Thea Elijah has been a student, practitioner, and teacher of acupuncture, herbal studies, and qi gong for more than 20 years. She is most interested in the intersections of different lineages, where we can explore diversity while maintaining rigor. Her own practice is rooted in classics studies with Elisabeth Rochat de la Vallée, 5 Element studies in the Worsley tradition, pulse studies with Leon Hammer, herbal studies with Ted Kaptchuk, and many others. Elijah is the former director of Chinese herbal studies at Academy for Five Element Acupuncture and Maryland University of Integrative Health (formerly Traditional Acupuncture Institute). She is also a teacher of the Shadhiliyya Order, a perspective that aids her in considering energy medicine from a cross-cultural perspective. At her students’ request, she has created a body of work called Whole Heart Connection, which draws upon the principles of both Chinese medicine and Sufism to bring these healing principles and practices into daily life. Elijah maintains a practice in southern Vermont and practices all over the United States.