Dear friend,
Happy March! I’m writing to you from Taitung, Taiwan. This month, I’ve been saying many hellos and goodbyes. I put myself in new environments and allowed myself to become a beginner again.
I delved into the realms of body work and energy work. I studied Thai massage, reiki and singing bowl. I am humbled to learn from masters who devoted their lives to these healing arts. I am blessed to learn with souls from all over the world who want to bring more love into the world. I will go into it more later. Seeds first.
With the recent Equinox and Lunar Eclipse in Libra, a time known for beckoning us toward balance and harmony, we stand at the precipice of transformative change. This period urges us to confront our deepest shadows and insecurities, let go of what no longer serves our evolution, step outside our comfort zones and initiate new cycles of personal growth. It’s also a call for us to explore the depths of love, intimacy and meaningful connections. As we navigate this intense transition, let’s stay grounded in our authenticity and lend each other more compassion.
❤️ SEEDS:
🌱 I embrace the duality within me, knowing that my light shines brightest when I face my darkness with courage. This journey of integration transforms my shadows into sources of strength and wisdom.
🌱 I cultivate love and intimacy that reflect my true self, letting go of codependency and building relationships that are healthy, conscious and aligned with my deepest values.
🌱 I welcome the harmony of giving and receiving. I am open to the flow of abundance. I am resilient, resourceful, and ready to transform potential into prosperity. My experiences have prepared me for this moment, and I am thriving.
🫀 BODYWORK & ENERGY WORK AS CARE WORK:
I went to learn Thai massage because I was moved to tears by the deep care I received in Chiang Mai and I want to know how it works and bring this healing to others.
The first message I received in Chiang Mai was from massage therapist Miu in The Pattern Thai Massage. (Thanks Tony for bringing me there!) My body was so tight from the habitual tension built up from the warrior me in New York. She came in with a smile, then she put her palms together and whispered a short mantra, then she warmed her hands and put her reiki hands over my ankle. As she gently massaged all over my body, I felt her warm pulse and I slowly let it go.
I later learned that the beginning process is called Wai Khru (paying respect to the teacher). The mantra translates to:
We invite the spirit of our father, the Father Doctor Shivago, who comes to us through his saintly life. Please bring to us the knowledge of all nature, that this mantra will show us the true medicine of the Universe. In the name of this mantra, we respect your help and pray that through our bodies you will bring wholeness and health to the body of our client.
The Goddess of healing dwells in the heavens high, while mankind stays in the world below. In the name of the Founder, may the heavens be reflected in the earth below so that this healing medicine may encircle the world.
We pray for the one whom we touch, that he/she/they will be happy and that any illness will be released from him/her/them.
I have since received more massages that connect me deeper to my body. One time, I was drowning in deep stress and grief and received a session from massage therapist Anna @ Chanya Massage Traditional Thai. As she massaged my injured shoulder, she looked at me with sincere concern and care. Then she asked me slowly in her limited English: “What happened here?” I wept.
She didn’t know who I was. She couldn’t even figure out my gender (what is gender anyway lol). I didn’t need to prove my excellence or worthiness to receive her care. It’s extremely refreshing for me as someone who lived in the United States for the last decade as a queer immigrant working in the creative field. I realized I somehow internalized the model minority narrative as a form of survival. We deserve respect just because.
A month before leaving Thailand, I signed up for two-week immersive Level 1 & 2 program at International Training Massage School (ITM).
The founder of ITM Chongkol Setthakorn described Thai massage as a thousand gentle waves washing over the body. It’s pretty accurate. Do you know Nuad Thai / traditional Thai massage Thailand is listed as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity?!
Our routine every day is washing our feet, doing qigong/exercise, watching teacher demos, practicing and more practicing.
Learning Thai massage has been an eye-opening journey into the depths of healing and connection, here are some of my learnings and reflections:
The fundamental need for physical connection: In a world increasingly mediated by screens and technology, it’s startling to realize how touch-deprived our modern society has become, particularly in the United States where misconceptions and stigmas around massage therapy persist. As we remember the lives lost in the Atlanta spa shooting three years ago, can we all place more value and appreciation for this healing art?
Thai massage is yoga for the body and soul. It's a form of therapy. A practitioner told me she prefers to be called a 'massage therapist' rather than a 'masseuse' as it captures therapeutic value and the professional skill it requires. It’s also a dance between the receiver and the giver. Both need to be present to allow the energy to flow. In the act of helping others heal, we too are transformed, learning to listen deeply, not just to the bodies of those we work with but to the silent language of our own hearts.
Breaking out of social bubbles, embracing diversity beyond labels: My classmates came from all over the globe — England, the Philippines, Japan, Italy, Czechia, and the Netherlands, to name a few, each bringing their own unique stories. Some of them are already practicing therapists, some came from the ancestral lineage of healers, some with dark histories but flipped their life around, and some work in the arts and crave a change of life. A beautiful reminder of the vastness of human experience and the universal need for connection!
Being a channel, dissolving ego: We don't generate healing energy ourselves; rather, we are conduits through which this energy flows to reach those in need. It’s the same for creative energy. When we are stuck in our ego, it’s hard to allow creation and connection to happen.
A safe space for all bodies: As someone moving through the world in a queer body, I am familiar with the feeling of disconnect with my body. But massage could be an affirming practice to reconnect with ourselves.
This journey has been one of coming home — to a community of healers, to a shared human heritage, and most importantly, to myself. It's a commitment to foster connections that heal, to create spaces where people can let go of their burdens, and to remember that, at its core, to touch with intention is to love.
My journey with reiki & sound bowl is another magical story. Stay tuned for next time. :)
💌 UPDATES
I hosted an event 《溫柔凝視:影像創作是愛的語言/與世界合作的方式 》/ “Tender gaze: image making as a love language and a way to collaborate with the world“ at Nowhere Bookstore in Chiang Mai 飞地清迈书店 sharing my long-term projects and invited people to do gazing and deep listening practice. I intended to create a warm environment for people to connect. So moved to see many diaspora Chinese folks coming together and opening their hearts. I love making people cry and laugh at the same time haha. <3
LOVE, LUST, FREEDOM in Kunstmuseum Brandts in Odense, Denmark 2024/3/23-2025/5/1: So grateful to have my project HERE WE ARE showing amongst a list of amazing artists who I admire deeply.
I’m going to a holy mountain in Dulan, Taiwan for three days before heading back to New York on 4/1 ~ See you in the world!
Feel free to share this email with whoever might be interested. Talk soon!
Warmly,
Meng
What a beautiful journey. Sounds like spiritual evolution is accelerating