Everywhere Gateway

 

Within each acupuncture point there exists a dynamic, poetic, living mystery of potential. The potency within each point is enlivened and activated through intention and the meditative openness of the moment. While each point has a known function and meaning, the deeper meaning and possibility contained within the points come fully alive through presence and surrender.

Evocative names combined with the physical location of the acupuncture points give us clues about the mythology and function inherent to a particular point. For instance, some of the acupuncture points have the word ‘gate’ in their name like Dark Gate, Chapter Gate, Gate of Hope, Wind Gate, Golden Gate, and many more.

Gate points offer ways to bridge the inner and outer, above and below, heaven and earth. They can also enter and exit and access a particular state or quality of being- setting into motion a full spectrum of energetic and physical possibilities. The use of an acupuncture point as a prescribed gate is incredibly useful when one’s  natural integrity has become stuck or fractured at some level, and cannot find a way to return to health- to wholeness.

Points like Inner Frontier Gate and Outer Frontier Gate, on the pericardium and triple warmer meridians respectively, work together as part of the fire element. The pericardium buffers the heart and allows intimacy and connection in relationships and in the body, carrying messages from the heart like a loving embrace reaching through the connective tissue of blood vessels to the body tissues and organs. The triple warmer, being less of a physical structure, is known to connect upper, middle and lower areas of the body through the interstitial spaces, regulating waterways and temperature. Here, in these spaces, the triple warmer is able to help metabolize and circulate passion, warmth, and joy out into the world, like warming flames reaching out to warm and enliven all within reach. Together these two gate points offer a way to harmonize and move fluidly between the vast pristine inner wilderness of the heart and soul, and the external wilderness of the physical world and cosmos.

Another gate, Gateway of Origin, is a point on the conception vessel 4 cun (a Chinese unit of measurement) below the navel on the center line of the body. It is associated with origin- source- emptiness- from which all life originates and to which all life returns. It may pertain to actual physical life, or metaphorically to new life emerging from the ashes after an old way of being has been burned up in the transformational fires and completed itself.

In a state of separation, a bridge may be needed to help restore unity (the Tao). Yet beyond the level of thought and form, my experiences show me that gateways can be found everywhere and are forever present. A gate may appear during a time of surrender and openness, or during a time of tremendous emotion, pain, or surprise, or for no apparent reason. Sometimes, one sees a gateway only from the other side after the threshold has already been crossed- finding that something profound and essential has changed within one’s own being so completely that life no longer looks the same.

And then there is wholeness. When in a place of unity, the need for gates and bridges no longer exists. Here, beyond the everywhere gateway, an unconditional, unbroken wholeness that is the essence of our very being- of creation- of life itself emerges as the moment lived fully, showing us the way. We need only listen and follow…  

 

 

Everywhere Gateway

I hear Sky cry my name
through Raven’s song
pulling me into
now-
while liquid light pours
through passing clouds,

filling my heart cup.

For a time,

I am blinded.

Wind whispers my name.

Leaning in, I follow.

Juniper catches me
in Her rough fragrant branches,
and breathes me down into Her thick ropy trunk,
swallowing me further into Her deep twisted roots

through the everywhere gateway.

I am delivered to Seed
who knowingly wraps Her strong woody shell
around the edges of my container,

heart cup and all.

For a time,

there is stillness.

Until Seed
begins to struggle-
unable to contain the fire
blazing within my heart cup.
Tiny vibrations begin at Seed’s edges
massaging my skin,
and intensifying into larger

contractions.

For a time,

there is compression. 

And then 
Starlight touches my brow 
and 

s   h   a   t   t   e   r… 

Shards of light   
and flesh 

freed

to reconfigure. 

For a time, 

there is eternity. 

From deep within the womb 
of the dark earth, 

I hear Sky call my name. 

Without hesitation, 

I follow… 

Monique Gaboury, 8-12-19 

 

 

 

 

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About the Author:  Monique Gaboury is a licensed acupuncturist, in Freeland, WA, specializing in Alchemical Acupuncture. She loves sharing her passion for natural healing at her clinic and through writing her blog ’Nourishing Change Through Connection’.

Juniper Medicine Alchemical Acupuncture serving the greater Seattle area on Whidbey Island. To schedule an appointment call 360-672-1506 or email contact@junipermedicinewhidbey.com.

 

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