Hi everyone,
This July I moved my family up to Portland, Oregon – land of not only ‘Portlandia’ but also a place for me full of interesting and intriguing possibilities in terms of practicing Chinese medicine, learning and teaching, and just a different kind of life. And I’ll be returning to Ashland twice a month – the schedule is on the opening page of my website. My practice in Ashland remains open – Courtney answers the phone, appointments are scheduled. And the herbs await.
The backstory. Since my return from my trip to Laos last year its been clear to me that it was time for some expansion and change in my life. I’ve been consistently practicing in Ashland since returning from China in 1992. As much as I love the steady practice with so many clients I have had for years, the community, and my life here raising my boys – there has been a growing sense that before I go forth and spend another 23 years here it would be right to try other things as well.
In April my friend and teacher, and founder of my acupuncture college, Liu Ming, passed away and that was also a milestone for me. (He was the author of the Chinese astrology emails I’ve sent out over the years) I’ve learned so much from him, and other teachers we’ve shared in common like Namkhai Norbu. In a way I’ve now had to learn to become even more self-reliant – that we always need to be – really. Part of that self-care is following one’s own sense of timing and of adapting to change. As good as it gets (according to at least some of you my acupuncture and herbalism has been getting even more helpful) I think it seems like its time to see what else is possible. Yang changes into Yin – and only change is reliable. So I thought I’d meet it halfway. Sometimes when there is enough flowering its time to pull back and let some things go.
There are a lot of possibilities in Portland to explore – for example there is an acupuncturist there who is about to have her first baby and has asked if I’d like to carry on in her low-key practice. And then there is the music, and the restaurants, and acupuncture colleges, and opportunities for my kids they are very enthused about. Yet I have a life in Ashland and will be coming back for the foreseeable future. Ashland is a nice place for many to come and retire – and my plan is to keep my foot in this place as an oasis from the big city. As a matter of fact, I’ve noticed a lot of people getting older here every day – :). Maybe I’m trying to escape that fate by leaving before I settle into it too much – good luck with that right? Anyway I am keeping my home in Ashland, as I really love my neighborhood.
Yes, I don’t have any secret youth elixirs (sorry) but it is true Chinese herbs practiced in a traditional way were used with the intention of promoting ‘long life’. Yes, amazingly enough, they were designed originally for that rather than to enhance the bottom line of Chinese corporate investors. Back in the days of Ko Hung, near-legendary author of the most reknown Daoist Pharmacopoeia, some herbs were even said to be helpful by those seeking an external elixir for immortality – and then if not that, at least for ‘walking on water’ and so on. Secondarily they have proven useful over the millenia for ‘ordinary conditions’ like digestive and respiratory disorders. Great to be in a profession that can be so useful and so poetic at the same time.
So the key takeaway here is that the practice is expanding right now – not leaving – from the Center for Chinese Medicine in Ashland. Many of you have seen me on a bi-weekly, monthly, or seasonal basis. That can continue but it’s advisable to sign up more in advance so that you can find me when I’m in town. Again the schedule is on the opening page, Courtney will be around even when I’m not to book appointments and confer with me. .
I’m looking forward to growth, change, and ease in this peaceful Year of the Sheep – and wish the same for every one of you!
All the best
Ken