Happy Year of the Water Dragon, the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival! The last Dragon year was 2000 and the next one will be 2024. Always interesting to look back and see what kind of year it was twelve years ago, and wonder what similarities will occur in this year. The last time a [...]
In perusing newspaper headlines, I found that a severance package, a governor’s trip, a private deal, a movie star’s spending spree, the police department’s methods, a court nomination, and a students hostile language all raised eyebrows. Yes, the eyebrows are the cynic’s greatest tools. Without a word, a riase or wiggle of an eyebrow can [...]
People who have a gift for music tend to have ‘the musical ear,’ a wide ear opening that resembles a conch shell. The old Taoist monks told us that these people are seeekers of harmony, especially in relationships. I’ve found that the reason they are seeking harmony is because they have an innate sense of [...]
I’ve had a few emails today asking if you should do your daily Taoist Swallow the Sun practice during the three days of the full moon. I have been taught that, in general, it is best not to Swallow the Sun during this time, especially for women. As with all things Taoist, though, each of [...]
Tonight we begin our Taoist Full Moon breathing and grounding exercise for the three night’s of the Full Moon. It’s especially beneficial for women, especially in this Water season. Breathe in the Yin energy of the moon and let it ground you with the earth. It’s snowing where I am tonight, with lots of big [...]
The longest night. The shortest day. The most Yin of the year. The least Yang of the year. The first day of winter, it’s the Winter Solstice. The season of Winter is associated with the Taoist Five Element of Water. It’s a time of quiet, calm, introspection, and contemplation. In this Water-Winter time we need [...]
Full, fleshy cheeks indicate you are confident, sensual, vivacious, practical, and you enjoy life. A student once challenged the description, saying it didn’t make sense: “You couldn’t be sensual, vivacious, and practical, he claimed. “What about Santa Claus?” I asked. The class erupted in laughter, thinking I had just lost my own argument.We know sensual [...]
Some hints for a more environmentally friendly holiday season, from an Earth Deficient woman. If I can do it, and have fun doing it, anyone can! This Holiday Season, Please Don’t Use Commercial Non-Recyclable Holiday Wrapping Paper … Instead, take the time, and maybe even spend a few cents more, for recyclable paper. Newspaper and [...]
Hollywood actress Joan Crawford may have started a trend among actresses and models when in the 1940s she had her back teeth removed to make her cheek bones more prominent. From a Mien Shiang perspective, prominent cheek bones connote authority. So, what happens when you look like you have authority, but you don’t actually possess [...]
In 2004 former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev petitioned to trademark his forehead birthmark after a Russian vodka company began using a facsimile of his famous birthmark on its bottle labels. I like that he embraced his birthmark as part of who he is, and fought to keep the ‘rights’ to what makes him unique. Is [...]
Learning Mien Shiang from Patrician McCarthy has been a valuable addition to my work in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It has become an integral part of my clinical practice and my teaching experience with students. I am grateful for everything she has taught me.
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