Extraordinary Pathways Emerge

When Amanda Brand graduates from the Acupuncture Program in August 2007, she will embark on a path that will certainly be full of unknowns. Whether to have partners, or to work by herself, to stay in New York City or travel, go for a paycheck or build her own business, are decisions still ahead of her. She’ll begin to answer her own questions once she passes the New York State licensing exam.

Amanda had considered going into the military after graduating from high school, but then reconsidered. “I realized that I liked the idea of the physicality of the military more than anything else,” she admitted. “I wasn’t interested in the regular route to college, but was concerned that I might be too independent for military life.” She opted instead for a ten-month program in medical assisting.

She immediately landed a position in a busy pediatric office. “Working with kids was great,” Amanda recalled, “but I caught everything they had — strep, colds, flu — I was sick all the time.” After a couple of years she felt restless, so she entered a college nursing program. “I did the basic courses,” she said, “but it didn’t feel like a good fit for me. I wanted to do something in the health field, but was afraid that as a nurse I might be just a foot soldier for the physician.”

At about that time Amanda had her first massage, and was struck by the work. Massage therapy seemed a direct way to be involved with health care and have a degree of independence. She came to the Swedish Institute and after completing the 16-month Massage Therapy Program, got her New York State license and began her practice.

“I liked the Eastern approaches in massage school,” Amanda said, “and found I wanted to keep studying them. So I enrolled in the Acupuncture Program.” Now, with the three-year course of study almost complete, she says the part of the curriculum that fascinated her most was the energetic trajectories known as the Eight Extraordinary Channels.

“The Eight Extras are very different than the Primary Meridians,” Amanda explained. “The Primary Meridians tell you about the condition of a person’s organ system, but the Eight Extras are relevant to a person’s constitution. These are the channels that deal with growth, development, maturity and death. This is a deeper level of qi, one that is understood as essence, or source qi. Because it’s so deep, we were taught to use these meridians respectfully. They are usually used only for chronic issues, whether physical or emotional.

“I might use them, for instance, if I was working with someone who was dealing with deep seated issues of trauma, abuse or lack of fulfillment. When our Eight Extraordinary Channels are functioning as they should, they provide energy for fulfilling life’s plan.”

For a young woman who says she “didn’t like school”, Amanda has certainly reached a high level of academic achievement by going outside the traditional route. With a Master of Science degree in acupuncture, Amanda has remained true to her independent nature and is ready for a health care practice and a future that will be guided by the Extraordinary qi she reveres.

Photo Sharing a moment at the school clinic are from the left: Amanda Brand, Rebecca Tracey, Lindsay Burger and Yolanda Vasquez.

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