Service Description

This is a one-off Elements class in Tibetan elemental divination based on polymath Desi Sangye Gyatso’s 17th century White Beryl book. Tibetan medical thought is interesting in that it combines approaches from Indian, Chinese, Persian and Greek medicine blended together with unique Tibetan ideas and mountain herbs. The earth, stars and your body are all connected. In fact Tibetan medical knowledge can be expressed as mnemonic paintings of mountains and maps, showing which herbs to use where to treat what. It is a really fascinating system. Remember that Indian (and Islamic, and European) classification of the 5 elements and 12 zodiac signs (earth, water, air, fire, aether; Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces) is different to the Chinese ones (wood, fire, earth, metal, and water; rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, and pig). They are not exact equivalents. How to reconcile them? We will paint aspects of these important and extraordinary paintings or you can aim to recreate them.