April 23, 2013
As she scanned my passport, the teenage Israeli soldier stared through the bulletproof glass that separated us. Looking down at my photo and then up again, she finally waved me through.
On the other side of “The Wall,” taxis waited. I picked one out of a clump and haggled over the fare. (“It’s fucking hard here man” my driver said, as he demanded an exorbitant price. I bargained it down, all the while assuring him that I could see it was “fucking hard” here). He drove me to my hotel, the Paradise. Read the rest of this entry »
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Cultural Studies, Integral Healing, Memoir, Philosophy of Health and Healing, Travel | 
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
January 14, 2013
People are talking about mindfulness as if it’s the latest fashion trend: mindful eating, mindful communication, mindful movement, even mindful business management. The explosion of books, CD’s and videos on the subject now includes weekend seminars and lengthy meditation retreats. Leaders of this new field articulate the merging of mindfulness, technology, and ancient wisdom traditions to rapt audiences. Academies are dedicated to its study. An industry has been born.
But what exactly is mindfulness? Read the rest of this entry »
14 Comments | Cultural Studies, History of Medicine, Integral Healing, Mindfulness, Philosophy of Health and Healing, Politics of Health and Healing | Permalink
Posted by Ricky Fishman
November 26, 2012
With seemingly clear boundaries between our bodies and the world through which we move, it’s easy to feel separated from everything outside our skin. But as physical, chemical, emotional, and energetic beings, this perception belies our true nature. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | Chiropractic Studies, Cultural Studies, History of Medicine, Integral Healing, Mindfulness, Philosophy of Health and Healing, Politics of Health and Healing | Permalink
Posted by Ricky Fishman
July 17, 2012
The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has profound implications for the future of American health care. Of course it will lead to changes in how care is delivered. But it will also lead to a transformation in our perception of the meaning of health and healing. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
April 29, 2012
I worked at the Haight-Ashbury Free Medical Clinic from 1986 until 2001. With the exception of the medical director and a few nurse practitioners and physician assistants, the providers–psychologists, chiropractors, acupuncturists, podiatrists, physical and massage therapists, and a variety of medical specialists—were all volunteers. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
September 30, 2011
As most of us know, we Americans are a mess—overworked, overweight, and stressed out. In addition to the increased demands of our technologically fueled lives and their damaging effects on our wellbeing, we have a health care system in free fall. In one generation we have seen a shift from low cost, comprehensive coverage to $3000 deductibles, low quality HMOs and escalating numbers of people without any insurance at all. Altogether, these developments have damaged health care outcomes and changed the trust relationships between patients, doctors, employers, and health insurance carriers. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
April 13, 2011
I first traveled to Burma in 1996, Co-Leading an educational tour with a group of eighteen students from New College of California. Burma had just opened to the West after thirty years and Aung San Suu Kyi, the democratically elected President, who had been under house arrest by the Military Regime since her election in 1988, had just been released. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
February 16, 2011
You go for your yearly medical check up. The doctor listens to your heart and feels your pulse. Your blood is drawn and your blood pressure is taken. Looking at the sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff), she reports a number: 120/80. “Perfect”, she says and when your lab results come in showing all of your serum levels falling within the normal range, you are declared healthy and told to return in a year for another evaluation. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
January 7, 2011
I relaxed at Philz, my local cafe, sinking into a soft leather couch, taking in a fine selection of indie rock, and enjoying some very strong coffee. As I sipped on a tall Tesora, I daydreamed about the trip I’d soon be taking to Peru. I was excited, but at the same time troubled by a pain I was feeling. I knew its source. A deep wound inflicted by someone whom I thought was a friend. He had stolen something from me, something real and material, but also something more…vital. It felt as if this “friend” had made off with a piece of my heart. But knowing this did nothing to relieve the ache. I wrote furiously in my journal about the injury of betrayal and about my need for some kind of healing and that maybe I’d find it in Peru. I didn’t really understand why I thought this might be so. Read the rest of this entry »
6 Comments | Chiropractic Studies, Cultural Studies, History of Medicine, Integral Healing, Memoir, Mindfulness, Musicians Chiropractic, Philosophy of Health and Healing | Permalink
Posted by Ricky Fishman
November 14, 2010
Flying out of San Francisco, I imagined that all of my worries would simply disappear when I took off for the “mystical” land of Peru. I had recently been through a few travails, including an emotional business divorce and looked forward to some relief. But instead, I became aware that they traveled with me, like close friends who would not say goodbye. With this distressing realization, coupled with the frustration of having my plane ticket canceled for the flight out of Lima, I finally arrived in Cusco, irritated and exhausted. Read the rest of this entry »
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Posted by Ricky Fishman
