I started studying Chinese medicine (acupuncture and herbs) at the Academy for Five Elements Acupuncture (AFEA). I wrote a summary of each day at the end of the day, to share with my family and friends, but also with the intention of compiling it all as a blog series, to share with future Chinese medicine students who are comparing this and other schools, but especially for those who may consider this school. My own school-searching journey took a long time. I unofficially looked for years, and then quite seriously started researching and visiting schools, last autumn.
I want to emphasize that I write from the perspective of a first generation Taiwanese-American with a pretty solid background of having traveled and studied in different places, and already working in the healing arts. Everyone's experience will be different. I hope that my experience will be informative, but if you are considering schools, then let that decision be completely your own, and don't base too much off of my story. Feel free to contact me with any questions. I am currently researching different schools again, and have piled up useful information from different schools, by now. I may or may not continue studying at this school, but plan to continue studying.
Thanks for reading, and I hope that you enjoy the transitions of this autumn season.
~
Day 1
Logistical day. Excitement. Shyness. Overwhelmed by financial aid talk, the navigating of loans and money. My bank rejected the amount we needed to take out,
for the first installment. I have never taken out this much money before. I’ll have to call them later this evening, reassure them that this is actually happening. I’m reassuring myself too, reminding myself that this
is true, I made this choice, it’s happening.
18 other students in my class. Tour guides are current students who have been here before. We’re “Class 33A.” A funny way of numbering class groups.
There’s a clear lineage though, of how long this school has been around. A numbering system. Chuck started off the class by reading the 33rd excerpt from the I-Jing and Dao-de-Jing, along with other interesting trivia related to the number 33. Then
we got to know each other a little bit through a paired questioning activity, then introducing our partner to the group. The rest of the day was spent in logistics: rules, protocols, etc.
Cozy classroom and school. Small, and friendly energy. Was bored by rules, but glad to be here. Eager to dive into the good stuff. Have three years to dive,
no rush. But honestly, big rush. We’re on an “intensive” schedule. They tell us it will actually be really intense: we’re here from 9 to 6 everyday, with an hour for break, and small breaks every 1.5 hours. We have
an “off” day every four days, for the 2.5 week intensive. I’m excited for the “intense” part to begin. Tomorrow, so they say. I’m ready for it.
School’s located in a peaceful neighborhood, near the library, two cafes, a walking area. Gainesville is interesting: poor neighborhoods are right next
to more well off neighborhoods. I’m reminded of living in Alabama, and the proximity of possible crime, even within neighborhoods that feel safe. I remind myself to buy and carry pepper-spray, for nights when I may have
to walk or bike home a longer distance in the dark, and to ask locals about where to go, and where not to go. During class breaks, I wander off into the park like area between our school (“safe” neighborhood) and what
I heard is a more iffy neighborhood. The jungle looms here, and I find coral beans with bright red beans, and other plants that I, surprisingly, recognize from Arizona, New York, and Taiwan. Welcome to northern Florida.
Day 2
First formal class day. Color-sound-odor-emotion diagnostic tools. Five elements introduction. Gary Dolowich teaches. He’s memorized so many beautiful poems
that eloquently augment the information, via the most beautiful inspiration. Basic info, but well presented. A balanced perspective. I enjoy this teacher. We have him the next three days.
Day 3
Spent last night eating dinner and chatting until 10:30 PM with my new friend, Susan. This resulted in me cramming homework/ reading until midnight, then
trying to finish right before class. Unsuccessful. Not a big deal. Just my perfectionist self wasn’t pleased with myself. But, this school seems pretty relaxed. At least for now.
We covered “Causative Factor,” or “Central Focus” today. CF for short. Basically, Five Elements constitutional analysis. Discussed the twelve officials:
organs, meridians, and dynamic functions. An inspiring mini-intro to the origins of the medicine via discussing Chinese numerology, and how they relate to world view, theology, and medicine. One: Dao. Two: Yin/ Yang. Three:
Heaven- Person- Earth. Four: Yellow River Map (like Medicine Wheel). Five... Five Elements diagram, with Sheng (Mother-Child) and Ke (counter-balance) cycles.
I feel blessed to understand Chinese language. Wish I had a teacher who was bilingual/ bicultural like me, who could give me both sides of the coin. That
part feels a little lacking: a deep cultural understanding of all this, from having lived it. Grown up with it. Maybe I will be the instructor that I crave, one day. Sure hope so. But although he didn’t grow up with Chinese
culture, Gary has spent lots of time studying and interacting with the I-Jing, Dao-de-Jing, and poetry and philosophies from other traditions. He worked one on one with Worsley, and various other skilled practitioner too,
and has more experience than I’ve even been alive in this world for. Very grateful for this teacher; hope upcoming teachers will be as skilled, or even more skilled, as instructors, practitioners, and just really wonderful
human beings.
Day 4
Four days in, and I am already starting to make mental and other comparisons between Five Elements (5e) and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) acupuncture
styles, different approaches to Chinese medicine. There’s also the “classical” approach, which only three school (that I know of) in the USA expound upon: Daoist Traditions, Seattle Institute of Oriental Medicine, and
National College of Natural Medicine. After speaking with many different practitioners while selecting schools, I really wanted to go to a classical school. But, I felt unwilling to relocate to any of the places where these
schools were located: NC, WA, OR. I will likely continue having this ongoing comparative discussion between TCM and 5e. It’s brought up in class pretty often, too. “TCM does things that way; we do things this way.” There’s
often negative connotation when referring to “the TCM people.” Sitting in on just a few classes at different schools during my school search, I hear similar semi-disparaging (sometimes even blatantly disparaging) remarks
about “those classical CM (Chinese medicine) people,” too. 5e likes to call itself classical, but considering that we don’t actually cover the study of the classics in class, I would not stick 5e in that camp. Perhaps,
in theory, but not so much in practice. I’m not sure. I just started. I’m grappling with these questions, already. And, do these classifications really matter? I want to learn and practice what I like the most, what resonates
with me, and what can help people heal. Period. (Note from after the intensive: I think 5e is more classical in approach, but not so much in academics. Treat the root, instead of the branches/ symptoms.)
Today, we covered pulse diagnosis. 5e only covers 12 pulse locations, whereas TCM covers 18. I need to reference my old notes from when I studied TCM in Taiwan,
but it seems like the locations for the organs/ Officials are the same in both traditions. But... many questions. Ramble another time. Priority, sleep.
Today also covered I-Jing: how to use, history, correlations with Chinese medicine. Trigrams and the original “ba gua”/ “primal arrangement,” and
then “five elements” arrangement. How the trigrams correlate with seasons, elements, and so much more. Fascinating and exciting. A glimpse into the poetry and religion, the almost pagan Earth-based roots of this tradition.
Basic acupuncture notions: meridian lines, cun/ “anatomical Chinese inch” (ACI) for point location, point names (Chinese, English translation, and numbering
system), and command points: source point (yuan), junction point (luo), element point (shu), horary points, tonification points, sedation points, and grandmother points. Three big obstacles to treatment/ considerations: aggressive
energy (AE), possession, husband-wife imbalance.
Day 5
Break!
Day 6
Transformative communication day. David Wolf and Marie Glasheen, writers of the book that we reference in class on communication, came to teach class today.
Debacle. 14 out of the 18 students did not want to take the class; we had a class pow wow while our AFEA teachers reconvened with the “outside” instructors, who came from the organization that David founded, Satvatove.
Apparently, they teach classes around the world on communication. David slumps his shoulders, speaks slowly and in a jagged fashion, and presents statistics to seemingly try and convince us about the importance of their work.
Marie hurt a few students with her somewhat aggressive style. They presented “reflective listening,” but did not model such. They led a few activities that brought our class into uncomfortable ways of relating with each
other. After lunch, we had one particularly long and uncomfortable exercise, in which I witnessed Marie bringing a fellow student totears of hurt and frustration, due to her rudeness, imposing, and lack of open-mindedness.
The class was invited to share our experiences after the activity, which had us paired up in groups. No one volunteered to share, whereas just two days ago, my class was vibrant and full of energy for Gary’s fundamentals
of Chinese medicine classes, with endless questions, sharing, and general enthusiasm. So, I raised my hand and addressed the group’s change of energy, “What happened, and what’s happening?” A little storm sprang, after
I opened that door, which led to a few people voicing their discomfort with the class, then our AFEA instructors calling a class break, and our class pow wow that I started this reflection with. We were originally to have
this class for three days. Now, we’ve got a change of plans for the next two days (no more David and Marie. Thank goodness.) And, we’ll see where we go from here.
Learning point: speak up. I am already speaking up much more at this school than I have, in previous learning environments. I want to get the most out of
this experience that I can, and am willing to be vulnerable, in the journey to do so.
After class ended, I had a discussion with Misti, the executive director, about my thoughts of possibly transferring to another school, my questions around
TCM vs CCM vs Five Elements, my general uncertainty. I also spoke at length with my father, a mentor, and a good friend. My decision around this is to give this intensive my fullest attention, to give it all I’ve got. After
it’s over, I’ll re-evaluate whether or not I belong, or want to stay here.
Day 7
Feeling down. Today felt like a “filler” kind of day. Chuck and Misti scrambled to pull together a last minute class, which was more experiential and
less intellectual. I normally enjoy experiential classes, but this class didn’t feel “deep” enough for me, with multiple layers of useful goodness. The layers are certainly there (all of this is rich material with inherent
deepness and an infinite abundance to explore, learn, and grow into), but I didn’t feel like we were able to access it as fully or efficiently as I wanted to. Feeling dissatisfied still, with our pace and depth of learning.
And no, it is not intense. I’m bored.
My expectations of Chinese medicine school are pretty high. Studying acupuncture in Taiwan, we jumped right into everything on the very first day of class.
I left the first class feeling challenged, inspired, overwhelmed, and excited. I haven’t felt that level of WOW-ness at all, since I’ve been here. I felt it a little bit in certain bits and pieces of Gary’s class (the
fundamentals classes, last week), but that energy was never followed through. We still haven’t gone into depth with anything. I am left feeling dissatisfied, yearning for more, bored, and thinking about changing to another
school. Any other school would start with the basics too, I suppose. They did, in Taiwan, too.
Perhaps the difference here is that in Taiwan, the culture is already Chinese. We don’t need to explain yin yang theory as much to a person who is already
part of that culture, where it’s just a part of the everyday life, where “qi” is an intrinsic part of everyday language, as are energetics, or even the meridians. There’s a baseline of understanding in Taiwan, which
is not present here in the USA. So what I already consider part of my make-up, or even just take the understanding/ knowing for granted, may be brand new for others, and super exciting. “You’re blowing our minds,” said one
student to Gary, while I was thinking, “let’s go further. Please. Let’s go further.”
Misti encourages self study. If I’m further along than other students, then I can just further my own education in other ways. I agree. But, I’m paying
for this. Is my money being invested wisely, if my teachers can’t take me as far as I want and need to go? If my fullest potential isn’t getting pushed and pulled in directions that expand me as a human and practitioner,
then should I find a more difficult, challenging school with practitioners that speak both languages, walk in both cultures, and are well versed in the classics?
Continuing to question. Yesterday and today dropped my morale down to the very bottom. It was even hard to smile or engage, at the end of today. I hope for
a better day, tomorrow. A bath, and a nice dinner, then early sleep, for tonight. It’s difficult to stay present and open, when I am feeling so very torn.
Today’s experiential class: practicing on different partners the difference in internal strength that a person has when they are over-thinking or mentally
relaxed, physically tense or relaxed, just standing normally or standing with the visualization of roots going down into the earth, resisting someone bending my arm or extending my qi outwards even with the bending person
there. These exercises were to cultivate the ability to (and/ or awareness of) extending qi outwards. It reminded me of various elements from my martial arts, qi cultivation, yoga, and contact improv explorations/ background.
I can’t wait to dance contact improv again, and otherwise engage with these other practices, and tie that together with my fresh explorations in Chinese medicine.
I am enjoying remembering my Taiwan acupuncture training, various elements: the magic, mystery, logic, science, and more. All the reasons I want to deepen
into this medicine, and devote the next 3-5 years, the rest of my life really, to this. I still question that intent but whenever I remember first learning about this stuff more formally in Taiwan, I remember why I’m doing
this. This stuff is amazing.
We also practiced qi-gong today. I would have liked adjustments, but otherwise, it felt good to physically (and otherwise) engage with these roots of the
medicine, the qi cultivation aspect. One of my first acupuncture teachers said that the source of the medicine originally came from great sages who practiced qi cultivation enough that they could feel and see the lines of
energy, or meridian lines, running around within their own bodies, and the bodies of others. And, that understanding was cultivated and refined over time, to the medicine that we know today. I just gave a vastly simplified
overview of how qi-gong ties in with Chinese medicine. The point is this: I want this to be an integral piece of my Chinese medicine education, too. I love how it feels, but don’t just want to physically practice: I also
want to intellectually tie it all together, then experientially pull it into the clinic. Unsure how it will all tie together, but I know it must.
Part 2 of today’s class: experiential diagnosis basics (again)... CSOE (color- sound- odor- emotion). A review of the CSOE affiliated with each of the elements,
and exercises to help us open our senses up to these things. Not yet going into detail about what these mean, or how to discern the intricacies between how the elements present themselves in their individual and overlapping
CSOE’s, only just opening up the senses. Ahhh! I want to go into the details! Into the juicy stuff! Feeling frustrated that we are still stuck on the basics, on the opening exercises. Twiddling my thumbs, tapping my feet,
and ready for more.
Time for a nice bath.
Day 8
Started with student self introductions. Fascinating and bonding, to hear personal stories of how my fellow students came into this field, and some quite
specifically to this school, or to Five Element style acupuncture.
I heard many people say “acupuncturist” instead of “Chinese medicine practitioner,” and realize that I want to be, plan to be, and consider myself,
both. In Taiwan, people make that distinction between one who only practices acupuncture, and one who practices the whole thing. I want to practice the whole thing. And, learn it all, too.
One student felt particularly drawn to acupuncture, but not to Chinese culture, spirituality, history, etc. That statement stuck with me, as a concern. How
can one separate the roots of the medicine, from the medicine itself? It also brought awareness to a core piece of entering this field for me: connection with my ancestors. Food for thought.
More CSOE. “We’re tuning the instrument,” said Misti, “not going into details yet. There will be plenty of time for that in the next three years.”
We’re not supposed to talk about the details of exactly what exercises we do, but basically focusing on opening up our eyes (identifying Color), opening up our ears (listening to Sound), opening up our noses (smelling for
Odor), and opening up our extrasensory perception/ intuition (feeling, listening, and perceiving for Emotion).
I enjoyed this particular exercise, which relates to pulse diagnosis. We did this in Taiwan, too: place a hair on a hard flat surface, like a book. Place
a piece of paper on top of the hair. Gently feel for the hair under the paper. Keep adding paper until you can no longer feel the hair. Try with different fingers, at different depths, different ways of touch. Feeling for
pulses is like this: can be so very subtle. Doing it with a mental energy, versus doing it with intention, or with the qi extended (or heart open, or what have you), is completely different.
Exercises in observations with soft, hard, and medium eyes. Then with the heart field expansion exercise. (They explained their version of this in class,
but I’d like to refer to Julie McIntyre and Stephen Buhner’s work in this realm, of attuning the heart as an organ of perception.) My own connections: I liken “seeing” in this way, like this “seeing” plants: looking
with “hard” eyes to notice fine details, perhaps for botanizing, or keying the plant out, for conclusive identification. Looking with “soft” eyes to notice the entire plant, and perhaps notice what family it may fall
into, with family characteristics. Looking with “medium” eyes to take into account both. Looking and feeling with the heart open and expanded to reach towards and connect with the plant, to notice the general environment,
and also that which cannot be seen or felt by just eyes. Taking in even more information, and establishing connection.
Day 9
Repetition, repetition, repetition. Slow pace. Perhaps it sinks in better this way. I am willing to be patient and see.
Qigong with new teacher, Jennifer Downey. She’s dynamic, fun, and interesting. Basic intro to qi, and yin yang again. Some basic exercises for cultivating
qi.
Fire element more in depth, with Misti. And, more info on the four Officials (TCM calls it the “Channels.” All of these different translation possibilities
are starting to get complicated and frustrating, when I know what it is in Chinese, and just write it in my notes as such!): Heart, Small Intestine, Heart Protector (“Pericardium” in TCM), and Triple Heater. A functional
introduction into the general actions and considerations of the Fire element, primarily in considering one’s constitution (aka. “Causative Factor” or CF, in 5e-speak.) Most of this information relates to the emotional-spiritual
uses and perspectives on these meridian lines, without much information about the physical uses. I’m enjoying the esoteric-elegant-beautiful-slightly-new-agey perspective, but am still craving more depth and practical knowledge.
I want the entire nut, not just the pretty shell. But again, patience. (And, the emotional spiritual aspects are very important! I acknowledge that. So maybe it’s not just a “pretty shell.” But, it’s all important!
I hope it will all get tied together.)
Day 10
Break 2!
Day 11
Qigong: upper/ middle/ lower dantian. Three treasures (Jing/ Essence in the lower dantian, Qi/ Breath in the middle dantian, Shen/ Spirit in the upper dantian).
Triple burners: upper for assimilation, middle for digestion, lower for elimination. Intention, attention, sensation, and imagination. Palpating the energy, clearing stuck energy, activating/ cultivating the Qi/ energy, storing
it. Moving and seated meditations/ practices. An elements- visualization meditation: visualizing the color of each element, bathing the yin Official organs associated with each element. A little new- agey, but relaxing. I
might incorporate something like that into a meridians dance, to help me memorize points. Traditionally, (I learned this from my Taiwan teacher) song-lines for each meridian line are memorized and recited to help remember
points, their relationship with each other, where they are, and their actions and indications. These song-lines are short and sweet, like the Tao te Jing or I-Jing, for they are so succinct yet complex, often versed in classical
Chinese, which skillfully ensconces a lot of info into a short verse.
Point location class after lunch, with Janet Rucker. An introduction to how to use the “Anatomical Chinese Inch” (ACI- a 5e term, or “cun” in TCM)
to measure the relationships between points along each meridian line, and all over the body. We’re expected to memorize “phone numbers,” or the numerical placement of each point along the meridian lines. We only covered
“command points” today for the “Circulation-Sex Official,” (a 5e term for the Pericardium meridian line. 5e refers to meridian lines as “officials.” No precise differentiation between the two, yet.) Command points
are distal to elbows and knees, generally more safe to needle, easy to access, and influences quite powerfully. I wonder if TCM also does this part (we certainly didn’t do it in Taiwan): 5e style of measuring the ACI: take
a piece of paper (or ACI locator), and measure between the area to measure. Today was between wrist and elbow. Then, make however many marks/ cun/ body-inches between that body part (today, 12). Then, figure out and memorize
the points along that area. (Today, for the Pericardium line, 12 cun/ ACI. “Telephone number” of 0-2-3-5-12... I could keep nerding out and going into details, but that defeats the purpose of this documentation. (You could
just look at my class notes, instead).
We went into some basic point location, and a tiny bit of info about each point, but it still felt somewhat basic. We didn’t go into enough detail. I hope
we will in the future. I still feel somewhat let down and disappointed. I know there’s so much more to cover. I want to go deep, now. Not in the promise of some future. I think I prefer getting overwhelmed with information.
It excites me.
I am open to what tomorrow will bring. I hope we will get more intellectual, precise, and... deep! “Intense!”
We are using Worsley’s “Traditional Chinese Acupuncture” book, volume I, as our primary point location book. The book itself is disappointing, with
no Chinese point names in it at all (besides pinyin that isn’t demarcated with tones), limited descriptions of how to locate the points, and no information about actions and indications for specific points. Source, junction,
and element points are noted, along with suggested needling depth, number of moxa cones to use with the point, and some minor basic “first aid” information for some points. I’m excited to go more deeply into this, and
hope that my disappointment with the textbook itself will change over time, too.
Worsley has his own way of numbering each meridian line with Roman numerals, which is different than the TCM way of writing lines. It makes it more complicated,
especially for non-numbers type people, like me. (For example, Liver 8 would be “Lv8” for TCM, and VIII 8 for us. Studying in Taiwan, we never used the numbers for points; we referred to them by their names. The names
make much more sense. Our teacher even threatened us somewhat, by telling us that if we were to ever go and study this in the USA or elsewhere, then they would make us memorize all these numbers! And, now I’m doing it! Ugh.
I prefer the names of things, rather than numbering them. ) Worseley changed around some point locations, and omitted/ added some other points too, such as on the Kidney line. The teacher didn’t know where he got this information
from, or why he did it. I don’t know if it’s important or relevant to our education, but I want to know why and how.
Day 12
We finish the intensive exactly one week from today. Today was especially difficult for me, emotionally. I’m not sure exactly what broke within me, but
it broke right before point location practicum, which I especially enjoy. I feel frustrated that we separate point location class from actions and indications, which will apparently not come until year two. So, we will learn
where the points are located first, and then learn about what they do, and how they are used. This kind of learning doesn’t make sense to me. My previous classes merged the two together, and it just makes more sense to do
so, in my opinion.
We went over the command points for the triple heater official, today. It feels somewhat disrespectful to the points and over-simplified of the meridians
themselves, to only cover the command points, and not all the other points. This runs from the lateral side of the arm, starting from the ring finger, jogging between the radius and ulna, up to the point right behind the elbow
bone, the olecranon. The teachers say that we will cover all 360 points in the future, but somehow I can’t shake off my doubt, or worry, that it won’t be as in depth as I’d like it to be. She says that we will cover
the command points on all of the 12 primary meridians first, and then get to the rest of the points, by year two. Year two feels like a long time away.
I’m starting to make flashcards. I intend to memorize all the Chinese names, English translations, and point numbers associated with each point. I also
hope to fully ingest all of the 5e stuff that we’re getting, as well as supplement my notes, flashcards, and internal resource bank with information from other sources, namely CCM and TCM. We’ll see how that goes. It is
a lot. I’ve also been reading the Tao de Jing, which emphasizes simplicity, which this school models quite well. Do away with the “excess,” (meaning, do away with a lot!) and pare it down to just the basics...
Whereas TCM will work with the actions and indications of each point, physiologically and otherwise, 5e seems to emphasize command points (distal to elbows
and knees), element points (often command points), energetic usage of plants... wait, I’m noticing that most of the “element points” are also “command points,” and are also the “transporting points,” too. The
transporting points were taught in what felt like a dismissive fashion. Hmm. So, back to 5e treatments: primary emphasis on figuring out the constitution of the person, or “CF” (causative factor). Worseley considered the
“causative factor” the root issue that drives all other imbalances, and is the focus of the treatment. TCM doesn’t speak of CF; this is purely a 5e thing. I’m unsure if it’s a Worseley thing, or where he originated
it from. I haven’t formed a solid opinion around it yet, as I still haven’t observed anyone in clinic or experienced it myself, though I’ve heard stories... good from some, bad from others. Thanks to 7song, I’m a pretty
hard skeptic nowadays, and won’t believe anything until I see or feel it, many times. 5e treatment will also use the five phase model of relationships between the points: mother-child/ grandmother-grandchild (sheng-ke cycle)...
but, so does TCM. (Will I ever stop comparing?!)
Second part of class after lunch covered the “five transporting points,” which the teacher, Patty, explained as being from the classics, and from TCM.
Not a 5e thing. I feel like we glanced over it, and didn’t really do these points full justice either, even though it was “just” an intro class. The transporting points were strongly emphasized and often used and referred
to, during my Taiwan studies. Patty explained that these are more used in acute situations, when “sometimes we need to treat things in more of a TCM sort of way.”
After some solo time of looking up the points’ number in our big red Worsley book and then notating their names on our “transporting points” sheet,
we did fun yet basic experiential yet non-directional exercises: push hands, gazing into each others’ eyes, hand-shaking, energy palpation, and finally, pulse taking. I confirmed with Patty that 5e will mostly just focus
on noting excess and deficiency within each pulse point, without noting pulse quality or tone. Once we start the herbal portion of class, it will cover more TCM-based diagnostic tools. Herbs are not traditionally part of the
5e system; it got added on, as part of requirements to practice in the state of FL. I fear that, being an added-on part of the program, the herbal program will be similarly simplified, like the acupuncture part of the program,
or deficient in other ways. Worries, aplenty!
Day 13
As I laid on the table for our first point location mock-quiz near the end of class, a huge bolt of lightning streaked across the sky outside, immediately
followed by a resonating crash of thunder, that shook the classroom, and delighted me completely. After class, I dashed outside to bike home before it started pouring. The first drops of rain started falling from the sky,
and I felt my first drops of moontime blood, immediately as I stepped out of the classroom. Biking home as fast as I could under the quickening rain, darkened sky, and whipping wind, I felt alive and a at peace.
I enjoyed our first mock-quiz. I felt challenged, and glad for the challenge. I don’t have good memory. Having a quiz excites me enough to further commit
to the process of going over these points more on my own, and memorizing them. We went through the four Fire Official meridian lines in the past few days, which adds up to about 3 hours total each morning or afternoon, on
each Official. That’s not much time. Perhaps only half of that time was spent actually touching other people, and finding points. (And, these are only the command points! It’s not even the whole line!)
After touching and being touched by so many different people though, I am reminded of why I went to herbalism, first. I am much more comfortable with the
natural world, than with people. Touching people is really intense. I need to be careful with my boundaries. I start to physically feel nauseous, after too much sensorial stimulation with too many different people, and their
energies. I noticed this while I was being rather roughly palpated by a strong fellow student. Someone said something that sounded like, ”-aceae,” (which is what every plant family name ends with), and I perked up, then
realized that I miss being immersed in plants, and with plant people. Soon.
Today was relaxed. I was able to acknowledge my discomfort, and speak openly and honestly with our first teacher of the day, Joanne, about my worries. I like
Joanne a lot. During our first day of class, I snuck into her office to chat with her about the Tao de Jing, and ask about her life story. We covered the Heart Official during the first part of class, and the Small Intestine
Official in the second part of class. The Heart is the yin meridian of the physical organ meridians affiliated with the Fire Element; the Small Intestine is yang.
Joanne and I talked at length during lunchtime. I realized that I need to speak with more past students to hear more about what’s coming. And, I want to
see a curriculum list. I want to see what’s planned for the next three years, and how it’s organized. This school doesn’t have that laid out, which was concerning during my decision-making process, as the schedule wasn’t
clear. I don’t fully know what we’ll precisely learn, and really want to know the details of that, to help clarify my decision-making process.
Joanne says that they use a circular learning model here. “We’ll talk about that later,” is a common answer we get, along with, “Don’t worry about
that, now.” After today’s mock-quiz, I can understand a little bit better just why: so as not to overwhelm students with information. It really is a lot of information, and makes sense to layer it, instead of piling it
on, all at once. I was quite overwhelmed in Taiwan, studying it. But, I think also that students adapt to whatever is initially placed upon them... and we could still step it up, just a notch. But again, after today’s mini-quiz,
I appreciate the repetition just a little bit more. I would prefer more hands-on, practical repetition! Or, information presented in a way that feels useful, and applicable. And, I admit, I want teachers that are both intellectual
(well versed in the classics) and emotionally adept, not just emotionally adept (they’re good at that part, here).
Outside of class, I’m pulling together my own Tao de Jing book with both an English and Chinese text. It’s cathartic, and pleases my Taiwanese-American
self, and physical need to cut, glue, and make beautiful useful things.
Day 14
With all my uncertainty, there is one thing that is certain: I love this medicine. I love its possibility, its complexity, its elegance, history, cultural
significance and ties with my ancestral heritage, poetry and logic, artistry and whole-hearted humanity.
I just biked home after dark. It’s almost 9 pm. After class, I chatted with a second year student, then dashed off to my first non-school clinical observation,
my first ever Five Element Acupuncture observation. It was only one patient, one hour long, and with a senior practitioner who studied with The Worsley. I am so intrigued, filled with questions and excitement, and below it
all, just... happy. But, peaceful happy. Like, knowing that I made the right decision to come to school and focus on this. And, it’s okay that I’m not sure whether I’m at the right school. I’ll drink in this experience,
enjoy it, learn lots regardless, and just... enjoy. In joy.
We focused on the metal element today. Whereas fire is upwards and outwards, rising and exciting, metal is downwards and quiet, affiliated with the autumn,
death, decay, release, inhale and exhale. I greatly appreciated the well organized approach of our teacher for today, Jim Brooks. He started off showing photos that depicted various characteristics of Fire CF people (my image-oriented,
forever-an-artist-ex-art-school-student and metaphor-loving self greatly enjoyed that.) We dove into point location for the Lung Official after lunch (Metal element officials are lung and large intestine. Yin lung, yang large
intestine.)
I learned a lot in my one hour observation. I will return again tomorrow, during my day off. I’m not sure what this means, but it reminds me of my time
in Taiwan hanging out in my teachers’ houses talking, joking, asking questions, hearing stories, getting inspired, and learning via osmosis. I really prefer the apprenticeship method of hands-on one-on-one learning, rather
than being in a classroom. Not sure what all this means, but I am happy to gather information. When I go to New Mexico after this intensive ends, I have almost a week of clinical observations lined up too, in a city that intrigues
me, Santa Fe. We’ll see what the future brings.
For tonight, i noticed that 5e style treatment is completely different than TCM. The practitioner spoke with the patient for a bit, then only worked on four
points, going point by point on both sides of the body: doing moxa first, then needling each point for just a short period of time. It’s mostly stimulating/ tonifying treatment. He said that Worsley said Qi came from Source,
and to sedate it would be to dishonor Source. Better to move the Qi elsewhere, than to sedate it. I need to learn more before I can make opinions about this, but I have so many questions that I don’t even have the language
to really verbalize yet. TCM/ CCM will tend to leave the needles in for a longer period of time, with the ability to work on multiple patients. 5e, or at least the one treatment I just witnessed, just focuses on one patient
at a time. I realize that most of the CM practitioners that I’ve observed (and admired) have been happy, peaceful, and truly seem to enjoy their work. Most of these practitioners have been in a smaller setting, though I’ve
also observed a busy practice in the middle of Taipei, and Kathmandu.
Day 15
Break 3! The final one, before The Big Break.
Day 16
Today, I learned that if I back out before December, when the second intensive starts, then I have “only” used up $6000 of my precious savings. This one
intensive has cost that much. I looked at our homework, what we are supposed to do, between this and the next intensive. It doesn’t feel very worth it. I wish I invested my money more wisely, a whole year of valuable training
with 7song would have cost about the same. A whole year. Grad school. “Straight edge” education. The system. I feel somewhat cheated, violated, angry, and sad. But it was all my own decision, and I take that responsibility.
I hope I learn my lesson. Do even more research next time. Regardless if “next time” is my next school, or what it is. And, I’m still on the fence. No decisions until after the intensive. Three more days. I am counting.
We reviewed the Metal element, and dove into command points for the Large Intestine Official, for today. From the pointer finger to the elbow, a Yang line
for the Large Intestine (LI), the “Great Releaser.” That which extracts the good and releases the bad. How potent, how fitting.
I relate to the one who lets go of too much, who can’t hold onto anything at all. In my whole adult life, I have never held onto anything. Everything comes
and goes in my life, at a really fast pace. It’s not easy, but it’s my life. During travel, I usually get bad constipation for my first few days in a new place before I relax enough to get a nice smooth daily peristaltic
wave going, again. Large intestine.
After lunch, we did “inner development of the practitioner” (IDOP) class. Our first few IDOP classes were the terrible “transformative communication”
classes so now, whenever I see these classes listed on the schedule, I cringe and tighten, preparing for the worst. But today’s wasn’t bad. I guess that’s the thing about this school. It isn’t bad, and it’s not great,
either. It feels mediocre to me, which I guess I could live with and still learn a lot in... but do I really want to spend $56,000 (it will be more by the end of it) on just “mediocre”?! (Personal value judgment here,
sorry.) This information is interesting, but isn’t really rocking my world, completely. I want to get rocked.
We discussed emotions: wood and anger/ assertiveness, fire and joy/ enthusiasm, earth and sympathy/ thoughtfulness, metal and grief/ appreciation, and water
and fear/ anticipation. Then, the five virtues associated with each element: wood’s benevolence, fire’s propriety, earth’s integrity, metal’s appreciation, water’s wisdom. Then, Sheng-Ke cycles’ review, and going
a little deeper, some clinical considerations. CSOE diagnostic tools, just a little deeper. Discussion on “what makes a good practitioner.”
Thunderstorm outside. A boom and crash as I started explaining how to cultivate propriety (my group got that topic), to the class. Fire’s virtue is propriety.
It started raining. Water controls fire. Fire people love the sun, and radiate laughter. I could talk about each of the elements and their associations, indications, etc for a bit longer than I could, before this began.
It’s quite surreal, to be here in FL, at this school. I’ve thought of and dreamed of Chinese medicine school for so long. This education here and now
doesn’t feel like the education that I was expecting, or had dreamed of. But, I am still learning. And, it’s not rocking my world, but it’s still somewhat fulfilling. Moments. Questions. Onwards. Inspiration (lung),
elimination (large intestine): Metal element.
Day 17
We observed two different practitioners with two different patients, today. The first practitioner did “traditional diagnosis,” basically Worsley-style
intake, for a whole hour. Just a whole hour of talking. No treatment, lifestyle suggestions, or anything else. I, as an observer, felt impatient! The patient’s condition was not that complicated and with one hour, I feel
like a lot could have been accomplished. 7song would have gotten intake, given herbs for the next month, and have ideas for future protocol all down, for the first intake of one whole hour.
I felt much better about the second practitioner, who did “traditional diagnosis,” then started administering treatment while continuing to converse with
the patient, and conduct intake. The patient got to experience some helpful changes, while we got to continue assessing them. It was interesting to see some Japanese style belly-diagnosis methods, hear more about Akabane points
(ways of measuring and rebalancing energy between two sides of the body), and observe “aggressive energy treatment.”
We had “community acupuncture” after class. People came in for free or very-cheap ear acupuncture. It’s a weekly thing. Everyone received the same five
points on each ear, and one point on the wisdom eye area. These points are primarily for relaxation. We sat in a circle while relaxing music played, and everyone got needled, then sat there for 20 minutes, relaxing. I felt
restless, and would have preferred tailored treatment for each person based on what they needed, even though relaxation is nice. I’m going through Lyme disease right now, and acupuncture specific to my condition would be
preferred, and greatly appreciated. I wonder why this format. Will ask, when I get the chance.
Seeing these two patients today and remembering my work with 7song every week in the Ithaca Free Clinic, and all the diverse conditions we saw at the Rainbow
Gathering, made me re-evaluate my goals, with this medicine. Our primary textbook says that in China, acupuncture is primarily geared towards acute conditions, whereas here in the USA, acupuncture is geared more towards chronic
conditions, especially 5e style. I hope to continue traveling and teaching in the future, while starting a clinic/ school/ retreat center in one beautiful place that I adore. I want ample tools to work with both acute and chronic conditions in solid, helpful ways.
Something that I keep hearing from people in the 5e tradition, is that it can change lives. I’ve heard that from other CM modality patients and practitioners,
too. And, yes. I want to help create positive change in people’s lives too, to help them, (back to the “propriety” virtue of fire), be and live and thrive as the fullest expressions of themselves, as they can be. 5e style is certainly tailored to the individual...
the points seem to focus around the person’s CF/ constitution. But, isn’t all holistic medicine?
One of our homeworks is to conduct pulse diagnosis on a certain amount of people. I feel disappointed that we won’t get evaluated/ feedback for our pulse
diagnosis on a regular basis (it’s part of my consideration to change to another, more residential, school. Regularity, and focus). But, I am inspired by one friend (not from school), Fabio Fina, who writes, “Some say
that 10,000 hours of practice lead to the path of mastery of One particular aspect of life.” Basically, practice makes perfect. Even though I travel lots (too much), I would like to commit to the process of taking my own
pulse everyday, and the pulses of whoever’s around me, in the moment. But regardless of where I am, my own pulse notes will now accompany my daily journaling, dream-journaling, and photography.
Day 18
We had a class meeting, today. It’s our last group meeting before we all disband tomorrow, back to our respective homes, until most of us return for the
next intensive. I told the class that I wasn’t sure if I would return in December or not, but was thankful for them, regardless. Felt a heavy weight lift off my chest. Am speaking freely about my questions and concerns.
A “family social” after class, today. Commencement’s tomorrow; the families of the graduating class came to celebrate, tonight. My friend and an instructor here, Brendan, came down from Vermont. Was relieved to chat
with a familiar face. Feels like years have passed since I was last in New England, or anywhere else familiar. A lot has happened, in 18 days.
I asked Brendan what he felt would be the most useful info, to help aid my decision process. He tapped his chest, “Just listen to your heart,” then he
looks me straight in the eyes, “and ask your ancestors.”
Exactly what I needed to hear.
Today, we covered the “Chinese clock” with Ruby, who I like a lot. She’s taught for many years, has experience with both 5e and TCM, and it all comes
through with respect, a straightforward teaching style, stories, and good humor. The Chinese clock correlates the elements and their organ systems with every two hours of the clock. We then went over more pulse diagnosis,
where Ruby helped “calibrate” the amount of pressure we apply, during pulse diagnosis, and we compared our diagnosis results (basic style) with hers. Class concluded with an introduction to the spirit and function of the
points, which draws a lot from the meaning of the point names. I wonder who came up with the point names, to begin with. I marvel at the elegance of the Chinese language, and feel proud of that part of my ancestry, and honored.
I think of my grandfather, who I consider a master calligrapher, and wonder at how much he influenced my life, when I spent the first year of my life with him, and he carried me on his back, and I watched him paint calligraphy.
I realize that studying this medicine connects me with my ancestors and really, it’s up to me how I dance with that relationship.
This morning, I received news that my primary acupuncture teacher in Taiwan passed away. I feel a huge loss. He was trained in the oral tradition, and never
went to a formal school. He was teaching in a similar traditional fashion, out of his own home. I cried after most of his classes, a mixture of inspiration, frustration, and gratitude. The class was very difficult for me,
with my 3rd-grade level Chinese, as Teacher spoke in classical and medical Chinese, and it was
over my head, and totally juicy, delicious, difficult, amazing. Well, he’s gone now. So is my grandpa. People come and go. Life is transient, and so precious. How will I form my relationship, my base relationship, with this
medicine.
I will ask my ancestors, and consult my heart.
Am I taking all this too seriously? Went to an art walk after the family social, my second time in a real social environment, since being at school. I feel
enlivened. I stood in a portrait studio, with bright pastels dabbed onto canvas, people’s realistic yet impressionistic painted faces surrounding me, jazz music bouncing nearby. I felt so alive, the life of the painting,
the people, the music, all the questions of Chinese medicine and fresh knowledge and inspiration pulsating within me. In another studio, I flipped through all of the paintings of one Japanese artist, Kana Handel. She hand
grinds all of her own paints (my grandpa mostly did, too), and combines traditional sumi-e style painting with more modern, almost Klimt-like (dreamy with spiraling patterns) motifs, and innocent simplistic characters like
my friend Joy Brown’s sculpted ladies. Simple and profound. A base of traditional style, modernized into something that opens the gates of my heart, makes me smile and go, “Oh!” and reminds me of the beauty and magic
of being a child, my gratitude for being alive, and a multi-talented artist, healer, traveler, and woman. A Latino band was playing outside. When I went out, they started trying to sing a song in broken English, then went
back to singing in Spanish. I realized that I too am a guest here. I am a traveler. I am here to enjoy. It doesn’t matter right now, what December will bring.
I am here, now.
And tomorrow is the last day of this current dream.
Day 19
Commencement was beautiful this morning. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the heartfelt speeches, and celebrating with the graduating class. Especially poignant
was Brendan’s encouragement to the class to commit. To get clear about exactly what they want with their clinical practice, and to completely commit to that process.
Every intensive begins and ends with an opening, and closing circle. We started our closing circle with this Goethe quote, which beautifully echoes Brendan’s
words, and resonates deeply with what I need to do, regarding school:
"Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth
that ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A
whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. Whatever you can do,
or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."
For the last day of the intensive, there’s no new information. Just going over homework between intensives, and briefly talking about what the next intensive
will cover, and how to use Moodle, the online platform that we use to engage with homework between intensives. Logistical, like the first day of class. And, somewhat unfulfilling, but necessary.
I remember feeling excited and engaged during the opening circle, but also not totally satisfied, as people spoke with a partner first, then the partner shared
about the person they spoke with, instead of people speaking for themselves. It was much more interesting when, days later, we introduced ourselves (after I asked if we could do so). Today’s closing circle was very different.
I felt personally more cold and aloof, though interested. I think I’m protecting my heart, in case I do leave. People expressed gratitude for each other, and the program. I still feel conflicted so kept my personal sharing
minimal, and instead shared one of my favorite Rilke poems translated by Joanna Macy, one that I’ve committed to memory. Biking home, I recited it once more. Here it is, below.
Quiet friend who has come so far,
Feel how your breathing makes more space around you.
Let this darkness be a belltower
And you the bell. As you ring,
What batters you becomes your strength.
Move back and forth into the change.
What is it like, such intensity of pain?
If the drink is bitter, turn yourself into wine.
In this uncontainable night,
Be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses,
The meaning discovered there.
And if the world has ceased to hear you,
Say to the silent Earth: I flow.
To the rushing waters speak: I am.
