Cultivation
400 Wonder Often. A Conversation with the Qiological Community • Michael Max
Thirty plus years ago, as an acupuncture patient, I found myself puzzling over the question of “Just how does acupuncture work?” That question has been a reliable traveling companion ever since.
Our work requires a lot of “techne’” and it should, there's a lot to know and we as professionals should know it. But clinical work is more than technical knowledge. It’s this other aspect of our work that I particularly seek to investigate on Qiological. In part because it’s not about knowledge, but instead “something else” that does not easily lend itself to teaching. It’s something vital that is learned through our experience of doing this work.
It’s a kind of seasoning. A synthesis of what you know, who you are, and in connection with your patient— how you are.
I’m always curious to know what brought people to doing this work. And even more so— about how the work changes us.
399 Evolving Emergence and the Wu Yun Liu Qi • Christine Cannon
Change unfolds within the predictable cycles Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches. But, what actually emerges into being, that is usually novel and surprising.
In this conversation with Christine Cannon, we explore the Wu Yun Liu Qi—the Five Movements and Six Qi—and how this intricate system maps out the energetic cycles that shape everything from world events to the experience of our inner psycho-emotive landscape. Christine shares her experience of working with these influences in her clinical practice and how this perspective deepens her understanding of diagnosis, treatment, and seasonal shifts.
Listen into this discussion as we explore how these ancient ideas reveal patterns in illness and healing, how they can help practitioners refine their clinical skills, why the concept of ‘host’ and ‘guest’ qi matters, and how seasonal influences show up in everything from gardens to personal health.
395 Business, Go Your Own Way • Sydney Malawer
Following a blueprint is fine for building structures, but when it comes to life choices, someone else’s recipe for success probably will be only marginally helpful. Plans are helpful, and perspective even more so.
In this conversation with Sydney Malawer, we explore what it means to build a practice that actually works for you. From rejecting conventional business advice to embracing a model based on sufficiency instead of relentless growth, Sydney shares the mindset shifts and strategic choices that have allowed her to create a thriving, sustainable practice in one of the most competitive markets in the country.
Listen into this discussion as we discuss redefining success in practice, why charging higher rates can lead to a more sustainable clinic, navigating the tension between capitalism and integrity, and how understanding your own archetype can shape the way you run your business.
This conversation is a reminder that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to building a practice. What matters most is knowing what works for you and having the courage to bet on yourself.
394 Befriending Uncertainty • Stephen Cowan
Transformation arises from the unknown. In a world that often craves certainty, the practice of staying with discomfort, observing its rhythm, and allowing clarity to emerge can lead to remarkable insights—not just in healing, but in how we live.
In this conversation with Stephen Cowan, we explore how the art of not-knowing-yet invites discovery. Stephen shares his journey from Western medicine to the integrative, emergent practices of Chinese medicine, where curiosity and connection form the foundation of healing.
Listen into this discussion as we delve into the maps of Chinese medicine that guide us through uncertainty, the role of storytelling and connection in clinical practice, the rhythm of emotions and their impact on health, and how integrating presence and curiosity can transform both patients and practitioners.
393 Year of the Snake: Form is Emptiness, Emptiness is Form • Gregory Done
It’s the subtler forces—those quietly felt but not perceived—that create the background that frames our days with a tone that is both transparent and influential. The shifting energies of a new year are a slack tide of opportunity to pause and reflect. To consider directions for where to invest our life energy in the coming year.
Listen into this discussion as we explore the symbolism of the wood snake, the balance between action and stillness, the transformative power of introspection, and how understanding the year’s energy can inform personal and collective growth.
Gregory’s reflections remind us of the profound lessons embedded in the natural cycles of life. It’s a timely conversation about embracing quietude, finding clarity, and aligning with the unique, and perhaps unsettling capacity to see in the emptiness of mind and social agreements in the coming year.
387 Discovering the Essential • Philippe Vandenabeele
There is something in the essence of a practice. At the core is something precious, true and fundamental. We all have it. But you probably don’t know what it is, and you won’t until many years down the road of pursuing the work.
Curious that what is of essence, what is at the core of our work, is hidden from us.
It’s a journey of discovery to that which is the north star of how we work as an expression of who we are.
In this conversation with Philippe Vandenabelle we explore the “book we read again and again,” the aspects of our work that are essential to how we practice that slowly emerges over time.
385 Rope Flow • David Weck
Did you ever as a child grab a length of rope, run screaming around the yard and swing it around with abandon and joy?
Sometimes, the most unassuming tools hold the greatest potential for transformation. Rope flow might look like play, but beneath the surface lies a practice that can unlock balance, coordination, and deeper mind-body connection.
In this conversation with David Weck, the Godfather of Rope Flow and a mad scientist in functional movement we’ll discuss body and movement. How simple, dynamic practices can improve not only physical performance but also neurological integration and proprioception. His approach blends creativity, science, and connects up with Chinese medicine in some surprising ways.
That Mind/Body thing we are always going on about, we take it to the playground.
383 Touching the Invisible • Chris McAlister
There’s something about the act of touch that goes beyond the physical, isn’t there? It’s like we’re not just meeting someone at their skin but somehow dipping into the unseen—into emotions, memories, and layers that words can’t quite reach. What happens when we listen with our hands instead of our ears? This episode has me pondering all that and more.
The guest of this episode, Chris McAlister, us an acupuncturist and shiatsu practitioner who’s been exploring the art of presence and connection for years. He’s inquisitive about how the practical meets the mystical, constantly seeking ways to blend tradition with modern insight, and helping people discover parts of themselves they didn’t even know were there. From his experiences in Tibet to decades of teaching, Chris brings curiosity, exploration, and a touch of rebellion to the table.
381 Daoist Medicine, Ritual and Talisman • Lindsey Wei
Ever wonder about the unseen forces that shape health and illness? Sometimes it’s the things we can’t measure that hold the most sway. Healing isn’t always about what we see, but what we’re willing to explore.
In this episode, we sit down with Lindsey Wei, a practitioner deeply rooted in the world of Daoist medicine. She has spent years blending the physical practices of qigong and martial arts with the mystical art of talismans, incantations, and ritual healing. She brings a unique perspective on what it means to heal both the body and spirit.
There’s more here than meets the eye, as we explore the boundaries between science and spirit, logic and mystery—and how these might be a little more porous than you realize.
379 The Art of Inquiry • Vance Crowe
In acupuncture school we learn the 10 questions, which will get you some information. But it’s more interrogative than rapport building, more about eliciting information than revealing meaning.
Listening with a mindset of noticing the small anomalies. Listening to understand someone from their own point of view. To be inquisitive about how the difficulties might hold unrevealed lessons, and how troubles are lessons in progress.
It’s more than having an unfettered sense of curiosity, there’s something else that goes into it.
In this conversation with Vance Crowe we explore the transformative potential of conversations that invite the stories that haven’t had an audience. Like many of us, Vance did not set out to do what he does. It found him.
