Bridges - Face Reading in Chinese Medicine

Face Reading in Chinese Medicine

Second Edition

Lillian Bridges

President, Lotus Institute, Inc., Issaquah, Washington, USA

Churchill Livingstone

Copyright

2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Lillian Bridges retains the copyright to her original photographs. Janneke Vermeullen retains copyright to Figures C1a, C1b and I-2.

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This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher (other than as may be noted herein).

First edition 2004

Second edition 2012

ISBN 9780702043147

2 British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data

A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

3 Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress

Notices

Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary.

Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein. In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility.

With respect to any drug or pharmaceutical products identified, readers are advised to check the most current information provided (i) on procedures featured or (ii) by the manufacturer of each product to be administered, to verify the recommended dose or formula, the method and duration of administration, and contraindications. It is the responsibility of practitioners, relying on their own experience and knowledge of their patients, to make diagnoses, to determine dosages and the best treatment for each individual patient, and to take all appropriate safety precautions.

To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein.

Printed in China

Acknowledgments

This book took a very long time to write the first time and longer than I expected to rewrite. There are simply too many people to whom I owe my thanks to fit them all here individually. So to highlight those most instrumental in getting this book published:

Thank you first to Janneke Vermeullen for her wonderful photographs. I am so grateful for the work you put into getting them ready for the manuscript. They illustrate my teachings wonderfully. Thank you also to Hal Bridges for the photos from the last edition, some of which are still here and thank you to Photography by Cheryl for the back cover photo. And, I am grateful to all the people who volunteered to be photographed to help me illustrate this book.

Special thanks go to Claire Wilson, my Commissioning Editor, who has guided me on the journey that has culminated in this second edition. You were always there for my questions and I appreciate your belief in me. To Veronika Watkins and Clive Hewat, my Editorsthank you for your encouragement and assistance whenever I needed it. To Beula Christopher, my Project Manager, thank you for your hard work and guidance, as I toiled over this manuscript and for juggling all of the details of the publishing process so well. I cant forget Inta Ozals, my first Commissioning Editor who took a chance on buying this book in the first place or Kellie White, my first Publishing Manager, for all the help in getting the first edition published. To all of the staff at Elsevier who worked on this book, thanks for all of your hard work getting this version of my book created.

I want to thank all of my wonderful students who have been following me faithfully over the yearsmany of whom are now excellent face readers themselves. I am proud that you have taken my familys teachings to use your way to help others. I have always loved your hardest questions as they have challenged me to give my best. My life has been influenced for the better because of you. Thank you also to all of my private clients. I appreciate your trust in me and I feel privileged that you chose me to help you. To all the universities, colleges, businesses, conferences and symposiumsthank you for hiring me so I was able to bring my work out into the world.

To all my close friends around the worldyou know who you arethank you for believing in me, guiding me, being there for me in all the dark times and instigating a lot of fun times too. You are all amazing and wonderful people!

I have been blessed by having some extraordinary people as relatives. My greatest debt goes to my grandmother, Mary Chen Lowe, my first and best teacher of face reading and ancient Chinese wisdom. I can never thank her enough. My father, Harold Rubright, had a dream of retiring so that he could write, but sadly never got the chance. He gave me the love of reading, learning, and writing and was my first teacher of psychology, medicine, and spirituality. I wish he were here to see how he inspired me. My beautiful and spirited mother, Lea, has always been an amazing catalyst for creativity and a champion for living your dreams. I could not have gone on with this project after some of those dark days if she hadnt said, I know you can! To my aunts and uncles, Pearl, Phillip, Ben, Alex, and Lily, thank you too. You never tired of my questions. To my sister Leslie Daff, thank you for your love and understandingIm so happy that you are my sister. Thanks for my wonderful niece and nephew, Katie and Chuck Daff, too. To my sister Lory Rubright, who is no longer with usI miss you.

To my sons, Stephen and Alex Lesefko, thank you for all of your support and encouragement. You are both proof that miracles happen and you have been the greatest gifts of my life. This book is a gift for you from our ancestral heritage.

Introduction

Face reading has a venerated and well-documented history in China that dates back thousands of years. It was originally part of ancient Taoist alchemical practices that involved understanding and returning to the Original Face, best described as an individuals true nature, and involves Jing, the inherited constitution or essence. When Jing is overused, it can lead to illness and when severely depleted can cause death. Due to the Taoists desire to extend the normal lifespan and achieve immortality, Chinese Medicine evolved and face reading was one of techniques used to diagnose deficiencies in Jing, to evaluate the flow of Qi or life force energy and to assess the emanation of Shen or spirit. Together Jing, Qi and Shen formed the important trilogy essential for longevity that must be guarded and protected. They were called the Three Treasures.