It’s Ok, I have done a weekend course on dry needling and trigger point therapy. I am now a fully qualified Monkeypuncturist. Cartoon by Steven Hsieh of Auckland.
Many patients ask me what significance the Year of the Monkey will have for their health and other life matters such as love, finances and travel. Chinese astrology has historically had a relationship with Taoism, a Chinese philosophy.
Taoism is said to have flourished in the Han dynasty starting around 2nd century BC. It was during this time that the 12 animal zodiac signs were developed and they are based on a 60 year cycle. Concepts such as yin and yang, the five elements are part of Taoism, astrology and Chinese medicine.
For instance, traditional sources state that the bladder is related to the Monkey, but this does not mean that everyone will get bladder problems in the year of the monkey.
There are many forecasters and diviners both western and eastern, who sometimes are accurate and sometimes not. Specialist feng shui practitioner Gayle Atherton of Sydney does readings for individuals and the advice and suggestions that she gives is calculated on the individuals time and place of birth as well as taking in account many other factors. For those interested in seeking some professional insight into feng shui and Chinese astrology, I suggest consult the services of such a professional. I know Hong Kong businessman seek her advice and her reputation is well respected there. Many other predictions that you may read about in various magazines and so forth are very vague and broad such as “If you are born in the year of horse, you will have achievements after hardship in the year of the monkey“.
Having said that, I would like to forecast some of my own predictions for the Year of Monkeypuncture.
Professionally trained and qualified experienced practitioners of acupuncture will continue to treat people and keep getting results. Their patients will keep spreading the word. Physiotherapists, massage therapists, tarot card readers and other miscellaneous sooth sayers will hear about the results of acupuncture and will want to get it on it as well. To save themselves time studying full time for four years to learn the art of acupuncture, they will do short weekend courses and give it a special name like dry needling and trigger point therapy. I predict that many unsuspecting patients will get tricked into thinking they are having acupuncture because the monkeys they are getting it from are very clever.
I also predict that the New Zealand government will continue to delay and stall the registration of acupuncture as they have been doing for the past 30 years.
And in case you didn’t know, the US rock band, The Monkeys in 1967, sold more records than the Beatles and Rolling Stones combined.
