I'm always asked how I got interested in Chinese Medicine, Qigong, Meditation and other arts so I'll start this blog by telling you about my story.
My journey as a healer began early in life. I'm told that as an infant, my mother frequently heard me conversing with and getting my lessons from the Yvwi Tsvdi, the Little People of the Cherokee that teach us medicine and how to live in harmony. I remember at five years old, an old Indian relative who carried good medicine taught me to meditate and to build awareness of the world around me. He helped me to feel the connection between everything and to use the energy around me to heal with ceremonies and with my hands. I later went on to study Zen/Song/Chan (Japanese/Korean/Chinese versions), Tibetan, and Tendai Shu Buddhist meditation. I also studied Pranayama, Yijing, Cherokee, and Daoist Water Meditation with various teachers. I continued my studies of energy, qigong, taiji, Reiki, Qigong Tuina, bagua, xingyi, etc. with various teachers including Grandmaster Bow Sim Mark (www.taichi-arts.com), Master Siu Yen, Bill Ryan (www.TowardHarmony.com) and Lineage Master Bruce Frantzis (www.energyarts.com). Today I mostly practice the arts taught by my teacher Lineage Master Bruce Frantzis.
I was intrigued with Daoist philosophy in High School because I saw so many parallels to our traditional American Indian beliefs. I first considered studying Chinese Medicine before I had even had even experienced it. I thought it would be nice to help myself.
While living in Boston in September 2002, I had a serious bicycle accident that would change my life in many ways. I tore my a/c joint in my shoulder, severely bruised my internal organs, and suffered from a very bad concussion. I really don't know how long I was unconscious. My experience at the hospital was horrible and since I didn't have any insurance they just rushed me through the system with minimal care. I eventually got insurance and physical therapy. After 3 months, I was stronger, but the pain returned and was worse then when it began. I finally decided to try Chinese Medicine.
Doctor Wong (www.bostonacupuncture.com) checked both my pulses and my tongue and told me that I had digestive problems. I told him, that I had IBS, GERD, and diarrhea at LEAST once a day, EVERY day for the last 15 years but that I was there for the shoulder. He smiled and told me he'd treat both. I didn't believe him and after 2 months of acupuncture twice a week and herbs, all my digestive problems were gone. I couldn't believe it. Even with those results, I told him that I'd be happy if he could make the pain in my shoulder bearable. He told me there would be no pain and again I doubted him. It took one year and the pain was completely gone, and I do mean completely. During that time, he got rid of my migraines (which were serious and debilitating), the cold, the flu, all the aches and pains that occur when the weather changes, etc. I thought about studying it again and thought it would be nice to help my friends and family.
The third time it came up, I thought how nice it would be to help people and realized I had the correct motivation. Since then, I have continued my studies in Medical Qigong, Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Tuina, Cranial Sacral Therapy, Traditional Cherokee Bodywork, Yoga, and most recently, Curanderismo. I'm always looking to deepen my understanding of health and treating the person completely, body, mind, and spirit. It is a fascinating journey, always with something new and exciting. I encourage you to join me and take control of your health and happiness.
~Dejota
