Holistic Beginnings and Endings October 30, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Diary , add a commentUmmon said to his monks:
“Medicine and sickness are mutually dependent.
Look!
The entire universe is nothing but medicine.
Now tell me, what is your self?”
‘Take This Pebble From My Hand’ was actually the name of one of my earlier publications. It comes from the television series “Kung Fu’ – about the adventures of a Shaolin monk in America. One day my own teacher informed me that when I could take the metaphorical pebble from his hand it would be time to leave.
The day finally arrived and after training as a barefoot doctor in the traditional oriental healing arts for several years in various environments conducive to developing the necessary skills, I was told that it was time for me to leave and go solo.
I joined a unique agency whose function was to provide suitably qualified practitioners capable of providing specialist health care services – specifically in my case, for the terminally ill. My job was to serve those families in health crisis and prepare family members for the death of their loved ones – incorporating my skills as an oriental medicine practitioner in the arts of acupuncture, Chinese herbs, food cures, Tai Chi and Qi Gong, meditation and so on.
My vision was for them to clean up as much of their mess as possible in order to pave the way for them to let go – and in the process invite and attract more love and acceptance.
Once, I stayed with a family for 3 months assisting the mother and members of the family to prepare for her death. She suffered from terminal lung cancer. She was very sick – had had several courses of chemotherapy and found that her strength was seriously on the decline. Despite the efforts of a loving husband and two sons, I determined early on that they were all in denial and that the way forward was to embrace the actual situation rather than run away from it.
I gave her acupuncture every day. It eased the pain and helped to clear her head. We also cultivated an approach to meditation that worked for her – a variation on the theme of vipassana – and she found that it supported the acupuncture rather well. She had more energy and recovered some of her enthusiasm for life.
I cooked for them all, introduced them to more nourishing kinds of foods, and got the kids involved. We played games together and learned to accept the difficulties of the challenge with inceasingly less resistance. I sat down with him to talk now and then. It was obvious that he felt isolated and alone and bottled up his emotions as some tend to do when faced with unsavoury predicaments the outcome of which cannot be changed.
After she died, he seemed relieved that the ordeal was finally over and that he could get on with his life. I took on my next mission moved by an experience that had strengthened my connection to the heart spirit and to the reality behind discovering some of the more important things in life.
Living and dying go together. They are not separate. In other words, they are part of the same process.
Courses in Oriental Psychology Approved by NCCAOM! October 25, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Courses , 1 comment so farFantastic news from the USA!
We have received offical notice from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) in the USA that Art of Health Education has been approved as a PDA Provider of the following courses in Oriental Psychology:
Foundations of Oriental Psychology, Spiritual Alchemy, I-Ching Applications to Psychology, Buddhist and Taoist Spiritual Practices, Metaphysics of Diagnosis, SunTzu’s Art of War, Inner Chapters of Chuang Tzu, Leadership and Strategy of the Huiananzi, Zi Yang’s Understanding Reality, and Manifestations of Shen Disturbance.
This is a real step forward not only for overseas graduates of Oriental medicine programs, but Australians as well! In effect, the certification from NCCAOM means that graduates of Oriental medicine programs can earn continuing education points that are a necessary condition of their respective association memberships.
So check it out and click on ‘Courses’ for more information on the individual components of the Oriental Psychology program.
For those who don’t know, the mission of the NCCAOM is to establish, assess, and promote recognized standards of competence and safety in acupuncture and Oriental medicine for the protection and benefit of the public.
Understanding Depression October 22, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Articles , 2 commentsAccording to the praxis of Chinese Medicine, the movement of the Ethereal Soul regulates the totality of our psychic activity. This includes our life dreams, plans, ideas, inspiration, intuition, creativity and relationships with others. The proper movement of the Ethereal Soul (housed in the liver and called the ‘Hun’) is monitored by the Mind (housed in the heart and called ‘Shen’ or spirit).
If there is too much restraint of the Ethereal Soul’s movement, depression ensues. And if the Mind fails to control the Ethereal Soul’s movement, manic behaviours result. There is a flip to this. Depression and mania can appear independently or together. When they exist together, this is called Bipolar disorder.
Depressed patients have no faith in the future. They often lack ideas and dreams, are invariably direction-less and frequently suffer from feelings of loss, isolation and separation. The manic patient has too many ideas and dreams. Unfortunately, due to the chaotic state of the Ethereal Soul, very little ever comes to fruition. In simple terms, depression occurs when the Mind over-controls, whereas manic behaviours arise when the Mind fails to control and integrate.
Depression is often due to pathogenic factors (such as heat) inhibiting the movement of the Ethereal Soul. This produces stagnation of the liver qi. It may also be due to deficiencies emanating from insufficient stimulation of the Ethereal Soul. Most importantly, the precise differential diagnosis of depression is critical when selecting acupuncture points to needle, prescribing herbal formulas, or devising strategies for the modification of attitudes and behaviours.
Anxiety without depression is also quite common. Feelings of anxiety include the emotional expressions of fear and worry and may be accompanied by deficiencies or pathogenic factors. If the anxiety is caused by a deficiency of blood, for example, the Mind cannot be anchored. If the anxiety is caused by a pathogenic factor such as heat, the Mind becomes easily agitated.
The restoration of a spiritual connection for the patient is vital to the healing process and the role of the practitioner is to assist with this process in a supervisory capacity, being sure to provide ample resources for growth and encouragement, all the while managed with compassion. The onus of responsibility for the practitioner is to find a way for the patient to restore a connection to spirit and subsequently maintain this re-connected state of Mind.
After nearly 25 years as a holistic practitioner of Oriental Medicine, I have observed that emotional imbalances are unequivocally an obstacle to spiritual growth and the maintenance of general wellbeing. A great sage once said, “Balance is when emotions have not yet emerged. Harmony is when they are active, but all in proportion.” If this is true, then it seems plausible to suggest that the focus of therapy in relation to the treatment of depression and anxiety is to precisely identify the emotional state (e.g. insecurity, timidity, anger, sadness, resentment and so on) and cultivate within the patient the means to regulate emotional responses thereby harmonizing the activities of the Ethereal Soul.
Published in International Wellbeing Magazine 2006
Behind The Scenes: Audio Books, Audios for Courses, & Screenplay October 20, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Diary , 2 commentsPrologue
I’m treating this diary entry, more or less as a journal folks – replete with the good, the bad, the ugly, and the informative. So, here goes.
Audio Book with Simon Chilvers
The great Australian theatre and film actor Simon Chilvers has agreed to narrate my novella ‘The Redemption of Mila’ for the purpose of producing an audio book. His command of the English language is exemplary and spending time with him is always so interesting and stimulating.
We are taking things slowly as Simon recovers from a serious ear infection and the general loss of mobility that accompanies the MS he suffers from. However, we anticipate that the project will be completed within 6 months as we record the book, chapter by chapter, in the studio.
For those who don’t know the story, Milarepa became a Buddhist icon over a thousand years ago – but not before he had spent the better part of his youth in slavery, taken up an apprenticeship in the black arts, wreaked havoc on those who had wronged he and his mother and sister, felt remorse, atoned for his misdeeds, and discovered enlightenment. In a nutshell, it’s a tremendous story with enough twists and turns to keep you crying out for more.
Audio Interviews with James Brown
Once a week, James Brown and I set aside a couple of hours to record an interview based on a topic we feel is stimulating and interesting – within the field of oriental philosophy and medicine. We’ve accumulated quite a number of them now, and will be releasing them one by one, through the blog, in the next couple of weeks. Watch out for discussions covering topics such as the workings of spiritual alchemy, the nature of meditation, the five psycho-emotional aspects of spirit, and tips on how to get in touch with your vision and purpose.
We have already put together audio recordings of topics related to the distance learning courses – oriental psychology and oriental nutritional medicine – such as an exploration of the application of spiritual alchemy in daily life. It is expected that these recordings will act as the perfect accompaniment to the learning activities.
Screenplay – Translation
Has weathered the storm of 6 drafts, this one is also awaiting Simon’s editorial greenlight. He is a busy man – and that’s before he gets to his painting and the audio book!
What’s it About?
It’s the story of Milarepa. The screenplay is adapted from my novella. I reckon it will look awesome on the big screen. And I reckon it might be able to be shot in Australia if we can find some terrain that resembles the rocky clifftop landscape of Tibet. I also think we can make it on quite a small budget.
So that’s it for now folks. I will keep you posted on any new developments as they come to hand.
All the best with your endeavours,
G
What’s The Conversation Gonna Be About? October 18, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Wisdom Notes , add a commentThe interaction that takes place between you and others is based on a conversation. What’s it gonna be about? Surely this will depend on how you present your vision to them and this in turn will depend on your clarity at any given point in time.
We are always in the process of presenting our vison to others – whether we are aware of this or not. Your spouse, child, business associate, close friend, next door neighbour, mother, father, sibling, or stranger – get a feeling for what this is whenever they meet with you. Or you spell it out for them if you deem it necessary. The vision reflects your understanding of what it is that you do and why you do it. When this can be communicated accurately and passionately, you create interest – and this interest carries energy, it creates a presence, a power of sorts.
In terms of those you do business with in the very least, do you really know who they are? Are you aware of what it is that they are looking for? How well do you communicate your understanding of this?
People will buy products and services from you in order to relieve their pain as much as they won’t buy products and services from you because it all looks too scary or is considered too big a risk. The inevitable question then is, what kind of pain are the people you know in? How do you know this?
I don’t think it is too great a leap to suggest that most people are miserable. That many might well deny this must also be accepted as par for the course. This is understandable given that we like to present as happy, healthy, caring, and helpful people. To do otherwise is often considered social suicide.
However, the fact of the matter is that people suffer from a number of common complaints. Anger affects an ability to clarify the vision. This is a disorder of the liver. Excitement produces scattered thinking. This is a disorder of the heart. Worry sustains self-absorption. This is a disorder of the spleen. Attachments to people and things induce the fear of letting go. This is a disorder of the lung. And fear keeps us trapped in the illusion of the ego-identity. This is a disorder of the kidney.
What to do about it?
From an energetic perspective restoration of the whole person is a necessary step forward and it is not as difficult as it may seem. If you become awakened to the fact that there is a purpose and you are soul, then you will soon know that a happy, healthy, caring, and helpful soul possesses nine attributes and it is possible to cultivate them. All you need to do is find the right coach for you.
Such a blessed soul is:
1. Stable
2. Receptive
3. Decisive
4. Accepts ownership of responsibilities
5. Balanced inwardly as well as outwardly
6. Orderly
7. Creative
8. Still
9. Insightful and loving
Next time you find yourself in a conversation, don’t forget to mention your vision. Try to do it, anyway.
Stay True To Your Vision October 8, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Diary , add a commentWhen you stay true to your vision and your spiritual plan, your heart energy aligns with your higher soul purpose. Amazing things happen as a result. And when we live creatively, fear is removed as a response to the challenges we face – and in its place, we discover that the vision is everything. When you live in your vision, your heart automatically governs proceedings – in other words, your thoughts and feelings are elevated to perform a more spiritually aligned function in keeping with a higher purpose. When this purpose is shared, we discover that we are not alone!
Fear and Anxiety
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Articles , add a commentIn the course of daily life, many factors usually conspire to upset the proverbial apple cart that is our complex and fragile psycho-emotional make-up. High on the list, is the de-stabilizing influence of fear and the anxiety that always follows in its wake. When fear comes on line, courage goes missing and security is subsequently threatened. When anxiety follows, the ability to trust is shut down and receptivity is consequently abandoned. Courage, trust, security and receptivity, constitute the very core of our spiritual life and when their integrity is compromised, it is impossible to feel connected to anyone or anything.
Fear is insidious and has the potential to destroy the foundation of the inner self. It can manifest in many different ways and at times may even slip under the radar when conditions suit. Beyond the fear of death that every human being without exception cannot avoid and must eventually face, sooner or later, there still remains the common fear we all seem to share, of endings – a relationship, a job, the prime of youth, the security of a home, money in the bank, a child leaving home and so on and so forth.
Not surprisingly then, anxiety presents as an obstacle to forming a meaningful relationship to the inner self. It rides on the wings of fear and produces endless fret and worry over the outcome of events that may be concealed as wild imaginings about the future or simply an inability to feel comfortable walking in one’s own shoes. Regardless, ‘sadness and worry move the heart and the organs tremble’ as a famous Chinese classic states.
According to the principles of Oriental philosophy and medicine established many thousands of years ago, inner calm and inner strength were clearly identified as the basis of a balanced psychological and emotional disposition. Inner calm is a priceless quality that facilitates the capacity to rise to a challenge without getting upset. Inner strength makes it possible to maintain balance in the face of constant and relentless challenge.
Both of these characteristics require significant cultivation and the classical Chinese teachings of spiritual alchemy were precisely developed to achieve it. Spiritual alchemy is the science of unifying yin and yang within the self so that psycho-emotional stability is preserved. Those either trained in the oriental healing arts or spiritual disciplines that accompany the martial arts, will readily attest to the challenges encountered in learning these remarkable skills. Though they require perseverance to master, they are nonetheless the essence of balance and harmony.
In order to manage fear and anxiety successfully, it is important to establish the fact that fear resides in all of us in some way. In other words, to a large extent, fear cannot be avoided. It is not something that one can control. Nor is it something to be ashamed of. Rather, it is something to embrace; to be with, day in and day out, moment-to-moment. In the acceptance of this fact without judgment, one may very well discover that anxiety dissipates and loses its sting.
Published in International Wellbeing Magazine
Tuesday October 2, 2007 October 1, 2007
Posted by Geoffrey Wilson in : Diary , 1 comment so farI have no doubt that the day unfolds more smoothly when preceeded by meditation. The thinking is clearer and sharper. Engagement in activity is more responsive. Productivity is enhanced. The process becomes more interesting.
Seasoned practitioners tend to swear by their techniques. It seems to me though that regardless of technical persuasion, the purpose of the exercise is to clarify and refine observation so that ‘What Is’ is observed as it is, and not as ‘What It Should Be’. In other words, one learns to dissolve reactions and embrace responsiveness.
So, having said that, the day unfolds.