Shamanism & Acupuncture part 3
As described in an earlier (Dutch) post, in Chinese philosophy (and medicine) we talk about the term Heaven, Man & Earth. In which we are a connection, a vessel between the two polarities and we form a unity with them. But of course other philosophies embrace this term as well. In the Quechua shamanistic tradition we also talk about heaven and earth, about Taita Inti (Father Sun) and Pachamama (Mother Earth) respectively. We also immediately recognize the Yang and Yin here. And we as human beings form the bridge. Here too everything is inseparably linked. As among others Itzhak Beery says: We cannot (optimally) develops ourselves spiritually if we are not firmly rooted on earth. Furthermore this down-to-earth aspect show itself of course in the use of earhtly sources as plants and trees. Life therefore enfoldes itself both in between as with Heaven and Earth.
If we look at the center of our life energy within our body, in Quechua this is called Mosoc-Nina. Translated this means Sacred Fire, as Itzhak describes the explanation of Don Alberto Taxo in the book Shamanic Healing: Traditional Healing for the modern world. This energy center is located according to the same book approximately 3 fingers below the umbilicus. Sounds familiar right? So the same area as for example the Hara, the lower Dantian (Elixer field) or the acupuncture point Qihai (Sea of Qi).
That never ceases to fascinate me. To realize how century old healing traditions from different parts of the world have such exact similarities in their ‘energetic anatomy and physiology’. To come back to he Nina, it is used both for diagnosis/reading as for treatment (balancing) and feedback.
Although it is a healing system on it’s own, because of the overlap several modalities are easily integrated in a treatment. And everything that contributes to the development of the practitioner will without a doubt have an influence on treatments. That is what makes sessions personal. As much as we would like to prefer otherwise in the West, treatment cannot be separated from those involved, both client and therapist. People are not machines but living beings. That’s what makes us vessels between Heaven and Earth. And Healing is not just to clinically cut and paste. From whatever part of the world, a healing tradtition is a living art. Not to be framed in lifeless protocols.
In a next part in these series: After the closure of the day our time with Itzhak Beery was not over yet. Itzhak, riding along with a friend on his bicycle, Myung and I cycled through Amsterdam. With a quick dinner stop at the Vegan Junk Food Bar and through the Vondelpark on our way to a ‘bonus ceremony’. Surreal urban! Plus: The Takuma palm needle as a Teishin?