter. The earth in the center ring of our Sacred Circle is hard packed clay dirt.

2. The candle and incense on the center white altar should be ceremoniously lighted. In the center of our Sacred Circle is a round red brick fireplace, about 3 feet in diameter.

4. Open the Four Gates (Casting the Circle) appropriately from the center position at the white altar.

5. Face (N12) the North Green Pole, in the walking path, and stand quietly in the Wuji posture.

In Ba Gua Zhang circle walking mind/body arts and practices, these Eight Postures are sometimes called the "Ding Shi" Postures.

Qilin (Unicorn, Lin, Chilin) Gentle Herbivore, Earth: Kun, Body, Physical World, Winter, North, Receptivity, Night, Darkness, Moon, Midnight. A Qilin (Unicorn) appears at the birth of a person who will become a Sage.
Yin-Yin, Green North Pole, 12-3 am, Birth & Childhood: Ages ?-0-10.
K'un, Earth, North, Winter, 土 ,

The Chilin Pushes Down to the Earth   [Zhang 2008, p.140]                             (Key to all the Reference Sources)
Fierce Tiger Comes Out of the Mountain   [Allen/Zhang 2007, p.75, p.227]
Downward Sinking Palm (Xia Chen Zhang)   [Gao/Bisio 2007, p. 124]
Qi Still and Step on the Earth - Charging the Tan Tien Qi   [Bracy 1998, p.66]
Preparation Posture   [Liang/Yang 1994 and Wu Ji]
The Unicorn Emerges From the Canyon in the Moonlight   [Garofalo 2006]

I begin by standing, facing N12 towards the Green North Pole, opening bagua zhang style, turning to face S6, taking the first "The Unicorn Emerges from the Canyon into the Moonlight #1" posture. Then I step out with the left foot to begin walking, bagua zhang mud step style, in a counter-clockwise direction (N12, W9, S6, E3, N12).

My waist is turned towards the Center of the Circle. The center of my walking circle is a round brick fireplace, 3 feet in diameter. I walk along the edge of a circle that is from 4 to 8 feet in diameter. I walk on hard clay dirt.

When I get to N12, I turn, bagua zhang single palm change style, reverse my direction, and walk clockwise (N12, E3, 6S, W9). I stop at the NE 1.5 Position in front of the Lime Green Northeast Pole, turn, take The Green Dragon Strectches Out Its Claws at Dawn #2 posture, then proceed to walk the circle again.

"This pure yin, all-female energy sinks downward, soft and heavy, while drawing inward. It is a receptive energy, which nurtures the energy of Heaven and brings manifestation from the creative potential of pure yang. This energy-change pattern can be compared to the sexuality of an ancient earth-mother symbol, such as the Venus of Willendorf. The Earth energy-change pattern corresponds to the physicality of the various double palm changes with the vast variety of ba gua zhang styles."
- Frank Allen and Tina Chunna Zhang, The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang, 2007, p. 228

"Song of the Downward Sinking Palm: Hold in the chest, keep the upper back erect, and sink the lower back. Twist the hip, close the knees, and grasp the ground tightly. Inhale in lifting, exhale in extending and uplifting the head. Relax the shoulders and stretch the elbow for downward-sinking palm."
- Gao Ji Wu and Tom Bisio, The Essentials of Ba Gua Zhang, 2007, p. 124.

Chinese Dragon, Thunder: Zhen, Rain, Winter-Spring, Northeast, Lime Green Northeast Pole, Early Morning and Daybreak, 3-6 am, Ages 10-20.

Green Dragon Stretches Its Claws [Allen/Zhang 2007, p. 77], and the Windmill Posture.
Millstone Pushing Palm (Tui Mo Zhang) [Gao 2007, p. 145]
The Green Dragon Stretches Out Its Claws at Dawn [Garofalo 2006]

Hawk (Rooster or Owl), Air, Fire: Li, Spring, East, Yang-Yin, Mind-Intellect, Sword, Knowledge, Morning, Yellow East Pole, 6-9 am, Ages 20-30.

Lion Opens Its Mouth   [Allen/Zhang 2007]
Young Man Shoulders the Mountain   [Bracy 1998]
Push Mill Posture   [Liang/Yang 1994]
The Hawk Streaks Across the Clear Morning Sky   [Garofalo 2006]

Monkey, Monkey King: Sun Wukong, Lake/Wet Valley: Dui, Spring-Summer, Southeast, Orange Southeast Pole, 9-12 am, Ages 30-40.

White Ape Presents the Peach   [Allen/Zhang 2007, p.76]
Embrace the Moon - Turning the Joints Outward   [Bracy, 1998]
Rotate Palm Posture   [Liang/Wang, 1994]
The Monkey King Offers the Early Fruits   [Garofalo 2006]

Lion (Tiger, Cat, Wolf/Dog) Carnivorous Predator, Heaven: Qian, Will, Forceful Power, Summer, South, Yang-Yang, Fire, Wood, Noonday, Sun, Red South Pole, 12-3 pm, Ages 40-50.

Embrace the Moon   [Allen/Zhang, 2007]
Bear Lifts Roof    [Bracy, 1998]
Spiral and Rotate Posture    [Liang/Wang, 1994]
The Fierce Lion Leaps Out in the Summer Sun   [Garofalo 2006]

6.   The Phoenix Appears at the Harvest Festival in Peaceful Times
           Fenghuang: Chinese Phoenix, Wind: Xun, Summer-Autumn, Harvest Time, Southwest, Purple Southwest Pole,
           Afternoon, 3-6 pm, Ages 50-60.

Black Bear Stretches Out Its Paw   [Allen/Zhang, 2007]
Lion Holds Ball    [Bracy, 1998]
Twist Turning Posture    [Liang/Wang, 1994]
The Phoenix Appears at the Harvest Festival in Peaceful Times   [Garofalo 2006]

7.   The White Snake Becomes a Beautiful Lady at Dusk
           Snake, Water: Kan, Autumn, West, Yin-Yang, Emotions-Feelings, The Well, Blue West Pole, Sunset and Evening, 6-9 pm, Ages 60-70.
           Legend of Madame White Snake.

Pointing to Heaven and Plunging to Earth   [Allen/Zhang, 2007]
Lotus Palm   [Bracy, 1998]
Bore and Turn Posture    [Liang/Wang, 1994]
The White Snake Becomes a Beautiful Lady at Dusk   [Garofalo 2006]

8.   The Bear Enters Her Den to Hibernate
           Bear, Mountain: Gen, Autumn-Winter, Northwest, Metal, Turquoise Northwest Pole, Night, 9-12 pm, Old Age: 70-Death-?.
           Identical to the basic Bear Posture in the Yin Style of Bagua, as presented by Xie Peiqui and He Jinbao.

Green Dragon Stretches Its Claws   [Allen/Zhang, 2007]
Acquire the Heart Palm    [Bracy, 1998]
Closing Gong Posture     [Liang/Yang, 1994]
The Bear Enters Her Den to Hibernate   [Garofalo 2006]

Most Bagua Zhang books and instructional media offer some suggestions as to practices for beginners in Circle Walking, Bagua Qigong, Warming Up Routines, or Zhan Zhuang (Standing Meditation). These suggested practices vary quite a bit as to specifics from teacher to teacher, although the purposes or intentions of such activities are often similar: warming up, simple walking practice, qigong. I have developed my own routine/ritual for home practice in our Sacred Circle called Mind-Energy (Yi-Qi) Bagua Zhang Circle Walking. Here are some of the other suggestions that I have learned about and borrowed from:

counter-clockwise back (N12, W9, S6, to NE 1.5), turn, return clockwise to E3 in front of the Yellow East Pole, turn, take the Owl #3 posture, and walk back counter-clockwise. This pattern continues with stops at each Pole and changing to the Animal Posture for that position (Unicorn N #1, Dragon NE # 2, Hawk E #3, Monkey SE #4, Lion S #5, Phoenix SW #6, Snake W #7, Bear NW #8). I walk around the circle 2 times (counter-clockwise and clockwise) for each of the Eight Animals.

I end at N12, turn to face S6 and hold for a good while in a San Ti Shi, Embrace the One, or some another standing meditation posture.

Allen 2007 The Whirling Circles of Ba Gua Zhang: The Art and Legends of the Eight Trigram Palm. By Frank Allen and Tina Chunna Zhang. Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2007. 238 pages. Illustrated with black and white photos. ISBN: 1583941894. Eight Palm Postures Circle Walking is described on pages 74-82. VSCL.

Bracy 1998 Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. By John Bracy and Liu Xing-Han. The Bagua Qigong set is described on pages 65-74. All exercises in this set are done while walking the circle. Only one photograph for each exercise is provided. VSCL.

Liang 1994: Baguazhang (Emei Baguazhang): Theory and Applications. By Liang, Master Shou-Yu, and Wu, Wen-Ching, and Yang, Jwing-Ming. The "Bagua Turning-Spinning Qigong," is found on pp. 36-151. The qigong instructions Include detailed descriptions, multiple photographs for each exercise, and translations of Chinese texts. Only the last exercise in this set is done while walking the circle. VSTLC.

Wang Shujin, according to all reports, had all his Bagua Zhang, Hsing I Quan, and Tajiiquan students practice Zhan Zhuang (Standing Meditaton) at the beginning of all training sessions. Most internal martial arts masters strongly recommend Zhan Zhuang practice. Bagua Linked Palms. By Wang Shujin (1904-1981). Translated by Kent Howard and Hsiao-Yen Chen. Blue Snake Books, 2009. First Edition in Chinese, 1978. 250 pages. ISBN: 1583942645.

Zhang 2008 Liu Bin's Zhuang Gong Bagua Zhang: Foundation Practices, Volume One. South District Beijing's Strongly Rooted Style. By Zhang, Jie. Contributions by Richard Shapiro. Blue Snake Books, 2008. Glossary, xxix, 232 pages. ISBN: 1583942181. Sixteen Zhan Zhuang Exercises, pp. 109-132.

Ba Gua: Hidden Knowledge in the Taoist Internal Martial Art. By John Bracy and Liu Xing-Han. Consulting editors: Li Zhong-Quan and Liu Men-Gen, Beijing, China. Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 1998. Index, bibliography, notes, 139 pages. ISBN: 1556432763. VSCL.

Combat Techniques of Taiji, Xingyi, and Bagua: Principles and Practices of Internal Martial Arts. By Lu Shengli. Translated and Edited by Zhang Yun and Susan Darley. Berkeley, California, Blue Snake Books, 2006. 369 pages. ISBN:9583941452. General history and principles of 3 internal arts, basic movements, basic gongfu training techniques, and a detailed description with photographs of the Sixteen-Posture form (pp. 231-356). VSCL.

The Essentials of Ba Gua Zhang. By Gao Ji Wu and Tom Bisio. New York, Trip Tych Enterprises, 2007. 570 photographs by Valerie Ghent. 358 pages. ISBN: 9780979158803. VSCL.

Pa-Kua: Chinese Boxing for Fitness & Self-Defense. By Robert K. Smith. Berkeley, California, North Atlantic Books, 2003. Originally published in 1967, Tokyo. 160 pages. ISBN: 1556434391. Sun Lu Tang's Circle Walking form on pp. 113-160. VSCL.

The Psychology of Ritual. By Murry Hope. London, Element Books, 1988. Appendics, glossary, index, 310 pages. ISBN: 1852300434. VSTLC.

Valley Spirit Center: Taijiquan, Qigong, Yoga, Walking. Instructor: Mike Garofalo.

Sacred Circle at the Valley Spirit Center Chart of Associations, Attributions, Elementals, Spirits, and Symbolism Eastern and Western Magicks
Valley Spirit Sacred Circle Symbolism	Eastern Cosmos Trigrams	Five Elements 五行 Wǔx�ng	Western Cosmos Magick	Daily Cycle Human Age

North Green Earth Winter Body Oaks	K'un Earth North Winter 土	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen, Smell Mother Valley Spirit	Body, Flesh, Beings Sensations Touch Earth, Soil, Stone Birth and Death Night New Moon Pentacle, Coins North Winter Trees and Shrubs Salt Oak Trees	Midnight 12 am - 3 am Conception to Birth to 10 Years Old: Babies, Childhood, and 90-100+ Years Old Birth and Death

Northeast Lime Green Cypresses	Chen Thunder	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Brother		Early Morning Sunrise 3am - 6am 10 to 20 Years Old

East Yellow Air Birds Spring Mind Spirit Olives	Li Fire Spring East 火	Fire South Red Phoenix Heart, Sound Second Son	Mind Thinking Air Smell Metal, Swords Childhood and Youth Dawn Crescent Moon Spring East Incense, Bells Olives, Aspens	Morning 6am - 9am 20 to 30 Years Old Young Adults

Southeast Orange Bottlebrush	Tui Lake Valley Irrigated Field	Metal, Lake West White Tiger Lung, Taste First Son		Mid-Morning 9am - 12pm 30 to 40 Years Old

South Red Fire Summer Will Action Bay Laurel	Chien Heaven South Summer	Metal, Sky West White Tiger Lung, Taste Father	Will, Spirit Intuition Wood Fire Sight South Adult and Middle Age Midday Summer Full Moon Staff, Stave Red Candle Almonds Walnuts	Noon 12 pm - 3pm 40 to 50 Years Old

Southwest Purple Redwoods	Sun Wind	Wood East Blue Dragon Liver, Sight Oldest Sister		Afternoon 3pm - 6 pm 50 to 60 Years Old

West Blue Water Autumn Emotions	K'an Water West Autumn 水	Water North Black Tortoise Kidney, Touch Second Daughter	Emotions, Blood Feelings Water, Cups Taste Middle and Old Age Evening Waning Moon West Autumn Cauldron, Chalice Willows, Laurels	Late Afternoon Sunset 6 pm - 9pm 60 to 70 Years Old Wise Elders
	Inner Entrance
Northwest Turquoise Liquid Ambers	Ken Mountain	Earth Center Yellow Dragon Spleen. Smell First Daughter		Evening 9pm - 12 pm 70 to 80+ Years Old Wise Elders

Center White	Tai Chi Grant Ultimate		Wholeness Harmony Interdependence Individual Self Circle Web White - All Colors

Sacred Circle at the Valley Spirit Center Chart of Associations, Attributions, Elementals, Spirits, and Symbolism Western Emphasis
Valley Spirit Sacred Circle Symbolism	Western Cosmos Magick	Daily Cycle Human Age	Annual Cycle Neo-Pagan and Secular Holidays Liturgical Rites	Deities Spirits Ancients Elementals

North Green Earth Winter Body Oaks	Body, Flesh, Beings Sensations Touch Earth, Soil, Stone Birth and Death Night New Moon Pentacle, Coins North Winter Trees and Shrubs Salt Oak Trees	Midnight 12 am - 3 am Conception to Birth to 10 Years Old: Babies, Childhood, and 90-100+ Years Old Birth and Death	December 21st - March 19th Yule New Year Christmas	Goddess Mother Ceres Demeter Gaea, Rhea Dionysos Pan Gnomes

Northeast Lime Green Cypresses		Early Morning Sunrise 3am - 6am 10 to 20 Years Old	February 2nd - March19th Imbolic Chinese New Year

East Yellow Air Spring Mind Spirit Olives	Mind Thinking Air Smell Metal, Swords Childhood and Youth Dawn Crescent Moon Spring East Incense, Bells Olives, Aspens	Morning 6am - 9am 20 to 30 Years Old Young Adults	March 20th - June 20th Spring Equinox, Ostara Memorial Day	Son Aradia Athena Minerva Hermes Zeus Sylphs

Southeast Orange Bottlebrush		Mid-Morning 9am - 12pm 30 to 40 Years Old	May 1st - June 20th Beltane

South Red Fire Summer Will Action Bay Laurel	Will, Spirit Intuition Wood Fire Sight South Adult and Middle Age Midday Summer Full Moon Staff, Stave Red Candle Almonds Walnuts	Noon 12 pm - 3pm 40 to 50 Years Old	June 21st - September 21st Summer Solstice Lithia Labor Day	Father Hestia Vesta Horus Vulcan Salamanders

Southwest Purple Redwoods		Afternoon 3pm - 6 pm 50 to 60 Years Old	L August 1st - September 21st First Harvest Festival, Mid-Summer Harvest Festival, Lughnasadh, Lammas Lithia Labor Day

West Blue Water Autumn Emotions Evergreen Shrubs	Emotions, Blood Feelings Water, Cups Taste Middle and Old Age Evening Waning Moon West Autumn Cauldron, Chalice Willows, Laurels	Late Afternoon Sunset 6 pm - 9pm 60 to 70 Years Old Wise Elders	September 22nd - December 20th Autumnal Equinox Mabon	Daughter Aphrodite Poseidon Neptune Undines

Northwest Turquoise Liquid Ambers		Evening 9pm - 12 pm 70 to 80+ Years Old Wise Elders	October 31st - December 20th Halloween Samhain Thanksgiving

Center White	Wholeness Harmony Interdependence Individual Self Circle Web White - All Colors		Year Annual Cycle A Human Life

"The eight "mother palms" (also called the "nei gong" palms or the "qi gong" palms) are the foundational static upper body postures which are held while the practitioner is practicing the circle walk. These postures are designed to train certain structural alignments while the practitioner is walking the circle. The upper body is held static while the lower body is continuously moving. In the practice of holding the eight mother palms the practitioner trains structural strengths, internal body connections, internal/external body integration and harmony, development and awareness of muscle groups not usually under conscious control, tendon strength and conditioning, and joint opening and suppleness, in each of the eight postures that are held. Again, the exact postures will vary from one Ba Gua system to the next, each system of Ba Gua will have their own version of the "eight mother" palms."
- Pa Kau Chang Journal

"Without going on at length here are some of the training methods connected to the Mother Palms (Eight Big Palms, Old Palms): Dispelling toxins from the body, strengthening certain internal organs, strengthening the arms, opening the chest and exercising the waist, key elemental actions for fighting, preparation for weapons work, divorcing the torso from the steps, bridging between standing practice and the later Palm Changes, introducing all the elements which will be used in the Changes, developing the essential bI-dimensional thinking, feeling animal qualities, training the mind to control the body through "intent." Mother Palms are often associated with the Eight Original Trigrams. They are performed in a circle but while the arms don't move much they do engage and disengage."
- Ted Mancuso, Ba Gua Zhang

"Mother Palms are a dynamic kind of Qigong (life-force practice) practiced in baguazhang (eight trigram palms) that open, build and restore the energy channels within the body, as one walks in a circle. There are eight basic upper body postures or shapes that are held while walking through the different circular patterns and directions, and each shape can be held for various lengths of time, which transition smoothly from one shape to the next without breaking the flow. Ba Mu Zhang or Eight Mother Palms are designed to primarily train the body's small muscle groups, tendons and soft tissues (such as the ligament, joints, and fasciae) to maintain proper bone alignment and posture; this is one of the core training methods practiced in the internal martial arts for developing martial skill and whole body power. Additionally, variations on these eight basic forms and or energy themes can also be practiced, with an emphasis on connecting the different palm shapes to each other and maintaining consistent energy flow to all parts of the body."
- Ba Mu Zhang

"In bagua, the fighting tactics, anatomy, and esoteric teachings are organized into the same octagon, with eight hand movements, the Mu Zhang (�Mother Palms�), corresponding to the eight phenomena. These �palms� are blended into a series of movements done while walking around a circle. There is a divergence of teaching on how the Mother Palms are performed. Some lineages turn their body and go the other way around the circle when they do a Mother Palm, while others change palms without changing directions. Still others teach the Mother Palms with arms held in static positions while walking the circle."
- Allen Pittman, Single Palm Change

"The definitions above are just rough explanations of a much larger picture. As for the details, it depends upon the learner himself to study, question, consider, analyze, and practice in order to find deeper meaning. The eight forms should also be examined and practiced individually. In conclusion, the more diligently you study the greater your return. Bagua Zhang forms imitate the nature of heaven and earth. Follow the principles of yin-yang and harmonize with the seasons, and you will benefit humanity by developing a more universal view of life. Embracing the yin-yang fish and treading the ba gua diagram you will walk the circle as though striding through the cosmos."
- Wang Shujin, Bagua Linked Palms, Translated by Kent Howard, 2009

"It is surely to the shaman that all ritual owes the concept of role-playing, or the temporary assumption of the nature of the divinity whose good offices are being sought through the energies of the rite. Role-playing in ritual is, of course, an integral part of sympathetic magic, although many may not see it this way. Psychologically, it evokes the particular aspect of the representative god-essence within the self. In other words, by undertaking, for example, the role of Nephthys in an Egyptian Rite, the player is search for correspondences hidden deeply with his or her own subconscious, and submitting the appropriate archetypal figure for conscious scrutiny by both the self and the group."
- Murray Hope, The Psychology of Ritual, p. 28

"The Quan Zhen (Complete Truth) sect of Daoism was part of the Long Men (Dragon Gate) school of Daoism which was originated by Qiu Chang Chun. Interestingly enough, Qiu also invented a method of meditation whereby the practitioner would walk in a circle and, wouldn't you know, this method was practiced by the Quan Zhen sect. Delving further into this Daoist connection, Professor Kang Ge Wu was able to find a section in the Daoist Canon which reads:

    "A person's heart and mind are in chaos.
    Concentration on one thing makes the mind pure.
    If one aspires to reach the Dao, one should practice walking in a circle."

This bit of evidence inspired Professor Kang to try and find out more about the circle walk meditation method practiced by the Quan Zhen Daoists. What he discovered was that this practice, which the Daoists called Zhuan Tian Zun (Rotating in Worship of Heaven) is very similar in principle to the circle walk practice of Ba Gua Zhang. Researching Wang Jun Bao's book, Daoist Method of Walking the Circle, Professor Kang found that while walking, the Daoists repeated one of two mantras. The first of these mantras was used in the morning practice and translates to mean "When Rotating in Worship of Heaven, the sound of thunder is everywhere and transforms everything." The second mantra was used in the evening practice and translates to mean "When Rotating in Worship of Heaven, the great void saves us from the hardship of existence." It was said that the practitioner should repeat the mantra with each movement in the circle walk practice so that "one replaces one's myriad thoughts with a single thought in order to calm and ease one's mind." The Daoists said that in walking the circle the body's movements should be unified and the practitioner strives for "stillness in motion." This practice was described as a method of "training the body while harnessing the spirit."

When instructing his students Dong Hai Chuan was noted as saying, "Training martial arts ceaselessly is inferior to walking the circle. In Ba Gua Zhang the circle walk practice is the font of all training." Ba Gua Zhang instructors instruct their students to walk the circle with the spirit, Qi, intent, and power concentrated on a single goal. This is similar to the Daoist method whereby one clears the mind with a single thought. Although Ba Gua Zhang's circle walk practice trains footwork to be used in fighting, it also shares the Daoist's goals of creating stillness in motion and developing the body internally."
- Dan Miller, Pa Kua Chang Journal, Origins of the Circle Walk Practice in Ba Gua Zhang

Red Bluff, Tehama County, North Sacramento Valley, Northern California, U.S.A.
Cities and small towns in the area: Oroville, Paradise, Durham, Chico, Hamilton City,
Corning, Rancho Tehama, Los Molinos, Vina, Tehama, Proberta, Gerber,
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This webpage was last modified or updated on June 6, 2013.
This webpage as first published on line on March 10, 2008.

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Walking in a Sacred Circle Garden

Meditative Walking Practices in a Sacred Circle (Nemeton Grove, Serenity Circle Garden)
Daoist/Zen/Magickal/Shamanistic Circle Walking Meditation Ritual Practices
Ba Gua Zhang Style 八卦拳
Eight Trigrams Circle Walking - Internal Martial Art (Neijia Quan)

Introduction Instructions Bibliography Links Quotations

**Ba Gua Zhang Trigrams of the I Ching Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu**

Research by
Michael P. Garofalo

Walking in a Sacred Circle Garden Meditative Walking Practices in a Sacred Circle (Nemeton Grove, Serenity Circle Garden) Daoist/Zen/Magickal/Shamanistic Circle Walking Meditation Ritual Practices Ba Gua Zhang Style 八卦拳 Eight Trigrams Circle Walking - Internal Martial Art (Neijia Quan)

Introduction Instructions Bibliography Links Quotations

Ba Gua Zhang Trigrams of the I Ching Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu

Research by Michael P. Garofalo

Walking in a Sacred Circle Garden

Meditative Walking Practices in a Sacred Circle (Nemeton Grove, Serenity Circle Garden)
Daoist/Zen/Magickal/Shamanistic Circle Walking Meditation Ritual Practices
Ba Gua Zhang Style 八卦拳
Eight Trigrams Circle Walking - Internal Martial Art (Neijia Quan)

**Ba Gua Zhang Trigrams of the I Ching Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu**

Research by
Michael P. Garofalo