Year of the Earth Rat
This Earth Rat year is a fixed Water year, making travel especially interesting and challenging, yet the Earth influence will ground many of us in our pursuits and aspirations. The Mien Shiang Institute moves ahead from last year’s excitement into a new period of growth, travel, and expanding opportunities.
A New Year With A New Look
With the New Year The Mien Shiang Institute has put on a new face. I’m thrilled with the bold and beautiful of our website www.mienshiang.com. Whether you’re applying Mien Shiang to your medical practice, corporate productivity, or personal life, I think you’ll find it easier to locate the information you need.
In our Learning Corner I will continue to add columns relating to Mien Shiang, the Five Elements and general Taoist theory. That’s where we will continue to archive the Question and Answer column, and articles about us from other sources.
Maybe my favorite new addition is in The Book section where you can peruse the Table of Contents, see a sampling of the full-color book insert, or read an entire downloadable chapter. I chose the chapter on the ‘Nose’ because wherever I go everyone has something to say about their noses! All three excerpts will show you what a beautifully produced book this is. I am honored to have Dutton as my publisher, and proud of their design and presentation of my work.
Looking Back
Excitement, Surprises, and Travel
The year of the Fire (Water) Pig was, as expected, laden with excitement and big, exhilarating promises (the Fire) and – in some cases – the sudden extinguishing of expectations, leaving promises and commitments unfulfilled (the Water). Every year presents its own unique challenges. When we recognize those challenges and anticipate them, it makes it easier for us to recover – or, even better, to avoid some of those pitfalls. It’s the challenges that often teach us the best lessons. Knowing what to expect from the conflicts of Fire and Water last year helped keep me on track for the countless fun and thought provoking radio, TV and print interviews following the release of The Face Reader. (see the website for some of the media events of the last few months).
Water likes to travel, simply enjoying the journey for the journey’s sake. The year took me across four continents to lead workshops, promote my book, and meet wonderful new people.
Putting Mien Shiang to Work
My corporate workshops were a delight as always. I conducted workshops for people who leave me breathless with their creative insights, daring approaches and abounding enthusiasm to change the ‘face of work.’ Some of the year’s highlights include:
The unrivaled, brilliant Ivy Ross with her Disney Store Children’s Place adventurers Tara Poseley, Sonia Coleman and Becky Mick who are always willing to push it just a little bit more
David Kuehler and his fabulous Procter & Gamble Clay Street gang always give me a platform to try something new and insightful.
Mattel’s outstanding Lynde Hartman and Peter Helenek brought me stage center in their remarkable Design Xchange extravaganza (I felt like the rock star of face reading when so many designers signed up for the workshop that we had to add two more presentations to the schedule!)
Lisa McKnight, VP of Creative & Marketing Communications at Mattel is serious in motivating those teams to communicate. She, with the great help of Kristina Faulk, brought The Face Reader (me!) in to their Day of Play to foster communication in yet another innovative way.
Working with such amazing people to improve communication, productivity, and the creative flow in their work has been invigorating. It has been a privilege to help these innovators infuse new concepts and practices into their operations.
The Always Expanding MSI
A few brilliant spirits in Tucson, Arizona have made it possible for me to think of Tucson as more than just a great-escape:
My deep appreciation and respect goes to Rubin R. Naiman, Ph.D. a sleep and dream specialist and clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of Arizona’s Program in Integrative Medicine, directed by Dr. Andrew Weil. (His book, Healing Night, is invaluable. Buy it!)
Linda Joy Stone, L.Ac. and Alex Holland, M.Ac., L.Ac. president of Asian Institute of Medical Studies, are incredible gifts – to me and to the planet.
Theo Kipnis has helped focus my institute’s message and communicate it through a revitalized web site design. I look forward to using this improved approach to show people how Mien Shiang can improve their workplaces, relationships, and health.
Look for some interesting, near-future connections between these complementary medicine pioneers and innovators, and The Mien Shiang Institute.
Looking Ahead
I am looking at the Elements of Earth and Water in this year of the Rat to guide my travels and teachings. Because Earth is over Water, I’ll need to be extra vigilant in keeping my foundations solid, and my energies moving forward. These are a few examples of the myriad ways I will be incorporating Mien Shiang into our every day lives:
New York will be my destination to celebrate the publication of The Face Reader in soft cover at the end of March. I will be doing two small workshops and private readings.
Chiang Mai, Thailand and Australia are possibilities for early – mid April. The Face Reader was published in Australia in June and it’s time to say hello to this exceedingly friendly population of face reading fans.
In April I will be speaking to the 5th Annual Southeast Area Executive Women’s Retreat hosted by KPMG outside Atlanta, Ga.
Santa Monica will be the setting for a Medical Mien Shiang Diagnostic intensive in May
Finding Your Creative and Spiritual Path is a favorite workshop. This year it will be offered twice, on both coasts. Check the website for those details.
In the autumn I will return to Tuscany, Italy to the beautiful little hill town of San Quirico d’Orcia to do a workshop / retreat on Intimate Relationships.
The generosity of the unbelievable women of the Belizean Grove will be shown in many ways, including hosting book parties and classes. Those details will be available within the next couple weeks in a separate email and on the website.
For now, I will be calling on the Rat’s charming business acumen to guide me through the many adventures I will have this year, and I encourage you all to do the same. Happy New Year. As always, I look forward to receiving your questions and stories.
April 15th, 2010 at 8:01 pm
Fascinating…and I agree pretty much with everything. Keep up the great work…I will certainly be back shortly
April 18th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I think this post was probably a awesome kick off to a potential series of articles about this topic. So many writers act like they understand what they’re writing about when it comes to this topic and in reality, very few people actually get it. You seem to know about it though, so I think you need to run with it. Thanks!
April 24th, 2010 at 6:43 am
Hello. Fantastic job, if I wasn’t so busy with my school work I read your full site. Thanks!