A little about Susan.
Susan came across acupuncture in her efforts to heal a sore back and a broken heart. She soon became a big fan and found that the hours spent with those little pins in not only helped her immediate concerns, but also made her entire life much better.
She loves community acupuncture because it helps us reconnect with ourselves in a very real way, makes this powerful medicine accessible to more people, and reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles and triumphs.
Read below to get to know Susan or visit her bio !
What is your hometown?
Lekwungen and W̱SÁNEĆ Territories/ Victoria
What did you want to be when you grew up?
A vet, an Olympic athlete, and an environmental activist at various times.
Favorite place you’ve traveled?
Cambodia because it started to wake me up. Goa because it is so dreamy. But I’m most fond of this corner of the world.
Favorite food?
Tacos, chocolate chip cookies, and cheese and veggie sandwiches.
Cats or dogs?
Both, really whoever I am spending time with.
Current book(s) you’re reading?
“Daughters are Forever“, by Lee Maracle
“One Simple Thing“, by Eddie Stern
“Dancing in the Streets“, by Barbara Ehrenreich
“Red Mars“, Kim Stanley Robinson
What are you listening to nowadays?
Riceboy sleeps? Haha, seriously though. These day Radio 1 and 2, The Sorority, Múm, EA Wave, Bleachers, Mary Gauthier, and the podcasts Canadaland, Crackdown, and On Being.
What are things you enjoy doing with your spare time?
Riding my bike, reading, cooking, doing some yoga, hanging out with my people and my cat, singing in The Choir.
Non-profits you should be watching?
There are so many people doing amazing work! I don’t feel like I am super on top of things these days, but Coast Protectors, Women in Need Cooperative, Ancient Forest Alliance, Georgia Strait Alliance, PEERS, Unist’to’en (not a non- profit, but doing essential work), Portland Hotel Society, and Our Place Society are all doing important stuff.
What is your super power?
Probably all my feelings.
Why acupuncture?
Oh gosh, so many reasons! It’s effective, simple, elegant, accessible, portable, adaptable, and empowering. There is never just one right answer. It’s a way to investigate what it is to be human. It almost always helps. It’s restful, and helps people hang out in their bodies, which are two things we are all in mighty need of these days.
Describe community acupuncture in a nutshell.
Accessible group naps and healing.
Heart & Hands is…
a rad little community, a pretty amazing place to work, a cozy little nest, always learning, adapting to the needs of our community, addressing health as a individual, community, and societal issue, experimenting with ways to make capitalism a little less cruel, helping change our current understanding of what healing and care looks like.
