This five-part course presents how the higher levels of healing can be accomplished with acupuncture and acupressure through the underlying principles laid out in ancient Chinese classics, most notably the Dàodéjīng. It includes a higher form of knowledge that comes from the integration of the Head and the Heart, or the Dào and the Déas as they are called in the Dàodéjīng, a comprehensive and integrated cosmology; higher and more comprehensive levels of healing that take place through the balancing of the Virtues; a comprehensive worldview called the Order of the Universe that is revealed through the organization of the major themes of the Dàodéjīng, which results in what is called the Thematic Context; and the practical application of these principles in clinical practice.

Part 1 (Friday: 6:30PM-10PM) introduces the concept of the Three Levels of Healing. Understanding these levels and using them together is essential to Restoring Humanity and alleviating the Suffering and troubles of the world. To do so we will explore a code hidden within the Dàodéjīng that only emerges through the application of the Five Phases to the Dàodéjīng and results in the overall perspective of its Thematic Context.

Part 2 (Saturday: 10:00AM-1:00PM) continues the definition of Dào from Part 1 to its Manifestation into the world, which establishes the Pattern for how the unification of the Body/Mind/Spirit is directly connected to the cosmology of the world-at-large. The important part of this cosmology links All Things together in a universal inclusivity according to various ratios of Yin and Yang. We will conclude Part 2 with the legendary story of Lǎozi’s birth and its amazing connection to this higher level of practice.

Part 3 (Saturday: 2:00PM-6:00PM) defines Virtue, the “Dé” of the Dào-dé-jīng, in relation to Higher and Lower Virtues. The Higher Virtues are the five non-reactionary impulses of the Heart/Mind, while the Lower Virtues consist of psycho-emotional reactions on the Spirit and Emotional levels. These are then defined as the Pre and Postnatal aspects of Human Nature. The Prenatal Original Spirit is good because it retains its inherent connection to All Things and Dào while the Postnatal True Nature separates us from ourselves and from All Things. According to the Highest Level of Healing, this separation is responsible for all the Suffering in the world and also leads directly to individual health problems on the psycho-physical level. In other words, the Suffering in the world-at-large is directly connected to Suffering on the individual level so that correcting problems within the individual will also have a dramatic impact on the world-at-large.

Part 4 (Sunday: 10:00AM-1:00PM) covers the Fragmentation from Dào and its associated worldview including the degeneration from an orderly universe to one that is random and haphazard and results in Sickness, Disease, and Suffering. These are then re-examined from a Five Phase perspective that shows how these actions are only normal Five Phase imbalances carried to the sociological extreme, which is called Confusion and Disorder in the Dàodéjīng.

Part 5 (Sunday 2:00PM-5:00PM) is called Embracing Dào and shows how this Fragmentation can be reversed by Returning to Dào as Source by following special principles laid out in the Dàodéjīngthat restore Yin-Yang Balance and Harmony to the individual so that our Inner Potential can be reclaimed and humanity on the personal AND the global level can be restored.

Dennis Willmont has been practicing Shiatsu, Acupressure, Taijiquan, and Daoist meditation since 1971 and Acupuncture since 1976 graduating from the first class of acupuncturists trained in North America. Dennis is also an herbalist and dedicated author producing over ten books - driven by his personal quest to heal the world by living and applying the Doaist principles of health and healing through integration of the Mind, Body and Spirit. An Honorary Member and AOBTA Certified Instructor, Dennis has designed, directed, and taught at the first 500 hour Shiatsu/Acupressure school in North America. 

Bringing over 40 years experience to this subject matter, practitioners and students will rarely have the chance to study with such as masterful teacher. 

Click here to learn more about Dennis Willmont. 
 

Symposium I: Schedule
Click on event titles for program descriptions

Friday, September 30, 2016   6:30 - 10:00 p.m.
Classical Chinese Medicine and Psychology: An Introduction
Guest Lecturer Dennis Willmont

Saturday, October 1, 2016   10:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Divergent Channels: 
Comprehensive Treatment Strategies
Guest Lecturer Diane Iuliano

Sunday, October 2, 2016   10:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Window of the Sky Points: 
Esoteric Acupressure
Guest Lecturer Barbara Blanchard

15 NCCAOM PDA points for the entire weekend
3 NCCAOM credits for Friday night
6 NCCAOM credits for Saturday or Sunday
Inquire for details

Symposium I: Schedule
Approved for 15 NCCAOM PDA Points

Friday, September 30, 2016
Daoist Psychology: Cosmology and Healing - Level I
Guest Lecturer Dennis Willmont

Daoist Psychology is based upon the cosmology and worldview of the ancient Chinese Daoists and acupuncturists of the Classical Chinese tradition detailed in the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine and other classical text. 

Understanding Daoist Psychology gives us the ability to see others and ourselves from this unified perspective. It shows us how our human suffering is created and how we can be healed from this universal condition to restore the original humanity that we have since lost.

This workshop includes both a lecture as well as a specific acupressure formula designed to allow participants to practice and synthesize this conceptual material. Come prepared to give and receive a Daoist inspired acupressure treatment!

Saturday, October 1, 2016
Divergent Channels: Comprehensive Treatment Strategies
Guest Lecturer Diane Iuliano

Often described as mysterious, Divergent Channels gauge how harmonized we are inside and out. As Divergent Channels pass through the heart, they are uniquely suited to integrate exterior-interior relationships – such as our relationship with the external world to replenish postnatal qi and Extra Vessels to support our genetic heritage.

This class will integrate Divergent Channels with Extra Vessel polarization therapy.  Participants will learn to cultivate diagnostic skills using jing wells, pulse and abdominal palpation. Employing these methods often lead practitioners to a unique treatment strategy to expand the range of clinical application, including disorders of the heart such as manic-depression, insomnia and dream-disturbed sleep.

Sunday, October 2, 2016
Window of the Sky Points: Esoteric Acupressure
Guest Lecturer Barbara Blanchard 

First mentioned in the classical Chinese text the Ling Shu, the “Window of the Sky” points are ten distinct points used to balance the earthly and heavenly aspects of the body and spirit. These points are uniquely qualified to address psycho-emotional issues and release the head and neck when the pattern stems from impaired communication between the body and the mind. A transition from a contracted form to an expanded experience helps with the release of emotional traumas.

The class will dive into the energetic actions and effects of these points, and how to effectively palpate in order to tap into their hidden treasures. 

Acupressure techniques for releasing the head and neck on a subtle energetic level will be taught, giving participants the opportunity to experience the effect of opening the energetic gate to the higher spirit of “heaven.”  As important as opening this flow of Qi to an expanded self is the need to secure a grounded center for the spirit self.  We will explore the means of creating this aspect of balance for Shen imbalance.