Many of us may have experienced a year of change caused by the dynamics of the Black Water Snake. As 2013 is drawing to a close we look forward to the year of the Wooden Horse that will set the milestone for the next decade to come. According to the Chinese zodiac, this is the energetic cycle of Qi that will manifest itself in a qualitative manner that will influence our health, personal relationships as well as the social and natural phenomena. All the knowledge of the human race will be needed to help us move towards the next horizon in enlightenment.

At this defining moment in history, science and philosophy will engage in a dialogue that will shape our future reality. This may be a sober thought for the new year festivities, but I myself am looking forward to the burst of new energy and to share with you the hope and the excitement of the arrival of a new axial age.

Let’s enjoy this moment of festivities with the tea of life and the wine of wisdom. The Chinese Taoist notion of “wu wei er wei zi (无为而为之)” which means “doing as if you are not doing” is a pearl of wisdom for this moment. As the natural environment is being increasingly damaged by our deterministic actions, we need to learn to act within the ways of nature, rather than recklessly changing it according to our own image. Ceaseless economic growth should be in tune with the ecology of our earth. To me, meaningful living is to be at one with nature.

Goethe once said “The soul that sees beauty may sometimes walk alone.” This brings me to an important principle in Chinese medicine regarding the ‘heart’ in relation to the mind and body. In many ways we are all artists in life. As we cultivate our heart to achieve clarity of mind we may be feeling alone. But are we really alone? The heart is not only affecting our physical wellbeing but is also affecting our relationship with our surroundings. Our relationship with nature, our loved ones and society at large are all affected by our actions stemming from our hearts and minds.

I mention this because I think by cultivating our heart we can get ourselves ready for the next stage of human enlightenment. A human being with a noble heart, in a noble society, will not need the strict governance that the law makers are endlessly fabricating in modern times. We will then be free, harmonious and engaging in the essence of living.

At this celebratory moment I wish you peace and happiness in your heart.

Man Fong Mei

at the AcuMedic Forum, London

马年即将来临，龙马精神代表了国人的豪迈气概。

老子云“无为而无不为”和孔子说“无为而 治”，都表达了一种“无为而为之”的境界，即强调凡事顺其自然，不多一分亦不少一分，力求平衡！ 中国人的哲学智慧是人生不是什么都不做，而是做出来的东西不违反自然规律。

回到工作的层面，中医的养生之道核心是鼓励养心，中医的“精气神”概念值得我们进一步思考，这也适用于治疗当前社会的某些病态 现象。养心不但促进个人健康，治疗疾病，也令社会和谐，给人类发展带来新的生机。

辞旧迎新之际，来共同思考一下自己的行为和价值观是否传承了古代圣贤的智慧，以平衡现代消费主义的影响。谨祝各位身心愉快！马 到成功！

 梅万方

伦敦

二零一三年十二月