Author: Michael tong

i am a steward of the web that has no weaver. i am dedicated to fostering containers that weave the social fabric both inside and outside, self and other.

inside we have parts of ourselves that can be woven together. i am not the weaver, i am that which facilitates the weaving.

outside we have community that can be woven together. i am not the weaver, i am that which facilitates the weaving.

inside ourselves we may experience great depths. and in these depths are parts of us we are not privy to.

outside ourselves we may experience great chasms between us and them, an outsider group to our own.

in inside and outside are opportunities to weave. weaving is connection, regulation, attunement-assertion, and presence.

to be-with these gaps in the fabric is to watch as the web that has no weaver is sown together.

to be-with is to walk along the threads without getting caught in the gaps.

it is to recognize spaciousness and follow aliveness.

these very gaps in the web are that which feel alive, for they are the potential energy for connection.

as a steward of the web that has no weaver, i do not try to force the energy to flow. i only build the apparatus that gently releases the potential energy into kinetic energy that is the webs own weaving mechanism.

may the web continue to be explored

may stewards continue to be known

may all beings feel spacious aliveness.

We have many systems, and here are some in our body: nervous, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, interstitial, muscular, osteoarthritis, gastrointestinal, and others.

We index these systems by one overall system called Qi, or energy. We can perceive Qi and train our perception of it.

Dysregulation of Qi can show up in any of these body systems and give rise to physical pain, mental emotional pain, and addiction.

There are other systems like weather, community, education, food, and others.

These may also be indexed by Qi.

This is the same Qi, showing up in different ways. Qi in the body can affect Qi outside the body. Qi outside the body can affect Qi inside the body. The Qi of the body is greatly intertwined with the Qi of the mind.

By training our perception of Qi, we inherently connect with it which regulates us and the systems around us.

Connection

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Presence

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Integration

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Weave

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Living system

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Process

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Relation

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Regulation

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Connection is about being with what is in self and other. It is inherently nondual, and invites in the nuances of polarities.

Connection can be between self and other, but it can also be between parts of oneself.

Connection can be easeful, and it can be tense.

Generative tension is connective

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Connection feels like flow

Flowing between polarities

Whether that is self and other

Masculine and feminine

Up and down

Left and right

Protector and nourisher

Warm and cool.

Connection is both mind and body

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Connection, whether in self or with another, naturally regulates our experience

and more connections continue to regulate

Deepening our resilience to dysregulation

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Dysregulation is the root of today’s dissatisfaction and disease.

The root of all suffering is clinging and aversion. But what gives rise to clinging and aversion are beliefs and subtle feelings. Then, ways of navigating the world emerge, which lead to overt action.

Overt action lead to the circumstances that give rise to beliefs and subtle feelings. And so the cycle of suffering continues.

Beings who are devoted to and practiced with the bodhisattva vow, to liberate all beings from suffering, use their tools to stop the cycle.

They identify the holding pattern that is available to them and use their tools and training to help release the pattern. Ultimately, they only point out and provide the circumstance for the way. It is still our work to walk it.

These holding patterns are psychosomatic. These beliefs shape the neural structure of the brain, which activates musculoskeletal structures whenever this cascade of neurons fire.

And, revisiting the musculoskeletal structures is an activation for the neural structures of the brain.

The mind activates the body. The body activates the mind.

The mind and body are two outlets of the same input. This is the holding pattern that we can work to understand by approaching from both sides.

Holding patterns are the things that we struggle with. They are the beliefs we have about our family. About ourselves. They limit us from what we know we can be. They are our core vulnerabilities.

But they are also the very things that empower us.

Empowerment is about seeing and supporting our uniqueness. Holding patterns are the beliefs and subtle feelings that mark our path. It is by learning to be with these patterns from spacious awareness that our unique cairns are revealed.

Learning how to resource ourselves and make the holding patterns more approachable works with it from both sides.

An important ongoing lesson is knowing when being with the holding pattern is too much. Then, we can step back and regulate our nervous systems.

The things that we are running from are the same things that empower us to becoming our unique selves. The difference is learning to be with them.

There are many maps of the body, each with their own views of the body. These views can help guide how to treat the body. I will describe three different views in this page.

Many are familiar with the anatomical model. In general going from most superficial to deep, we have skin, fascia, blood vessels, muscles, nerves, and bones. This helps structure the general depths of organ systems.

From this model, acupressure works by stimulating the related organ systems. By pressuring the skin, the body brings blood circulation to the area to increase functionality of the muscles and fascia. As the needle deepens, the nerves are activated and bones engage their piezoelectric properties.

Traditional East Asian Medicine works with another map going from superficial to deep: cutaneous, tendinomuscular, luo, primary, divergent, extraordinary channels. Each of these channels have their own functionalities, much like how the skin has a different function than the bones.

As the finger pressures the cutaneous regions, Qi is activated. Each layer that the pressure engages with is another area for Qi to be activated. Activating the Qi in the primary channels is different from activating Qi in the extraordinary channels. The former works with moment to moment functionality, from nourishment to protection. The latter works with deeper changes of the structure of the body and the habituations of the mind.

Qi is translated as energy, which can bring up skepticism and confusion. I like to think of it as function of the psychosomatic landscape.

The opposite of function is structure. So Qi is a word to describe the function of whatever we are trying to describe. The function of the cutaneous regions is to protect. The function of the skin is to protect. The function of the library I am in is to provide a place to rest and learn. So by observing how this function plays out, I am experiencing the Qi of this library.

The third view of acupressure is awareness. It works with the conscious, subconscious, and unconscious to bring awareness to the psychosomatic holding patterns that give rise to symptoms. These holding patterns can show up anywhere along these consciousness.

A skillful practitioner will work with the most available patterns to be integrated into awareness so patients are not thrown into the deep end too quickly.

Each of these views helps to describe a perspective of the human experience. They may be overlayed upon one another for even deeper understanding of the psychosomatic landscape.

Acupressure promotes functionality in the mind and body. Disease is the result of poor functionality. Therefore, acupressure can be beneficial with any health concern.

But the degree of how much it can help is dependent on the longevity of the root cause.

There are three general roots causes of poor functionality in Chinese Medicine: external invasions, emotional disharmonies, and physical taxation or trauma. They can be acute or chronic.

With any acute concern, we suggest multiple acupuncture sessions a week to quickly combat it. We may utilize herbal remedies that can quickly address it.

Chronic concerns are often addressed once a week for ten weeks. After that, we may do once every two weeks or month.

When concerns are addressed, we encourage visits every seasonal change for upkeep in functionality.

Most common reasons to see a Chinese medicine practitioner:

• Pain
  • Back, neck, shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist, ankle
• Anxiety/depression
• Fertility
• Regulating the menstrual cycle
• Autoimmune diseases
• Pathogenic invasions
• Supporting the patient through cancer treatments
  • It is against our licensing agreements to say we treat cancer. We may only benefit the patient through their treatments by encouraging healthy functionality.
• Skin disorders
  • Eczema, psoriasis, acne
• Weight loss/gain
• Beauty
• Edema
• Insomnia
• Fatigue
• Regulating bowel movements
• Encouraging gut health

My medical specialty is pain of any kind, which I approach from a psychosomatic view.

My other specialties benefit everyday life like learning how to learn, meditation on and off the cushion, mantras, and movement practices.

May all patients feel their concerns are addressed. May they feel rested. May they feel empowered. May health touch all that is known and encourage goodness in the world.

I am a third generation Chinese medicine practitioner with a specialization in connection and belonging. The root of most of our problems come from dysregulated psychosomatic systems. Quality connection in ourselves and our community is a powerful way to address this.

I am licensed as an acupuncturist and herbalist in California but I am currently based in NYC. I am open to traveling around the world to serve.

I dedicate this work to all beings and those who benefit all beings. May our practices ever flourish and reach those who may benefit from them.