Little Hawk -- I'm with you. And I love the phrase "shed darkness". As I said earlier, acupuncture has done me a great deal of good. People think that the rigors (read brutality and cruelty) of western medical training combined with the "managed care" system we have in this country -- 15 minutes per patient per visit -- will result in effective treatment? I'm sorry, I don't see it. I have an HMO; I usually ignore it, just scan the newsletter to see if they're sponsoring a yoga class at a convenient time/place.

Besides, I happen to believe that my spiritual life defines my physical life, not the other way around -- so I'd far rather be treated by someone whose training and background and belief system acknowledges that "life energy" which western medicine, by and large, disdains. "Guest"'s posts are uniformly fear-based, not how I want to run my life, thanks.