Apologies for the previous email, I didn’t mean to send that one. That was a previous newsletter from a less auspicious day.
Dear friends and patients,
After many years of deep reflection on the nature of qi, the movement of the Five Phases, and the subtle relationship between Heaven, Earth, and humanity, I have come to a profound realization:
The myriad forms of creation are… basically plumbing.
But before I explain, I should share something personal. Since I was a young child, I have always had a deep and sincere passion for plumbing. Unfortunately, due to the social stigma around pursuing such a path, I felt pressure to choose something safer and more conventional. And so, somewhat reluctantly, I went into Chinese medicine.
Over time, however, something remarkable has become clear. Somewhere between reading Daoist classics, sitting on meditation cushions, and advising people about the importance of smooth flow in the Liver channel, it slowly dawned on me that the sages may have been pointing toward something much more practical.
Because when you think about it long enough, Chinese medicine and plumbing are, philosophically speaking, the same profession.
Both are concerned with flow.
Both address stagnation.
Both become urgent when something refuses to move in the correct direction.
And, much like meditation, you can spend many years contemplating the nature of emptiness—until suddenly you discover the real problem is a blockage somewhere downstream.
Realizing this has been profoundly liberating. At last, I feel free to pursue my true calling in this life.
For years I have spoken with many of you about the free flow of qi through the channels, about clearing blockages, about nourishing the source, about descending the turbid and raising the clear. I want you to know that these concerns are still alive for me, and I will continue to be available to support people in their healing journeys, albeit in a different way.
After careful consideration, I have decided to pivot my practice toward a new calling:
Daoist Plumbing.
Beginning this spring, I will be offering a range of services that integrate the ancient wisdom of Chinese medicine with modern pipe-based infrastructure.
Services will include:
• Five Phase Drain Balancing – Identifying whether your plumbing system is suffering from Excess Wood (aggressive pipe expansion), Deficient Water (low pressure), or Rebellious Fire (that mysterious rattling noise).
• Qi Flow Optimization – Strategic plunging performed with full awareness of the body's central channel and the household’s main line (known in classical Chinese plumbing traditions as the Chong Mai).
• Yin-Yang Pipe Harmonization – Hot and cold lines brought into dynamic balance through mindful valve adjustments.
• Moxibustion for Frozen Pipes – Finally, a traditional therapy that plumbing professionals can truly appreciate.
• Emergency Stagnation Relief – For moments when the Dao of the bathroom has clearly been obstructed.
As always, my approach remains deeply rooted in classical philosophy. As the Dao De Jing almost says:
"Best plumbers are like water.
They go where the blockage is.
They do not contend with the pipe."
Of course, some aspects of the practice will remain familiar. Instead of pulse diagnosis, I will now be listening carefully to your pipes. Instead of asking about digestion, I will ask whether the upstairs sink gurgles when the washing machine runs.
In time, I hope to develop a new integrative discipline: Internal Plumbing and External Plumbing, treating both the meridians of the body and the pipes of the home as one unified system of flow.
Thank you all for supporting this exciting new chapter. If you have any clogged drains, stagnant qi, rebellious toilets, or existential questions about the nature of water, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Warmly,
Aidan Keeva
Doctor of Chinese Medicine
Apprentice of the Way
Novice Plumber
P.S. If you were hoping to keep your existing appointments… don’t worry.
Happy April Fools! The needles and herbs are staying. 😁
Note: As always, if you’d like to book an online appointment with me, click here or respond to this email and I will be more than happy to connect.
Aidan Keeva, DACM, L. Ac.,
Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine