Brian Wilkins is writing poetry, teaching taiji, and offering divination.
Divination
I don’t believe in the future: or rather, THE FUTURE, entirely predetermined and fixed. But when facing a crossroads, it’s tempting to obsess over finding the perfect path.
I also don’t believe in perfect. The grit gets in, and it should: we’re all healthier for it.
Divination offers perspective, not perfection. We make better decisions when we rely not on data, but on wisdom derived from stories, archetypes, and living spirits. Rather than discovering our destiny, divination allows us to become inspired, to choose what parts we’ll play in our lives. The figures of Geomancy or the Tarot trumps embody the drama of being human: a new love, a longed-for wish, a hoped-for harvest, heart-wrenching loss, new horizons.
All divination starts with a question: what do you really want to know? Honoring our desires with honesty is not only vital to a good reading, it’s also a valuable spiritual practice. Bold questions teach us to imagine a better world.
“I always leave our consultations with a practical and clear path forward thanks to Brian’s direction. More importantly, time has shown that his evaluations of my situations have always been wise and on the mark.”
— Kevin O., Divination Client
“Brian is the real deal, a talented diviner who has studied with the best… He is right 99% of the time, even when I don’t want him to be.”
— Orchis8, Divination Client
About
I love the word craft: the harnessing of strength, skill, imagination, and devotion to make something better — the hope hidden in it, that with patience and care anything can be improved. Craft makes change for the good.
Each of the arts I practice and offer here is a kind of alchemy, transforming anyone who is dedicated to the work. And each, in turn, has made my life richer and more wondrous.
But I didn’t get there on my own. My teachers showed me how to set my shoulder to the wheel: we all need help finding the way. I’m forever in debt to Mekeel McBride, David Rivard, Charles Simic, Gordon White, David Dolbear, and so many others. And whether it was poetry, magic, or taijiquan, their lives proved the commitment yielded results. I want to offer you the same chance to turn your world into gold.
Appearances
March 31, 2024 | What Is The Time | What If Magic Were Real? #03 DB and Ivy Bromius
Oct 1, 2022 | SaturnVox | A Wheel of Small Gods; On Healing and Poetic Ritual
Today we are welcoming Brian Wilkins, magician, poet, and taijiquan teacher in the Hudson Valley, onto the podcast to chat about his recent poetry book, A Wheel of Small Gods, published through Revelore Press with art by Brennen Reece. This interview is chock full of praxis wisdom listeners won’t want to miss. How do we take our rituals and turn them into art? In what ways does inviting the spirits of the decans into our lives change the way we process pain and disease in the body? How does healing in the body affect emotional healing in the heart and mind? Where does the concept of Time fit into all this anyway? All these answers plus some laughs and poetry readings by Brian himself in today’s episode of SaturnVox.
Aug 7, 2022 | Rune Soup | Talking Devotional Astro Magic and The Decans
Poet, author, taiji instructor and intentionist (this will make sense shortly), Brian Wilkins joins the show this week, on the occasion of the publication of his book, A Wheel of Small Gods.
We discuss how poetry can be a container or place for spirits, different methods of experiencing and understanding energy, healing magic, magic-as-time-travel as well as the how's and why's of coming into relation with star spirits.
Super fun discussion. Enjoy!
A fantastic conversation with author, teacher, and diviner Brian Wilkins, centering on his new book and oracle deck, "The Oracle of Decans." We delved into a discussion of the 36 Decan spirits, as well as the nature and interplay of magic, divination, and healing. This is a book and deck I've been looking forward to for a while, and the conversation around it is one I hope you enjoy. Important work in this world, and these times. Brian also treated our live audience to a few quick readings on their questions, and if you'd like the chance to be a part of our "studio audience" the next time we do a live taping of the show, be sure to join the newsletter on the Coffee and Divination website!
Defense Against the Self.
Three Mountains Taijiquan
In the winter of 2014, nursing a shoulder injury from aikido, I met my taijiquan teacher, David Dolbear. I didn’t know anything about taijiquan, much less the complex beauty of Northern Wu style—nor did I realize the flowing movements of the form would change my life.
Over the next few years, taijiquan restored my body to health: fixing my shoulders and knees (ragged from years of martial arts training), adjusting my posture, and teaching me a healthy relationship with my body. But the more important change was in my outlook: practicing the form taught me to be relaxed, comfortable, and clear in my intentions.
Taijiquan marries the imagination and a rigorous understanding of the body to create a peaceful, free way of moving through the world. If you want to learn to fight, I recommend kickboxing. Taiji is defense against the self: against those habits of anger and tension that cause suffering. At Three Mountains Taijiquan, I teach traditional Northern Wu Taijiquan for health, balance, and spiritual improvement.
My Taijiquan Lineages
Wu Style Taijiquan
Taijiquan translates as “Great Ultimate Fist”—great ultimate refers to the balanced and tranquil state of nature. That state of harmony in the practitioner is the goal of taijiquan practice: these movements emphasize health, balance, flexibility, and relaxation. Investing meditative intention into the practice mirrors these advantages in the mind and spirit.
Northern Wu style originated with Quan You, a Manchurian captain serving as a palace bodyguard in the 19th century. He learned taijiquan from Yang Luchan (the founder of Yang style) and his son, Yang Banhou. His position required him to end conflicts in a diplomatic fashion and he became known for his skill in neutralizing force. The form he developed offers detailed control over the body, challenging opportunities to train relaxation, and supple movement. Because of the dedication of his student Wang Mao Zhai, and his student Yang Yuting, the form has passed down much as Quan You practiced it.
My own teacher, David Dolbear, learned primarily from Liu Changjiang, a student of Wang Peisheng and Dong I Chen. Dave is the first non-Chinese person to learn the form in its entirety, and emphasizes that training taijiquan is self defense—by creating health, peace of mind, and joyful awareness.