Forgemaster’s Iron Palm Dit Da Jow
This is the result of a standalone project one and a half years in the making, formulated by long-time Martial arts practitioner and student of TCM Ashley Ayres, in collaboration with fellow martial artist, electional astrologer, and ritualist Austin Coppock.
It was created during a supremely fine Mars in Capricorn election, the red planet rising in its hour, fortified by Jupiter in Scorpio on the midheaven, and anchored by a stalwart, exalted Taurus Moon. As always, the chart can be found in the image gallery.
The Forgemaster’s Iron Palm liniment is a specialized form of jow, intended to warm, strengthen, and fortify, in addition to providing the expedited healing properties of other more generalized dit da jows. It can be used in the formal context of iron palm (or shin, or foot, etc.) training, but it also provides energetic and magical properties encapsulated by the Mars election itself.
It serves as a form of exterior armor and attunes one’s vessel to the Martial sphere in a way that is both productive and invigorating. Apply and rub well into the skin before and/ or after workouts or combat, whether of a metaphoric or physical nature.
For a deeper dive into the workings of this supremely fine, well aged formula, Austin writes —
The furnace blazes, the iron glows. Blood burns in the hammer-arm of the blacksmith. Stubborn metal becomes malleable, open to convincing arguments from the hammer and the strong hand that wields it.
Fire, iron, and blood. This is the holy trinity of Mars, as crucial for creation as it is for destruction. While many know Mars as the Warrior, the red planet is equally the Smith. In the Smith we see the constructive side of Mars, the blood, sweat, and tears necessary to shape and re-shape our lives, our bodies, ourselves.
The Smith’s alchemical action is an especially apt metaphor for the transformation of the body. The layers of effort required to re-forge the body are quintessentialy martial, and there is no exercise regimen as close to the forge as Iron Palm.
Iron Palm refers to a family of limb-training methods which strengthen the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones for both defensive and offensive purposes. Many styles also emphasize the internal side, cultivating increased qi emission capacity for both striking and healing purposes.
Though there are many variations, the training almost always consists of a daily routine of hitting progressively more resilient materials. A canvas bag of bean, then stones, then metal. Though the results are dramatic, the training process is incremental, with as much attention paid to healing and perfect recovery as to anything else.
Over the years, a great number of liniments have been created for this purpose. Generally referred to as dit da jow, they are widely available and widely used for general athletic purposes well outside of the specific practice of an Iron Palm regimen.
The Forgemaster’s Dit Da Jow is one of these Iron Palm formulae, but with a Sphere + Sundry twist. This Jow was created in a fully ritual manner and at a precisely elected astrological time.
Prayers to Mars the Forgemaster were intoned to bless and empower this tincture at the outset of the operation. The operators were consecrated to the red work, and the medicine vessels adorned with magic square, seal, and sigil.
The elected time seemed a spectacularly appropriate and rare moment for this work. It was the Day and Hour of Mars, with the red planet exalted in Capricorn and on the Ascendant. This powerful, earthy Mars was further supported by a trine from an exalted Moon in Taurus, and meanwhile, Jupiter in Mars-ruled Scorpio crowned the zenith (MC). Not only was Mars strong, but Mars, the Rising, Moon, and Sun were all in Earth signs in order to ensure that the planet’s iron blessings were sufficiently rooted in the very bodily goal of this creation.
After the evocations were said, the herbal and animal ingredients were sealed in their alchemical bath for 18 months.
The result, the Forgemaster’s Dit Da Jow, is not only rich with the spirit and energy of this powerful Mars election, it also possesses the excellent properties bestowed by the materia of the formulation itself.
The basis for this recipe is the Iron Palm formula of Yu Cheung (1894- 1952), one of the famed Five Tigers of Canton. His iron palm feats were famously documented in the early 1900’s by photographers, and though his stone-shattering exploits are too numerous to cover here, there are entire books dedicated to his training methods. Crucially, he was known not just his power of his hands, but also their sensitivity.
This formula was designed by him to cultivate both strength and softness. Protection for the hand, energy gates, and organ systems while also maximizing sensitivity and the capacity to express qi for both healing and striking purposes. Yu Cheung’s formula is the basis for this liniment, though it has been modified in small ways for reasons of both ethics and efficacy.
This liniment is designed to unblock the qi flow, activate blood movement, relax tendons and ligaments and increase bone strength. The two types of qi this formula stimulates are wei qi or “defensive/guardian energy” and regular organ qi. This formula activates both in harmony, and is one of the many reasons it is superior to a store-bought dit da jow.
Forgemaster’s Dit Da Jow is formulated to facilitate the healing of bruises , tendons, sinews, and bones, and to reduce pain, strengthen blood vessels, reduce swelling, and mitigate blood stagnation. It also protects the meridians and mobilizes both protective and organ qi for health and vitality.
The Forgemaster’s Dit Da Jow is, of course, perfect for an Iron Limb regimen, but has a number of other uses. Both physically and energetically, it is an ideal pre- and post- workout liniment for any martial striking practice, such as boxing and kickboxing. More broadly, it can be used to ready and fortify the muscles, tendons, and joints in preparation for any athletic activity, and to facilitate the swift healing of bruises. Magically, it is appropriate for works of fortification and the cultivation of personal power.
Bottled and a portion made available to the public on the first Tuesday after Mars returned to Capricorn in 2020, a year and a half after creation.
Arrives in a glass bottle with spray top for easy application, in either a travel/ sample size of 1/2 oz for $25, or full 2 oz for $75
Note: Should not be used in areas with mucous membranes, skin rashes, open cuts, or sores. Apply a small amount, wait an hour, if no allergic reaction occurs, continue with use. External application only.
$25 – $75
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| Creation Date | September 1st, 2018, hour of Mars. Chart in image gallery. |
|---|---|
| Step / Function | |
| Planetary Body | |
| Vegan | No — Contains cruelty free, ethically, and legally harvested animal-derived components |
| Dimensions | 2.00 × 2.25 × 2.85 in |
| Weight | 8 oz |
Testimonials(23)
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This is the juice I’ve been using more and more sparingly as I’ve gotten to the half way point of the little 1/2 oz bottle I acquired second hand. Energy, strength, courage, determination, and libido increases. If there was a product in S+S arsenal that gets my furnace burning, it’s this juice right here. Sure the smell isn’t great ( gives a little curry, a little funk aroma ) but the effect is noticeable and I only reach for this when I need it. Another great effect is the quick recovery of physical injuries, specifically muscles. 10/10
I bought this for my daughter who plays roller derby, which is a high impact sport. She’s had a couple of shoulder injuries, a torn rotator cuff, broken humerus. She also gets anxious prior to bouts, and I’d forgotten all about this until this past weekend when we pulled it out to use in combination with a couple of drops of Twilight Alchemy Lab’s War oil for a multi game tournament. She told me later that she felt totally calm and confident, and went out and dominated. Of course the only problem now is that she wants more of it! 🙂 Thank you for making a product that totally exceeded our expectations.
This is STRONG. It makes you stronger. Smells like curry and makes you sweat that curry smell profusely when you apply it before exercise but the next levelling of muscle tone and core strength are profound. My resident kick-boxer is also a fan. I hope there’s another iteration of this because it’s indispensable – every home should have some.
I love this. The scent is very strong and recognizable — it’s not unpleasant though. I layered it with Jupiter in Sag oil on a day I knew I’d have to lift a bunch of things and run around a lot. Felt very energised and motivated throughout the day, and no injury (which, to me, is somewhat unusual!). At the end of the day, I felt regular tiredness instead of the expected utter exhaustion. I’ve generally felt relief after applying if I’d been struggling with pain, it helps to power through. Exalted Mars really shone through with the perseverance, endurance, great pacing and sheer strength. Really appreciative of this offering!
I haven’t had a chance to use this myself, but my husband injured himself recently and pulled some muscles- I sprayed this on the area and rubbed it in. He said he felt the warmth from the oil above and beyond just what the friction would account for, and he tells me he feels like this helped him recover more quickly. Good stuff as always!
Forgemaster’s Iron Palm Dit Da Jow has been amazing for my workouts, giving me the juice to actually do the thing, and keeps me motivated while I’m in the thing. Especially helpful with recovery and endurance activities, and really helpful in a Mars ruled year. Thank you for this kick ass juice. 🙂
I have items from the MiS series, but I missed out on the original Exalted Mars series so I wanted to try the Iron Palm Dit Da Jow (I have natal Virgo Mars) to see if it might help with my Mars remediation. I have Capricorn midheaven and I was interested in reconciling Mars with it. The result has been brilliant.
There are very physical aspects to my job and Dit Da Jow has made those much less intimidating and actually encouraged me to focus on my body more, similarly to Venus in Taurus but not indulgently. It’s pushed me to plow through anything that gets in my way; I temper it with IH or Sol, so that it doesn’t bring out any unkindness. But it has increased my endurance, and it has a wonderful warming effect to it that my muscles love.
My core especially adores it, and it makes me feel like a tank (in a good way!) So happy I ordered it. Thank you, Kaitlin, Ashley, and Austin!
I hurt my shoulder sometime in 2020. It was so bad and painful. Desperate on getting relief without going to the doctor due to social distancing, I placed my 1st order at Sphere + Sundry after many months of browsing their items and reviews. When I finally made up my mind, unfortunately, the store was on dark, and had to wait. I literally counted each day for them to reopen. I am here to say now that the seemingly endless wait was worth it. The Forgemaster’s dit da jow helped me not only relieve the pain, but to literally use my hand again. My shoulder is not fully fixed yet, but at least, it is functional, and the magical item did the work at a time I couldn’t get medical help. Thank you Kaitlin for making the formula possible.
I never thought I’d really use this — I bought it for the First Aid Box. But… This is also great for an area where you need warmth and healing. You’re not supposed to apply it to an open wound, so I didn’t.
I’m sure it works well as a preventative but I didn’t plant ahead. Even weeks after I had impaled my thumb on my dog’s incisor (bizarre sequence of events, not the dog’s fault at all), it still ached inside and I could feel what felt like thick scar tissue. Upon spraying the Foregemaster Dit Da Jow, my thumb felt warm inside and the ache stopped within minutes. I’ve been using it intermittently since –when I think of it because it doesn’t remind me by aching– and it still feels warm inside. The raised bump of hardness is softening and going down as well. I’m so glad I bought this and have it on hand.
Forgemaster’s dit da jow has been helpful for my aches, pains, and bruises. Moreover, the Martian influence is clear. I use it to help me get ready for the day when I feel I’m too exhausted to move forward.
I love Forgemaster. I bought it more or less on a whim, hoping it might help with my many areas of pain and now a desperately wish I could get more. I put it on my hands, for arthritis as well as sore muscles as night and I sleep so much better. Our aches and pains seem become more apparent as our minds quiet.
I am not a Mars person AT ALL, but I am a hardcore klutz. I purchased Forgemaster’s Iron Palm Dit Da Jow in the hopes that 1) Mars and I might become a little more, uh, nice to each other and 2) to use with the Asclepius series when I need to speed healing. While #1 may or may not be working, the healing aspect is definitely on display. Most recently, I had to apply it on Mars’ Day after being nailed in the shoulder by a heavy iron thing. I applied Iron Palm first. The pain, swelling, and redness faded very quickly for my bruises-easily skin, and the sensitivity of the spot is far less than what it should be considering the injury. Very pleased with this purchase. But not with Mars. Mars can go fck himself.
I was pretty blown away. I practice qi gong quite regularly, and while i wouldn’t call myself an expert by no means, i can pretty reliably tell whats going on in my inner enviroment, with the energy flows, and dan tiens. Well, i can’t remember the exact date, but the forge masters dit daw jow came in the mail, and i decided to apply some before practice. Let me say it was intense! I felt that it truly attuned me to the martial sphere, and i felt as if my body became a forge itself, and i was forging metal (my body) in a furnace, very empowering, and awakening, in a sense. Even if not that intense, every time i apply it i feel some time of martial intelligence peaks through, and the other day i woke up with a sore ankle wich was really botherng me. Applied some of it, rubbed it a bit, and after aimute, or two, it was gone! Really amazing product, and highly recommend.
This is special, (well, all the materia here at S & S is very special !!!!)…..I have been going through a few things with my yoga practice and have used this for my shoulder and wrist.
I’ve enjoyed this as it’s been a part of my pre yoga ritual and it’s perfect as I drive through the postures. I’ve felt supported and uplifted.
As my practice is a self practice these days, this feels like the teacher that I was needing to open up new levels.
I also use it at times when I felt sore and it’s shifted the ‘lumps’ so to speak, really well!
Love it thank you….namaste
I have been applying this to my lower back and other spots on the body, intuitively working to incorporate and attune to and ultimately be empowered and galvanised by it’s properties. It is like music for my cells, egging them on into formation. I feel energised, rid of all sluggishness and full of life. Love love love this formulation.
A looong time ago, I trained in Wing Chun and Mui Thai kickboxing, also studied TCM and will always choose my acupuncturist/herbalist over western medical doctor for actual results whenever appropriate. My reasons for working with this are tied to the above, but also curiosity and honestly aging joint woes (knees and hips, not the stoner kind!) I’m not actively battling others in the mat or training to take out blocks and sandbags. It’s me against the ravages of time and my own perpetuated bad habits.
The smell of this is pure nostalgia. This is SOOOO gloriously tcm medicinal. Funky gnarled potent raisin-y herbal goodness. Sticky sweet spicy but deeper and more complex than my other go-tos, po sum an and Zheng gu shui. (Also each of these is an entirely different formula with different indications and effects etc etc). I adore the scent of this S+ offering, but it’s not something I’d automatically expect others to enjoy.
I don’t use this regularly, but on an as needed basis. Used on stiff and panful knees, it created a sense of space and movement, warmth and flow. Energy was able to move smoothly through the area and full, painless movement was experienced… After one application.
Applied around my sacrum, again brought warmth and flexibility and decreased some pain and stuckness.
Applied at the base of my occiput/back of the neck, it increased flow and let me flush a migraine away.
This is great stuff, and I hope that the stars and brewmasters will align to do this and similar in the future… Ideally also in vegetarian/vegan formulations, which are as effective as formulas with animal parts, and kinder to boot.
I have a background (and a brown belt) in Krav Maga and after training with kettlebells for the past six years I recently became certified as an instructor. I’m currently training for two very grueling kettlebell challenges, which are causing soreness and strain in a variety of locations.
This week I I strained my right hamstring during a particularly long and challenging session. That night, I applied the jow as directed before going to bed. I felt no pain or tenderness when I woke up the next morning, which was an incredible relief. I’m looking forward to seeing how applying the jow before my next heavy training session goes. And I’m so glad to have this strengthening and healing formula to use as I reforge my body and my mind with my training.
I use this beauty to help strengthen my gut, and heal any bruises from my landscaping work. Upon spraying this on my stomach I feel an instant energetic armor. And the smell is amazing! Over time I’ve noticed my body healing more easily and give me the strength I need after a full day of playing in gardens.
I’m using this on ligaments in my feet that pull tight for no particular reason and at random times. This has caused several surgeries on my feet and those have caused scar tissue to form and I’ve had a few dozen cortisone shots over the years. Since I began using this I have notice the pain move from being an all over foot pain to a more localized pain at the exact spot where the ligament connects with the heal, and sometimes the pain goes away all together. I’ll second the comment about it being like a sleep balm. The ligament pulling thing happens to me most often when I lay down. I use this right before going to bed and I haven’t been deprived of sleep due to foot pain since I started using it. Thank you!
I first applied the Dit Da Jow in the hour of Mars to a sore shoulder and then inhaled the scent from my hands. There was the pleasant smell of maple syrup, black pepper and licorice, and a warm feeling of it sinking into my skin as I rubbed it on. The soreness began to feel better within a few minutes. A little while later, I noticed that I could taste it, but the sensation wasn’t in my mouth. It felt like it was tasting it in the back of my throat and at the top of my stomach. It was a strange, but not unpleasant sensation. The mental effect was one of ready, calm, and inward focus. I felt contained, but not stifled. Pleasantly determined and content with doing simple methodical physical tasks. Practical acceptance of whatever task is at hand. I was helping organize a storage closet that day, so there was a lot of moving boxes in and out. We went to lunch later on, while pleasant I didn’t feel very social or talkative. I just wanted to get back to work. Highly recommend!
this jow is my jam. it’s moved bruising in old injuries, and overnight ceased the sensitivity of a recent one. i feel steeled to go into work, but that i’d better use a standing terminal, move around, do split squats on breaks, etc. and weirdly at night it’s a balm, calming my legs and feet so i can sleep.
The scent of this is so good! Spraying just a little is very stimulating, invigorating, and helps with my pain.
Uhh. Also it seems to be helping in the bedroom, too. O_O I think my man might have needed a little boost in the Mars department, and I’m guessing this helped.
But anyway, the scent is beautiful, and healing, and makes me feel like I could kick ass, even though I will most likely fall over in reality.
But that’s part of the magic, sometimes what you need is to feel that you can get up and fight, even though you’re not well enough. This gives me that feeling!
About once or twice a year I get extremely painful arthritis in my feet and/or toes. Each bout can last a week or more before subsiding and is unbearable. After using this Jow once the arthritis in my right foot disappeared within 24 hours. Truly amazing product and worth every cent. It has a pleasing and heating aroma as well. Highly, highly recommended.