The Tao
Traditional Acupuncture has its roots in an ancient way of viewing the world. Thousands of years ago the sages viewed life, the universe and people as one. They believed that if we lived in accordance with natural laws then we would have good health and prosperity. Although not acknowledged, women were often the teachers of the men who gained recognition for significant works. Lao Tzu wrote the ‘Tao Te Ching’ which is a classic book with 81 passages which discusses the nature of power and how to live in harmony with Tao. The other main classical text is ‘The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine’ which is the foundation for Five Element Acupuncture theory and comprises a conversation between Huang Di, the Yellow Emperor and Qi Bo, his physician.
Tao is difficult to translate but the nearest we can get to it is ‘the Way’. Tao is similar to water in that it is forever flowing without contention; if something gets in its path it simply finds a way round it, without any need for aggression or resistance. Tao is something that cannot be grasped but at the same time is constantly influencing our lives. Authenticity is a key principle. Taoism, like many other ancient philosophies, acknowledges the central role that woman played in the creation of life and the Universe. Throughout Taoism and classical acupuncture texts, the sacred feminine is honoured.
‘The Tao of Healing’ interprets Passage 6 as:
“The Breath of Life inspires
The eternal womb of the
Divine Mother
Who conceives and gives birth
To the promise of God in every being.
Thus our well is eternal
The Breath of Life fills us
When we are born we are given a blue print of our authentic selves; the full potential of who we are and what we are truly capable of. If we live in harmony with natural laws, which of course are the only truly powerful forces in our lives, then we will attain our full potential and embrace our authentic selves.