# Meridians of Awen: Charter

Acupuncturists have been physicians for thousands of years, at least since the time of the writing of the *Huang Di Nei Jing.* In that time, thoughtful scholarship and dedication to record keeping has provided modern physician acupuncturists with a rich and deep base of evidence and wisdom to inform modern practice. Meridians can be conceived of as pathways of communication that maintain health in the body. This group of individuals seeks to foster open, collegial, and actionable communication to maintain the health of the profession of physician acupuncturists worldwide. Awen can be understood as *flowing inspiration* or *the flowing muse of inspiration;* often linked with the expression of our destiny, or *jingshen.* If Awen is flowing inspiration, it is only sensible that it flows through meridians!

## Vision

A cadre of inspired physician acupuncturists dedicated to providing patient centered, outcome focused, primary care informed by the traditional wisdom of master acupuncturists of the past and the best academic scholarship that the modern world has to offer.

## Mission

Developing and maintaining channels of communication to promote, support, distribute, and refine the highest standards of academic scholarship relevant and actionable to the profession of physician acupuncturists worldwide.

## Core Values

<dl>
<dt>Respect</dt>
<dd>The recognition and honoring of the inalienable dignity and autonomy of every form of intelligence and wisdom extant in the complete world of nature. </dd>
<dt>Integrity</dt>
<dd>An unwavering commitment to accountability, self-awareness, responsibility, and truth.</dd>
<dt>Excellence</dt>
<dd>Dedication to the highest standards of service to our profession.</dd>
<dt>Compassion</dt>
<dd>Sympathetic consciousness of other’s distress together with a desire to alleviate it.</dd>
</dl>

## Membership

In recognition of the fact that acupuncturist physicians are inseparable from integrative practice; the offer of membership is extended to anyone dedicated to elevating the profession of physician acupuncturists and high standards of academic scholarship. Membership and participation implies embracing the core values, endorsement of this charter, and a commitment to the acceptable use policy.

The membership is a collective of individuals, and members represent their own opinions and understandings. No one has the ability to speak on behalf of the group as a whole, but sets of members may co-endorse position or policy statements, should they choose.

Participation implicitly commits one to the ideal of consensus building; with the recognition that consensus is not static. A diversity of opinions is welcome, but the commitment to the core value of **respect** should be paramount in all discussion and debate.

Membership is non-binding; members may leave at any time and are welcome to rejoin, provided they left on good terms in keeping with our core values. Membership is independent and neither implies, nor is implicit to, membership in any other group, collective, or organization.