October 11
- 20, 2009
<==
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Contributors Say
(Quotes from Ed in Red) |
Ed Says |
Tuesday,
October 20, 2009
Was Told
Hello Mr. Seykota,
I was at the local coffee shop here recently having a conversation with
an acquaintance about trading and your name came up.
I was told that you might have recommendations regarding exam prep
resources.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thank you in advance.
|
You might consider re-writing your
email in SVO-p.
The SVO-p might help me to know who
is doing the telling and who is doing the appreciating.
Note: FAQ
does not endorse people or commercial products. See Ground Rules.

Exam Prep Resource
Clip:
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/
images/34/2008/03/KristyHinze.JPG |
Tuesday,
October 20, 2009
Ready
Hello Ed,
As part of the Workshop application process, you ask participants to
provide a one-half page essay outlining “A significant change I am ready
and willing to make in my life”
I am ready to end my need to sabotage myself.
I am ready and willing to get in touch with my heart and not my fears...
I am ready to acknowledge my doubts but not let them overwhelm me.
I am willing to fully engage myself in the process openly, and with
surrender to it.
|
Thank you for proclaiming your
willingness. |
Tuesday,
October 20, 2009
Wants a
Reference
Hello again Ed,
I'm wondering if you know any CTA's, or other trend following traders,
around the [City, State] area who are willing to hire some part-time
help.
If so, I'm
curious if you will be willing to share their contact information with
me. I am feeling grateful for you and your sight. |
You might consider compiling your
qualifications and Right Livelihood statement into a resume and sending
it to every firm in your area.
Note: FAQ
does not endorse people or commercial products. See Ground Rules.

Now Hiring
Clip:
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/
images/34/2008/03/KristyHinze.JPG |
Monday,
October 19, 2009
OCD
Hi Ed;
I experience some severe seasonal affective disorder over the last few
weeks or just general depression and some OCD (Obsessive-Compulsive
Disorder) . I feel I may have discovered some of the causes and I will
update you as that develops.
It is a struggle to release deeply held false beliefs about myself. I
feel I make much greater strides when in an ongoing tribe. I spend some
very good time with my children and we have grown closer as a result of
me just listening to them and receiving their feelings. My oldest son
started drug rehab this week per his request. I listen to him a lot
recently and requested that we get together to just talk or play guitar.
The more he
talks I sense he wants to grow closer with me. I enjoy time with the
other children also and I have kept [Name] from swimming in the local
lakes since the temperature has dropped here as well. I have thought
about taking a swim in the pool but I suppose I should check to see if
you are wearing the eagle pajamas so I will survive. I am not a fan of
cold water so the chances are slim to none anyway.
I feel a first step in living debt free is to limit using credit, so I
contacted some of my banks that I have credit cards with and said adios.
I notice as I limit any use of credit I stay much more in the NOW
financially. I like this feeling and am going to continue cutting. I
feel the connection between using credit and “waiting till the last
minute”. I feel that if I want to spend the money NOW then I move the
money from my trading account for the purchase. I find I evaluate making
a purchase much more if there is no plastic involved.
I am sad to say my big wave is turning into a big roll - around my
waist. I seem to be medicating a lot of my feelings or depression with
food. I have even been cooking special things to satisfy feelings of
sadness, loneliness, anxiety or just general boredom. I got on the
scales for the first time and I am at 235 lbs buck naked. I feel I may
have to make a stronger commitment with the risk of humiliating myself
by sending a picture if progress is not made shortly. My exercise
routine is inconsistent also.
I hope you have a great workshop upcoming. I enjoy the
EcoNowMics
pages a lot … great job Nick and Ed!!! |
Thank you for sharing your process
and for your support.
You might consider taking your
feelings about <OCD> to Tribe.
|
Monday,
October 19, 2009
Sticking to
the System
Dear Ed,
I'm operating my first futures trend following system using custom
software in which I codify "The Essentials".
I recall struggling, feeling frustrated and confused while developing
and testing the system trying lots of things, many that don't work. I
persist, my system evolves towards what works and what fits me and I
gain confidence. The confidence is not in knowing what will happen, but
rather in establishing that the system (and I) can handle not knowing
what will happen - and still win.
With two months of live trading now, the system seems to be working
pretty well, with an expected bumpy ride - an account peak equity gain
of 42%, a subsequent 25% drawdown, and a recent new peak of +47%.
At the end of each trading day, I run software to automatically generate
a set of stop orders. I post the orders and leave them set. I stop in. I
stop out. I take losses. I ride winners. I manage risk. I follow the
system.
The process and structure I have in place facilitates sticking to the
system and includes regular tribe work.
I'm grateful for my tribe where I can safely experience feelings and
work on my issues. With some of my k-nots untied, I see my relationships
improve, I'm physically fit, I'm having fun, I'm serving others and I'm
on a path that fits me.
Thank you Ed for sharing TTP, your trading and personal insights, and
for your kind help and support.
|
Thank you for sharing your process.
|
Monday,
October 19, 2009
Wants a
Trainer
Dear Sir,
I have read a
few comments from you on the internet, and I felt interested by
technical analysis, trading and investments.
I write you
because I know you have a big reputation in the investment world, and I
would like to know if you could recommend me a trainer / teacher in
technical analysis focused to trading.
Although not
focused to get a job, maybe from this perspective, it would be more
rigorous. |
You might consider, in your
searching for a teacher, to look in the mirror.
Note: FAQ
does not endorse people or commercial products. See Ground Rules.

Now Training
Clip:
http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/
images/34/2008/03/KristyHinze.JPG |
Monday,
October 19, 2009
Accumulating Desirable Images
Dear Tribe;
My account is slightly up- which just means I'm getting back to my
original amounts. It is nice to see all the green- but it does not
really mean I am making money.
Here is the picture I could not send last week. I hope you think my Big
Wave is big enough. I hope it comes through this time.
I went to a gun training class- lots of fun, in preparation for getting
my CCW (concealed carry weapons permit).
I have been recording my eating, in preparation to dieting. The dieting
comes naturally when I do a food diary.
I'm still closing. I am not completed everything - but I am moving
forward.
I also realized that I don't surround myself with enough of the
things I like to create a paper snapshot. So I have decided to subscribe
to magazines about things I actually like, instead of things like the
Wall Street Journal and car magazines (my husbands car magazines).
4 days gym
5 days EcoNowMics
3 days travel
|
Thank you for sharing your process. |
Sunday,
October 18, 2009
Snapshot
Magic
Ed,
We give and receive feedback on our snapshots in the [City] Tribe last
night. The feedback I receive helps me notice that many of the goals in
my snapshot are grievances about what I don't have in my own childhood.
I notice that for many years I suppress my feelings about not having
enough stability, parental involvement and material comfort. I want to
take these grievances as entry points to the hot seat.
I also notice that in some ways, I am following an "anti-pattern" of
what I learn from my father. When I am young, he is always away on
business trips, and then my parents divorce when I am 5. After that, I
see him only when my mother is away on business trips and he
"substitutes" for her. I notice that I am out of work for my daughter's
entire 6-month life. I am around to love her and support her every
minute of her life. I know when she laughs and I know when she cries,
and I get to hold her when she does either, and I get to tell her every
day how lucky I feel to have her in my life. I don't remember feeling
closer to anyone in my life than I feel to her now. My result=intention
is to put my daughter first and work second. I wonder if noticing this
may help me turn my cash flow positive without giving up my family life.
I notice a glimpse of magic. Part of my snapshot is "I run a
profitable business. Customers find me." Tonight, an email arrives from
a person I don't know who asks about licensing my ...
software.
|
Thank you for sharing your process. |
Saturday,
October 17, 2009
Beating His
Own Drum
Hi Ed,

I notice a
trend in the [City] Tribe: members bring drums to the meeting instead of
relying on the tribe leader to provide them.
I follow the
trend and construct my own drum. I recall that in the Star Wars
universe, constructing his own light saber is an important milestone in
a Jedi's growth.
I notice that
when I beat on my own drum in the Tribe, I feel more intimate with the
process, and somehow closer to Right Livelihood. |
Thank you for sharing your process. |
Saturday,
October 17, 2009
Donchian
Rules
Ed,
For the past three months I've backtested about 100 different trading
systems (some classic, some newer) and compared the results to the basic
Donchian 6-Month-Rule System.
I'm amazed
that nothing I'm testing seems to beat Donchian. Some markets seem to
like shorter look-back days (especially on the buy side), but the basic
Donchian principals which generally lead to only a couple of trades per
year appear extremely solid.
Would you be
willing to share if your most current thinking is consistent with these
results? Having contributed to a tribe for a couple of months now I'm
feeling excited to step into the water and begin trading.
Interestingly,
I feel I might be the only one in the Tribe at the moment committed to
using backtesting results to form the basis of unambiguous trading
rules. I guess I'm sitting on the edge of the cliff looking for a
nudge of confidence to fully trust what appear to me to be a solid set
of such rules. |
Thank you for sharing your process.
You might consider taking your
feelings about <wanting someone else to give you confidence> to Tribe. |
Saturday,
October 17, 2009
Fear
see: previous
Dear Ed,
Thanks for your advice. I realize that I have tremendous resistance to
change my fear based perceptions. I am using my current circumstance as
my excuse to allow myself to continue to live in fear which originated
from my childhood. I feel comfortable with fear because that's all I
know. I am grabbing on everything possible that's attached to my fear
index.
When I first saw my email and picture on your FAQ, I was shocked to see
myself airing my dirty laundry to the wild world. I feel vulnerable. The
strong image I have tried to build all my life was destroyed on the FAQ.
I am a lone person and don't really like people to know me, never mind
telling people that I am not doing well at this moment.
I shouldn't write back to you either. I have no control of this email
once I click on send button. You might post it on the FAQ again. But
your comments are exactly what I needed. I want you to know that you are
pointing me to the right direction.
Happiness in life is right in front of my face behind a thin curtain. It
doesn't take more than a pinky to lift that curtain. Trading is really
easy when I am in tune with the Universe. I see good trades all day
long. I pick the marginal trades but let the winners go because I hang
on to my fear. I don't allow myself to win. I want fear, I want stress
and those are exactly what I have now!
I will try to be a better mother, a better wife and a better person to
the Universe.
|
Thank you for sharing your process.
Per your separate request, the
picture is no longer on-line. |
Friday,
October 16, 2009
Liking and
Having
Hi Ed,
Thank you for giving me a big Aha.
"When you like what you have, you have what you like."
|
OK. |
Friday,
October 16, 2009
Wants to
Join IV Tribe
Dear Ed,
Half a year ago I visit the Reno workshop. Here I meet [Name], who
becomes a good friend. Back in [City] we re-start the local Tribe
together with the local chief and [City] workshop graduate.
Meanwhile 2 more people are joining us. I start to get the hang of doing
hot seats. I also seem to get the hang of managing other people's hot
seats.
While managing other people's hot seats I drill into feelings of my own
that I didn't even know exist.
I intend to explore further both managing other people's hot seats and
my own feelings while doing so.
As a workshop graduate I would like to visit the IV Tribe and learn TTP
from the best.
I need to plan
a little bit in advance. Is there a possibility of visiting you and your
Tribe one or two times somewhere in the first half of (the imaginary
year of) 2010? |
I am considering hosting another
10-week IV-Tribe series as well as a Breathwork Weekend. |
Friday,
October 16, 2009
b\c
Hi Ed,
You may or may not remember me. I attended one of your seminars in 1990
or 1991 in [City, State]. You introduced me to [Name]. I remember b/c I
walked around [City] and they hadn't repaired the elevated highway yet,
and I remember him telling me how he had had a very close call on the
day of that 89 quake.
Anyhow, I have often thought of you, and have read and re-read your
interview in the first Market Wizards.
I ended up coming to [City] and trading for the last 15 or 16 years. The
floor trade I knew and loved is history, and for the last 8 months I
have been trading from home. Profitable, but re-learning discipline of
trading infrequently.
In any event, I wrote this on the chance you may remember me. Would love
to touch base with you, as I go to [City] a couple times a year to golf
w/ my college buddies.
I recently started a blog, which you may want to look at.
I am interested in starting a tribe here in [City], mostly b/c not being
on the floor has been an isolating experience, and I have decided that I
want to change that and get back to a core of traders to bounce ideas
off of.
I would be so psyched if you looked at it and left me a comment.. If you
like it, you might want to mention it to some of your trading friends as
well.
Looking forward to hearing from you. However, I realize that you
probably get tons of emails and may not even read this personally.
Your phrase, every one gets what they want... has proven itself, oddly,
in many ways for me over the years..
|
Thank you for the update.
You might consider going for a week
or two without using the words b/c (because), why, or other
"causal model" terms - or references to the past of future.
|
Thursday,
October 15, 2009
Math
Dear Ed,
1. Teaching math in 1970
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 4/5 of the price.
What is his profit?
2. Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is 80% of the price.
What is his profit?
3. Teaching Math In 1990
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80.
How much was his profit?
4. Teaching Math In 2000
A logger sells a truckload of timber for £100.
His cost of production is £80 and his profit is £20.
Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
5. Teaching Math In 2005
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and
inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habit of animals or the
preservation of our woodlands. Your assignment: Discuss how the birds
and squirrels might feel as the logger cut down their homes just for a
measly profit of £20.
6. Teaching Math In 2009
A logger is arrested for trying to cut down a tree in case it may be
offensive to religious groups not consulted in the felling license. He
is also fined a £100 as his chainsaw is in breach of Health and Safety
legislation as it is deemed too dangerous and could cut something. He
has used the chainsaw for over 20 years without incident however he does
not have the correct certificate of competence and is therefore
considered to be a recidivist and habitual criminal. His DNA is sampled
and his details circulated throughout all government agencies.
He protests
and is taken to court and fined another £100 because he is such an easy
target. When he is released he returns to find Gypsies have cut down
half his wood to build a camp on his land. He tries to throw them off
but is arrested, prosecuted for harassing an ethnic minority, imprisoned
and fined a further £100.
While he is in
jail the Gypsies cut down the rest of his wood and sell it on the black
market for £100 cash. They also have a leaving BBQ of squirrel and
pheasant and depart leaving behind several tons of rubbish and asbestos
sheeting. The forester on release is warned that failure to clear the
fly tipped rubbish immediately at his own cost is an offence. He
complains and is arrested for environmental pollution, breach of the
peace and invoiced £12,000 plus VAT for safe disposal costs by a
regulated government contractor.
Your assignment: How many times is the logger going to have to be
arrested and fined before he realizes that he is never going to make £20
profit by hard work, give up, sign onto the dole and live off the state
for the rest of his life?
7. Teaching Math In 2010
A logger doesn’t sell a lorry load of timber because he can’t get a loan
to buy a new lorry because his bank has spent all his and their money on
a derivative of securitized debt related to sub- prime mortgages in
[State] and lost the lot with only some government money left to pay a
few million pound bonuses to their senior directors and the traders who
made the biggest losses.
The logger struggles to pay the £1,200 road tax on his old lorry
however, as it was built in the 1970s it no longer meets the emissions
regulations and he is forced to scrap it.
Some [other Country] loggers buy the lorry from the scrap merchant and
put it back on the road. They undercut everyone on price for haulage and
send their cash back home, while claiming unemployment for themselves
and their relatives.
If questioned
they speak no English and it is easier to deport them at the governments
expense. Following their holiday back home they return to the UK with
different names and fresh girls and start again. The logger protests, is
accused of being a bigoted racist and as his name is on the side of his
old lorry he is forced to pay £21,500 registration fees as a gang
master.
The Government borrows more money to pay more to the bankers as bonus's
are not cheap. The parliamentarians feel they are missing out and claim
the difference on expenses and allowances.
You do the math. |
1970: пr2
2009: пr round; gingerbread are
square.
|
Thursday,
October 15, 2009
Checking In
Dear Teacher,
Once again thanks for everything. I wish you a happy Diwali (Festival
of lights). May everyone on this board and universe enjoy a beautiful
happy year ahead. My thanks to you again for everything you do and
confidence you inspire in me. I honor you by living your example.
I am going to see you one day and give you a big bear hug. |
Thank you for your support. |
Thursday,
October 15, 2009
Joins a
Tribe
Dear Ed,
I wanted to let you know that I’ve been in contact with [Name] who has
helped me join the [City] Tribe.
My first
meeting was last night and fortunately I was able to observe an intense
Hot Seat experience. The group was extremely welcoming and genuinely
interested in helping me learn.
I excited to
be a part of this and I want to thank both of you for the guidance.
I’ll be in touch. |
OK. |
Thursday,
October 15, 2009
Wants to
Commit - And Can't
Dear Ed,
I have been a fan of your Trading Tribe website. I appreciate and
understand the process you established to help people who commit to
excellence, personal growth and supporting and receiving support from
each other. I want to commit to the process to improve all aspects of
my life, but I can't!
To make a long story short, I have created a big drama for myself that
is affecting my financial security and safety. Instead of focusing on
trading, I am constantly distracted by the unfolding of my drama. I am a
mother of three beautiful girls. I love my girls with all my love and I
would do anything to provide for their security and safety.
I am writing this email to you asking support in the Universe. I believe
the Infinite Intelligence in the Universe is listening, guiding and
supporting me at every moment. I am positive you will read my email and
support me.
I am a very talented and intuitive person. I grew up in a medicine
family in China. So I know a lot of about eastern medicine and I can
heal a lot of body pains through acupuncture. I was accepted into a
prestigious University when I was only 16 years old to study math in
China. In 1990 I was accepted into Florida State University graduate
applied math program. I graduated with my Master's degree in applied
math in 1992. I worked in the Information Technology field for about 10
years then I stayed home for a few years to be a mom. While I enjoyed
the motherhood, my husband went crazy with the real estate game in
Florida. At the end of the game, all our liquid cash are locked into the
dead, non-moving illiquid assets. I plunged into trading full time since
the beginning of 2009. I learned the [Name] cycle trading software very
well. I can't trade well yet because I am so deleted psychologically by
the unfolding drama. I can't stop worrying about the next meal for my
children.
Ed, do you need a research assistant? I am very analytical and technical
with computers. I am very good at the cycle theory. I just need some
time to repair my psyche to become a good trader. Of course I would love
to be able to work with you and learn from you.
All things are possible and I am optimistic. |
You have a notion that you want to
commit and can't.
I wonder how this notion serves you
and how you you feel this might be a valuable on-the-job resource.
You might consider asking less for
the universe to support you and asking more what you can do to support
the universe.
If you wish to do research for me,
you might consider mastering the TSP and EcoNowMics
exercises.

The Universe
The yoo-hoo you yoo-hoo
is the yoo-hoo you get back.
Clip:
http://larvalsubjects.files.wordpress.com/
2008/12/universe.jpg
|
Wednesday,
October 14, 2009
Happy
Re-Birth Day
Dear Ed:
Wave: My girl and I are in LOVE ever since our first sight.
I hope you are all well. I am writing to follow up on my Big Wave
Progress. I wanted to thank you for your feedback on previous report. I
had some aha moments from your response and lots of changes occurred
since then. I am attending upcoming workshop and I wanted to write up
this report so I have opportunity to get some feed back before the
meeting start.
Unfortunately my snapshots of sending email with my girlfriend's picture
is not manifested yet.
However
today is my birthday and my friend brought his family to my apartment
and celebrated birthday for me.
I feel very
happy now and it's a great start for me. Relationship is very tough for
me however it is showing tremendous improvement. I enclosed the picture
of my cake on this email. (I haven't had a birthday cake in god knows
how long) My Mom send me a card and gift as well. Some other friends
sent me wished as well. So to me this is a great improvement in my
social life.
Since my last report I had a volatile and reckless love wave with my
sales assistance. It was a great experience and lots of Aha but
unfortunately I had to put a stop because ship was sinking fast. It was
a rough departure but I feel grateful for her for sharing feelings. I am
impressed how quickly I recovered from the loss though. (some medicinal
behavior with woman came back as well: I am not impressed about that) I
am looking forward for the new love signal and wave.
(I am hoping
for big long term wave) I also had a great hot seat experience during
this event which contributed to a transformational relationship with my
mother. I shared my feelings re my early childhood experience to her (I
was very scared to do so but) and my god she received me so well. She
shared her feelings about the incident and also shared with me something
I had never knew about her and her marriage. I told her that I feel I
have mother for the first time in my life. She was so happy about that.
It's a great feeling.
After my sales assistant's departure, I attended to various single
events to meet someone but was not flowing with it at all. I decided to
let the flow take care of it because all the meaningful girlfriends I
had in the past I met them accidentally. So I like that and I am sure I
would catch another signal.
Other developments since the April Workshop-
My foot injury have completely healed and I am back in Jujitsu Dojo!. I
am in great shape and shed few pounds. I really enjoy the sport.
My crave for drinking is completely gone (this is a proof anything is
possible!!)
My crave for potato chip is completely gone (another proof anything is
possible!!)
Trading is very profitable. (Market keeps going higher and I go with the
flow!! I got my stops in though)
Purchased [software] a few months back but I am not flowing with this
software at all. I have not touched yet. Feels like a drama. It's like
you bought a bike and never rode on it and sitting in the basement.
Well I guess that is about it. I thank you for reading my report. Any
feed back will be greatly appreciated.

Birthday Cake
|
Thank you for sharing your process
and for inspiring others. |
Wednesday,
October 14, 2009
Positive
and Negative
See Previous
Hello Mr. Ed
Thanks for your comments.
I note the TTP approach of looking at +ve intentions of all feeling.
I need your guidance:
1. What if an unnecessary trivial thought (of no real importance)
is bothering someone? If one is unable to find any +ve intention behind
it what shall one do, where to look for it?
2. Envy & Jealousy: Could you please elaborate on what +ve intentions
these feelings might indicate?
3. By the way, slightly off the topic query if you don't mind: Are you a
religious (ritualistic), agnostic or a spiritual person?
My goal is becoming a better person and getting wiser each day. I wish
to learn from you hence these questions.
|
1. I wonder how you know an
"unnecessary trivial thought" from a regular one.
2. You might consider taking your
feelings about <envy> and <jealousy> to Tribe.
3. I'm not sure what all your labels
mean.
4. The term, hence, indicates
operation within the causal model.

Some People Make Up Labels
as a way to avoid intimacy.
Clip:
http://www.dubrightmedical.com/cw/cw2/
assets/product_full/handiMarkLabelMaker.jpg |
Monday,
October 12, 2009
Checking In
Dear Ed and Tribe
I made a
picture the screen saver on all three of my computers. I am the Big Wave
there.
I have been having a good week. I always seem to be up on Friday and
then down again Monday morning. I did gain something like 0.5% last
week. This morning I'm up 2%.
I've discovered the forum on [website] lots of helpful comments.
It has helped me answer a lot of simple questions. It also helps me to
understand all the things I am able to ignore- that is very helpful.
No days Travel
6 days gym.
I feel that I
should get serious about a diet - so I have been focusing on my feelings
when I eat and when I am hungry. This week I commit to writing a food
diary.
There will be
three days of travel, so this week will be difficult. |
OK. |
Monday,
October 12, 2009
Gold
Hi Ed,
Gold is at new highs within a strong multiyear long trend and after some
headlines no one actually seems to care about it. Perfect!
I could built up a nice GC 12/09 long position below breakout. Stops are
in, there's nothing to do.
When I watch the chart I see a stronger trend than in the 70´s. I wonder
how my strong conviction with this trade will evolve during time.
- I'm up 55% equity since June 2009 with actually about 15% equity at
risk.
- I had a big "Aha" in Tribe about my delaying / shutting down behavior.
Childhood can be a dangerous time.
- After each tribe meeting I take more care about how to interact with
my daughter.
Have a good time Ed!
I hope you receive me in one of your 2010 workshops.
|
OK. |
Saturday,
October 10, 2009
Good Catch
Ed,
In your answer of the message of 1st October, I wonder if there is a
catch.
"Like Ed, you get the trading results you get".
I wonder if it
is "the trading results you want"?? |
When you like what you have, you
have what you like. |
Back to the
future
|