TAOIST STEMS AND BRANCHES ACUPUNCTURE ADVANCED COURSES 2007/2008

Eligibility

This course is open only to those who have completed the foundation stems and branches acupuncture course, or have a solid background in Daoist Stems and Branches acupuncture (ICOM trained). 

Times and Venues

Each advanced training course will take place over one weekend, Saturday and Sunday, in London. The times of the course will be set when enough people have shown serious interest in the advanced training, so do let me know and you will be kept informed of developments.

Total cost for week-end courses - £150.00. 

Some accommodation will be available at the beautiful Temple Lodge in Hammersmith, at very reasonable prices. Telephone Temple Lodge, 020 8748 8388 for details.

Note that the lodge house is not visible from the street but is accessed via the entrance to the famous Gate Vegetarian Restaurant, behind the Christian Community frontage.

Advanced Stems and Branches Acupuncture Courses

1. CHINESE COSMOLOGY
in Stem and Branches Acupuncture

In order to understand stems and branches acupuncture philosophy at the deepest level, one needs to understand Han dynasty Chinese astronomy. An introduction to basic positional astronomy will be given to assist a full understanding of Chinese Han dynasty astronomical theories.  This will involve only the most basic geometry, in order to understand the movements of the heavens. 

We will then look at astronomy as understood during the Han dynasty.  We will examine the importance of the plough in relation to the five elements and in relation to the nine needles, referred to in the Neijing.  The importance of the Celestial Huang Di to 5 element philosophy will be discussed. 

The twenty-eight lunar mansions will be explained in relation to the twenty-four seasonal energies of the Farmer’s Calendar. They will then be looked at in relation to the ten stems and twelve branches, and how this differs from the solar/lunar position of the lunar mansions. The combination deities of the twelve terrestrial branches will also be explained.

2. PSYCHOLOGY
in Stem and Branches Acupuncture

The Heaven, Earth and Mankind aspects of the psyche will be examined. The spirit, emotions and 5 element types will be discussed in relation to the Han Chinese understanding of the planets, as well as in relation to rituals and music, and with reference to various (Taoist) Daoist texts, including the Neijing.

We will examine the spirit, emotions and character type in relation to Stems and Branches acupuncture theory.  Alternatively, we can continue to explore the spirit and emotions in more detail in relation to classic texts such as Huainanzi, Chuang Tzu and Hsun Tzu – depending on the class’s wishes.

3. NUMEROLOGY AND TRIGRAMS
in Stem and Branches Acupuncture

Numerology is based on Han astronomical concepts, so it is helpful but not essential to understand Han dynasty astronomy. The Nine Palaces in relation to the nine field division (of the heavens) will be explained, as will the Hetu map and River Luo map. The numerological relationship between the stems and branches and the River Luo and Hetu maps will be examined.  Forbidden points according to the nine palaces, according to the stems and according to the branches will be explained.

I will explain the development of the trigrams. The post-heaven and early-heaven arrangement of the trigrams will be compared. The images associated with the trigrams, and their relevance to Stems and Branches acupuncture theory, and in particular the open points system according to the bagua will be explained.

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