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The Chinese model of the Five Elements (wood, fire, metal, earth, and water) and the Twelve Officials (the organ systems that comprise the map of traditional Chinese medicine) has been applied as a system of medicine for three thousand years to balance chi, the vital force of the body. Archetypal Acupuncture explains to both acupuncturists and the general public how to work with these maps of energy and use them to diagnose physical illness, resolve emotional imbalances, and navigate the stages of life.
Dr. Dolowich’s goal is to revitalize these traditional teachings for the modern world—and in the process bring East and West together. Through an archetypal approach to Chinese medicine, he shows how we can gain fresh insights into the roots of illness while uncovering a positive vision of wellness and the healing process. The book draws on case histories, spiritual poetry (especially Rilke and Rumi), classic sources such as the I Ching, and examples from contemporary culture in order to bring the elements alive. Individual chapters explore the interface of Eastern and Western medicine, Chinese numerology, spiritual aspects of the elements, archetypal patterns in popular culture, and strategies for cultivating a life in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
| Foreword | xi | |
| Preface | xiv | |
| Acknowledgements | xix | |
| Introduction | 1 | |
| 1. | East Meets West: The Place of Chinese Medicine in the Western World | 7 |
| 2. | CH'I: The Breath of Heaven | 23 |
| 3. | Ancient Chinese Wisdom: Numerology, Patterns in Nature from One to Eight | 35 |
| Tao: The Unity of All Things | 39 | |
| Yin and Yang: The Balance of Complementary Pairs | 41 | |
| Heaven-Earth-Man: The Role of Human Beings in the Cosmic Order | 46 | |
| The Number Four: Organizing Time and Space | 49 | |
| Models of Five, Six, and Seven | 52 | |
| The Eight Trigrams of the I Ching: The Soul of Chinese Medicine | 55 | |
| 4. | Model of the Five Elements: Symbols of Energetic Movement and Their Associations | 65 |
| 5. | The Circle of Energies: Life's Fundamental Patterns | 85 |
| Wood: The Expansion of Springtime | 86 | |
| Fire: "You Have the Energy of the Sun in You" | 93 | |
| Earth: The Source of Nourishment | 101 | |
| Metal: Connection to the Spirit | 108 | |
| Water: Return to the Mysterious Stillness | 116 | |
| 6. | Cf, the Central Focus: Our Primary Imbalance and the Place from which We Shine | 125 |
| 7. | Archetypal Patterns in Popular Culture: The Five Elements in the Television Series Seinfeld | 139 |
| 8. | The Twelve Officials: The Family Within | 147 |
| The Liver and Gall Bladder | 148 | |
| The Heart, Small Intestine, Three Heater, and Heart Protector | 153 | |
| The Stomach and Spleen | 160 | |
| The Colon and Lung | 162 | |
| The Bladder and Kidney | 165 | |
| The Chinese Clock | 168 | |
| 9. | Archetypes of the Unconscious and Chinese Medicine: A Jungian Perspective | 175 |
| The Warrior: Defender of the Boundaries | 178 | |
| The Lover: Appreciative Consciousness | 179 | |
| The King: Center of Calmness | 182 | |
| The Queen: The Great Mother | 184 | |
| The Sage: Archetype of Awareness | 186 | |
| 10. | Seasons of Our Lives: Sheng Cycle Transformations Over Time | 195 |
| The Wood Stage: Childhood and Youth | 197 | |
| The Fire Stage: Early Adult Years | 201 | |
| The Earth Stage: The Householder Phase | 204 | |
| The Metal Stage: A Time of Wisdom | 207 | |
| The Water Stage: Retirement and Rest | 211 | |
| 11. | Resolving Emotional Imbalances: Deeper Insights into the K'o Cycle | 219 |
| Releasing Anger | 222 | |
| Quieting Anxiety | 224 | |
| When Sympathy Becomes Sickeningly Sweet | 225 | |
| Enduring Existential Grief | 228 | |
| Facing Our Fears | 230 | |
| 12. | Origins of the Five Element Model: The Shift from Four to Five in the I Ching | 237 |
| 13. | Spiritual Resources of the Five Elements: The Ancient Chinese View of the Soul | 245 |
| 14. | The Element Within the Element: Seinfeld Revisited | 255 |
| 15. | Conclusion: Enriching Our Lives with Archetypal Symbols | 271 |
| Appendix | 285 | |
| Bibliography | 289 | |
| Index | 295 | |
| Author | 311 |
Overview
The Chinese model of the Five Elements (wood, fire, metal, earth, and water) and the Twelve Officials (the organ systems that comprise the map of traditional Chinese medicine) has been applied as a system of medicine for three thousand years to balance chi, the vital force of the body. Archetypal Acupuncture explains to both acupuncturists and the general public how to work with these maps of energy and use them to diagnose physical illness, resolve emotional imbalances, and ...