can remember. Keep a notepad, pen and torch by your bed. For
some people it is enough to make a strong resolution before falling
asleep in order to wake up after each and every dream. If this is
not the case, then get an electronic watch to beep and wake you up
every hour.
If you have to spend a night on a train or in any situation where
you have to doze rather than sleep, don't miss the chance of noting
down all your dreams one after the other.
15.17 Variation for acupuncturists
Practitioners of acupuncture, shiatsu and other areas of oriental
medicine will find it valuable to incorporate a phase of awareness
of the meridians, between phase 2 (circulation through the body
parts and the organs) and phase 3 (awareness of the breath). This
additional phase on the meridians is similar to the work of channel
release (Chapters 4 and 6), but without any rubbing, since the body
remains completely motionless from the beginning to the end of
night practice. If time is limited, then do the circulation of phase
2 only once.
In each meridian, first try to sense the vibration or tingling,
which is nothing other than the perception of the qi or etheric
energy. Then try to perceive the flow of the vibration in the
meridian (it does not always flow in the direction indicated in the
Chinese books!) Then try to activate the flow by moving energy
consciously along the line of the meridian, according to the
technique of the ‘little hands’ described in section 4.10.
As far as the sequence of the meridians is concerned, follow the
traditional order of the circulation of energy: Lung, Colon,
Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small Intestine, Urinary Bladder, Kidney,
Heart Constrictor, Triple Warmer, Gallbladder, Liver. Finish with
Conception, Governor and ultimately the central chimney of the
chong mai, which bears similarities to the Indian suṣumnā, the
central channel in the middle of the body as it is developed in
Kundalini-yoga and Kriya-yoga. As the anatomical paths of the
meridians are described in all the acupuncture books, interested
readers are referred to the literature on the subject.