 September and October were eventful. First, I spend 4 days learning Dr Tan's Balance Method. A simple, elegant method of acupuncture based in the I Ching & Chinese classic texts, this method is so efficient that patients who come in for pain has felt a significant change in 5 to 10 seconds. I am grateful and excited to add another magical instrument to my Chinese Medicine toolbox.  Shortly after those classes, I participated in a training weekend of Core Energetics in October. Core Energetics is a marriage of Body Psychotherapy & Spiritual Development. Those 3 days were marked by a single fantastic moment. I explained to a group of strangers who opened their minds to a new way of thinking. From the Chinese perspective, a point of view through which I see everything, each person is an unique combination of Yin and Yang energy. No living being is absolute Yin or Yang. When seen this way, there is less concern about one person being "overly masculine" or another "not feminine enough"; unacceptable feelings or struggle to assimilate. Each of us reacts to the world from a particular energetic algorithm, no better, no worse, our own way, like a fingerprint. If we perceive each other as ever changing, dynamic mix of Yin and Yang beings, perhaps we will judge less and value more. Energy is less likely to be labeled, categorized, and typecast. After all, we are all integral parts of the whole universe; vibrations contained in Taiji.  Since November I am practicing Taiji Quan again with Master Koo's school Nan Lao Shu. This routine was a spark that lit up the drudgery of grad school! A past lecture he taught includes: "In the universe we can see the phenomena of waning and waxing of the yin and the yang, coming and going. All the changes that occur ultimately grow to a point where they start to dissipate. And finally, when there is nothing, things start to grow again." As late Autumn turns early Winter, I will think of you, grateful that we crossed paths, whether in the past or present, when I celebrate Thanksgiving holiday with my loved ones.
