indirect methods create opportunities and conditions that exploit the weaknesses of the enemy without engaging them head-on, much like how witches and demons manipulate emotions without directly overriding free will. sun tzu elaborates on this by noting that indirect tactics are: > "...inexhaustible as heaven and earth, unending as the flow of rivers and streams; like the sun and moon, they end but to begin anew." sun tzu, the art of war, chapter 5. in both witchcraft and warfare, the indirect approach relies on creating subtle shifts in perception, emotions, or battlefield conditions to lead to desired outcomes. this manipulation reflects a deeper understanding of energy and influence, where subtle forceswhether in warfare or emotional manipulationlead to significant changes. sun tzu discusses this as the management of energy, comparing it to the momentum of a stone rolling down a mountain: > "the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height." sun tzu, the art of war, chapter 5. the combination of direct and indirect actions forms a continuous cycle, much like the relationship between witches, the devil, and human emotions. while the devil cannot directly control human will, he can manipulate circumstances (indirectly) to sway human affections and decisions, paralleling sun tzu's strategy of using indirect methods to control the battlefield.
United States