There is a fruit that grows in Central and South America called the Magic fruit. When you eat it, everything sour tastes sweet! When you bite into a lemon, it tastes like a perfect cup of lemonade. One of our patients brought in a bunch of these fruits to share with us because to him this just like acupuncture, which changes his experience of pain – so it’s no longer sour. He wanted to share with us, what we share with him.

Working with patients this semester has been incredibly powerful so far. I had no idea when coming into this profession what an honor and privilege would be bestowed upon me as part of it – to hear the stories of complete strangers, not just in a superficial way, but with all the details, all of the strength and vulnerability.

This semester I am treating in two unique clinics. One is a guided by a 5 Elements practitioner whose focus is on working with people on a spirit level. Helping them shift and move through whatever is stuck for them on a spirit level creates space and energy for physical healing to happen more effectively. My interactions with patients, perhaps because of my intention and orientation, feels richer and deeper. The second clinic shift is and externship at the Boulder County AIDs Project working with HIV+ patients. First of all, it’s nice to be working with patients in a setting outside of the school, I feel this alone shifts the texture of the experience. These patients are dealing with a whole set of experiences, social and health related, that are different from most of the other people I’ve worked with and I’ve been able to bring with me from my 5E clinic a different intention and openness than I had before.

I’m finding that these clinics call on me to be grounded, centered, and healthy. They’ve been highlighting the need for self-care and self-cultivation that is often left behind the hustle to master information.

I am constantly humbled. And grateful.