I just got back to New York after two blissful weeks of vacation in North Carolina and Virginia with loved ones. It was an incredible and much needed retreat from the city which was not only rejuvenating, but also illuminating. That in the darkness of winter I continue to find light is a blessing I am truly grateful for.

Yes, I want to share my latest meditations on health from break, but first I must report on today.

My first day back, and my first day as an Observer in the clinic. This is what it’s all about and why I’m here. Talk about a way to start the semester! I’m shadowing a really wonderful Intern with a very sweet Supervisor and learning an incredible amount.  It feels really really wonderful to becoming a part of the healing process of individuals. Of course my seniors were sure to let me know that they were jaded and stressed, but it didn’t matter, I reveled in every detail, every question, and each gentle movement of a pulse under my fingers.

In my first Herbology class this evening I became acutely aware of the fact that herbology is a different medicine from acupuncture. Why or how I can’t yet explain, and while it’s clearly complimentary and equally powerful medicine, I do believe that it is its own animal. I’ve been constantly teetering back and forth between wanting to study Classical acupuncture first and then learn herbs afterwards, and doing to TCM program that includes both. I still haven’t come to a final decision, but it does feel clear to me that I want to learn both and that they are both different. Everyone has an opinion, I appreciate and respect and enjoy hearing opinions (and would love to hear more). I’ve come to understand that there is no wrong or right answer, only one that will work for me.

I must go for now, hopefully in the next weeks I’ll make up for the past weeks of silence, in the meantime, Happy New Year and start meditating on what health means to you, because that is going to be one of my upcoming topics and I’m going to need some participation…