YELLOW FIRE CLAN
Posted by iqiyou on June 23, 2008
Yellow Fire Clan operates under the galactic principle that is self-generation, the mysterious ability that is contained within reality of creation springing forward from what was apparent emptiness. In all its derivations, Yellow Fire galactic influence is the quality of something appearing in the place of nothing.
What is immediately relevant to understanding how to use the message that is self-generation is that even emptiness contains the potential for Being. The qualities that appear to be emptiness only appear to be without Being, whereas in fact the potential for infinite Being is contained within the emptiness. While processing the truth of Yellow Fire, one must therefore give emptiness a closer look.
From the perspective of five-sense form, emptiness is a spatial illusion in which location is not married with quality; thus we believe that there can be a location with no discernable qualities, whatsoever. Nuclear physicists will admit that the effect of a particular phenomenon may theoretically extend outward infinitely, but few people have the conscious integrity to conceive of what that means about empty space: no space is empty. All space is at the very least a confluence of all infinite phenomena. The appearance of emptiness is a lack of sensory acuity to very subtle forces.
As sensory acuity to subtle forces improves, however, one would be able to discern that all space is relatively active in some way, and is therefore “full” of something, even if all that can be known is that it is full of potential. The most complex physics now being used by scientists acknowledges more important harmonics that are aspects of every point in space and that are contained in the concept of time.
Typical five-sense form conception ignores the existence of time. If you believe a space to be vacuous and someone was to ask you whether or not it had always been so, you might find yourself answering that you didn’t know. You may be relied upon to determine from your senses whether or not something is there now, but not whether or not it has ever been there, or for that matter if there will ever be something there.
The interaction of space with time from a physics standpoint has been established to be far less linear than we were once led to believe. Thus, future and past events are overlapping endlessly in space, and any point in space is able to represent not only what is happening now, but also what has happened before and what will ever happen in the future. These potentialities are defined in a microcosmic sense within the very fabric of reality and maintained in a kind of constant hum or oscillation. When physicists talk of zero-point energy, it is this base level hum of which they speak. No point in space is devoid of a seemingly infinite source of energy.
In looking more closely at emptiness, therefore, we find that it is merely infinite potential in a relatively quiescent. Yellow Fire expresses one broad example of such potential, that of spontaneous generation. Self-generation as it applies to Yellow Fire is synonymous with the more scientific statement of spontaneous generation. The difference between them is whether or not you acknowledge the non-material state of Self as a possible source of such generation. In understanding Yellow Fire, it’s important to explore that question, but ultimately the dynamics may appear to be spontaneous even when a Self has not yet been discovered. Thus, it’s appropriate to consider Yellow Fire to be the quality of spontaneous generation or self-generation, interchangeably; what is critical is that it is considered within the context of a new thing coming forth without apparent precedent.
Members of the Yellow Fire Clan express self-generation in various ways. We don’t wish to limit the ways in which something new can spring forth into being by defining it too closely. What’s important to understand, in order to use this concept for self-knowledge and evolution, is that it’s appropriate for an entity to focus their power, interest and intention in certain self-limited ways, and productive to keep that focus consistent. If an entity is consistently focusing their intent, it becomes possible to better understand how to relate to all those things that are outside of their focus, and in so doing establish harmonic activity. Yellow Fire is a specific spectrum of focus, and it may be described as all things related to the spontaneous generation of something out of the morass of potential that surrounds us all. It will be useful in later discussion of tribes to understand that when there is spontaneous generation, that concept requires that there was a prior state sufficiently different to make the spontaneously generated form something new, that something new pours forth from some source not located in form with its own internal integrity, and that the new form begins to be assimilated into the prior state. When we advise that focusing your intent in consistent ways to bring forth the new is Yellow Fire, we imply these three states: the before, the spontaneous generation, and the post-generation assimilation.
Each system (associated with a star or massive gravitational object within a galaxy) can express galactic principles variously, and certain stable centers of activity develop based on what is most readily expressed, understood and incorporated by the conditions already extant in the system. We don’t wish to limit the scope of possibility for such stable centers by defining them too closely, but one example of a stable center of activity would be your sun. Because of the powerful influence of your sun in your lives, second only to that of the galaxy, and the current condition of the sun, the message of spontaneous creation is slightly limited in available categories of learning and evolution. Thus, the galactic message is refracted in the sun before it’s exposed to and expressed in a human being.
To be clear, while the galactic message of spontaneous generation might include such possibilities as new stars forming, and changes that occur because some form passes through a cloud of some other form and they interact and change, your sun may limit such possibilities. For instance, your sun is such a strong gravitational force that much matter that could have ignited into a star is absorbed into the existing star before it can achieve sufficient acceleration, mass and heat to ignite. Further, your sun radiates such a wave of solar emissions that a kind of shell is formed around it that rebuffs all but the most substantive forms before they can even inter what is now defined as the solar system. The sun travels through the universe in certain directions and this acceleration is only curved by the powerful gravitic force of the galaxy. Combined, these result in a pathway that may limit the number of forms or entities that the sun or its system is likely to encounter, ever. All of these characteristics of the sun limit the spontaneous generation that will occur with the field of its system.
On a more human level, it is difficult for living things to survive long in deep subterranean caverns or underwater because most living things have evolved to make nearly direct use of the sun’s light as sustenance. Human evolution has been harnessed to our local star, and we find that we need to be exposed to it regularly to function at our best. This puts some limits on the scope of activity that’s available to us. Another example is that solar radiation is deadly to humans and most forms of life. The sun spews out so much toxicity to life that we require a complex shielding mechanism in order to exist. Beyond the boundaries of Earth’s ionosphere, then, we must have such shielding mechanisms in place in order to explore the system or beyond. Again, this limits our activities.
All of these things are merely examples of how a broader galactic truth is whittled down to only key possibilities within proximity of a star, and each star creates different sets of limiting realities. The reality you know is bounded by the limitations of your system, and the degree to which you can therefore explore galactic principles is likewise limited.
After the sun, but before human expression is another major proximal influence on your reception of this message: the Earth itself. Once again, the message is further restricted to readily available, versus chaotic or unsupportable, notions and evolutionary pathways by the planet on which you live.
Though we have said that your sun spews out energy that is essentially toxic to the form of life that’s developed on Earth, the proximity to the sun and atmospheric conditions of earth have allowed a very sensitive form to develop. Within the confines of the 20 miles or so of topsoil, water and atmosphere that coats the planet, this sensitive life can harness the power of the sun while limiting its degenerative effects. In a way, the Earth makes certain galactic principles available in a microcosm that would not otherwise be available in this system. On the other hand, Earth does so by putting certain other restrictions on forms in its vicinity. Earth’s gravity well is enormous and life can only grow so tall on its surface. Earth cultivates an atmospheric shell that deals with much of the damaging radiation, which also puts a damper on extra-terrestrial exploration—forms created to pierce the barrier must be able to withstand in tact the terrible heat and turbulence of the ionosphere. Earthquakes, floods, weather phenomena, erosion, wildfires, animal and plant predation, volcanic eruptions and periodic ice ages cause a wide fluctuation of conditions to the sensitive life-forms, and limit the degree to which those forms can grow and evolve. These are a few examples of how to interpret spectral refraction of a message by a local influential body such as a planet.
The 5 Tribes of the Yellow Fire Clan explore self-generation in 5 key ways. First, they explore the poring forth of the new into the old. This tribe might participate by seeming to be an inspiring or creative source, themselves. They might also observe, by attending to and accounting for all the new in some communicative way. They might even take part in the grounding of the new into the old by beginning to direct the new in such a way as to be readily assimilated, bundling, gathering, defining, and summarizing.
Humans will add much variety to the expression of these qualities and directives, but what draws them together is the central purpose around which they collect, that of something springing into being.
The following section is repeated for every individual Clan blog entry. It is meant to draw together meanings from all four Clans, and understand one in relation to the others.
Of the 4 Clans, Blue Sky and Yellow Fire represent the most destructive and simultaneously most creative capacities, whereas Red Blood and White Truth represent the most constructive, and receptive.
With Yellow Fire, we explored the notion of emptiness before the newness came into being. Blue Sky is more at home in this emptiness and doesn’t try to change it. Thus, Yellow Fire which creates the new and Blue Sky have the potential to be at odds. Red Blood understands that emptiness is actually full of something; specifically, all that has ever been or ever will be. Blue Sky also understands that emptiness is full of something; specifically of infinite possibility. Thus, Red Blood and Blue Sky have the potential of being quiet harmonious with each other. However, Blue Sky appreciates the comparative cataclysm that is the new as an expression of infinite potential, while Red Blood prefers things to become quiescent and stable. Since Yellow Fire represents such possible cataclysmic newness, Blue Sky and Yellow Fire are just as likely to be natural allies as competitors, and Blue Sky and Red Blood are as likely to be at odds.
At this point, it is useful to consider the newness of Yellow Fire in more detail. It’s important not to over-define this, since newness must represent infinite potential, but Yellow Fire’s distinctness can be better understood if we relate the new to our metaphors. We have thus far introduced, in addition to newness, the ideas of emptiness, familiar patterns, chaos and potential. We’ve essentially defined emptiness as a cross-over point between the familiar patters, chaos and potential, so emptiness is only another term for reality used to help describe Yellow Fire. The reality as cross-over point should also not be considered to subsume chaos. Chaos, from the point of view of Blue Sky, is merely that which exists but which is not yet known or understood. Thus, there must be pattern in it, and its chaotic state is only a relative judgment from the standpoint of the familiar. We’re left with reality as an expression of what is (what is already understood) and what can be (what may already be but isn’t yet understood. If we fold time over and consider all this reality rumbling to be not only past events but future ones as well, then the concept of something springing into being is negated. It already existed in one way or another and has, at best changed forms.
Yellow Fire and White Truth represent the dynamics of reality changing forms. Yellow Fire transforms the low rumble of possibility that is natural to all reality into something identifiable, observable and dynamic. However, its dynamic is new, in that it still hasn’t been assimilated into harmonic structures. Its dynamic is singular, individual, and to some degree self-sustaining. It has to be, because it hasn’t yet been plugged in to sustaining structures. From the perspective of Red Blood and White Truth, then, Yellow Fire is raw and untamed. It is an active dynamic that lacks specificity and interrelations. It lacks the complexity necessary to interact harmoniously. It is change that moves and eats the old, like Pacman eats all the dots it encounters. White Truth also transforms the low rumble of possibility that is natural to all reality into something identifiable and observable, but not dynamic. White Truth adjusts the fabric of the known to make place for the unknown, adding complexity and flexibility. Its dynamic is multitudinous, universal, but also self-sustaining. It has to be, because it swims in the waters of chaos. White Truth is Yellow Fire in microcosm, and the raw power of Yellow Fire can disrupt White Truth. The tools and complexities of White Truth can only create harmony for Yellow Fire with a certain amount of distance and time; a buffer zone created by Red Blood and Blue Sky.
To White Truth, then Blue Sky and Yellow Fire have certain similarities. Blue Sky represents peaceful chaos, which White Truth seeks to disrupt by assimilation. Yellow Fire represents raw, untamed influx of identity, which White Truth seeks to distill by assimilation. White Truth is better suited to assimilating Blue Sky’s reality, and thus looks to hold its distance from Yellow Fire through Red Blood. But, in a way, White Truth seeks to eat away at both of these dynamics, Blue Sky and Yellow Fire. What White Truth excretes goes to Red Blood.
To Red Blood, White Truth and Yellow Fire are similar in that they both excrete toward it. Red Blood receives the vast new from Yellow Fire and the minutiae of truth from White Truth. This makes Red Blood naturally receptive—reality flows into Red Blood like rivers into the ocean—but causes its dynamic to also be resistive, to control the influx—Red Blood builds damns, canals and irrigation to keep from flooding. Blue Sky, contrarily is eaten away at by both White Truth and Yellow Fire; White Truth transforms its homey chaos into truth and Yellow Fire manifests its infinite potential into something more static. Blue Sky is therefore naturally expansive—reality flows out from Blue Sky like rain from clouds, pushing outward into White Truth and Yellow Fire. It is this dynamic that emphasizes how Blue Sky represents potential, the bubbling of reality into something new, rather than down into history (which would be the antithetical Red Blood dynamic). Blue Sky is not passively in love with chaos, it is actively pushing things into new being—chaos as an intermediary step to evolution.
At the center of the galaxy is an area that is so massive that nothing appears to emit from it; all movement is into its center. The stars that make up the obvious form in the galaxy contrarily are almost entirely radiative, pushing themselves outward into the void. In between, in what is generally termed “interstellar space” is a region with much activity that is mostly deemed to be a subtle balance of the two dynamics, involution and expression. The galactic message is thus writ large and small, and human dynamism is a microcosm of these possibilities. Interpreting the Clans usefully will involve assigning life situations and issues in terms of these metaphors.
If you were, let’s say, a human Yellow Fire Clan member, then it would be useful to consider how what you perceive and deal with in your life seems to be relatively empty of whatever you value or delight in, and how particularly well suited you are to bring some of these things into that emptiness. It’s of little use to decry the emptiness when you, yourself are intended to be its solution. So, if you’re a Yellow Fire and you’re depressed over what isn’t the way you want it to be, it should be helpful to receive the Yellow Fire advice that potential exists all around you and wants only your power to ignite into something new. In relationships with others, it’s important to know that not everyone will be comfortable with the changes, and that social responsibility demands that you find accord in place and company before setting fire to things. In particular, understand and respect the safe distance that members of the White Truth Clan may need to keep from you for their own comfort. Additionally, if you can stomach helping your Red Blood acquaintances get used to your new ideas and projects, and allow for plenty of versatility for your Blue Sky acquaintances, you may find that there is much support and even assistance available to you.
With Red Blood, we explored the differentiation between the bubbling that is the baseline of reality, and represents everything known, understood and comforting, versus the bubbling that is the baseline of reality that is unknown, unrelated and comparatively chaotic. As Yellow Fire was to Blue Sky when reality was emptiness or form, White Truth is to Blue Sky when reality is chaos and the familiar. While Blue Sky appreciates the chaos unaltered, White Truth is moved to make of it that which can be understood and used. It would be appropriate to suppose that White Truth is the spontaneous generation of truth and pattern from chaos, the Yellow Fire of chaos.
Red Blood appreciates the ripples on the pond that have resulted from a past event, but shies away from turbulence of unknown origin or intent, and is awakened to action when the ripples of the past begin to subside or disappear, creating augmented reminiscence. White Truth, contrarily, appreciates pattern and synchronicity, shies away from undifferentiated wholeness (Yellow Fire), is awakened to interest and action by the unknown, and creates as a result of its action, that which can be known. Blue Sky appreciates all the ripples just as they are, without requiring understanding of them, but avoids the sedentary and static. Blue Sky unlike the other three Clans isn’t called into action by anything, but rather represents a default state of action, a kind of always boiling, a mixture of stasis and change. It’s avoidance of static structures, however, make it appear to be called toward undeclared, undifferentiated, unmanifest areas. When something eats away at it, like White Truth or Yellow Fire, it glides away like oil on water.
Your friend in the Tao,
Lihai Sherman, CMQ
Qigong Instructor
I Qi You
© Copyright I Qi You, June, 2008. All rights reserved.
