Daoist Skills in the Modern World
In this fourth conference, a panel of speakers will demonstrate how they apply the Daoist principles in their work and everyday lives. In this year’s interactive conference, each speaker will demonstrate to the audience how the skills or wisdom derived from the ancient practices contained within the Daoist path can benefit specific modern problems. The audience will have the opportunity to learn and follow along with leaders in the fields of medicine, trauma, astrology, numerology, space/time, movement, and meditation. Embodied wisdom to harmonize ourselves with the natural world and cosmos that surrounds us.
Join us for this FREE event
Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88485523053?pwd=1b9F9bNENpn4tzDCMy0V0YH0OqVf55.1
Meeting ID: 884 8552 3053
Passcode: 304066
Meet Master Zhou Xuan Yun, Advisor and Founder of the Daoist Gate Center
Founder of the Daoist Gate Center, a non-profit organization, Master Zhou’s mission is to promote cross-cultural East and West understanding and Daoist solidarity. At 13, Master Zhou was sent to live on Wudang Mountain, where he was a student and later an instructor of Taiji, Kung Fu, and Qi Gong. Living at the Daoist Association Martial Arts Academy, in the Purple Cloud Temple, he was accepted into the 24th generation of the Wudang Long Men (Lóng ménpài 龙门派) lineage. At 16, he vowed to become a Daoist Monk and began his study of Daoist philosophy and religious practices. He was trained in ritual arts, chanting, divination, and internal alchemy. Master Zhou is a formally recognized disciple of Master Li Guang Fu 李光富, the Chairman of the Chinese Taoist Association (中国道教协会会长). Master Zhou divided his time between teaching at the center and abroad.
Meet Sam Wuest – Moderator for the Daoist Gate Conference
Sam Wuest is a certified Daoist Gate Wudang Arts teacher and a 25th-generation lay disciple of the Chunyang Sect of Wudang Daoism (Daoist Name: 信罡; Xin Gang), having studied in immersive settings with Lindsey Wei and Li Shifu in the Pacific Northwest and China. A former apprentice of master Japanese Acupuncturist T. Koei Kuwahara, Sam has served as team acupuncturist and massage therapist for Columbia University and ran an acupuncture clinic & teaching Taiji, Qigong, & Meditation in Southern California. Before becoming an acupuncturist, Sam coached college and professional track and field athletes and was a Division 1 athlete and national high jump silver medalist in 2024. Sam practices Daoist and Chinese Medicine, teaches Taiji and Qigong, and coaches other embodied movement arts in San José, Costa Rica. He also teaches online classes to connect the worlds of athletic/movement professionals and Traditional Chinese Medicine as Meridians Move.
Program At A Glance
Program Schedule
| Saturday, October 5 | Sunday, October 6 |
| Introduction by Sam Wuest 9:00 – 9:15 EST | Introduction by Sam Wuest 9:00 – 9:10 EST |
| Mary Burke-Pitts: The Nature of Trees 9:15 – 10:15 EST | Josh Miller: How Taijiquan Can Bring Wellbeing in Modern Life 9:10 – 10:00 EST |
| Rory Hiltbrand: Numerology in Everyday Life 10:30 – 11: 30 EST | Larson DiFiori: Meditation and Qigong Contemplative Studies with College Populations 10:10 – 11:00 EST |
| Ross Rosen: Intersections of Chinese and Daoist Medicine: A Perspective on Resonance 1:00 – 2:00 EST | Paul K. Alexander: Integrating Chinese Medicine with Modern Fertility Practices 11:10–12:00 EST |
Yu Hua Meng: From Dragon to Snake: Visions of Hybridity and the Strange 2:15 – 3:15 EST | Sam Wuest: Meridians and Points in Motion 1:10–2:00 EST |
| Master Zhou Xuan Yun: Color, Space, Feng Shui and Health 2:10 – 3:00 EST |
Join us for this FREE event
Zoom Meeting
Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88485523053?pwd=1b9F9bNENpn4tzDCMy0V0YH0OqVf55.1
Meeting ID: 884 8552 3053
Passcode: 304066
Program Speaker’s Topic and Bio
Mary Burke-Pitts
The Nature of Trees
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 9:15 – 10:15 EST
By gaining insight into the characteristics of trees, individuals can develop heightened levels of awareness. This concept was discussed during a lecture by Jeffrey Yuen in 2016 on the subject of trees within the Acadia National Forest of Maine, which incorporates Daoist martial arts and theory taught by Lindsey Wei of Wudang White Horse School in southern Oregon. Understanding trees allows individuals to align with their personal growth and perception of the world, enabling us to comprehend various aspects of energy fields and consciousness. Although there is a lack of information on trees in modern Chinese herbal medicine, it is important to note that the bark and leaves of trees possess medicinal properties. This knowledge can benefit those looking to enhance their beginner-level botany plant identification or advance their expertise as herbalists by creating their material medica focused on oak, maple, fir, pine, and dead trees.
BIO
Mary BP is a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist living in Asheville, North Carolina, trained in classical Chinese medicine. Her philosophy is to provide the patient with knowledge and tools to support their healing from within. Mary is also a professor and supervisor at the Chinese Herbal Medicine at Daoist Tradition College. She enjoys martial arts and gardening.
Rory Hilbrant
Numerology in Everyday Life
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 10:30 – 11: 30 EST
Join us for this presentation that will elucidate the profound
teachings of the Wu Yun Liu Qi from the Nei Jing Su Wen. Through
understanding how cosmic forces’ numerical laws and rhythms impact our psyche and emotions, we can have greater insights and influence upon our inner state. During heightened social tensions, use these tools to transform theoretical knowledge into embodied realizations that will empower you to achieve greater harmony within yourself and in your interactions with the world around you.
BIO
Rory received his doctorate in Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine from Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. He has spent the last decade studying under Grandmaster Sung Baek, the 75th Grandmaster of the Korean Daoist Lineage, the Dong Han Clan. Rory also holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Economics from the University of Richmond. While at Richmond, Rory did Chaos Theory Research for the NSF. Rory has a profound passion for decoding the timeless wisdom of the Dao through the lens of modern Mathematics and Physics. Rory holds a utility patent for a molecular water structuring device that benefits a wide range of biological processes. He is among the first Chinese Medicine Doctors to corner professional fights on UFC FightPass, including EBI and Polaris. Rory actively trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai and finds grounding and peace of mind through martial arts.
Ross Rosen
Intersections of Chinese and Daoist Medicine: A Perspective on Resonance
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 1 – 2 pm EST
In this lecture, Ross will present his methodology of integrating Chinese and Daoist medicine to create a fruitful therapeutic relationship with patients. Seeing the intersections of traditional methods of diagnosis, both within Chinese medical and Daoist philosophical approaches, Ross will present his integration of them into a clinical encounter, which creates a resonance between doctor/priest and patient, a necessary ingredient for initiating the alchemical healing dynamic. Ross will guide creating this resonance, provide some context on zhuyou ( 祝由 ), talismans, and incantations, and teach a talisman useful for helping patients navigate anxiety, panic, and depression.
BIO
Ross Rosen, JD, MSTOM, LAc, Dipl OM (NCCAOM), a licensed practitioner of acupuncture and Chinese medicine, is a direct lineage holder and senior certified instructor of Shen-Hammer Pulse Diagnosis, and a long-term student of Dr. Leon Hammer and Jeffrey Yuen. He runs the Center for Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine in Plainfield, NJ (www.acupunctureandherbalmedicine.com). He is the author of Heart Shock: Diagnosis and Treatment of Trauma with Shen-Hammer and Classical Chinese Medicine. He is an ordained Daoist priest in the Quanzhen Longmen (23rd and 25th generation) and Maoshan lineages.
Yu Hua Meng
Dragon to Snake: Visions of Hybridity and the Strange
WHEN: Saturday, October 5, 2:15 – 3:15 pm EST
This presentation explores the animist and shamanic roots of Chinese astrology and its application to the modern world. The transition from the Yang Wood Dragon to the Yin Wood Snake year elucidates Chinese astromantic visions of hybridity and the strange. We will explore how these views can help us navigate the dynamics of polarization and embrace greater pluralism in our lives, providing spiritual stability in times of polycrisis.
Yu Hua Meng has been applying the astromantic arts for over a decade through her practice, Tiger Eye Astrology. She studied under the tutelage of lineage and tradition holders Master Zhongxian Wu, Lindsey Wei, and Deng Ming-Dao. Through Yijing divination and Bazi chart readings, she supports clients in the art of making choices by helping them harmonize, integrate with, and create change. She is also a full-time artist whose public art installations are deeply informed by her Daoist practice and training.
Josh Miller
How Taijiquan Can Bring Wellbeing in Modern Life
WHEN: Sunday, October 6, 9:10 -10:00 am EST
This discussion will focus on the ways taijiquan can affect our well-being in the fast-paced environment in which we live. We will analyze the finer points of stance and posture, being centered and balanced while moving, where the power is generated from and carrying momentum from one posture to the next. With these and other focuses, we learn how to stay relaxed in our movements and maintain the body, specifically the joints and soft tissues. Through practice, we can bring these fundamentals into our daily lives. From physical longevity to mindfulness and interacting with our surroundings, the benefits are more profound than what can only be seen from the outside.
BIO
Josh has over 25 years of experience in Taijiquan. With continued training over the years, he has learned from many teachers about Daoism, internal martial arts, gongfu, qigong, and meditation. Josh holds a Qigong Instructor Certification from Yang’s Martial Arts Association (YMAA), which focuses on many different types of qigong. In the summer of 2021, Josh met Master Zhou and began training in Wudang Taiji, Taiji Jian (straight sword), Wudang Gongfu, and Wudang Dao (saber). Josh is a Daoist Gate Certified Teacher and conducts classes and seminars at the Daoist Retreat Center, Xuan Ju, in NH.
Larson Di Fiori
Meditation and Qigong Contemplative Studies with College Populations
WHEN: Sunday, October 6, 10:10 – 11:00 EST
The emerging field of Contemplative Studies takes an interdisciplinary approach to exploring contemplative practices and experiences, like those found most clearly in meditation, including moving meditation found in martial arts, and more broadly in experiences of flow that occur in moments of peak performance, such as artists or athletes completely absorbed in their craft. In addition to employing more typical methods found in the humanities, sciences, social sciences, and medical research, Contemplative Studies uniquely highlights the importance of accurate subjective reporting of detailed internal states and conditions for understanding these moments of extraordinary focus and awareness. Starting in 2014, Brown University began offering a major in Contemplative Studies, featuring classes that incorporate practical techniques in “meditation labs” that intersect with the material presented through readings and lectures in a more traditional course format. The speaker has been teaching courses in this program since 2018, including some on Daoist contemplative practice, qigong, and taijiquan, that incorporate practical instruction with historical and theoretical readings. This talk will explore the speaker’s experiences teaching these courses and emphasize the immense benefits, including Daoist perspectives and practices in this field, for researchers and college students who take these classes.
BIO
Larson Di Fiori teaches Religious Studies and Contemplative Studies at Brown University. His courses and research focus primarily on Chinese culture, particularly Daoism and its associated texts and practices.
Paul K. Alexander
The Miracle of Life: Integrating Chinese Medicine with Modern Fertility Practices
WHEN: Sunday, October 6, 11:10- 12 noon EST
BIO
Paul K. Alexander is a seasoned practitioner and educator in Chinese Medicine and martial arts. A 2009 graduate of Pacific College of Oriental Medicine, Paul has been in private practice since 2010. Currently, he is a professor of advanced orthopedics at Daoist Traditions College of Chinese Medical Arts. With over 30 years of experience, Paul’s martial arts journey began with Muay Thai at age eight and spans disciplines such as Goju-Ryu, Kung Fu, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, MMA, Xing Yi, and Ba Gua. His extensive background enriches his practice, blending ancient techniques with modern approaches. Since 2017, Paul has been studying with Master Jeffrey Yuen, an 88th-generation priest of the Shang Qing, drawing deep inspiration from his teachings in classical Chinese Medicine and Daoism. Paul’s practice, PK Alexander Acupuncture & Wellness, serves a diverse clientele in NYC and Westchester, focusing on holistic health, wellness, and personal growth. Committed to empowering clients, students, and patients, his mission is to help them unlock their inner potential and achieve their highest aspirations. His guiding principle is Learn, Heal, Evolve.
Sam Wuest
Meridians and Points in Motion
WHEN: Sunday, October 6, 1:10 – 2 pm EST
How Can Embodied Movement Practices help us understand Traditional Chinese Medicine’s channel system? Sam will discuss how movement affects our understanding of the meridian system and how understanding the meridian system can help us understand movement more holistically. We will explore some similarities and differences in the effects of Eastern and Western movement practices on the physical and energetic body before finishing with a practical demonstration of several acupressure points that every person who moves should know how to use.
BIO
Sam Wuest is a certified Daoist Gate Wudang Arts teacher and a 25th-generation lay disciple of the Chunyang Sect of Wudang Daoism (Daoist Name: 信罡; Xin Gang), having studied in immersive settings with Lindsey Wei and Li Shifu in the Pacific Northwest and China. A former apprentice of master Japanese Acupuncturist T. Koei Kuwahara, Sam has served as team acupuncturist and massage therapist for Columbia University and ran an acupuncture clinic & teaching Taiji, Qigong, & Meditation in Southern California. Before becoming an acupuncturist, Sam coached college and professional track and field athletes and was a Division 1 athlete and national high jump silver medalist in 2024. Sam practices Daoist and Chinese Medicine, teaches Taiji and Qigong, and coaches other embodied movement arts in San José, Costa Rica. He also teaches online classes to connect the worlds of athletic/movement professionals and Traditional Chinese Medicine as Meridians Move.
Master Zhou Xuan Yun
Color, Space, Feng Shui and Health
WHEN: Sunday, October 6, 2:10 – 3 pm EST
BIO
Founder of the Daoist Gate Center, a non-profit organization, Master Zhou’s mission is to promote cross-cultural East and West understanding and Daoist solidarity. At 13, Master Zhou was sent to live on Wudang Mountain, where he was a student and later an instructor of Taiji, Kung Fu, and Qi Gong. Living at the Daoist Association Martial Arts Academy, in the Purple Cloud Temple, he was accepted into the 24th generation of the Wudang Long Men (Lóng ménpài 龙门派) lineage. At 16, he vowed to become a Daoist Monk and began his study of Daoist philosophy and religious practices. He was trained in ritual arts, chanting, divination, and internal alchemy. Master Zhou is a formally recognized disciple of Master Li Guang Fu 李光富, the Chairman of the Chinese Daoist Association (中国道教协会会长). Master Zhou divided his time between teaching at the center and abroad.