Yin grows stronger. Leaves
Fall from the trees. Living things
Wither – ceaseless change

Hello Friends of Flying Needle!

Happy Cold Dew!

– fifth autumnal solar node –

Hope this finds you well during these interesting times!

Seasonal Musings & Reflections

It’s a cool late Autumn (Winter begins on November 7th) morning here in Chapel Hill. The light has a soft tawny quality that I associate with October in the South. Typically, this time of year crickets and grasshoppers are diminishing. They are still singing in my neighborhood. Do you hear them where you are?

Purple mistflower and goldenrod are in bloom. Have you seen Monarchs munching as they migrate?

Have you seen the Pleiades rising from the Earth as the waning moon rises?

Dr Qiu Xuelan says:

Cold Dew is the moment Lung qi has fully descended and Kidney is beginning to take over the work of holding warmth in the deep tissues. The patient who chills easily, or whose old respiratory pattern returns each fall, will notice it sharpening here. The work now is moistening the Lung while warming the Kidney quietly underneath.

If you find yourself in need of support, don’t hesitate to reach out!

I recently returned from the second weekend of back to back classes. The first was a Fascial Counterstrain module on assessing and treating spinal ligaments, and myochains (muscles that work in concert across multiple body regions). The second was a class on utilizing osteopathic listening, and manual muscle testing as diagnostic guides in acupuncture. This class was taught by two legends – Dr. Dan Bensky, DO and Dr. Jay Sandweiss, DO.

Not only was the class amazing, but getting to hear stories from their more than 40 years of clinical experience was incredible. Dr. Bensky translated the first textbooks on Chinese medicine into English in the late 70s’. Quite literally, I would not be an acupuncturist without his work. I feel immensely grateful to both of them, and for the opportunity to have learned with them, and an incredible group of colleagues in both East Asian medicine, and Osteopathy.

As many of you know, daily practice is the foundation of my work in clinic. One of those practices is Taiji Qigong Shibashi. It is simple, elegant, 18 movement set, that once learned takes a little less than 20 mins to practice.

One of the best teachers of this set, Fabrice Piché, just made his comprehensive online course free. I highly recommend checking it out!

May your Autumn 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!

Always a pleasure
to be in the presence of
profound mastery.

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