Dear Montpelier,
As the world and its weather patterns become increasingly more complicated, engaging in that which is simple and sustainable becomes a beautiful antidote. No matter how rapidly everything around us seems to be changing, we remain organic beings whose bodies function in the same manner that our ancestors' bodies functioned, thousands of years ago. My herb professor Lana Farson said to us in class a while back, "The more complicated the case, the simpler the solution."
Participating in the benefit for Puerto Rico on October 13th was very moving. Watching communities come together in a supportive way, filling in the holes that our government has left open, was watching an old human practice. Neighbors have always helped one another across time, the strength of community serving a greater purpose than power structures have. Personal power ripples out into community power, reinforcing one another in a reciprocal fashion. Honing personal power involves moving through the world with love, generosity and integrity, sidestepping greed, avarice, disrespect and dishonesty. "The more complicated the case, the simpler the solution."
Lana also reminded me of the simplicity of our medicine when I was worried about my mother, trapped in her apartment without electricty in a Connecticut snow storm. "No matter what lies ahead, we don't need electricity to practice acupuncture." My mother was fine, but those words stayed with me. I am so grateful to have chosen the path of a powerful and simple medicine that works in collaboration with the personal power of individuals' bodies. A few months ago a patient came in saying that they believed the alignment of Mars in their chart might be affecting their muscles. I said, "Don't worry about Mars. You are the product of millions of years of evolution, with eyes that can see and ears that can hear. The human body is miraculous and mind blowing enough. Let's just take care of your pain."
As the weather yo yos and the Vermont trees stand green next to bare ones next to yellow and red ones in their confusion, we, too, feel the effects of the strange weather. To show up for our communities, we need to feel stong enough to do so, healthy and solid in mind, body, heart, and soul. At Montpelier Community Acupuncture, we are here to strengthen the health of the community in a way that is ecologically and financially sustainable, that works with the resources present in one's own body. Amidst opioid crises and the precarious position of health insurance, community acupuncture offers a time tested manner to treat pain at an affordable cost. In any given week, we are treating depression, insomnia, pain, addiction, anger management, suicidal ideation, trauma, IBS, skin conditions, and the side effects of western medicine. We are treating the side effects of hormone therapy for our trans patients, chemotherapy for our cancer patients, and helping to wean patients off of their anxiety medication. We are helping people recover from concussions, car accidents, abusive relationships, and stressful work environments. We are helping, and it is working. "The more complicated the case, the simpler the solution."
We want to thank you for all the ways in which you are helping the community as well, be it through farming, teaching, nursing, running an organization, maintaining a family, serving the public, building houses, coaching a team, sharing your artistic expression, cooking, cleaning, giving back to the land and this greater area. There would be no community clinic without a community to fill it, and it is an honor to work alongside you in creating a sustainable world where the power is literally in our our hands as they come together.
This fall, keep the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual ills away by stopping in for a treatment. It's always great to see you and help the community thrive through feeling better. Together, we're stronger. "The more complicated the case, the simpler the solution."
All the Best,
Lara Foy
