A new year arrives
briskly. Winter is coldest
Just before the Spring.

– the tortoise, or tortoise snake is the totemic animal of winter –

Hello Friends of Flying Needle!

Happy Lesser Cold!

– fifth winter solar node – 

Hope this finds you well during these interesting times!

Seasonal Musings & Reflections

Welcome to 2026!

Happy New Year! We’ve had a run of chilly days here in Chapel Hill. Today, however, is positively balmy! Even on the cold days, squirrels are going wild. Deer are bounding about. And a piliated woodpecker greets the day pecking on the pines.

How is January where you are?

Even though the year of the Fire Horse doesn’t begin until February 17, 2026 is already bringing bold and dynamic action onto the world stage! And while it is often noted that “fortune favors the bold” it is observed equally as often that “fools rush in where even angels fear to tread.”

One of the inquiries that will be particularly rich in the coming year is to seek stillness in movement, and movement in stillness. The rhythms and resonance (qi) of the Fire Horse can be VERY strong. We want to provide a stable base for the movements of the year to express within and through us in a generative way – bold and calm, ready to act dynamically and swiftly, yet without impatience or haste.

We’ll explore the nature of the Fire Horse year in more depth next month.

I hope your holiday season was nourishing. For many of us it can be a challenging time of year. If you are feeling like you need post-holiday season support please don’t hesitate to reach out.

December was a combination of study, practice, clinic, and family time. I went to the second weekend of a 2.5 year/10 weekend osteopathic training that I am participating in with Dr Steve Sanet. Dr Sanet is a brilliant human, an amazing physician, and a skillful teacher. The first two weekends were on basic cranial and visceral work. And, as I hoped, even though I have studied perspectives on both, and worked with both in clinic for years, I have already learned a ton. Truly grateful for this opportunity to deepen my study of manual medicine!

With four weekends with Dr Sanet, two Fascial Counterstrain classes, and a weekend with Dan Bensky and Jay Sandweiss focusing on the integration of manual medicine and acupuncture, 2026 will be full of awesome deep educational dives! I am stoked to continue developing my capacity to support the innate intelligence of the miraculous human organism, and do what I can to alleviate suffering here on this beautiful living world.

Thanks to all of you for accompanying me through another year!

My gratitude and appreciation for your companionship, attention, and presence!

May your Winter days be filled with beauty, mystery, and friendship! 

May you and your kin feel both rooted and free!

May we walk in gratitude with our Ancestors!

May all being and becoming receive nourishment!

Light returning. Days
Lengthen, Yang waxes. Springtime
Prepares to arrive.

It is my sincere hope that you have found something of use in these words.

If you know folks who you feel would enjoy this newsletter, please forward it their way! Thank you!

Wishing you and all your relations wellbeing and good medicine!

With gratitude,

Taran