Graduation Celebration
Graduation Celebration! Acutonics® Certification Program On August 15, 2008 in Santa Fe, New Mexico a ceremony was held to commemorate the successful completion of all core curriculum and electives in the Acutonics Certification Program. Although all of the students still have clinic hours and thesis to complete this accomplishment is something to be celebrated. Each of these students agreed to be part of an experiment in learning, conducted by Donna Carey, co-creator of the Acutonics Healing System, and Senior Faculty Members, Ellen Franklin and Kimberly Jackson. The goal of this special program was to take one group of students, through the entire Acutonics Certification program, in a series of six modules, conducted in a residential setting over 14 months. Beginning in June of 2007, in Taos, New Mexico, with Acutonics I & II and culminating in August of 2008, with Harmonic Pathology and Case Studies.
Donna Carey said, “Our goal was to assess the existing curriculum or to make modifications to the program and test them along the way. It was an exciting progression, and one in which some important enhancements were made to the core courses and electives”. In the process a clinic hour fulfillment policy was created, a new core course was added, Sedna: Super Conductor, and a new elective was created and taught by Alicia Villamarin, PhD, AP, LAc, The New Science of Sound and Biology. Our students also were fortunate enough to take a course in Su Jok, taught by Oxana Merimskaya, MD, PhD. Oxana traveled the farthest of all our students, from her home in Moscow, to become Certified in the Acutonics Healing System, and to be trained to teach Level I & II, which she plans to offer this year in her native country. Senior faculty members also provided valuable support, Judy Bernard taught the Harmonic Essentials elective, Suzanne Clegg co-taught Harmonic Pathology with Donna, and Sunanda Harrell-Stokes assisted and documented most of the modules.
The student group comprised of acupuncturists, massage and bodywork practitioners, naturopaths, and physicians, was international in scope with students from Canada, the US, and Russia. Students were required to write case studies throughout the program that demonstrated their ability to grasp the knowledge gained between modules, write an essay about the Sedna class experience, and take a written exam. All of these additions helped us to assess their grasp of the material and provided insights to the faculty on how we might reinforce specific points. Prior to the completion of the program one-on-one meetings were held with each student to discuss their progress and to provide and receive feedback on the program. Our students were dedicated learners, making beautiful study aides and contributing to our own knowledge about the depth and breath of the materials in so many new ways.
At a Ceremony created by Donna, Ellen and Kimberly, each student was awarded a Certificate of Completion, rosewood Malas made by Tibetan nuns, a book presented by co-teacher Kimberly Jackson, and a music CD from fellow student Avi Burg who had blessed us with his flute and didgeridoo playing throughout the modules.
In their graduation speeches Donna Carey, Ellen Franklin, and Kimberly Jackson spoke eloquently about the journey each student had taken and they shared their wisdom in a very personal way with each graduate. A few excerpts from their speeches are shared here.
Donna opened the celebration, “Welcome and thank you for your time, commitment, and love of this medicine, this body of knowledge and wisdom traditions known as Acutonics. I have to say that when I started this process, reluctantly—I might add—to take a group through the entire certification process— I really did not know what I was getting into any more than each of you. I have been teaching for over 25 years now and should have known that teaching challenges the teacher as well as the student to explore their inner landscape and to grow, to look deeply into the interior, and to make sacrifices for discovery. But somehow I believed the intent of these modules was to refine the Acutonics curriculum, introduce some new and exciting content, and have a deeper understanding of the educational journey and experiences of our students as the process unfolded.
So a year and a half later, here we are teachers and students, having made quantum changes, and feeling effects of moderate, to high, to extremely high acceleration. As we rapidly integrate insights, vibrations, dreams, and only begin to understand the power of this medicine and of community, against the historical backdrop of the 21st century, in the wake of unprecedented global changes and 2012. It has been challenging, yes, the changes, the evolution, there is not one person here whom has not been through life altering experiences or even at present is not confronted with dilemmas and critical choices that will chart a new coarse.
What I have learned from all of you, this group, you, who have challenged me and taken me to the very brink of my sanity and courage—I have learned that there is a new generation of healers and teachers, taking this medicine, with deep understanding and heightened sensibility and sensitivity to entirely new levels. Each one of you will be involved in the expansion and metamorphosis of Acutonics into global relevancy that reaches out and responds to what is being called forth in the present.
Our reference points must be ethics and integrity, service to humanity, to one another, the planet and to the multi-universes. Each one of us must understand that we are the threads and the knitters of the world's scarf—we are the singers and that which is being sung, we are the composers, the creators bringing songs of birth, life, hope, faith, and change into existence. We are the creators, the gods, the archetypes that we have studied—it is our task to embody each aspect, each vibration whether its a sub or hyper-vibration—and as we do that –each in our own way—I would ask you, plead with you—beg you upon my hands and knees—that you take responsibility for what you create—on every level and every dimension. Create with intent, justice, and with non-judgment, because this is our future. The new vision, the hope that we may be greater than our conscious mind, greater than our perceived destinies, greater than what our selfish cultures demand of us as scholars and healers and citizens. As we turn our hearts, minds, and souls to one another in a shared journey that is infinite and ultimate and extensively beautiful.”
At the conclusion of Donna’s remarks Ellen and Kimberly both shared their insights, here is an excerpt from Ellen’s speech, “...There have been so many challenges along the way for each of us and yet the beauty of this group has been that we rise to them and step up willing and able to be there for each other, new friends, new family...powerful and deep new connections, and together we hold and share new visions for an unimaginably bright future.”
“...This time we live in has been envisioned by many, whether through the Mayan prophecies or in the immortal words of Lao Tzu, interest and innovative methods of working with sound, voice, music, tuning forks, and other sound healing instruments, continues to evolve, and grow and you are at the forefront on this amazing time. Edgar Casey said that sound would be the medicine of the future, and the future is now.
Lao Tzu wrote, ‘Always we hope someone else has the answer. Some other place will be better, some other time it will all turn out. This is it. No one else has the answer. No other place will be better, and it has already turned out.’ I couldn’t be prouder of each of you and the enormous steps you’ve taken, you have helped me grow in innumerable ways, and each of you has become an important member of my family. I thank you from the deepest part of my soul for being part of this journey.”
Kimberly Jackson also shared words of wisdom with the students and assisted Donna in the presentations to each student. Ellen and Kimberly wrote individual messages for each student that included their own personal harmonic interval that was reflective of their special journey as a student of Acutonics.
As many of you are nearing graduation we send you our deep heartfelt thanks for being part of this incredible journey. Blessings of harmony, light and joy.
