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I met Russell Brown, the man behind LA acupuncture sensation Poke, at a party in WeHo in 2012. I thought we were flirting but I think he was just sizing up my myriad issues and how they could be addressed by Chinese medicine. He’s since become the kind of friend who is closer to family than actual family, the kind you can call in the night screaming “my pee doesn’t feel right.” His knowledge, calm and ability to discuss Real Housewives’ behavior using terms like Yang and Chi (while still respecting the concepts) makes him indispensable. If you can’t get to LA to see him, where he often works with clients in communities in need, then follow him on Instagram- and subscribe to his free Substack Diet Poke, where he does a great job of simplifying essential concepts in a funny, pop way that’s still totally healing. I particularly love how he grapples with the LA desire to be perfect and the ways in which certain new age goals are at odds with real healing. To put it simply, he’s my Dr. Phil and my Ma Anand Sheela all rolled into one, only queer and without delusions of grandeur. He gets my vote for most likely to change the world.
Jan 3, 2023
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sometimes i also think im flirting but my conversational partner is just sizing up my myriad issues and how they could be addressed by Chinese medicine as well. i relate to this in a major way lena thank you!!!! <3333333333
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🔮I was referred to Asher Hartman by my friend Rachel who was referred to him by some other woowoo bitch and boy am I grateful everyday! He reads your chakras over Zoom and records it so you can have the reading forever. I listen to mine from a year ago all the time and can't wait to go back. He told me that my mother had the energy of a deflated soufflé and that my overall energy was that of the butterfly that the guy in New Yorker logo is looking at through his monocle mixed with post-kidnapping Patty Hearst! This is so real!
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❤️big energy work girlie here, I don’t have any certifications so I typically go to open classes in the city &/or ask friends that are reiki practitioners. You have to go to somebody you trust & truly feel comfortable with, also staying open to what may happen. I’ve had some people try that felt very disingenuous and kinda scammy but, that never deterred me bc of my own personal experiences previously. Best recent session happened to be a group soundbath!! we laid down for 30 minutes, then she came around the space and hovered over us while doing something (idk my eyes were closed I was going THRU it) and I left feeling 10x better, half of the things stressing me no longer seemed that big and it pivoted me. It could just be that I had 60 minutes to breathe, relax and think while somebody was gently guiding me, who knows- the human mind is a complex thing. Also used to work w a reiki practitioner who would somehow overhear thoughts and even bring it up (she’s freaked out several ladies) and it still trips me out. I don’t quite understand but I’ve been going back bc i like how it makes me feel!!
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🪐Making money in this modern world is blessed and cursed. Between acting jobs I also am an astrologer. I believe every actress should somehow give back spiritually between jobs… whatever that means to them. In fact, there has been a history of actors and actresses doing astrology in their spare time Shelley Winters, Shirley McClaine (duh) and Andrew Garfield to name a few. (more on that another time… watch this space) As it is my day job to brush up on current transits, my go to podcast is Anne Ortlees Weekly Weather. Anne Ortlee is a legendary New York Astrologer. Despite her icon status, she's unjaded, and sweet. She often pontificates on her ongoing battle to limit her pasta intake. Between what I would call “zaniness”, her translation of Astrology is spot on. You slip into her orbit and suddenly fantasize taking her to a pasta dinner uptown.Once you start you can’t stop. And if you know you know. I usually listen every Sunday night while washing my hair and applying face oil in silence.
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Since life is not linear, sometimes you’ll think you’ve nailed not giving a fuck and then something anxiety inducing or unkind or even mundane but alarming will happen and you SUDDENLY really really do give a fuck. That’s okay. But returning to a baseline level of DGAF is a good goal, so keep your eye on the prize.
Actually, fuck it- who needs a prize anyway?
Since life is not linear, sometimes you’ll think you’ve nailed not giving a fuck and then something anxiety inducing or unkind or even mundane but alarming will happen and you SUDDENLY really really do give a fuck. That’s okay. But returning to a baseline level of DGAF is a good goal, so keep your eye on the prize.
Actually, fuck it- who needs a prize anyway?
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I’ve always been partial to women’s voices- Lilith Fair was my first live music experience, which tells you all you need to know about why I’m this way- but the boys are feeling feelings this summer and I’m okay with that!
Role Model, MJ Lenderman, Cameron Winter (plus Experience, a new album from my husband, Attawalpa) have been the soundtrack to writing, swimming and riding to work across the George Washington Bridge.
If I ever have a son, I hope we writes a song called “Mama On The GW Bridge.”
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This is Victor and Cherry:
If you are thinking you might also want a pig, Autumn Whitaker is the woman to explain their inner lives: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGue5Kp5AwOXkReCGPUyImA
There are a lot of incredible pigs who need parents at pig icon Susan Magidson’s Ross Mill Farm: https://rossmillfarm.com/
This is Victor and Cherry:
Jul 16, 2025