You are not a disease. You are a person. You have thoughts and feelings; hopes and fears; dreams and goals; joys and sorrows; and, yes, illnesses, aches, and pains. When I see you, I am interested in all of you, not just what hurts, or what is wrong. You are much more than that. I treat people, not disease. I want to know what you gave up for your job, or your family. I want to know what gets you out of bed in the morning. I want to know why you weep and why you laugh. I want to know about your pets, your children, and your grandchildren. I want to know what flowers you love and what foods you crave. You are the important part of any treatment I do. And, you are unique. No other patient I see is the same as you. And, I feel that way about every patient I see. This is why I am an acupuncturist. Sure I love acupuncture, but even more I love people. To me it’s like tending a garden with a vast variety of individual and beautiful flowers. Each flower needs a different amount of light, water, and food to flourish. Each patient - you - need unique treatments. I am committed to giving you a unique treatment, designed exactly for you, so you can flourish.
I also teach shamanism with a similar motivation. I love the Earth. I see the Earth as an amazing planet with so much diversity and possibility. Yes, there is a lot wrong, mostly caused by humankind, but in spite of that you can still find many, many places on this planet, not far from where you live where nature provides all of what we need. The practice of shamanism reminds us that we are interconnected with the natural world. Awakening to that interconnectedness is what will motivate us to treating the Earth with the respect and love she deserves. We don’t have to start a large mass revolution to save our planet, it can be done by being in relationship with the Earth one person at a time on local, grassroots levels. As this happens one community at a time, we can reach a tipping point to reverse the damages that have been done, and adapt to more sustainable ways of living.
I was told a number of years ago that I should tell people what shamanism can do for them, not what it can do for the Earth. “They” said people are selfish and won’t be interested in anything except how it will benefit them. That’s how most American businesses manipulate you into buying their products or services. They bank on you being selfish. I don’t buy into that. I think that you do see the Earth around you, and you feel deep in your bones the destruction, and are most likely as frustrated as I have been about what to do about it. I could tell you about the benefits to you of practicing shamanism, and you might be convinced to try it. But I don’t want to sell you on some new scheme. I want to inspire you to see bigger than your own yard or neighborhood. If you do something simply for yourself, that’s me like treating diseases in my acupuncture practice and it doesn’t last. Your symptoms go away and so do you. You have a few high moments around a fire and then you go back to what you always did. The Earth, and you, need more. We need sustainability in every area of life. And if you are inspired, if you are touched deeply in your heart of hearts, you will change your life and the lives of those around you - one person at a time - one community at a time - until we reach that tipping point and life as we know it changes to something bigger, better, brighter and sustainable.
And that is why I get out of bed in the morning. That’s why I treat people not diseases. That’s why I teach ways of being in relationship with Earth.
I also teach shamanism with a similar motivation. I love the Earth. I see the Earth as an amazing planet with so much diversity and possibility. Yes, there is a lot wrong, mostly caused by humankind, but in spite of that you can still find many, many places on this planet, not far from where you live where nature provides all of what we need. The practice of shamanism reminds us that we are interconnected with the natural world. Awakening to that interconnectedness is what will motivate us to treating the Earth with the respect and love she deserves. We don’t have to start a large mass revolution to save our planet, it can be done by being in relationship with the Earth one person at a time on local, grassroots levels. As this happens one community at a time, we can reach a tipping point to reverse the damages that have been done, and adapt to more sustainable ways of living.
I was told a number of years ago that I should tell people what shamanism can do for them, not what it can do for the Earth. “They” said people are selfish and won’t be interested in anything except how it will benefit them. That’s how most American businesses manipulate you into buying their products or services. They bank on you being selfish. I don’t buy into that. I think that you do see the Earth around you, and you feel deep in your bones the destruction, and are most likely as frustrated as I have been about what to do about it. I could tell you about the benefits to you of practicing shamanism, and you might be convinced to try it. But I don’t want to sell you on some new scheme. I want to inspire you to see bigger than your own yard or neighborhood. If you do something simply for yourself, that’s me like treating diseases in my acupuncture practice and it doesn’t last. Your symptoms go away and so do you. You have a few high moments around a fire and then you go back to what you always did. The Earth, and you, need more. We need sustainability in every area of life. And if you are inspired, if you are touched deeply in your heart of hearts, you will change your life and the lives of those around you - one person at a time - one community at a time - until we reach that tipping point and life as we know it changes to something bigger, better, brighter and sustainable.
And that is why I get out of bed in the morning. That’s why I treat people not diseases. That’s why I teach ways of being in relationship with Earth.