Cultivation

309 Artificial Intelligence for Acupuncturists • Heidi Lovie

309 Artificial Intelligence for Acupuncturists • Heidi Lovie

Is it the end of the world, or the beginning of a new one? 

That is the question of the day when cultures go through seatide changes. Ever since the turn into of this yin water rabbit year in February, we’ve been hearing about power, potential and perhaps peril of ChatGPT and the other Artificial Intelligences that have burst into the digital landscape.

What is in store for us as acupuncturists? That is the question I put to Heidi Lovie who has been getting her hands dirty with various kinds of silicon based intelligence for quite a few years now. You might not know this, but she can make Excel spreadsheet datasets dance and sing. 

Jun 20, 2023
306 Suffering is Meant to Awaken Us, Qi Gong and the Alchemy of Transformation • Chris Shelton

306 Suffering is Meant to Awaken Us, Qi Gong and the Alchemy of Transformation • Chris Shelton

There’s a saying that what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. Maybe. I suspect that it has something to do with the capacity of your 意 Yi to make meaning, and the vitality of the 志 Zhi to take that meaning and marry it to the sense of what you’re here to do in this post-heaven formed world of the created.

In this conversation with Chris Shelton we hear how his troublesome childhood laid the groundwork for a qi gong practice that would not only help him to heal himself, but to be of service to others as well. We’ll touch on the impact of emotions on our physiology, the central practice of accountability and the importance of being both present and non-attached in the face of difficulties.

May 30, 2023
303 Way of the Teishin • Bob Quinn

303 Way of the Teishin • Bob Quinn

What’s more powerful, a whisper or a shout? What has more impact, a punch to the gut or an intended and targeted slight? Strength and power, these are two different things.

In this conversation with Bob Quinn we explore the gentle practice of using the Teishin, and the landscape that emerges as we attend both to the quiet sensitive aspect of the nervous system as it manifests in the skin, and our rooted sense of perception and attentiveness to the space we inhabit with our patients

May 9, 2023
293 Facereading as Part of the Clinical Conversation • Juli Kramer

293 Facereading as Part of the Clinical Conversation • Juli Kramer

Like the patina and wear on something touched often, or the way shoes and fabric carries the memory of the wearer. Our life and spirit shows its presence on our face. To read the face is to delve into the intricacies of the being woven into the lines, curves, and expressions of the human face.

The face reflects the depth of our being. It’s an invitation into a world of untold stories, capacities and potential. Sparse eyebrows speak of emotional strain, the fullness of your lips reveals the ability to express emotions, and the ear lobes indicate prosperity. Perhaps the tales told by face could help foster greater understanding and healing for those seeking vitality and wellbeing.

In this conversation with Juli Kramer, we delve into the art of face reading and how it can serve as a valuable tool in our work.

Feb 28, 2023
291 Mind, Destiny and Intention • Ann Cecil Sterman

291 Mind, Destiny and Intention • Ann Cecil Sterman

In this conversation with Ann Cecil Sterman, we unravel the notion that all intention is heart-centered unless interfered with by the mind. The topic takes us down a fascinating path where we mull over the idea of accessing the Chong meridian and uncovering the blueprint of our life. We also explore what it means to be a proficient practitioner, the issue of the mind defending against destiny, and why acupuncture is all about the channels.

Listen into this discussion on mind, intention, fate, and navigating the blueprint of one’s destiny.

Feb 14, 2023
290 Intention, Attention, and The Qi of Cultivation • Damo Mitchell

290 Intention, Attention, and The Qi of Cultivation • Damo Mitchell

We all know that Chinese medicine is a path of balance. A journey of harmony and restoration. An art that seeks to align the channels and tend to the ebb and flow of Qi. As practitioners we are trying to unravel the knots that bind or drain away imbalances so as to invite the body back to health. Our medicine is an art that seeks to bring harmony to the whole.

In this conversation with Damo Mitchell, we go off the beaten path as we discuss some arguable topics revolving around the use of attention versus intention in the clinic, developing a sense of discernment for what’s valuable, the linear nature of our medicine, and how cultivation ties into all this. It’s a conversation that is bound to raise a few questions (and perhaps some eyebrows).

Feb 7, 2023
288 Peach Spring Beyond This World, A Glimpse of the Water Rabbit Year • Gregory Done

288 Peach Spring Beyond This World, A Glimpse of the Water Rabbit Year • Gregory Done

In this conversation with Gregory Done, we delve into the mysterious realm of the water rabbit and explore how its gentle yet powerful energy can guide us through the ebbs and flows of life, helping us to make the most of opportunities and weather any storms that may come our way. We talk about the transformative power of the water rabbit as the bringer of diplomacy, close-knit relationships, and sneaky guile. Gregory also unravels what lies ahead for the 12 animals of the Chinese cosmological Zodiac.

Jan 24, 2023
284 Case Studies and Storytelling a Lens into Medicine and Meaning • Sarah Rivkin

284 Case Studies and Storytelling a Lens into Medicine and Meaning • Sarah Rivkin

No matter how automated, evidence-based, standardized, or computerized medical systems become, the clinical encounter boils down to a story between a patient and the practitioner. Medicine is not just about reciting a chronology of data points. A practitioner’s role is to recognize and pull meaning from a patient’s story of illness in such a way that can guide us in being helpful.

In this conversation with Sarah Rivkin, we talk about the place of East Asian medicine in a world that leans more towards a standardized approach to medicine. We noodle on the similarities between case studies and novels, and what Sarah’s research could tell us about navigating a Western world without losing sight of what makes Chinese medicine a treasure.

Dec 27, 2022
275 If You're Falling, Dive— Trauma, Heartbreak and Possiblities • Randal Lyons

275 If You're Falling, Dive— Trauma, Heartbreak and Possiblities • Randal Lyons

No one gets through life without difficulties. We all carry wounds and the consequences of the meanings we’ve made in the moments of heartbreak, fear and confusion.

In this second conversation with Randle Lyons we discuss the dark forest of transformation. How our wounds can be a source of healing, if properly digested and how it’s harder to surrender when you have something to lose.

Oct 25, 2022

274 Panel on Wei Qi, Ann Cecil-Sterman, Laurie Ayres & Zhongxian Wu

I recently got to thinking about Wei qi, especially as we are moving into the dark of the year in the northern hemisphere, and I realized that I hear discussions about wei qi, and how we should attend to it, or nourish it. Often enough, perhaps too often, we equate wei qi with the immune system. And think about strength, rather than balance. What’s more, the commonly used formulas that are famous for ‘stabilizing or strengthening the exterior” are frequently prescribed without any kind of actual differential diagnosis. Concerns about effectiveness and maybe even safety naturally arise.

Oct 18, 2022