Wood affinity talismans are a type of talisman that harnesses the power of wood energy. Wood is one of the five elements in Chinese metaphysics, and it represents growth, expansion, and vitality. Wood affinity talismans are believed to bring forth these qualities in the wearer or the environment in which they are placed. In Chinese culture, wood is associated with the East and the spring season. It is also connected to the liver and gallbladder meridians in traditional Chinese medicine. Wood affinity talismans are often used to enhance these aspects of life and promote overall well-being.
In This Article
Seashells, animal horns, and the cochlea of the ear are logarithmic spirals that can be generated using a mathematical constant known as the golden ratio. Agrippa believed that a magic square containing the digit 1 which exhibits the magic constant of 1 in all directions represented God s eternal perfection.
Wood affinity talismans are often used to enhance these aspects of life and promote overall well-being. These talismans are typically made from wood, although other materials like metal or stone may also be used. They are usually designed in the shape of symbols or objects that represent wood, such as trees, leaves, or branches.
Pat'sBlog
I just came across an older article from the Journal of Recreational Mathematics about the 3x3 Magic square that reminded me of some beautiful relations in the square, and showed me a few I had never seen. The article is by Owen O'Shea and is titled "SOME WORDS ON THE LO SHU". If you want to search out the whole thing (well worth the read) it is in Volume 35(1) starting on page 23.
The Lo Shu Square ( literally: Luo (River) Book/Scroll) is the unique normal magic square of order three. Except for rotations or reflections it is the only order three magic square that can be formed with the digits 1-9. Chinese legends concerning the pre-historic Emperor Yu tell of the Lo Shu: In ancient China there was a huge deluge: the people offered sacrifices to the god of one of the flooding rivers, the Luo river, to try to calm his anger. A magical turtle emerged from the water with the curious and decidedly unnatural (for a turtle shell) Lo Shu pattern on its shell: circular dots giving unary (base 1) representations of the integers one through nine are arranged in a three-by-three grid. The representation in the more common Arabic Numerals looks like this:
The odd and even numbers alternate in the periphery of the Lo Shu pattern; the 4 even numbers are at the four corners, and the 5 odd numbers (outnumbering the even numbers by one) form a cross in the center of the square. The sums in each of the 3 rows, in each of the 3 columns, and in both diagonals, are all 15 (the number of days in each of the 24 cycles of the Chinese solar year.
Beyond the basics of the magic square, O'Shea points out several other interesting relations. First, the sum squares of the numbers in the top and bottom row are equal. 4 2 + 9 2 + 2 2 = 8 2 + 1 2 + 6 2 = 101. You can do the same thing with the two outside columns, 4 2 + 3 2 + 8 2 = 2 2 + 7 2 + 6 2 = 89. Go ahead, try the two diagonals, you now you are dying to know.
So what about the middle row and column? Well, the middle column is special; Because north is placed at the bottom of maps in China, the 3x3 magic square having number 1 at the bottom and 9 at the top is used in preference to the other rotations/reflections. As seen in the "Later Heaven" arrangement, 1 and 9 correspond with ☵ Kǎn 水 "Water" and ☲ Lí 火 "Fire" respectively. In the "Early Heaven" arrangement, they would correspond with ☷ Kūn 地 "Earth" and ☰ Qián 天 "Heaven" respectively. The 951 does have a nice numerical representation in the number. If you read the rows or columns as three digit numbers, you might notice that 492 – 357 + 816 = 951 and that 294 – 753 + 618 = 159. Kind of a transition from Heaven to Earth and back again.
An original O'Shea contribution is his discovery that, "Ignoring the middle column, form two-digit numbers with the other columns as follows: 42 + 37 + 86. These numbers sum to 165. Their sum of their
reversals, 68 + 73 + 24, is also 165. The same is true of 84 + 19 + 62 and their reversals, 26 + 91 + 48. Curiously, the sum of the squares of the odd digits, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9, also equals 165."
If we go back to considering the rows as a three digit number, the square of each row numeral is the same as the square of their reversal: 492 2 + 357 2 + 816 2 = 618 2 + 753 2 + 294 2 . Of course that would be really impressive if it worked with the columns too. I mean, awesome impressive. ahh go on, try it.
The article goes on with several dozen interesting numerical relations, and if that's your thing, you should seek it out. I'll leave you with one last beauty:
There is a not too well know problem in math called the Tarry-Escott problem which asks if there are sets of integers with the same order (same number in each set) so that the integers in each set have the same sum, the same sum of squares, etc.up to and including the same sum of kth powers.
Remarkably, the pattern in the lo shu gives a solution to the Tarry-Escott problem. Starting at the top left and reading around the outside you get the four three digit numbers, 492 ,276 , 618 , 834 . Now read them going the other way round, 438, 816, 672, 294. Now add up the numbers in each set. Add up their squares. their cubes?
Historically, The magic squares appeared first in China. In 500
I do not think that anyone goes beyond the Indian people in terms of expecting help from magic squares for healing diseases and even finding a spouse. They also took first place in producing magic squares known as the Jaina inscriptions. The first 4x4 square was discovered on a door in Khajuraho, India, around 1100 AD (Figure 4). Jainism is an Indian philosophy that was established in the 6th century BC, which may imply how important magic squares are for Indians who follow this tradition.
Some talismans may also include written or engraved characters or symbols that are believed to hold special powers or meanings related to wood energy. Wood affinity talismans can be used in various ways. They can be worn as jewelry, carried in a pocket or bag, or placed in a specific area of a room or a property. It is believed that placing a wood affinity talisman in a space can help promote growth, creativity, and harmony. Wearing or carrying a wood affinity talisman is thought to bring vitality, good health, and positive energy to the wearer. In Feng Shui, the art of arranging and harmonizing spaces, wood affinity talismans can be used strategically to enhance certain areas or aspects of a home or office. For example, placing a wood affinity talisman in the East area of a property is believed to bring good luck and support personal growth and career advancements. Overall, wood affinity talismans are highly regarded in Chinese culture for their ability to harness the power of the wood element and bring forth its positive qualities. Whether used for personal well-being or to enhance living spaces, these talismans are believed to have a positive impact on the energy and vitality of the wearer or the environment..
Reviews for "Embracing the Wisdom of Wood Affinity Taoism: Aligning with the Natural Order"
1. Sarah - 2 out of 5 stars. The wood affinity talisman did not live up to my expectations. I was hoping for a powerful and effective tool to connect with nature and harness its energy, but unfortunately, it fell short. The talisman seemed dull and lifeless, lacking the natural energy I was seeking. Additionally, the craftsmanship was poor, with visible flaws and imperfections. Overall, I was disappointed with the wood affinity talisman and would not recommend it.
2. Mark - 1 out of 5 stars. The wood affinity talisman was a complete waste of money. It had no effect whatsoever and seemed nothing more than a simple pendant made of wood. I expected it to enhance my connection with the earth and nature, but it did nothing. The design was uninspiring, and the quality was subpar. It felt like a cheap trinket rather than a powerful spiritual tool. I regret purchasing the wood affinity talisman and would advise others to seek alternatives.
3. Emily - 3 out of 5 stars. While the wood affinity talisman had a visually appealing design, it did not provide the benefits I was hoping for. I expected it to help me feel a stronger connection to nature and promote grounding and stability. However, I did not notice any significant changes or improvements in my spiritual practice or connection with the earth. It may work differently for others, but personally, I did not find it to be worth the investment.
4. Daniel - 2 out of 5 stars. The wood affinity talisman did not resonate with me at all. Despite its promising description, I did not feel any noticeable effects or connection to nature when wearing it. The talisman also felt quite fragile and delicate, which made me doubt its durability and longevity. Overall, it was a disappointing purchase, and I would not recommend it to anyone seeking a genuine and powerful wood affinity tool.