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Questions

(Quotes from Ed in Red)

Thu, 20 Oct 2005

The pits might be a good place to conduct Tribe meetings.

Patterns We Learn Early in Life

seem to repeat

in various ways

Clip: http://briem.ismennt.is/4/4.3b/4.3.1.

Thu, 20 Oct 2005

Judges

Dear Ed,

the last CIty] Tribe meeting on Tuesday was very interesting. On the hotseat I initially talked about how it is difficult for me to handle profit give-backs or missing opportunities (whereas I have no problems with realizing losses), how I anchor at my equity maximum value and experience every move down from it as a loss.

I explained that I want to suffer for some reason and how angry I was about it. When I started to show forms, I was screaming furiously and hitting my thigh with my left fist and stomping with my left foot. But during experiencing these form, the screaming suddenly changes and I start shouting: "I deserve it."

My fist is not hitting anymore but both fists are up in the air in a winner pose. I feel happy and relieved shouting "I deserve it!". I feel that I do not have to suffer to be successful but that I deserve to be successful, period. In a moment of clarity I feel that I always have to suffer to be successful because some judge tells me if you do not suffer, you have not deserved it.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Judgment May Feel Different

depending if it arrives as an imposition.

from outside

or bubbles up from within.

Clip: http://www.instituteofcustomerservice.com/res/

Wed, 19 Oct 2005

Tribe Meeting Report

Hello Ed,

I arrive at incline Village and settle in for the snap shot process. As my turn comes up I feel pretty good about my current snapshot and the progress I make since the last meeting, I’m anxious to present to the group as I feel things are moving in the right direction for me.

Snapshot Process

As I begin my report I have confidence that my fellow members will see the improvement since the last session and I feel pretty good about my presentation. My snap shot, entitled “Sticking to My System” encompasses me taking 20 trades generated from my trading systems without hesitation or reservation, just stick to my system. Fourteen of the 20 trades are complete. I grade myself accordingly and present an overview of my progress to the tribe.

Feedback from the tribe is insightful and brings feelings bubbling from the mid-torso area up to the upper chest area. Two of my fellow tribe members call me on my system and conclude, based on my presentation, that I don’t have a system. Since in my mind I’m convinced I have a system and I follow it for 14 of 20 trades, the feeling pump goes full throttle and nutso as I listen to the feedback. I get an “I don’t think so” response from one member in specific and he mentions that he does not believe I have a system at all, this comment stays in my mind for the remainder of the session.

What I hear from my tribe members is that I may believe that I have a system in place but in fact what I consider to be a system is not what two successfully consistent traders in the tribe consider to be an industrial strength type trading system.

Also, I hear that I have no accountability for my trades since I cannot articulate an objective audit process for my trading system. Wow, talking about being frank, my tribe members are very frank indeed, in fact, something I now like a lot about the tribe - brutal honesty. The level of honesty the tribe provides certainly cuts through the BS objections/excuses that float in my mind and keep my feelings bottled inside. I Love this stuff, I’m growing and it feels great!

After the snap shot process I commit to myself to work through and embrace the feelings that come up as I consider the feedback. As I work trough the feelings I come to the realization that my tribe is correct. I don’t have a trading system; I have an entry system with subjective stops and exits and at best a “whatever I want it to look like” audit process.

I think about the latter for a couple of days after the meeting and conclude that a complete mechanical trading system, with embedded audit process, is what I put in place to move onto the next level of successful trading. I commit to myself to do the latter.


Tribe Meeting

We have a full house for this tribe meeting, largest gathering since I joined. Lots of energy flow as we go through the drumming at the beginning of the meeting, we get a good flow as the drums subside. All of the participants indicate they want to take the hot seat, the process begins and I settle in as a receiver. Good sessions all around and then comes my turn.

I take the mid-torso feelings from snapshot into the hot seat. This time I get right into the feelings, no thinking, just going with feelings. I have some great amount of feelings as I fling, jump, stomp, kick, reach, and yell around the room. I really don’t recall the forms as I go through them I just let my mind go, and go with the flow.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Shower

Another opportunity to go with the flow

Clip: http://usa.hudsonreed.com/brand_1/

Wed, 19 Oct 2005

Prices are either above or below their historical averages mostly always, only exactly at their averages for fleeting instants.

If you keep going long while the S&P is above its 50-day MA, you soon wind up with all the contracts.

If you have questions about a trading signal (such as a crossover method issues) you can test them in the context of a full trading system.  See TSP above.

Time

Some think of it as an interval,

others think of it as a point.

No one can prove

it exists at all.

Tue, 18 Oct 2005

Report from [City] Tribe


Hi Ed,

Hope all is well. I want to share yesterday's meeting of the [City] Tribe, which I think is our best ever (seems to be a trend for us).


My Hot seat is very intense, I bring some commitment issues with my girlfriend to the meeting. I start by pushing my hands away from my body, the tribe does a great job supporting me. I go through a few forms without really getting to the bottom of things until I am aware of a tingling sensation similar which is very familiar to me from the breath work we do three weeks ago.

The Process Manager does a great job facilitating the process, after I experience the tingling for a while he encourages me to try the movement with my arms again. This time my arms start pushing both hands above my head. My tribe thinks I am selling something in the pit, but I really feel like I am serving in a tennis match (I play tennis for a big part of my youth).

I morph into just swinging one arm over my head, faster and faster. Finally I start swinging down more and more towards the ground as if I am beating something and then I get my insight: I am my dad beating the s--- out of me.

I don't have a conscious memory of this ever happening but I am intending to ask my mom about it. I keep going with the beating, after a short break The Process Manager encourages me to really get into the feelings of being my dad and beating me.

I feel very relaxed and sit down. I integrate the feelings about my commitment issue and the beating and have a strong urge to vomit,  I experience that feeling several times and try to stay with the maximum pressure point in my chest (where I feel I am about to vomit) for as long as possible, my tribe encourages me to take it all the way. Finally I feel a great release and am totally calm. I sink into my chair sweaty and exhausted.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Acting out Anger on Children

(rather than experiencing it internally)

can tie them in k-nots.

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

Hotseat Follow-Up

Hi Ed,

I hope you are well. My hotseat experience
follows:

Our last tribe meeting consisted of a marathon session in which each of us took the hotseat.

I expected an intense meeting to follow in light of an unusually intense drumming session. As we began, I felt some feeling of anxiety in my stomach carried over from the afternoon session.

As a handful of people began taking the hotseat one after another to experience their forms, I notice my anxiety slowly dissolving. When it was my turn to take the hotseat I did not feel a hot issue. I did, however, feel I didn't want to break the chain of everyone taking the hotseat that evening.

The process manager and tribe began receiving me and noticing as forms began to present themselves. I felt their encouragement and let my body do what it wanted to do. Intense breathing, reaching, and stretching forms follow and I experience them fully. I feel a tremendous calm and empowerment afterward.

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

Down about 40 Pounds since Workshop

Hi Ed!

Here is a word document containing a chart of my weight since a couple of weeks after the July Breathwork session.

I am down about 40 pounds so far. I am eating a very healthy diet, and I am exercising regularly. I feel great too.

I am now rid of a large portion of my excess weight, and I am focusing less on the scale and more on general fitness. I intend to begin a strength training regimen in addition to the cardio/aerobic work that I do for the past few months. Putting on some muscle might raise my resting metabolic rate a bit and support a sustainable healthy lifestyle that includes more activity.

Thank you for serving as a role model for me. I hope that by updating you on my results I return the service to you.

250 to 210 since the Workshop

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

TSP: Animation For Bliss

Dear Ed,

I reproduced the results for the "Exponential Crossover System" for both parameter sets (150/15) and (325/85) to the penny. I am using my own back testing engine written in C#. I had to change the type of some variables of my back testing engine from float (4 byte) to double (8 byte).

I created an animated GIF for the "Exponential Crossover System". The GIF contains a graphic showing how bliss depends on the "Slow Averaging Time", the "Fast Averaging Time" and the "Heat". I simply generated different frames for different values of heat, so the heat changes with the time as the animation runs. You can open the GIFs in a web browser or other software which is capable of playing animated GIFs.

Nice graphic.

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

Mon, 17 Oct 2005

Pollinator Report

IV Tribe Meeting of Oct 13th.


Hi Ed

Here is the pollinator report, as per commitment:

Last Thursday, I visit Incline Village Trading Tribe. Wow! Being there is akin to stepping into a different world altogether. A world where things just are, and time stands still.

Unsure whether NV is an hour ahead of CA (it is not), I actually reach well ahead of 2pm, Ed is in great health and good cheer. I ask him if I am early or late; he responds, characteristically, "You seem to be here about now". We chat for half an hour, mostly about his TSP precision issues and about my research.

Then people start filing in, we begin just after 2 PM with "15min Snapshots", where everyone updates their previous Snapshots and on their progress toward them. I get feedback on my two Snapshots, relating to lack of clarity in my motivation and emotion.

We have dinner watching a beautiful sunset on the lake. TTP session begins after dinner and goes on until close to 3 AM. Some very intense work from all the participants. Great commitment, great support, great insights. I learn to manage a hotseat by doing one and watching many in action.

I take the hotseat early and everyone is fresh and enthusiastic in supporting my forms. My issue is with procrastination, and I have various forms, only some of which I remember, like beating myself and humming and screaming, but I get an Aha out of it that the positive intention of my procrastination is to get me to fully experience my feelings of loss and sadness, which I intend to take to my next hotseat!

Listening and talking to Ed, especially after [another hotseat], I also get an insight into how the process works in dissolving issues that seemingly do not relate to what one takes to the hotseat.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Something Deeper

accounts for these iron filings

coming to attention

Clip: http://louvre.tribe.net/tribe/upload/

photo/97c/ca6/97cca6ac-691a-4d8b-9de4-

Sun, 16 Oct 2005

Skid Function Not Working

The operation you cite seems fairly basic.  You might consider reading the instruction manuals thoroughly.

Sun, 16 Oct 2005

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Fat Tails

Yes, Trend Followers always see fat tails.

A Fat Tail

refers to a market that runs on and on

and therefore fattens the tail

on the P&L distribution curve.

The Nikkei

Magazine Covers

may help celebrate the discount.

Clip: http://www.painteddesertgeckos.com/

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Wants Video of Process

Dear Ed,

I understand the importance of privacy and that you do not reveal personal information. I just want to emphasize that I'm not requesting the identity of contributors and that it is MY OWN personal information that I'm requesting from you, so that I can choose to share it with the local tribe here, as they are all eager to see more about the process.

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Wants to Recommend Book

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

No Studies

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Trade Station Redeems Trades

Hi Ed,

Thanks for the help the other day. I very much appreciate your time, input and expertise.

I subsequently found out that:

1. Trade Station does automate one's system. The system remains on my hard drive, triggers are created by the software such that the trade is entered into the brokerage and (with QQQQ) should execute within a fraction of a second.

During the time between execution and filing your claim, the price might move quite a bit.

I wonder what the exact rules are for redeeming a trade. 

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Workshop as a Gift

Ed:

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Thank you for sharing your process.

Yoga-a-a-a- a-a-ahhh

Some TTP forms look like yoga forms.

By following them wherever they go,

and being willing to experience them,

we get to the zero point.

Clip: http://www.exit50.com/images/

April2005/yoga.jpg

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Workshop

Chief,

I am excited to report that the [City] TT potential membership has increased 150% since last Sunday (I have already been contacted by 2 people).

Do new tribes traditionally learn how to conduct meetings by attending the TTP Workshop or are most branches by members of the IV Tribe?

I have read the FAQ and the book and all of the information on the site, and we will have our first meeting next week to become acquainted. My intention is to create a successful tribe and I will appreciate any information.

Thanks for all of your giving, and receiving.

Most active, robust Tribes seem to have one or more members with workshop experience.  Many members of the Incline Village Trading Tribe also run other Tribes.

Here is some more important "any information" for you:

Tip for Washing Your Car

Be sure to wear

appropriate clothing

and to use

good quality soap.

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Hot Seat Report - Pressure


My hot-seat issue for our TTP meeting is an intense feeling of pressure that I do not like. It happens to be financial pressure and pressure I create through trading. It can expand outside these two areas of my life. I seem to experience pressure a lot. I don’t like it and part of me is unwilling to enjoy it or take responsibility for my part in creating it. Yet, results equal intentions. My feeling intense pressure is the result of my intending it on some unconscious level. Some part of me likes to feel all this pressure. This fact is really hard to digest since another part detests it just so much. But I do accept it.

I share my story as I enter the session. Tribesmen quickly help me into my forms. I manifest forms that range from squeezing my head hard with both hands on each temple, screaming “No!” as loud as I can, shaking my head and body violently back and forth on the floor and squeezing myself into a ball on the floor as tightly as I can while I contort my face. This is the manifestation of my pressure. I experience all these feelings. The ones I do not like, my tribesmen help me find the feeling of “not liking it” in my body and I experience that. Once I do that, I can easily feel the original feeling I did not initially wish to feel.

After moving through these forms, my issue seems to boil itself down to a part of me that likes creating pressure and another part that does not like feeling all this pressure. Part of my form that presents is a shaking back and forth of my head while I say I like all this pressure – a no I don’t like it, yes I do all at the same time. Both are true, real feelings and happening at the same time.

As I continue to do this form and intensify it, at some point both forms tip and merge. This process takes a while and requires a lot of effort. I gain an aha that pops into my consciousness. I can have both at the same time, not just one or the other. I can like and not like the pressure at the same time and this is ok. This releases a tremendous amount of pressure and I feel at peace with my issue. Both have positive intentions.

A residual form appears at the center of my forehead. I intensify a furrowing of my brow. When this passes, I reach my zero point – a peaceful and relaxed place.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Our Experiences with Pressure

start early in life.

Clip: http://www.mothernature.com/images/

library/books/femaleGuide/

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

Getting to Zero

Dear Ed,

English is not my native language, so please, try to understand the meaning before the form.

During > 2 years I have been following your homepage. Man, how I was frustrated. All those riddles. Until I realized that we all have to figure it out by ourselves.

My wife (who is a mixture of native American, black and white) like all of us, hehe, says that you are a medicine man. Well, probably you are.

One day I will participate in one of your meetings. At the moment I don’t have the money for it. The small stake I have is, in speculation. But sooner or later, (I intend) we’ll meet.

OK.

At The Bottom

all the tangents have

slope = 0.

Clip: http://www2.sccfl.edu/lvosbury/

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

The DIM Process - Do It Myself

Sir, each and every word you publish in the TT site does carry a lot of meaning / depth, fun at times too, and conveys how intensely serious you are. I really enjoy following the site. Thanks a million for your work to help people around the globe.

I am unable to get members to attemd my Tribe. So I have made FAQ as my Tribe and Sir, Ed as the Tribe Leader.

Writing to FAQ is not the same as attending a Tribe meeting.

Sat, 15 Oct 2005

You might consider setting an example of Trend Following by supporting him following his own heart.

You might also consider taking your feelings of wanting to manage your son's career to your Tribe as an entry point.

Demanding That Your Son

Learn to Go with the Flow

is a pretty good way

to transfer your k-nots

to him

Clip: http://www.savannahnow.com/exchange/

Fri, 14 Oct 2005

Embarrassment Impedes Startup


Hi Ed,


Our trading tribe meets once per month and has been in existence for some 8-9 months now. I’ve been a member since August.

We seem to be progressing slowly in terms of the methods as described in the Trading Tribe book, but progressing none-the-less.

We previously would spend the meetings TALKING about our various issues in regards to trading, whereas now we seem to be more open to try and experience these issues (i.e. the feelings/forms associated with these issues)


I know for myself that the difficulty lies in experiencing my feelings in front of other people, so I suppose that I have judgments regarding being in a vulnerable state around others.

It’s as though I don’t want to feel embarrassed and/or ridiculed by others if I assume some kind of ‘strange’ posture/position whilst experiencing my forms.

In other words . . . “what would the neighbors think!”


We’ve discussed (note that word) this amongst ourselves and we all feel similarly about this to a more or lesser degree.

We tend to ‘discuss’ a lot, hence the slow progress.

We all seem to be content to ‘stay in our heads’ at this moment rather than . . . . . . (cliché time) . . . ‘venturing out into the unknown’.

I wonder if this is the natural evolution of the typical tribe or is it simply the natural evolution of OUR tribe.

In closing, would you consider doing a workshop here in [City] if the numbers were sufficient? It would be of great benefit to have the guidance of an experienced TT practitioner, but I guess if the Mountain won’t come to Mohammed then . . . you know the rest.

Thanks Ed & double thanks for a really great Website.

You might consider sending one or two of your members to a Workshop to get the hang of it.

Once your Tribe is up and running, you can take your feelings of embarrassment to the Tribe as an entry point.

Embarrassment

has a positive intention

Clip: http://www.digitalhit.com/posters/p/421996

Fri, 14 Oct 2005

I don't want to go.

Hi Ed,

Our recent bi-weekly tribe meeting includes several guests pollinating from other tribes. The dynamic of the tribe changes the last few meeting as some old members depart and fresh faces turn up. In my check-in I state I am uncomfortable with the new faces and the tribe member who already know me are aware that comfort is one of my issues.

An indication earlier in the evening shows that all 11 members intend to get on the hotseat. I sit just over half way around the circle from the starting point and wait there stewing through 6 hot seats before my turn arises.

The night seems to drag and I get very annoyed sitting through the processes. Finally my turn arises and my well thought out excuse of why I do not intend to take the hotseat this evening flows freely.

I think I am in the clear and feel a general sense of relief. As we start to move on to the next hotseat participant Ed reminds me that as a member of the IVTT I make a commitment to take the hotseat at every meeting. In effect Ed tells me to commit to the work on the hotseat this evening or alternatively consider resigning from the tribe.

I have many issues including defiance, skepticism of the whole form process and a general resistance to letting go on the hotseat.

Now I am in a pickle. It is either s--- or get off the pot. Despite the urge to walk out I stay and take the hotseat. The process manager does a great job of teasing out some feelings. I decide to be brutally honest and say I think the process is a crock of s--- and the other member of the group are a bunch of w------ for the forms they readily display.

Thank you for sharing your process.

Fri, 14 Oct 2005

TTP and Me


Ed,

I just wanted to let you know how well things are going, since my introduction TTP. I can't begin to list all of the changes that are taking place. I feel as though I am in a counter clockwise circle of energy that extends upward, above, in front, down and around me.

I'm daring to dream, believing that my visions will come true, acting in accordance with the vision, and find the environment changing. My actions are becoming more intuitively directed as I learn to trust life and act in accordance with my vision.

Willing to acknowledge, address, and experience the intensity of all of my feelings, I'm finding my perception of reality to be changing drastically. Life and I appear to be working together toward the creation of my vision.

I'm watching life work with and propel me toward my vision. Literally, from out of nowhere I recently received a call, and was given (as a gift) a Hotel and Ski Package in North Shore Tahoe. Just like that, the hotel accommodations have been covered for the workshop.

Thu, 13 Oct 2005

I do not publish the identity of contributors

or reveal personal information.  Several people appear on the tape.  See ground rules.

If you wish to share your experience of working with me, bring your Tribe to the next Workshop.

Thu, 13 Oct 2005

How to Change Someone Else

At our last Tribe Meeting, I take the hot seat wit an issue about my son's misbehavior.  He is clearly acting out, even to the extent of attracting attention from the local police.

My process manager leads me through several forms, including intense grimacing and shaking that somehow resolve to a posture in which I am facing upward on the floor, supporting myself on my hands and feet with my torso arching upward, like a bridge.

I make some connections that somehow, my son's behavior is part of a bridge or transition from living at home to finding his own way in the world.

I seem to be at some kind of zero point.  The Tribe then peppers me with comments, statements and questions as a test to see if they can still plug me in to my upset.  I answer all of them with consistent resolve to stay the course and contain my own behavior, while supporting my son to find his own way.

Although my son has no direct knowledge about the tribe meeting and no discussion about it with me, I notice his behavior is now remarkably different.

Thank you for sharing your process. Nice insight. You might consider forming a Tribe some day.

Fathers and Sons

trade turns teaching each other.

Clip: http://www.richardcorbett.co.uk/cd/

portrait%20home%20page%20thumbs/

Thu, 13 Oct 2005

Intuition, Ego and a Magazine Cover


Dear Ed,

I e-mailed you a great chart for Japan a couple of weeks ago.

But alas, here is the front cover of this week's Economist:

My strong intuition (looking at the sun creeping over the mountain) is that the message is a "Permission to buy" rather than "Permission to sell", as per your theories on magazine covers.

Alternatively, this could be the mischievous voice of my ego, since I'm long in Japanese stock.

Is the magazine cover theory up for debate?

best wishes,

Thu, 13 Oct 2005

Sexy


Ed,

Somebody commented some time ago that the visual images in your replies to FAQ were becoming more sexualized.

May I say that I rather like them!!

People also seem to stop and look at photos of children, dogs and nice homes.

If You Find This Photo Offensive

You can look away,

and / or

take you feelings about it

to your Tribe.

Clip: http://www.mrkphoto.com/images/

Thu, 13 Oct 2005

Pyramiding

Dear Mr. Seykota,

I trade the Forex markets using my own long term trend following system, trying to get a yearly return of 35% and have been successful in my venture so far.

You can find answers to your question by back testing.  See TSP, above, for examples.

Pyramids May Look Different

From the top.

Clip: http://www-users.cs.umn.edu/~bentlema/

Wed, 12 Oct 2005

Wed, 12 Oct 2005

Stock investors might want to load up on this stuff.

Wed, 12 Oct 2005

Thank you for sharing your process.

When Anger is an Ally

you experience its positive intention

and it disappears

when anger is an adversary

you might avoid it, bottle it up

and eventually express it violently.

Clip: http://www.lssofny.org/Counseling/

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

The way you do things is your system.

If you do not understand your system and/or if you system is inconsistent, it is still your system.

If you can get back data on your campaign signal vendor, you can back test your entire system.

Systems Have Many Variables

some are endogenous

and subject to your influence

some are exogenous

and serve as inputs

or drivers.

Clip: http://web.media.mit.edu/~stefanm/

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

How to Change Someone Else

You might consider taking your feelings of wanting to fix your wife to your Tribe.

Before You Operate On Someone Else

be sure to get consent

Clip: http://www.doerings.net/

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

Resolving Issues / Wants to attend IV-TT

Mon, 10 Oct 2005


Ed,

I need to attend/audit a TTP meeting in IV. You may know that I run the [City] Tribe where [another individual] acts as the process manager. [We] are now up to 5 members and I am reviewing three more applicants.

It is just about three months since the breath workshop and in that time span, I have resolved the two issues I brought to the Breath workshop.

Currently, I have some live issues - 1. regarding my business (money management), 2. trading (taking signals but need to trade proper sizes - I take too small sizes compared to models. and 3. personal life - recent break up.

Yes, you may attend one time as a pollinator, more if you agree to the terms on the Directory page.

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

Wants to Join

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

Continuous Contracts


Dear Ed , If we run the TSP using the underlying ( for example spot Gold , spot S and P Index ) price series, would the result be significantly different?

If you run your test on spot gold, then you have to allow for the cost of carrying a cash position.  The Panama continuous chart accounts for this by decreasing in value relative to the cash chart.

You might take your feelings of wanting to do the easy thing to your Tribe as an entry point.

Easy

is Not Always the only component

in your bliss function.

Clip: http://www.irtc.org/ftp/pub/

Tue, 11 Oct 2005

New Tribe


Chief,

I am excited to report that the [City] TT potential membership has increased 150% since last Sunday (I have already been contacted by 2 people). Do new tribes traditionally learn how to conduct meetings by attending the TTP Workshop or are most branches by members of the IV Tribe?

Methods of learning include reading the book, attending a workshop, visiting other Tribes, accepting Pollinators and taking your feeling of wanting to learn to your Tribe as an entry point. 

Learning by Teaching

Clip: http://www.hrs.ualberta.ca/images/