living systems ; acupuncture ; intent

I am a living system because I am an “open self-organizing organism in relationship to my environment,” (wikipedia: living system). Cambridge University defines a living system as having the following characteristics: nutrition, respiration, movement, excretion, growth, reproduction and sensitivity. The article from class highlights death as a stage that categorizes a living system, while another mentions production as a tenant of classification. I am a living system because I am in relationship to my surroundings in an active and finite way capable of production, reproduction, and transformation.

Acupuncture is an effective energy medicine. The proof that Acupuncture is an effective medicine resides in its capacity to withstand thousands of years and cultural revolutions. I work in a community acupuncture clinic and have taught Acupressure for the last 3 years. I have a lot of contact with folx who have arrived at Chinese medicine for various reasons and have engaged it for varying lengths of time. Wether or not symptoms resolve, people keep seeking acupuncture because it makes them feel better. It quite literally shifts their experience and relationship to themselves and their environments. At this point in my practice, the word “energy” is a bit convoluted but when I substitute it for words like information, data, bioelectric flow, animation, function, vibe, I come into contact with the pulse coursing through me and my clients. I can see changes in habits, behaviors, dispositions, diagnoses that take shape illustrating an improvement in a person’s experience of life.

Human intent affects health because our entire existence is based upon us being an intent. One day, in mediation with a tree, my teacher asked, “who am I?” In response, she heard, “a good idea.” And I think it’s like that. I don’t mean to say that a person’s illness is a measure of their intent, nor do I attempt to victim-blame anybody for an experience or condition they have. Why things happen is a slightly different conversation but I do think that the process of engaging in our own well-being relies upon a focused, purposeful, intent. Intent is the measure of our desire with purpose. Healing requires a combination of intent plus behavior but without the intent, behavior has no direction. Additionally, without intent, we become passive when we are active agents in our own becoming.