Fire Dragon Article Winter 2025

WINTER ISSUE 2025

yesterday, today, tomorrow

ALL IS

CALM O, Tannenbaum It’s Hot to be Cold Shifting Tides

shorts

FULL

CIRCLE Winter is upon us. The sky is dark more than

BY BAJDA

light, the air is cold more than warm and our WELTY PHOTO BY bodies are tired more than energized. Our minds CHRISTINA FISHER might even feel slowed down. This is the most yin time of the year. Characteristics include gentleness, stillness, reflection, darkness, cold, wisdom, imagination and absorption. This can feel heavy and tiring, but there is a lot to capitalize on! In Yin Yang theory it is explained that even in the darkest time, there is a spark. And in the brightest time there is a seed of mystery. One always leads back to the other.

As the circle of the year is drawing to completion, we can use this inward focus to reflect. Perhaps there are difficult moments, habits or projects to which we can apply imagination and dreaming, and gain new resolutions. Perhaps there are joyful moments to relish or seeds of inspiration that we can cultivate for the upcoming year. In the stillness of this season, we can search out and nurture sparks of inspiration to renew our energy and begin the circle again.

This year I am personally reflecting on a full circle event at my practice, Fire Dragon Acupuncture. As a child, my appreciation for acupuncture was planted when I received treatment from Dr. 26

PNW BAINBRIDGE WINTER 2025

Natalie Willits (left) has joined Bajda Welty at Fire Dragon Acupuncture as as a licensed acupuncturist, East Asian medical practioner and a fellow of the American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine.

Dirk Hein. I went on to study Chinese medicine and acupuncture before my three children were born and later nurtured my practice alongside them, treating it as my fourth child.

Over the 23 years I’ve been seeing patients, I have had so many truly beautiful and meaningful interactions, but one young teen stands out. She came into clinic over many years, regaining her health through acupuncture, herbs and diet. She finished high school and moved away for college. Acupuncture not only improved her health and wellness but the Qi (vital life energy) she cultivated as a young woman created a desire to share the powerful tools from which she had benefited and led her to study Chinese medicine herself.

After practicing in Seattle and Nashville for 10 years, Natalie Willits has come full circle with her family back to her hometown and back to the practice where she first experienced acupuncture. We are now working together at Fire Dragon and I feel deeply honored and grateful to continue this wonderful cycle.

Share your inspirations, resolutions and full circle gratitude moments with Fire Dragon on Facebook and Instagram.