Pathways and Points - Treasury of Insight into
the Five Elements
September 26 - 27, 2020 and November 14 - 15, 2020
Shelburne, Vermont
two weekend courses for acupuncture and health care practitioners
presented by Megan Godfrey
When we look at pathways and points, we move from a theoretical understanding of the five elements to an embodied one. The main acupuncture pathways and points reveal a sacred geometry of who and how we are: sentient beings with conscious awareness capable of manifesting our entire potential. And they do so in an astonishingly sophisticated and complex manner.
In addition to the rather theoretical and functional way we are taught about pathways and points – a means to correct energetic imbalance and affect health outcomes – the 12 main acupuncture pathways and points reveal the nature and function of the elements themselves – as we embody them - and the inherent relationships between the elements as we experience them in our body. One might say our physical body is an magnificent form that manifests and expresses the breadth and depth of the elements themselves.
For example, the Bladder pathway of energy, or meridian, manifests the entirety of Bladder nature and function as we experience it. Where this pathway begins and ends and where it travels reveals the complexity of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual yang aspect of our water function. The bladder pathway begins deep within our mind and opens at our eyes, the emissary of our heart. It then travels up and over our head, activating rational mind and opening to intuition, or heavenly wisdom, before traveling down the length of our back empowering the entirety of who we are. Together with the Kidney pathway and where it travels, these two meridians manifest our nature, the function of the water element. The same insights are unique and true for the remaining 10 pathways of energy. When we add the two main pathways of energy, the Conception and Governing vessels, we can understand and access the entire embodied nature and function of who we are on every level. In this workshop we move from a theoretical to a much deeper, embodied understanding of the elements themselves.
Acupuncture points along each pathway of energy describe and access the particular nature and function of what is happening at that point along the pathway. Rather than thinking of points from their pathological function (fixing this, balancing that), we will look at their inherent function. When we know the inherent function of the pathways and points, we possess an embodied knowledge of the elements that brings our understanding of our medicine to a profound depth.
Pathways and Points: Water and Fire (weekend one)
In this first weekend course, we will build an understanding of the 14 main pathways from the ground up on day one. Continuing to draw on the integration of Daoist and Buddhist insights, we will look at where they are on our body as an expression of the nature and function of the element itself. We will examine the inherent relationships between heart and mind, yin and yang, as the pathways reveal these dynamics. We will also look at the relationships between pathways as they occur within our body, and therefore reveal an understanding of the complex relationships between the elements as we embody them.
On day two, we take a deep dive into the six water and fire pathways and points. We will focus particularly on the nature and function of the points along each pathway. Rather than discussing the points from a pathology perspective, we will look at each point's signature function within its pathway.
Pathways and Points: Wood, Metal, and Earth (weekend two)
During this weekend, on day one, we will review the basics of our overall energetic architecture. Then we will look in a similar manner at the pathways and points of the wood, metal, and earth pathways. On day two, we will incorporate the Conception and Governor vessel points. We will also look at the inherent relationships between points within body regions thereby understanding more deeply the energetic nature of body regions.
I will teach somatic meditation practice both days as a means of deepening our experience of pathways of energy.
It will be very helpful for participants to have taken my course, The Five Elements - Going Deeper, where I articulate the nature and function of each of the elements in depth. I will draw on that body of knowledge and incorporate it into these weekend courses.
Schedule - Pathways and Points - Water and Fire (weekend one)
Day 1
9 am – 12:30 pm
Brief review of the elements and their energetics
Yin and Yang, heart and mind
I through XII, the continuous pathway: origin, deep pathways, exit/entry, junction
Architecture of the 12 main pathways of energy
Body, speech, and mind; introduction to the senses
Point language: a brief dictionary
12:30 – 1:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Somatic Meditation, tuning into the experience of being
1:30 – 5:00 pm
Fire and Water pathways, nature and appearance
Fire: appearance, inner and outer
Inner fire: rulership
Heat and Small Intestines, pathways and points
Communication, truth, naming things, inner speech
Experience of being, slowing down
Day 2
8:30 – 12:00 am
Water: nature, potential and coming into being
Bladder and Kidney pathways and points
The masculine and feminine principles
Our essential energetic template: core energy and the kidney/heart axis
12:00 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch (provided)
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Somatic Meditation, noticing energy and what arises from the experience of energy
1:30 – 4:30 pm
Outer fire, court
Heart Protector and Triple Heater pathways and points
3 chous; outer, inner, and secret courts
Communication and outer speech
Intimacy, sex, and love
Please arrive to class 20 minutes early to get yourself settled before we begin.
Schedule - Pathways and Points - Wood, Metal, and Earth (weekend two)
Day 1
9 am – 12:30 pm
Brief review of the elements, their energetics, the architecture of the 12 main pathways of energy, and the water and fire pathways
Introduction to Wood, Metal, and Earth - manifesting our potential
Wood pathways and points: thinking and doing
Karma, ecology, and evolution
Walking meditation
12:30 – 1:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 – 1:30 pm
Somatic Meditation, experience of space
1:30 – 5:00 pm
Metal - (space) - pathways and points: purity and maintaining purity
Innocence, perfection, and offering
Day 2
8:30 – 12:00 am
Earth pathways and points: processing experience and meaning
Introduction to sensory awareness
Embodiment, identity, shape-shifting
Reciprocity, compassion, and equanimity
12:00 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch (provided)
12:30 – 1:30 pm
Somatic Meditation, felt sense and experience
1:30 – 4:30 pm
Conception and Governors vessels, pathways and points
Core energy; gateways
Body regions: joints, hands, feet, neck, head, 3 chous
Outer, inner, and secret overview of the pathways of the 5 elements
Please arrive to class 20 minutes early to get yourself settled before we begin.
Registration Information Coming Soon
Fees and cancellation policy
The fee for each course is $250. This fee includes lunch both days. All fees are due upon registration. If you cancel more than two weeks before the course, your money will be refunded, minus a $30.00 administrative fee. No refunds will be issued if you cancel less than two weeks before the course. You will receive your NCCAOM CEU certificate at the end of the day on Sunday.
Resources
The Clinical Practice of Chinese Medicine by Lonny Jarrett and Classical Five-Element Acupuncture: Vol. 1, Meridians and Points (4th edition) by JR Worsley both have invaluable information about pathways and points.
Class Location
These classes will take place at the Shelburne Town Hall, second floor (see signs as you enter the building) in Shelburne Vermont. There is ample parking outside the Town Hall.
Travel, Lodging and Dining
Here are links to local resources for area lodging and dining. Shelburne is a 20-minute drive south of Burlington on Shelburne Road, Route 7. Bus service is available from Burlington via Green Mountain Transit: www.ridegmt.com. See the Shelburne Road schedule.
Dining: www.vermont.com/burlington/dining/
Lodging: www.vermont.com/burlington/lodging/
What to Bring
Please bring a light shawl to stay warm during meditation. If you have them, bring meditation cushions for meditation both days. You may also sit in a chair for meditation. Water, tea, lunch and snacks will be provided both days. You may also choose to bring a water bottle. Fall can be cold in Vermont, dress warmly!
Local Services
September in Vermont is the height of the foliage season often with cool weather and blue skies. I urge you to book accommodations early if you stay in a hotel as they fill early for this time of year! November is much quieter.
Contact
For further questions, please contact Megan at vtacupuncture@gmail.com or 802-985-5480.
28 pending core competency NCCAOM CEUs for acupuncture practitioners
