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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" background="12c785a3.jpg"> <div> <B>Newsletter</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="12dd2b03.jpg"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Wright To The Point Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine</FONT> TM<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >     |    </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Balloonist SF" ><A HREF="default.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Wright To The Point Acupuncture and Orie"><U>Home</U></A></FONT></div> <div> <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="About Us"><U>About Us</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News and Events"><U>News and Events</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id19.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Directions"><U>Directions</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="FAQS"><U>FAQ'S</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id21.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Us/Links"><U>Contact Us/Links</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Services"><U>Our Services</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id41.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Facts"><U>Facts</U></A>   |   <B>Newsletter</B></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>Newsletter</U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <I>SPRING '09 - Yang Rises!</I></div> <div> The Sun has returned and with it the Yang energy begins to rise. The stored Yin energy now begins to stir and become active, transforming into Yang.  Without the activity, we begin to get restless (Spring fever).  This time of the year is governed by the Wood energy.  Wood is nourished by the water of winter which should have been conserved and stored well so we could use it at this time.  Notice how the plants start to bloom, the trees begin to bud, the light stays around longer and activity begins to increase.  Wood energy spreads in all directions, it doesn't like to be confined, so set it free.  Go for a walk, a run, a hike or other outdoor activity and breath in the air.  Metal controls Wood and Metal is in the Lungs so breathe deeply to spread the Wood energy and move it through the whole body.  </div> <bR> <div> The sound of Wood is shouting, so feel free to use those primal screams; call to the person down the street by vocals, not by cell phone so the energy doesn't stagnate causing excessive anger and frustration.  Wind is the pathogenic energy of this season, so be sure to keep your scarf for a few more weeks especially during the windy times.  It is easy for Wind to penetrate the skin, but it is easily diverted with scarves or collars, it can bring cold or heat with it (or any other pathogenic factor), but it can be troublesome all by itself too; leading to chills, headaches, sporadic muscle spasms or pains that move in different areas of the body.  Be active, yes, but always beware of exposing yourself to too much exertion.  </div> <bR> <div> The Yang is growing, but it still needs Yin to nourish it.  We still have Summer coming up in a few months, this Wood energy will need to be preserved somewhat so that we can have a good strong active Summer burning brightly for our health.  Remember most of all that anger is the emotion of the season.  Express it, but don't let it control you, be active to move it or transform it into laughter.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>ANGER - THE “EVIL” EMOTION</I></div> <div> How often have we been told that anger is wrong?  How often have we been told to hold in our anger instead of reacting?  How many of us have grown up believing that if we become angry we will be punished?   Well, I'm here to tell you that anger is not an “evil” emotion, but a useful and actually necessary one.  </div> <bR> <div> The problems come in when anger is inappropriate, unbalanced or unacknowledged.  Under these circumstances, anger is unable to transform or be dispersed.  In those cases, anger grows, becomes disruptive, stagnates and attacks.  It “explodes” out of its confinement and that can manifest as violence, ulcers, rashes, heart attacks, or many other ailments. </div> <bR> <div> Why do we become angry?  There are a few reasons, such as: Because things didn't go our way (“it wasn't my vision”), because we are being confined (“I need to grow, expand, move and you won't let me”), because we are stuck and need something to change (“things aren't right, something needs to change”), because we feel something is unjust (“that's not fair/balanced”), because others are trying to make us act unlike who we feel we are (“you are denying me my self expression”) or some other similar reason.       </div> <bR> <div> The words in parenthesis above are phrases that the Officials of Wood - The Liver and Gallbladder - would say.  The Liver is “<I>the official with strength and vision in planning.; the General from whom strategies are derived; guarantees the smooth and rhythmic movement of life; upholds identity and self-esteem; presents integrated personality and sets boundaries</I>.” (J.R. Worsley) The Gallbladder is “<I>the official who executes vision and planning of the Liver; makes clear, concise decisions; can organize what it sees, gives structure and sets boundaries; it is the impartial justice from whom judgments are derived</I>.” (J.R. Worsley)</div> <bR> <div> In a sense, to deny yourself of the emotion of anger is to deny your Liver and Gallbladder.  Anger is housed in these organs, under the element of Wood energy.  Anger helps us make changes, stand up for ourselves, protect ourselves and gives us the courage to move forward.  Without anger, the United States of America would still be colonies of England.  Anger is not bad; how we deal with anger, what we do with it, is what has potential for being bad.</div> <bR> <div> Think of these two examples of angry situations and notice the outcomes: 1.  A young child is angry because he is denied the right to do something his parent knows shouldn't be done.  The child's anger grows and grows, he screams then bursts into tears.  2.  A married couple starts to argue about a certain situation, the accusations fly, name-calling begins, voices raise to shouts, then silence, a pause, and they burst out laughing.  The ridiculousness of how to squeeze a tube of toothpaste.</div> <bR> <div> In the first scenario, a child is not able to express himself, have his way, move in the direction he sees fit and chooses.  The parent, trying to do the best for the child and form boundaries, stands firm.  The child becomes angry, the anger grows, is expressed in a shout, then the Lung energy takes over (weeping).  Here, the anger was expressed, acknowledged and finally transformed by the Lung energy.  Believe it or not, this is healthy (as long as the tantrum is minimal). In the second scenario, the couple is each trying to exert their view and may feel unacknowledged, may wish to control the situation, or may be judging the situation.  Anger forms and is expressed through shout, then it is transformed into the next element -Fire- and expressed there through laughter.  This too, is healthy. </div> <bR> <div> Both of these scenarios show healthy expression and transformation of anger.  Had either “held in” their anger, it would manifest, stagnate, grow, heat-up and cause many problems in the persons health and life.  By being able to express the anger and move it, the body honors it, releases it, and stays balanced.       </div> <bR> <div> If we lie to ourselves (“I'm NOT angry”) or otherwise deny the existence of anger (“I don't get mad, I get even).  Then we are doing no good for our health, our environment or our lives.  This is when anger becomes unhealthy.  Also, if we hold onto our anger, (let it fester, grow inside us, burn, get bigger with each angry experience, never honoring it, acknowledging it, or letting it transform) then it will stay in us and make us unhealthy (ulcers, tumors, rashes, stomach aches, headaches, muscle tension, constipation, etc.) </div> <bR> <div> The time of life we call the “terrible two's” is the time in a child's life when they realize they are individual beings, separate from everyone else.  MINE! Becomes their battle cry, because now they know the difference between “me and you.”  NO! becomes their defiance, because they've discovered they have choice, their own will, their own vision of what “should be.”  As we recycle through the springtime, we recycle through that stage of life. Springtime is the season of Wood, it is the time the Liver and Gallbladder energies are in full bloom, it is a time to accept ourselves for who we are; a time for deciding where we are going, what our boundaries are and honoring “me”.  Also allowing others the same right.  It's easy to get stuck there, to see only the self, but remember that Wood is controlled by Metal (a higher, more wise version of the self) and Wood transforms into Fire (passion, joy, separating what is important from what is not important), transforming the energy to create Earth (nourishment, support, family, embracing all).</div> <bR> <div> It's been said that anger comes from fear (Fear is the emotion of Water, the mother of Wood, and so from a Chinese Medical point-of-view that is a sensible statement).  So, when you don't know where your anger is coming from, or why you can't acknowledge it/ honor it or express it, check for a deeper fear, it may make you cry (it may make you laugh), but it will help you move on.</div> <bR> <div> Anger is not evil, but we need to take proper steps: Acknowledge/honor it, express it, then let it transform.  If you can't let go of yours, or feel you have an ailment that stems from long-term anger issues, come in to see what we can do to help  relieve you of it. -PW-</div> <bR> <div> <I>THE ROAD TO HANA</I></div> <div> I'm not certain if this story has ever been written before, Though similar thoughts have been written, I'm sure. -PW-</div> <bR> <div> A very dear friend of mine recently visited Hawaii.  She has visited Hawaii before and was telling me of her past adventures in Maui. While in Maui, many of the natives told visitors that they must go see Hana and quite a few people did.  Nearly everyone, including my friend, came back from Hana complaining that there was nothing there except black sand on a beach (granted, a beautiful sight) and a place to buy ice cream.  It appeared to be a joke for the natives to send people there: a four-hour drive each way on a mostly single-lane road, but then she told me more and I think I began to understand what the natives were truly saying. </div> <bR> <div> She said that during the four-hour drive, the scenery was beautiful and if she ever went back, she would stop at various places along the road.  She would play under waterfalls, swim in the lakes; enjoy the flowers, picnic, suntan, swim and everything else along the way.  She wouldn't go all the way to Hana (unless she was craving ice cream). </div> <bR> <div> So, I looked at her and asked, “did the natives say, `go to Hana' or did they say, `you should take the road to Hana'?”  To me, there was a profound difference in each.  I believe what the natives want visitors to enjoy is “the road to Hana”, not the destination.  I think the trip is a lesson on a way to see life. A similar thing happened when P.T. Barnum advertised a special attraction at the end of one of his tent shows.  {I don't remember the word he used in his ad, so I am substituting *** for the advertised attraction.} The people ignored the other displays as they rushed past to see the amazing ***.  When they went through the door labeled *** they were stunned to find themselves outside again, because *** was another word for “EXIT”.  The people had to go back and pay again to see the other attractions. </div> <bR> <div> Here, we live with constant goals in our lives; Graduation, Owning a business or home, Retirement, Vacations, Being somewhere, Reaching Holidays, and Getting things done. {Stop right now and think for a moment, what are your goals, destinations and target end dates in your vision of your future?} </div> <bR> <div> What we constantly fail to see is <I>where we are </I>as we are approaching the destinations.  How many of us, in the end, are going to say, “if I get to do that again, I'm going to swim in waterfalls, lay out in front of the lakes, enjoy the ride”?  Basically, how many of us are missing the view and trip now because of where we want to be? Who of us won't find that out until it's all over, only to wish to do it again to better enjoy the ride?  After all, when we finally get to our destinations, is there really much more than the thought of “is this it”? Graduation (reaching goals, end dates, destinations) may give us a diploma (ice cream), but wasn't it the classes, the experiences, the learning, our contacts, etc that gives us what we need later?  Did we look toward the goal so much we missed what was around us? We look forward to holidays, new jobs, getting somewhere, getting something done, but isn't it the actual practicing, the planning, the continuing knowledge we gain, our experiences and who we meet along the way that is more important in the long run?  </div> <bR> <div> Doesn't this apply to all our goals, all our destinations and all of our target end dates? On a daily basis, how often do we miss our surroundings as we seek our destinations?  How many of us actually DO stop at the side of the road and swim in the waterfalls instead of continuing on to our end?  When you get to the end, are you going to complain that the destination was not worth the hype or are you going to talk about your journey, about how you enjoyed every step of the way - even brag that you haven't gotten to the end yet, unlike those who are complaining?  Is your wish to have to do it again to enjoy it next time or can you take advantage of the trip you are on now?  Ask yourself, “Am I `Going to' Hana or </div> <div> am I `On the Road To Hana'?”</div> <bR> <div> <I>WHAT'S NEW AT WRIGHT TO THE POINT ACUPUNCTURE?</I></div> <div> I'm increasing my knowledge of scalp acupuncture as well as the meridians we don't discuss much in school. Being that I have returned to school (now on the other side of the desk), I felt it was important to have a deeper understanding of these things for the benefit of myself and my students.  I'm still "doing house calls" and working in outside settings instead of running my own clinic, but I do hope to soon open a "group setting" type clinic somewhere in the city.  </div> <bR> <div> I've also started auditioning again and got a small part in a local independant film.  I start filming on Mother's Day and will let you know  how things turn out.</div> <div> <A HREF="id42_m.htm" TITLE="Newsletter"><U><I>TOP OF PAGE</I></U></A></div> </td> </tr></table></body>