Traditional Chinese Medicine
The Soul of The Solstice
Around me the trees stir in their leaves
and call out, “Stay awhile.”
The light flows from their branches.
And they call again,
“It’s simple,” they say,“and you too have come
into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled
with light, and to shine.
~Mary Oliver~
Greetings to all my precious people!!
We are in the midst of transition to Winter, the time of deep reflection, inward movement and incubation. For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice will occur on Saturday December 21st, marking the shortest day and the longest night of the year. This cycle of Nature has arrived consistently throughout millennia, reflecting the natural rhythm of the Universe that is also part of our own rhythms as human beings made of stardust. continue reading
Embrace Your Inner Light
“There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
~~ Leonard Cohen
Greetings to all my precious people!!
The final Full Moon of the year will grace the night sky on Sunday, December 15, and its luminous presence will invite us to pause and reflect. Known as the Full Cold Moon, as well as the Frost Moon or Winter Moon, it gets the name from the Mohawk tribe, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac. This Moon represents just how cold the winter months can get. It is also called the Long Night Moon, since it is close to the Winter Solstice of December 21, which is the day with the fewest hours of daylight. continue reading
Finding the Wisdom of Winter
“To get better at wintering,
we need to address our very notion of time.
We tend to imagine that our lives are linear,
but they are in fact cyclical.”
~~ Katherine May
Greetings to all my precious people!!
December has arrived and there is a flurry of activity as the countdown begins to the end of year holidays. In a society driven by constant consumerism, we are often encouraged to do more, buy more, and push endlessly toward productivity. The rhythms of Nature—marked by cycles of growth, rest, and renewal—are largely forgotten in the rush to maintain momentum. Yet Nature gently reminds us of the importance of pause. continue reading
Thankful, Grateful, Blessed
Life is about not knowing, having to change,
taking the moment and making the best of it,
without knowing what’s going to happen next.
Delicious Ambiguity.
~~ Gilda Radner
Greetings to all my precious people!!!
We are in the week of harvest at the end of November, a time traditionally celebrated with family, food, football and parades. But the spirit of Thanksgiving is much more than scheduled events. As we all gather to celebrate gratitude and blessings, I want to extend a heartfelt thank you—to the incredible patients and community of seekers who have graced my Path at Touchstone Acupuncture since 2010. You gifted me with the privilege of supporting your health and well-being, and this ongoing healing journey would not be possible without your trust and partnership. continue reading
The Search for Solitude and Inner Peace
“Without going outside, you may know the whole world.
Without looking through the window,
you may see the ways of heaven.
The farther you go, the less you know.
Thus, the sage knows without traveling;
he sees without looking; he works without doing.”
~~ Lao Zi, Dao De Jing (Chapter 47)
Greetings to all my precious people!
We are making our way towards a time of holidays and holy days during the next few weeks. So many of our traditions are rooted in gatherings with loved ones—be it family of origin or chosen family—sharing food and drink, space and time, telling stories, creating memories. The flurry of activity involved with the anticipation and participation tends to crowd our schedule, and while we want to be engaged and busy, we still need downtime to rest. While there are many forces influencing our time and attention, we can find solace by turning our focus inward, recentering our energy, and choosing to be present to Life as it unfolds. continue reading