The Twelve Spiritpoints of Acupuncture

The Twelve Spirit Points is a state of the art study of the acupuncture pointnames as they relate specifically to the development of the Shen/Spirit in human evolution. After first examining the nature of this evolution, each of the twelve points is discussed in detail in terms of it's role in the integration of Body, Mind and Spirit. All of the relevant issues of ancient Chinese culture are fully explored in order to understand the symbolic impact of these names and their significance to healing on the spirit level. The reader will then gain an appreciation of the importance of Spirit in healing, as well as it's place in ancient Chinese society. This is more than a book about acupuncture points. It is a testament to the value of the human spirit to health and well-being in all of it's stages and aspects. This book is two hundred sixty eight pages long, contains thirty eight drawings including eighteen figures and 20 tables, and is bound in an 8 1/2 by 11 spiral format.

Dennis Willmont has been practicing acupuncture, Taijiquan and Daoist meditation for thirty years. His unique blend of scholarship and intuition has led to the formation of a multi-volume series on the energetics and Body/Mind/Spirit connection in ancient acupuncture. This is the second volume in that series.

Features

Table of Contents

Incarnation of the Spirit 1

The Shen/Spirit and Related Terms 4

Shen/Spirit 5

Jing/Essence 5

Jingshen 5

Shenming 6

Xing/Human Nature 6

Qing/Emotion 6

Xin/Heart/Mind 6

Ming/Destiny 7

Xing/Form 7

Gui/Demon 7

Methods of Application for Acupuncture 7

Summary of Individual Points 8

The Twelve Spirit Points 13

The Four Stages of Spirit Incarnation 13

Heaven/Man/Earth 14

Essential Oils for the Twelve Spirit Points 15

Oil Summary: Single Oils 16

Oil Summary: Blends 19

Cv8: Spirit Deficiency/Spirit Tower 21

The Vortex of Creation 21

Look-out Tower of the Heart 24

Matter and Spirit Combine 25

Destiny in the Daodejing 26

Destiny and Human Nature; Shen/Spirit and Jing/Essence 28

Indications 29

Gv6: Spirit Ancestor 31

Prenatal/Postnatal Transition 31

Skin Troubles of the Palm and Sole 32

Stability in Transition 33

The Yellow Court 35

Transformation of the Shen/Spirit 38

Indications 39

Cv15: Spirit Transmitter 41

Polarity Stasis and the Congealation of Qi 41

Jade and the Immortality of the Spirit 42

Jade in Chinese Alchemy 44

Jade: King of the Heart 46

Kan and Li 48

Alchemical Transformation 50

The Mysterious Cavity 51

The Yellow Court 52

The Pre and Postnatal Gate 54

Luo Point of the Conception Vessel 56

Source Point of the Gao 57

Incurable Disease 59

The Double Passes 60

The Fat of Crabs 61

Mu Point of the Pericardium 61

Indications 61

G13: Root of the Spirit 63

Root of the Spirit in the Lingshu 63

Section One 63

Section Two 67

Section Three 68

Role of the Gall Bladder in the Rooting of the Spirit 69

Original Spirit 72

Comparisons 72

Location 74

Bridge Between Sacred and Profane 75

Stages of Training 77

Indications 79

K23: Spirit Altar/Spirit Domain/Spirit Seal 81

Altar of the Soil 81

Boundary Disorders: Lv4 and the Related Points Sp5, St41, and G40 82

The Ancestral Temple 85

Authorization to Rule 85

Cosmic Claim 86

Creating a Sacred Space 87

The Feng and Shan Sacrifices 88

The Cultivation of Virtue 90

Spirit Seal 90

Summary 91

G24: Spirit Brightness 93

Spirit Brightness, Shenguang 93

Sun and Moon, Riyue 96

The Gall Bladder Pivot: Connections to the Kidney and Heart 96

Curious Organ 99

Polarities of Yin and Yang: Gall Bladder and Heart 101

Mutual Union of Yin and Yang 102

Union of Yin and Yang in Chinese Alchemy 103

The Gall Bladder as Matrix for the Shen/Spirit 105

The Conversion of Light 105

Gall Bladder 24 in Action 108

B39: Spirit Hall 111

Ancestral Hall 111

Psycho-Emotional Transformation 111

Indications 112

G11: Spirit Path/Spirit Road 113

Description 113

History 114

Philosophy 115

Function 117

The Poisoning of the Heart 119

Corruption by Worms 119

Gu Poisoning 120

Gu Syndrome 120

Cause 121

The Path of Demons 122

Family Karma in the Yijing 123

The Innocuous Wind: Messenger of Dao, or Demon in Disguise 126

Applications 129

K25: Spirit Storehouse 135

Grounding in the Heart 135

God of the Center 136

Indications 137

Gv24: Spirit Courtyard 139

Descent and Return of the Shen/Spirit 139

Secular and Religious Use of the Courtyard 140

Architectural Terms Used in the Names of Acupuncture Points 140

Pre and Postnatal Junction 142

Indications 144

Gv23: Spirit Hall 147

Gv23 and the Ancestral Hall 147

Ancestors as Heavenly Bodies 148

The Star Spirits 149

The Milky Way 151

The Meaning of Upper Star in Ancient Chinese Astronomy 153

Gods in the Constellations 153

Connection to G13 154

The Chongmai and the Shen/Spirit 155

K22: Dance of the Shaman King 160

Mingtang: Hall of Light 161

The Divine Connection 162

History in Medicine 163

History in Chinese Culture 164

The Great One 167

A Cultural Legacy 169

Effortless Control 170

Li/Appropriateness 173

Virtue/Empowerment 176

Simplicity 178

Transformation of the Shen/Spirit 179

Retreat into the Sacred Realm 182

Ghosts 184

Indications 185

The Unification of Opposites 185

Ruling the Internal and External Worlds 186

Fulfilling Destiny 187

Intuition 187

Heart 7 189

Shenmen: Spirit Gate 189

The Door Gods: Mindfullness as Protection 190

Zhongdu (Central Capital) 191

Universal Center 191

Shen/Spirit Cultivation in the Daodejing 192

The Heaven and Earth Split 195

Ancient Chinese Capitals 195

Centrality of the Shen/Spirit in the Neijing 196

Centering of the Heart 197

Ruizhong (Center of Zeal) 197

Duizhong (Open Highway/Highway of Joy/Highway of Exchange) 198

Pleasure and Joy 199

Fire and Water Polarities of the Heart Meridian 200

Joy in the Yijing 202

Indications 204

Glossary 207

Index 225

References 228