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40 of 48 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Clarification, March 12, 2006
This review is from: Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture (Hardcover)
Please note that Professor JR Worsley was indeed exposed to many teachers in the 1950's. He chose to follow his two teachers who eventually became his masters. They taught only ancient classical five-element acupuncture. He did not embellish or change terms taught to him. His Masters bestowed upon him the title "Master", which carries the honoring duty to teach and present this ancient system to the world.
My concern with the Hicks Mole book, which is very well organized and the product of much hard and admirable work, is that it is likely to confuse anyone who is not familiar with this tradition that JR's masters entrusted him to teach.
JR taught exactly what his teachers taught him: That diagnosis of "Causative Factor" ("CF") elaborates a very precise process of achieving a conscious state. Choosing to do what it takes to work in this state of being means one can be an instrument of nature. Nature and not humans heal.
The confusion that is likely to arise with the Hicks'/Mole new definition of "CF" is that those not around during the time that the Hick's and Mole trained, early in their careers, would not have witnessed that what Hicks and Mole learned from JR was that "CF" means Causative Factor (according to the lineage definition) and never the term or concept "constitutional factor" - coined much later by the Hicks's and Mole.
Many years later, soon after JR died and after many years out of contact with JR, the Hicks Mole book presents the term "CF" with their new definition. For anyone not trained and familiar with the history it would be easy, if not inevitable, that the reader would confuse this new Hicks Mole definition for "CF" as what JR taught and it is not. Without prejudicing or critiquing the Hicks Mole new definition the problem is that it confuses. The process involved in working with their term constitutional factor significantly contradicts the process that JR was taught and passed to us.
A modern reading of the word 'cause' may lead one not familiar with the ancient definition as taught by JR to construe a modern and western definition of 'cause'. The word 'cause' as used in this ancient medicine precisely and elegantly focuses on the place in the intricate balance that a person's whole destiny - to be whole, perfect, at one and at peace within - has become out of balance. Once that happens the whole web of relationships imbalances and "dis-ease" arises. To diagnose the source (cause) of the imbalance one's physical, mental and spiritual presence leads one to detect the cause. Spirit does not categorize.
Without condemning analysis of "pattern"' of anything it is merely my wish to clarify that this approach is not what JR was taught by his masters, trusted to teach to his students and apprentices nor what he practiced.
Another concern is that the Foreward and Introduction to the Hicks Mole book presents "opinions" that JR would have them speak for him. JR did not authorize them to speak for him.
JR pledged, as do I as the inheritor of the title "Master", to do whatever we can to present this teaching as we received it. Again - without prejudice - a modern new definition may or may not be an improvement. We leave that to each individual to decide for his/herself.
My duty and love for this beautiful system of healing compels me to write and state what I promised JR I would do: to speak what I was taught. I trust the decades of experience I had witnessing JR time and again practicing this awesome and ancient system of medicine.
I say what JR would say if he were alive to speak. He explicitly asked me and entrusted me to speak for him and so I do with his authority.
Thank you for reading this review. It is my hope that it helps to put into perspective and clarify a possibly confusing presentation. If the reader wishes to have further information about JR's teachings please do visit the Worsley Institute web site:
www.worsleyinstitute.org
With best wishes to one and all,
JB Worsley
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24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great succinct book, September 21, 2005
This review is from: Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture (Hardcover)
I think "arguments" occur because people think one way is "right" or "pure." Most 5e practitioners I have experience with and who studied with JR Worsley or Judy Worsley do not feel their style is superior to others. In fact, JR and Judy both have said that their style isn't superior, but different, and they wanted to keep what they learned taught in its original form since its the style they know best and the style that they practice. I have taken some 5e classes myself from Worsely-based schools and found that the approach is not critical of TCM or other styles, but rather they acknowledge the benefits all different styles of acupuncture may have. Of course they are partial to the type they learned and practiced the most and saw succeses with! And 5e does work well! The schools I've studies at also acknowledge its limitations.
The folks who critique Hicks' book for deviating from Worsley's style are being in my opinion, well, anal. The authors do acknowledge that they deviate from Worsley's teachings and explain most of the areas in which they do and why. I believe they also give due respect to Worsely as an influential teacher and promoter of 5e style, and in no way try to say that everything in the book is what he (Worsley) taught.
Anyway, the whole argument against blending styles is silly since Worsely himself studied with so many teachers and took away what was most beneficial. There is no PURE teaching. Everything changes and grows with time and place, and anyone who denies this is in for extinction. Most 5e or Worsely practitioners do not hold this absolute purist attitude, even if they choose to practice "pure" CF-EA themselves. I feel CF-EA practitioners are poorly represented by the vocal loyalists who can't go with the flow...like the Dao recommends. I just don't see anything in life that doesn't change or adapt...that survives. I think wanting to keep JRs teachings pure is great, but others should be allowed to use them and integrate them in a way that works for THEM, as this is how all medicine has evolved. People have always studied under many different teachers (Worsley included), and practice what they have seen works.
Good medicine stands the tests of time.
I do think the book should have mentioned Worsley's books as well (Vol. I-III) as they are great reference books, and have been around a long time. I see this book as a place to get information about a different kind of 5e practice, and I don't think the authors try in any way to mislead readers into thinking its pure Worsley CF-EA style.
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21 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture, June 9, 2005
This review is from: Five Element Constitutional Acupuncture (Hardcover)
The in-depth scholarship of this book, in which the authors describe Five-Element Acupuncture and authenticate its roots with quotes from the Classics, makes for an informative and interesting read. While the authors were introduced to Five Element Acupuncture by Professor J.R. Worsley, by their own admission in their introduction, this book is a compilation of various influences. Unfortunately, the authors make no distinction between what Professor Worsley taught and the work they have developed since they studied with him over twenty years ago. For this reason, the book will mislead the student or practitioner interested in learning about Classical Five-Element Acupuncture.
The introduction of the word Constitutional, followed by references to "Constitutional Types," directly contradicts the teachings of Professor Worsley who was adamant that every human being is an unique individual, impossible to box, label, categorize or type. Furthermore, he cautioned that one must never identify the patient with his or her Causative Factor, which is a tool useful only to a practitioner trained to implement it in treatment. The temptation to simplify diagnostic methods by relying on patterns is understandable given the lifelong dedication required for developing and honing the sensory skills necessary for accurate classical diagnosis. The authors testify to this but then proceed to categorize patients by patterns of behavior and with photographs. Professor Worsley did use photographs of faces in his teaching, but he used them to show how unique and different people with the same Causative Factor are, not how they can be identified by facial expressions.
Having studied with the authors, I respect their dedication and have found their theories to be thought provoking at times. What is remarkable, however, is that they make no mention either of Professor Worsley's books, or of his personally designated successor Dr. Judy Becker Worsley, D.Ac., J.D., while dedicating their book to him. There can be no substitution for those desiring to learn the brilliant ancient medicine taught by him than to seek out his work and the schools authorized by those entrusted by him to carry on his legacy.
Mary Ellen Klee, C.A., M.Ac.(UK), Dipl.Ac.
Trustee, Worsley Institute of Classical Five-Element Acupuncture
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