The Philosphy of the Fist of the Five Winds
in the words of Master Arikel Callistrae,
Brother and Guildmaster, Fist of the Five Winds
Once upon a time, as all good stories begin, I had a dream. In this dream I was flying over Norrath, high above even the clouds, and there I experienced a revelation both wondrous and terrible. It was then that I knew of the forces that truly move Norrath. Even the Gods are subject to these primal forces that seem to flow through all life.
Of course, my mind could not conceive of such forces in their true form, so they came to me cloaked in analogies that were more comprehensible to the human mind. I will relate to you my vision of the Five Winds.
The first of them was the East Wind. This wind flowed around me, filling my ears with the sounds of crashing surf and burbling brooks, of the might of the Lifire River itself. It flowed through me in a subtle fashion, and only after minutes of this did I realize that the wind fed not my mind, but my spirit. The East Wind represents Soul, the primal essence that distinguishes sentient life. It is in the Soul that all action begins.
Soon this wind receded, and I felt a new breeze, this time fromm the West. It took me several minutes to realize its presence, so gentle and natural it was to me. This peace was not to last however; the Wind soon rose into a gale force, piercing and undeniable. This was the West Wind, and I knew then that it represented Inspiration, the spark that is the beginning of all things grand and terrible. Just as the West Wind came to me subtley, then grew in intensity, so inspiration comes to us like a whisper, then grows and grows until it must be indulged or consume us all.
As the gale died, it was replaced with a steady, insistent current from the North. This wind had a decisive feel to it, moving quickly and deliberately, as if guided by some unseen hand. The firm, strong movement of it guided me to logic and rational thought, and I realized this North Wind must be Judgement, the power of decision and choice. This is where Inspiration takes shape and becomes ready for translation into reality.
Next I felt the gathering of a mighty storm. A great South Wind gathered, swirling into a massive cyclone that I was hard pressed to avoid being caught up in. The whirlwind moved to engulf me, and I found myself in its center, miraculously unharmed. I felt a joy and a strength that I had never before known, and I knew in my heart that this was the South Wind, the Wind of Action and Resolution. To this day the South Wind resonates strongly within me, as much as I strive for balance.
The whirlwind fell away at last, leaving me physically and spiritually exhausted. The greatest moment of my life was yet to come, however. As I stopped to catch my breath and to wipe the sweat from my brow, I felt winds from all directions begin to buffet me. I flew a short distance away, hoping to avoid being caught in another storm, but the current was stronger than I, and all my best efforts came to naught. As the winds pummelled me, I felt them penetrate my skin, reaching deep within me. The air currents seemed to swirl together within me, finding each other and balancing perfectly within my chest. I could do nothing but marvel as the Winds became one inconceivably perfect current, a Center Wind, which represented all aspects of Doing united. Soul, Inspiration, Judgement, and Action were as they had always been intended to be, a single concept of mind-shattering perfection. This is the Center Wind, and what all monks of the Fist of the Five Winds should aspire to. A perfect balance in which all becomes one.
All Materials on this page by Nathan Albro
Copyright 1999