I remember attending CA101 in 2008 at Portland's Freedom Hall. I had this very deep and intense feeling that expanding 5NP was going to be part of the trajectory for the community acupuncture movement. I lived in North Carolina at that time and there were no public health opportunities for acupuncturists in my area. My only frame of reference was hearing sporadic stories of acupuncturists who did have those types of opportunities in other states and knew that 5NP could be practiced by people without having to go through a 3-4 year program and accumulate a ton of debt.
I’ve most definitely learned that the path opens more easily when it’s the right path….the obstacles to a path are there for reasons we don’t always understand, until we do. Good job.
Thank you Michelle! I was trying to think out the exact differences between working on 5NP in Oregon and the prospect of starting a new acupuncture association. A key part of it is that NAYA had *leverage* in Oregon (in the form of many long term political relationships and deep community respect). Without NAYA we wouldn't have had the leverage we needed. But there is also something about how well 5NP just fit into every part of our world and somehow, that isn't true for how acupuncture associations work, in general, for acupuncturists. Like acupuncture associations are frustrating in part because of some subtle misalignments that I'm trying to put my finger on. The necessary magic just isn't there and it would be useful to articulate why, so I'm going to keep trying. Thanks again for the original writing prompt.
"Even when opposition appeared, we weren’t working against anybody or anything, we were always working for something that mattered deeply to us. We were affirming our lineage and that made us stronger. The fuel for our work was devotion, so it replenished our resources instead of draining them — regardless of whether we succeeded or failed." As a recovering materialist, I deeply appreciate this (and 5NP!) Thanks again
I remember attending CA101 in 2008 at Portland's Freedom Hall. I had this very deep and intense feeling that expanding 5NP was going to be part of the trajectory for the community acupuncture movement. I lived in North Carolina at that time and there were no public health opportunities for acupuncturists in my area. My only frame of reference was hearing sporadic stories of acupuncturists who did have those types of opportunities in other states and knew that 5NP could be practiced by people without having to go through a 3-4 year program and accumulate a ton of debt.
That's so cool, Roppy, that you knew back then -- and that you're making it happen now!
I’ve most definitely learned that the path opens more easily when it’s the right path….the obstacles to a path are there for reasons we don’t always understand, until we do. Good job.
Thank you Michelle! I was trying to think out the exact differences between working on 5NP in Oregon and the prospect of starting a new acupuncture association. A key part of it is that NAYA had *leverage* in Oregon (in the form of many long term political relationships and deep community respect). Without NAYA we wouldn't have had the leverage we needed. But there is also something about how well 5NP just fit into every part of our world and somehow, that isn't true for how acupuncture associations work, in general, for acupuncturists. Like acupuncture associations are frustrating in part because of some subtle misalignments that I'm trying to put my finger on. The necessary magic just isn't there and it would be useful to articulate why, so I'm going to keep trying. Thanks again for the original writing prompt.
"Even when opposition appeared, we weren’t working against anybody or anything, we were always working for something that mattered deeply to us. We were affirming our lineage and that made us stronger. The fuel for our work was devotion, so it replenished our resources instead of draining them — regardless of whether we succeeded or failed." As a recovering materialist, I deeply appreciate this (and 5NP!) Thanks again
Thanks, Matt!