“Having collected an army and concentrated his forces, he must blend and harmonize the different elements thereof before pitching his camp.”
It just occurred to me. Sun Tzu has already had us divide our forces into smaller units of specific maximum impact. Here he is saying that when amassing forces, though they may be split into teams with their own specific tasks, they must also be “harmonized” in how they area brought together under the umbrella of a unified fighting force. Part of this is in choosing best how to “pitch camp”, i.e. put these teams into optimal rest position before exerting them when needed for action.
How can this principle be applied to spiritual warfare?
Reunifying parts of course recalls solve et coagula. Now I don’t actually know a great deal about alchemy, but perhaps “harmonizing” might involve an elemental balance of forces, e.g. different forces characterized by all of the elements to deal with enemies from each: physical, emotional, intellectual, willful. A defeat in any one of those areas risks leading to defeat in all of them, and so readying troops wisely to deal with each and any enemies in each category is of course essential.
As far as “pitching camp” goes, it’s important to account for the fact that one can’t be in battle mode all the time. Rest is imperative, especially when battle is expected soon. Weapons must be checked, wounds tended to, spirits raised with song, bellies filled, reports received, plans laid, and sleep slept. I know I tend to “win” a lot more when I’m well rested. Blows strike with greater force when starting from a point of relaxation.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2021-03-16 05:36 pm (UTC)It just occurred to me. Sun Tzu has already had us divide our forces into smaller units of specific maximum impact. Here he is saying that when amassing forces, though they may be split into teams with their own specific tasks, they must also be “harmonized” in how they area brought together under the umbrella of a unified fighting force. Part of this is in choosing best how to “pitch camp”, i.e. put these teams into optimal rest position before exerting them when needed for action.
How can this principle be applied to spiritual warfare?
Reunifying parts of course recalls solve et coagula. Now I don’t actually know a great deal about alchemy, but perhaps “harmonizing” might involve an elemental balance of forces, e.g. different forces characterized by all of the elements to deal with enemies from each: physical, emotional, intellectual, willful. A defeat in any one of those areas risks leading to defeat in all of them, and so readying troops wisely to deal with each and any enemies in each category is of course essential.
As far as “pitching camp” goes, it’s important to account for the fact that one can’t be in battle mode all the time. Rest is imperative, especially when battle is expected soon. Weapons must be checked, wounds tended to, spirits raised with song, bellies filled, reports received, plans laid, and sleep slept. I know I tend to “win” a lot more when I’m well rested. Blows strike with greater force when starting from a point of relaxation.