Week 13 - Control of Artificial limbs

I think this could be an incredibly powerful tool, especially for those with motor disabilities and degenerative diseases. I can not help but wonder how much better it would be to work on stem cell research than focusing on artificial limbs.

Wek 13 - Bionic Man

Sure. I don't think that developing a bionic man is simple and it should therefore be taken very seriously. The potential consequences, well, we have all seen the Matrix. This is one of those things that scientists just "have" to try and do. If we watch and work with regulating them as they go then, we avoid the potential disaster of being too far behind the science to regulate, as is the case with GMO's.

Week 10 - Biophysics & OM

I can see biophysics attempting to tie all western sciences together, but it still looks at the minute details to explain the whole. I almost wonder if biophysics looked toward the east for more guidance if it would find the answers more easily. In other words, it can't see the forest for the trees.

Week 10 - Living System

I breathe in and out all day. When I want to remember that I am living in the present moment I take a breathe and feel it fill up my lungs and spread to all my blood and veins. I don't if that makes other things living beings, but my breath makes me a living being.

Week 9 - Synthesis of East & West

The fundamental principles of the east allow for synthesis with all things. The principles of the west a more exclusionary. The west has little flexibility and therefore is less likely to synthesize but rather test and then claim ideas from others. an example of this can be seen in China where a mixture of eastern and western medicine has been fairly successful. The west is much farther behind in terms of adopting eastern medicine.

I think this will be the challenge for many of us, trying to present acupuncture as a complimentary, as opposed to alternative medicine.

My E-Prime Day

I can only quote from Hamlet here

"Seems, madam! nay it is;I know not seems,
'T is not alone my inky cloak, goo mother
Nor customary suits of solemn black

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,
No, nor the fruitul river in the eye,
Nor the dejected haviour of the visage,
Together with all forms, modes, shows of grief,
That can denote me truly; these indeed seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within which passeth show;
These but trappings and the suits of woe."

Hamlet, Act I Scene II

Week 7 - Consciousness out of Chaos

This one has me truly stumped. I don't think that Physicists or any Western Scientist or Doctor has any capability, through measurement to tell anyone else about consciousness. How can some one who has spent so little time aware of their own mental state know anything about the mental state of those around them. Buddhist monks have know for thousands of years that we are all connected on a higher level of consciousness. These are humans that devote their lives to the calm and peace of that consciousness, sometimes to the detriment of their country and home. Jesus also tried to bring the message that we are all one within a collective conscious, if we can only pause to quiet the mind and feel it.

I have always felt my own understanding of a higher consciousness or higher power. I don't think that this is something that can ever be documented or measured. In fact, the more scientists hook up electrodes to read peoples brain waves the further they get from understanding this collective consciousness. It is something that can only be understood from within ones own self, ones own mind. The little voice inside their head trying to get the answers is exactly the voice that needs to be quieted. It has become so in control of who these people are that it believes it knows who other people are too.

Week 7 - Fractals

It would be interesting to live in a society that took this idea more seriously. What if we were all highly trained in meditation and felt the responsibility to choose our thoughts carefully, knowing that these thoughts would eventually bring about great change in the universe?

I often think of Dr. Masaru Emoto's Messages from Water. His studies support the theory that our thoughts can affect physical events and that the affect can be somewhat predicted as either positive or negative or destructive or constructive. Dr. Emoto's work has come under much criticism from Western Scientist and that, to me, seems counter productive. If fractal patterns and choas theory show that there are unpredictable patterned connections between all things then why would they think Dr. Emoto to be totally wacky? Supposedly there has been never a duplicate snowflake created in the world. How do they know this? Have they looked at every single snowflake to ever fall? No, so why do we believe in this and not Dr. Emoto? Perhaps the theory about snowflakes came about because scientist couldn't explain why no two snowflakes looked the same and so to "order this chaos" it was declared that no two snowflakes are alike. Perhaps, we are looking too closely at the finer details. What is the pattern that the snow is making on a larger scale?

Week 7 - Ordered Chaos and Fractals

Yes, perhaps it's our way of trying to force some understanding of the universe. I think Physicists have enough proof that we can not predict behaviors or patterns in the universe. I think they are probably comfortable with this notion but most people search for meaning in the universe and if nothing is predictable then for some reason we often think this concludes that we don't have a purpose. Perhaps our purpose is simply to be part of the chaos and the sooner we embrace it the sooner we will have peace.

To quote from The Web That has No Weaver

"This perception that emphasizes the of perception of patterns is basic to Chinese thinking. It results in part from Taoism, which altogether lacks the idea of a creator, and whose concern is insite into the web of that phenomena, not the weaver. For the Chinese, that web has no weaver, no creator; in the final concern is always the creator or cause and the phenomenon is merely it's reflection. The western mind seeks to discover what is beyond, behind, or the cause of the phenomena. In the Chinese view, the truth of things is imminent; in the West, truth is transcendent. Knowledge, within the Chinese framework, consists of the accurate perception of the inner movement of the web of phenomena. The desire for knowledge is the desire to understand the interrelationships or patterns within that web, and to become attuned to the unfolding dynamic."

"Things behave in particular ways not necessarily because of prior actions or impulses of other things, but because their position in the ever moving cyclical universe was such that they were endowed with intrisic natures which made that behavior inevitable for them." ~ Joseph Needham, taken from The Web That Has No Weaver

And the Tao Te Ching:

"Tao produced the one
The one produced the two
The two produced the three
And the three produced the ten thousand things
The ten thousand things carry the Yin
embrace the Yang and through the blending
of Qi they achieve harmony."

Week 6 - Energy & Qi

Energy is a type of Qi. Qi can be energy as it helps our blood move through our veins, helps us breathe, heal, move, grow and reproduce. Similar to Qi, energy can not be created or destroyed, only transferred. I don't necessarily think that they are equal and opposing forces because Qi is everything and everything has energy. Everything also has Qi, but it's Qi as a form working with Qi as a motive force. Qi is itself it's own yin & yang. 

Understanding energy is an excellent way to help Westerner's understand Qi. Most of us understand there is a unseen force that connects all things. We can call this energy, Spirit, God, Jesus, Allah, Awareness and Qi. I find it exciting that we are starting to make connections between these similar beliefs. Hopefully understanding our collective relationship to a greater force, will help create a more peaceful world.

Week 6 - Vibrations and Resonance

Vibrations can be good or not good. A tuning fork, a key on a piano for example are god vibrations. The sound of police sirens, a smoke detector these are not good vibrations. We could, for arguments sake, say that the later two are good vibrations because they are doing what they were designed to do, but that aren't good because of the damage they can cause to the ear and pain they create in our head.

This also makes me think of resonance. Our opinion of good vibrations verse not good vibrations is also led by our relative resonance with different sounds. My husband is a musician and he resonates with deep bass sounds. I often find these heavy and tiring to listen to, where he feels intense energy from the sound. On the other hand, I often listen to a Krishna Das cd when I drive because it calms my mind and helps me relax.

I also wonder about resonance with mothers and their children. When my nephew cries in his crib, my sister becomes consumed with a need to go pick him up. I recognize his cry but do not have the same resonance with his cry. 

Throughout the ages, tuning was something organic and relative, now that we have computers to tune instruments, I wonder if some of the healing power is lost?

Week 5 - Sacred Geometry & Physics

Both Sacred Geometry and Physics look for patterns and answers in the unseen world. They both attempt to put into view the relationships between space, time form and thought. The presence of spirals in our universe was understood from the I Ching and later found in many places all over our universe. In many ways, physicists can be considered modern day spiritual leaders. They strive to understand and explain our universe. Why are we here? How are we here? What is the purpose of al this? These are questions that everyone on a spiritual path or path to higher learning must ask.

Week 5 - CP violation

The CP violation makes sense to me in that the universe is not "explainable". I commend the scientists for their patience in studying kaon particles, but it just gives me a picture of quantum particles having a laugh at all these studies. If the kaons' decay rate can distinguish past from future then does it mean we are in fact moving forward thru time. What does this mean for the theories of time? Is time distorted on a quantum level that we have never considered? If we can explain kaon CP violation is the secret to understanding time travel?

I don't really understand CPT but I like that quantum physics is so unpredictable.

Week 5 - symmetry

If we think in terms of Yin &  Yang. The world is both symmetrical and asymmetrical. It is all relative. If something is symmetrical then we must be comparing it to something that is not symmetrical. Western studies have shown that beauty is directly related to symmetry, meaning the more symmetrical our face is, the more beautiful we are considered to be. This unfortunately has been carried into all forms of beauty, especially design. This western view of symmetry only looks at the clearly visible and measurable.

Eastern beauty, especially the art of Ikebana, embraces asymmetry. I find asymmetry to be far less complicated (although more difficult to achieve) and very calming. When considering design, I strive for the empty space provided by asymmetry. It forces me to choose wisely and display only those things that are necessary. The intensity that comes from one strong object and it's relationship to the empty space around it, for me, create a calm symmetry. They are balanced and equal, respecting each other for form and formlessness. This is a problem with Western design, clutter. For every space filled in with clutter, there must be an equal amount of space that is clear and empty to balance that energy. We may not be able to see it but this constant search for symmetry will only reveal more and more seemingly asymmetrical things. The harder we look the further we are from finding it. That in itself is true symmetry.

Week 4 - Function of Gravity

The function of gravity could be to keep our planet alive and all it's inhabitants out of the universe. It is difficult to define the function of gravity when the properties of gravity are not entirely clear. Perhaps the function of gravity is to allow our Hun to take form and exist on earth for awhile. Maybe we aren't supposed to understand the function of gravity. I find it hard to believe that all this has come together simply to keep us from floating out into space. I think their is a great purpose, but not one I can explain through understanding the four forces.

Week 4 - Comparing the four forces

The Weak Force

Understanding the four forces was a challenge and I am not sure I really get it. I understand that the weak force is responsible for beta decay but how can it's messenger particles (W and Z bosons) be massive and sluggish if the messenger particles of the four forces are massless?

The Strong Force

The strong force makes sense to me because the inside of an atom makes sense to me (i think). It makes sense that this should be the strongest force. If it were not then all things in our universe would be much less stable.

Electromagnetic Force

This force is the one I played with as a kid when I slid magnets around on the floor, repelling and attracting them to each other. This one we can see and we can also see it's messenger particle (if it is a particle) the photon.

Gravity

Maybe gravity isn't a force, maybe what we think is gravity is electromagnetism or strong force and we are living inside an atom. This one stumps me. I don't know why we have not found gravitons and realizing how weak gravitational force is, makes me a little nervous. I think all these forces are attempts to try to explain how it is possible that we are on this perfect planet and everything has come into balance so precisely that we are able to exist here and now. My hope is that people start to appreciate earth more for what it is instead of trying to abuse, avoid, rape, kill and explain it away.

Week 4 - e=mc squared

I had to learn this equation in high school math and be tested on my ability to regurgitate what I had memorized, but that is about how much I really learned this until now. I wonder if this is what happened to many other Americans. Now that I have abetter understanding of the equation and how closely it relates to the Eastern philosophy behind Qi, I wonder how Westerner's are so able to detach themselves from all things. Meaning that perhaps if we really taught our children that everything is made from the same stuff, you, me, the plants, the mountains, this computer; maybe this would help better instill a feeling of connectivity.

I am also really impressed with how curious and unsettled Einstein was with the universe. I think it is a sign of intelligence to continually question the world around us. Many unknowns, that remain unknowns today, made Einstein uncomfortable. I am more comfortable knowing that Einstein did not think he understood the way everything worked. I don't need or want equations for the intuitive feelings and awareness I have.

It's a shame that such genius was turned into the most destructive weaponry ever used.

Connectivity and Synchronicity - Sand Pentland

I have attached a link to Sandy Pentland's website. He has a book out called Honest Signals. His studies are based on the premiss that humans have built in signal reading and pattern behavior that influences our state of being much more so than the content of the message communicated. 

It's more related to biology but it ties in perfectly with connectivity too. 

There are some good videos on youtube as well.

htp://web.media.mit.edu/~sandy/

Week 3 - Connectivity

I feel I could probably tell you better what connectivity is not, but I will try to explain what I think it is. I have an older sister who lives in New York. She and I are very close, but sometimes we go an entire week with out talking. It's these times when we are less focused on the physical things we are doing and more aware of each others presence that we feel more connected. I can tell you how she is feeling on any given day, whether I have spoken with her or not. This understanding comes from a place of stillness and calm, an awareness of a deeper connection.

The other day, I was practicing visual meditation and pictured myself snorkeling in St. Thomas. All of a sudden, my husband was next to me and in this moment of pure calm, he walked in the door. He had left work early and I was not expecting him for a few hours. It's a feeling I get also in nature. When hiking in the Sequoias, I can feel the connection from the trees to the sky and ground below. The connection is sometimes overwhelming. 

I believe that being aware of this connection is extremely important as a healer. In order to truly help another person, we have to do more than quantify their verbal complaints. we have to feel and sense from somewhere deeper and much more meaningful, what is the true state of this person?

Week 3 - evidence of synchronicity

At an atomic level, synchronicity can be observed through the electrons constant desire to exist on a level of lesser energy. At the most fundamental level (as far as we know) our universe is moving toward a synchronistic state. I can not explain the phenomenon of electrons synchronizing their rotation simultaneously, but I understand it on a more metaphysical level. Anytime I find myself saying how lucky I am, that is synchronicity. I don't believe in luck, but I don't believe in a predetermined universe either. When I feel that my life lines up in a way that makes everything seem clear and easier, this is synchronicity. Another example would be, if I go to a show and see a friend I haven't seen in ages or bump into some one at an airport half way around the world from where we both live. I got a flat tire this summer on a long bike ride and the gentleman riding past me just happened to own a bike shop. He hopped off his bike and fixed my tires in seconds. I could explain this as luck, but it happened to be my birthday and I felt that it wasn't just luck or coincidence. 

Jules had been trying to reach a friend whom she attended UC Berkeley with. She could not find any contact information for this friend and was getting frustrated trying to find her. She walked out of the break room at AIMC last week and who was in the hall but this very same friend. She was at the school deciding if she wanted to be an acupuncturist. Coincidence? Nope, synchronicity.

Week 2

Reflections on Uncertainty

I think that is is a shame so many people are so hard on Western physicists. Einstien and his contemporaries were fascinated by uncertainty. If the universe was layed out before us and made complete sense then there would be no reason for research. I believe physicists are driven by their by something unexplainable inside them, something that connects to the uncertainty and understands it in a way they can not express but are desperately seeking to express. I believe physicists are more accepting of uncertainty than most. 

Comments on Causality

Causality is important when treating patients, but it can also be a never-ending cycle constantly shifting and changing, like yin & yang. There can be many causes and one effect, one cause and many effects, many causes and many effects but is there ever one cause and one effect. Is cause always relative and therefore constantly changing?

Is the Universe weird?

Yes and no. Weird is completely subjective, what definition of weird do you want us to use? On one side I could say the universe is never weird, it is what it wants to be. We are weird for trying to make it seem not weird. On the other hand, we could say that everything in the universe is weird; weird in the sense that it is confusing and lacks consistency. 

Week 1

What attracts me to Chinese Medicine?

Growing up with unresolved health problems always forced my mother and myself to look beyond Western Medicine for a path toward a healthy life. Acupuncture and the Eastern philosophy of oneness played a huge role in my journey toward wholehealth. Along the way, I encouraged those around me, friends family, colleagues to give it a try. Their positive experiences and results were always so profound. I had always been a counselor and open ear for people, but felt I lacked the tools to make profound differences in peoples lives. I believe that this training and knowledge will contribute greatly to my ability to help others realize their true potential as healthy empowered beings. 

What do I honestly think of Physics, really?

I think that Physics helps explain and understand the relationship between all things in our universe. I think of gravity and inertia and then realize that I don't really know enough about it. I struggled with Physics in High School and always felt a lack of understanding that I am excited to fill-in a bit. 

Now that I think about it, have I ever experienced time"slowing down" or "speeding up"?

Absolutely! I used to often be surprised at how quickly the day had gone by. In reading Eckhart Tolles' A New Earth , I have become much more present and thru this awareness,  able to slow time. Meditation, Yoga, and riding my bike also help me to be present and aware. I suppose that when I get caught up or busy I feel that time goes quickly, but if I can bring consciousness to the present time seems to move more slowly and with greater purpose.

My reflections on The Meaning of Time

I believe that time is relative.  Our thoughts can be constantly in the past or future even though our body is here now in this present moment. Some people can live their whole lives and never be aware of the present moment. How does time affect them? The Western part of my brain would explain time as a linear progression that can only be experienced in one direction, but I believe that time can also be a feeling or a sense. Our thoughts have the ability to exist fully in the past or future, analyzing all the possible options. In this sense I believe that parallel universes exist within our own minds. I don't fully understand or know how to connect this idea to what happens to our physical selves. In other words, we have our essence and then we have a physical form and time can affect these two differently. I believe they can live in different time zones (does that make any sense?).

On a different note, the idea of black holes and white holes fascinates me. I also love what April said about our possible inability to see white holes. Again, the western part of my brain would like all these things to "make sense". If there are black holes then there must be white holes. However, this is also Yin and Yang, you can not have one without the other. So where are the white holes? If we were to enter a black hole would we come out of a white hole on the other side? Would this be a parallel universe but if parallel universes never meet then what would happen if we did? It's exciting to think about.