|
May
21 - 31, 2005
<==
Previous
| Next ==>
|
Questions
(Quotes
from Ed in Red)
|
Answers |
|
Tue, 31 May 2005
Whipsaw Song
Hi Ed !
Do you have any more verses for the Whip Saw Song?
|
The
Whip-Saw Song
by
Ed Seykota, Easan Katir & Friends
(To
the tune of The Crawdad Song)
click
for midi sound file
(chorus)
You
get a whip and
I
get a saw, honey.
You
get a whip and
I
get a saw, babe.
You
get a whip and
I
get a saw.
One
good trend
pays
for 'em all.
Honey,
sugar baby, mine.
(verses)
What
do we do when the
drawdown
comes, honey?
What
do we do when it
gets
really big, babe?
What
do we do when it
gets
even bigger.
We
stick to the plan and keep
pulling
the trigger.
Honey,
sugar baby, mine.
What
do we do when we
catch
a trend, honey?
What
do we do when we
catch
a trend, babe?
What
do we do when we
catch
a trend?
We
ride that sucker
to
the end.
Honey,
sugar baby, mine.
What
do we do when the
market
breaks through, honey?
What
do we do when the
market
breaks through, babe?
What
do we do when the
market
breaks through?
Our
stops are in,
so
there's nothing to do.
Honey,
sugar baby, mine.
How
do we know when our
risk
is right, honey?
How
do we know when our
risk
is right, babe.
How
do we know when our
risk
is right?
We
make a lot of money and
we
sleep at night.
Honey,
sugar baby, mine.

Ed's
Banjo Hottie Orchestra
Sound: http://members.fortunecity.com/
ajsmidi/allsother/allp_c.html
Clip: http://www.multcolib.org/
guides/ormusic/mandolinwsmall.html
|
|
Tue, 31 May 2005
Cool Cat
Hi Ed !
At the Workshop I realized a feeling knot in my throat that has been there
for years is animal-like, which I've previously never been willing to fully
acknowledge.
I recall becoming
a large cat-like creature on the hotseat. It is really cool to accept this
big part of my nature. There's not much more explanatory story.
Part of me is just
like a big cougar or jaguar. That's all. Kind of surprises me, as the
personality I usually think of as "me" is very different.
To fully get into it, as of this weekend I now have a big new cat. See
photo:

Jaguar
|
Purr-fect.
|
|
Tue, 31 May 2005
Chart links -
Where's the Beef?
Hi Ed,
In response to "Where's the Beef?" posted on Wed, 25 May 2005.
I have found chart links under Donchian, Fractals and Borderlines, and
Search this Site. I hope this helps. |
The
Charting Page is under construction.
|
|
Tue, 31 May 2005
Training
Respected Sir,
I am a beginner. I want to be your trained student. i want to take
apprenticeship program from you.
i want to work with you for more years.
i have been to your website. Here is my query... does the Trading Tribe
teaches the trading skills?
i want to learn the trading skills. so what should I do?
can you give me one-to-one training to be successful in trading.
|
FAQ
does not tell people what they should do. See Ground rules.
Also,
see ground rules for information on private consulting.
|
|
Tue, 31 May 2005
The Trading
Tribe Book
Dear Ed,
I hope you are well.
Could you please confirm when your new book 'The Trading Tribe' will ship
(if it hasn't already)?
Thanks so much for making your new book available, I am very excited to read
it. |
Books
generally ship within one or two days of receipt of your order.
To
receive an email confirmation of shipment, with tracking number, be sure to
include your email address in legible format.

The
Trading Tribe Book
Now
in Print
|
|
Tue, 31 May
2005
Even Higher
Returns,
Considering
Holding Period
Hi Ed
I note with interest the White Paper on "Superior Returns from Average
Indicators" by Easan Katir. I believe the paper is an excellent
demonstration of the benefits of a trend-following system over the buy and
hold approach. The paper is clearly structured, and the parameters
necessarily simplistic for all users to easily read and understand.
I believe the paper could have been even more powerful in its demonstration
of the benefits of a trend-following system, without compromising
simplicity, had it considered holding period as a factor in the system's
performance measurement.
The paper indicates that a buy and hold approach would deliver an ending
equity value of $7.0m, while a 50 / 200 crossover system would deliver
$15.5m. While the crossover system is impressive, and clearly superior to
buy and hold, what is even more impressive is that this would have been
achieved while being "long", or in the market, only
(approximately) 75% of the time, while buy and hold implies fully invested
at all times.
Without considering holding periods the ending equity values stated in the
paper imply a 13.9% return for the buy and hold strategy over 15 years,
while the 50 / 200 crossover system would have achieved 20.0%.
However, if the crossover system was only in the market for 75% of the time,
this performance increases to 27.6%.
A system which delivers 27.6% over 15 years with a starting equity of $1.0m
would result in an ending equity value of over $38.6m. In my opinion, this
is an even more powerful demonstration of the benefits of using a
trend-following system.
Of course, this all assumes that other equally profitable opportunities are
evident when we are not invested in the QQQQ security, but I believe the
principle holds true.
|
See
Studies, via Resources, above.
|
|
Mon, 30 May 2005
On the edge ...
AHA
Hi Ed,
My hotseat session last week offers the most insight since I start to work
with TTP 2 years ago.
I volunteer at our meeting that I at times I am unable to control my
anger/frustration which manifests itself in the form of me lashing out
verbally and/or physically. Often the catalyst is an argument between my
wife and nearly 4 yr old daughter or just plainly my daughter not
listening/doing what I expect her to do. The reason I take this to the
hotseat is that 1. it scares me that I can act like this 2. I am aware that
there are some feelings I am not willing to experience, although I do not
know what they are. As an added note I want to be clear the lashing out is
never in the form of direct contact with my wife or daughter, but rather
something like me hitting a table or counter. This hitting out is enough to
scare the crap out of my daughter as well as leave my wife wondering who
this person really is. I do not like when this happens or the fact I cannot
control/stop when it is about to happen.
I explain to the tribe I generally consider myself a 'laid-back' person and
do not like the feeling of frustration that leads to being 'out of control.'
The tribe take me through some role playing about how it feels to be an
outsider looking at someone abusing their wife/child and how it feels to be
the child. In addition they provoke me by simulating an irritating
experience that may be the catalyst to get out of control.
I am amazed at the result that comes out of the tribe supporting me. At
first I refuse to feel the feeling of being out of control. I explain that
is not a feeling I like. The tribe jump all over me! They get me to feel the
feeling of just before I am out of control. Then the process manager gets me
to feel the feeling once I am out of control. Next is where the huge AHA
occurs. The process manager gets me to slowly feel the feeling of becoming
more and more out of control and then with further tribe encouragement to go
over the edge. Holy sh.t that is it. AHA light bulbs burst left, right and
center. It is that feeling of being on the edge and then going over the edge
that I really like, but refuse to admit or acknowledge. I tie together
nearly a dozen previous hotseat sessions as a great feeling of AHA works it
way through my body. I can substitute that on the edge and going over ( i.e
make the bad choice) with several situations. It can be anger as a result of
a daughter that does not listen, it can be choosing to eat a donut as
opposed to an apple even when committed to a healthy diet, it can be an
attempt to pick the bottom of a market and breaking my trading rules despite
commitment to follow my system and many more. All these actions tie in to my
previous unwillingness to feel the feeling of being on the edge and going
over.
I finish my hotseat session exhausted but thrilled.
|
OK.
|
|
Mon, 30 May 2005
Polination,
Book, Backtesting
Hi Ed,
Thank you for letting me attend the session of IV TT.
I notice the work right now is mainly with forms, almost no talking.
The process
manager is keeping the sender on track, the receivers are offering
relentless validation of whatever the sender is into at the moment. They
jump on the slightest _expression of feeling encouraging the sender to
amplify it, go further, keep doing it.
As soon as the
sender is expressing a form, probably before he is even aware of it, they
cheer him on "do more of this, yes, good job, nice".
The sender knows
when he has enough of this form and he stops. Then the next form and the
next till he runs out of forms. At this point the process manager makes an
inventory of forms asking the sender to repeat them separately, then to
repeat them simultaneously, all at once - reintegration of all forms.
After the sender
is done with this, he relaxes, calms down, the issue is no longer bothering
him. The solution is simple and it is just a matter of taking steps to
implement it.
My first surprise came when you begin to drum. The first stroke was strong,
loud, clear. First I thought it was to loud, then I realized it expresses
the intention of going into whatever is going on with full involvement, no
hesitation, full blast drumming and the session that followed had a similar
qualities.
My hot seat began with me trying to wiggle out of it. I said "I am here
mainly to observe" ( after stating twice that I want to get on a hot
seat) .You "grab" my form of moving my arms as I say that and I
experience the sender's hesitation first hand. I realize my attempt to be
polite and not take up the time of kind people who let me watch them is just
another form of resistance and is being processed like everything else. One
of the receivers says" just be willing.". I am.
So I go into this
form, then the next one and so on. The process goes on till I am sure I have
enough of each form, nobody stops me half way for any reason, they support
me to go all the way for as long as it takes. After my last form you ask me
if I like it. I say "yes". He asks if I want more, I say
"yes" and go into this form some more. I do not need this form as
much as I need the encouragement to go into whatever I do, so I stop
quickly. I am done. I thank everybody, I am grateful. After reintegration of
all forms I am relaxed, peaceful, nothing bothers me, I know issues exist
only in my head and my head is clear, clear of all issues. I like it.
The IV TT is very efficient. In about four hours five people were able to
work their stuff out. Amazing.
I finished your book. Nice work. Congratulations. It is easy to read,
simple, to the point and every sentence has a meaning. It is a book with a
purpose. Thank you for doing it.
I also have a question: What is the purpose of back testing? The way I see
it is we can test the past. This may help us place the trades and exit them.
Back testing assumes that past is similar to the future. But it is just a
matter of perception.
Some people see
the differences, some similarities. Things that work or rather WERE working
, may stop working the next second and vice versa. I find out that the more
data I add, the worse the results. Maybe I just do not know how to do it
properly.
From the feeling
standpoint back testing may offer hope that the trades we are placing may
work out in the long run, despite poor current results. Now, here is my
idea: if we can get this feeling, let's say hope, if we can experience it in
the TTP, then we do not have to back test anymore.
It may save a lot
of energy. We can bring the hope or whatever it is through the form and
voila, trade is placed. Now we are just watching the trades, make sure we do
not bet too much per trade, exit losses quickly, let profits run.
The trend can be
defined only after it has happened. Whether it continues or not, no one
knows and any amount of back testing will not tell us that.
I also think that back testing may stop traders from experiencing
uncertainty. In this way if back testing is part of the overall method, it
confirms that the systems or methods are made up of feelings we do not want
to experience.
So my question is maybe of personal nature: what the back testing gives you?
Everybody can only answer for themselves.
Thanks again to you and all the members of IV TT for support, sharing and
help.
|
Back-testing
does not test the markets.
Back-testing
tests your system.
The
discipline of back-testing helps you define your system rules.

Back
Testing
requires
some effort
and
results in definition.
Clip:http://www.building-muscle101.com/
images/squat.jpg
|
|
Mon, 30 May 2005
Historic High
Paper
Dear Ed,
This is an excellent paper, thank you for making it available to all.
I had the good fortune in May 2000 to be given this input by you - to buy
the historical high breakout; I remember myself cringing at your insistence
that a 52 week or 104 week high or any other multiple thereof is NOT the
same as an historical high.
Despite having such a great regard for your trading abilities and wisdom, I
could not bring myself to test / incorporate this into my trading, and
proceeded to demolish my trading account in the ensuing global technology
meltdown.
Since April 2003 I use this rule as a primary filter / screen; (after a good
three years of hiding - yes, both interpretations of the word are valid here
).
Although much more testing is required, I am happy to report that sanity has
returned since FAQ has reiterated this input, as well as answered many of
the questions I failed to ask in May 2000.
Thank you Ed for your continuing inputs - which make me a better person and
a better trader each day.
Sincerely, |
OK.
If
you wish to publish original work to this site, email me.
Works
appear on the Studies page, via the Resources link, above.
|
|
Mon, 30 May 2005
Request to
reproduce and 419ers
Hello Ed,
I am writing to request your permission to reproduce a few or your pearls of
wisdom. The ones I have in mind, are these pictures and your comments that
are with them.
1. Pictures of the donkey and cart that is unbalanced with the heading
"New high ground".
2. The positive intention of fear is risk control.
3. The plover.
4. Risking 100% and watching it closely.
I like all these, because they really make the point very clearly. If there
are others I want to post, then I will request your permission again.
Also if it is acceptable to you, I would like to place a link to your site
when my site is completed.
-----
Regarding the trading tribe, I have not had a single email for over 4 months
from anyone regarding joining my tribe.
I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again for your great website, it
is an inspiration to me and many others.
|
I
do not own the clips that appear in FAQ. For permission, contact the
owners, via the references below the photos.
You
may link to this site.
If
you wish to start a Tribe, you might contact some people you know, have them
read FAQ or the Trading Tribe book.

The
Trading Tribe Book
Pretty
good reading
for
new Tribe members.
Clip:
www.tradingtribe.com
|
|
Sun, 29 May 2005
Wisdom
Ed,
Everything you seek to teach is defined in a single parable; it is the
essence of wisdom in understanding the markets:
What do you offer me in return?
|
I
notice you do not ask for anything in return for your wisdom.

Wisdom
comes
from the collaboration
of
CM and Fred
Clip: http://newmexiken.com/images/
2004/10/WhyNovember.gif |
|
Sun, 29 May 2005
Divine
Ordinance & Higher Purpose
In a Jan 2003 FAQ, Ed writes:
Faith in a system, rational self-confidence, sense of
destiny, divine ordinance, life mission, dedication to a higher purpose,
right livelihood ... all describe the feeling of traders for whom trading is
not just something they do.
Hi Ed,
Can you please elaborate on what you mean by divine ordinance? Is that in a
religious sense that you're carrying out God's will?
Also, can you also please elaborate on the higher purpose? Can you also
share with us what's yours please? |
A
religious person might frame his mission as divine ordinance.
People
who work through their k-nots tend to connect with their purpose, in a
deeply satisfying way, no matter what they call it.
In
this moment, my mission is writing this reply.

Feeding
of the Five Thousand
Devotees
may see
communion,
sacrament, sacrifice,
salvation
and spiritual nourishment.
Others
may see
fish
and chips.
Clip: www.sidic.org/english/
dossier/sederMaryKelly.htm |
|
Sun, 29 May 2005
The
"Why" of a Goal
Dear Ed,
It seems to me that most NLP practitioners advocate asking ourselves
the "why" when we set goals. For example, "why"
accomplishing this goal is important.
They seem to suggest that knowing the "why" of it gives oneself a
higher degree of motivation (e.g. I am doing it for my family) and thus have
a stronger will to get through obstacles.
From what I've been reading from the FAQ website, you are not a why-type of
person for that is usually an indication of a fundamentalist and generally
meaningless.
I can understand
that with regards to the stock market.
Do you find it
equally meaningless in asking why to learn the motives in setting goals?
What's a more
effective alternative to set a goal then in your experience if we don't ask
why and seek the motives? Many thanks. |
Many
people set goals out in the non-existing future and then pose why questions
about them.
In
TTP we create a snapshot, hold it in the now and experience the k-nots
between us and our snapshots.
In
goal setting, the unit of measure between you and your goal is time.
In
the snapshot process, the unit of measure between you and your snapshot is
k-nots of unwillingness.

Whys
Guys
tend
to get lost
in
their own their brains.
Wisdom
comes
from integrating
heart
and mind.
Clip: http://enchantedmind.com/
images/brain_capacity_graphic.jpg |
|
Sat, 28 May 2005
28 May Snapshot
Report
I recall walking
by this house many times over the past six months. I never see any sign of
life. No people. No cars. No lights on.
After the Thursday
afternoon snapshot process at the IVTT, on Friday I drive directly to the
house from Incline to take a picture of it. I see two people at the end of
the long driveway. I introduce myself and ask to take pictures of their
home.
They agree. It is
a retired UC Davis professor and his wife. They tell me the house was built
in 1887, but they have lived in it "only 42 years."
Here is a picture.

|
I
notice you are not in the picture.
Asking
for permission to photograph a house is very different from asking the
owners to photograph you in front of the house.

In
the TTP Snapshot Process
you facial expression
can
be the essential part
of
the picture.
Clip: http://stellargraffiti.com/
My%20Pictures/Pzb%20Photograph(er).jpg |
|
Sat, 28 May 2005
Workshop
Feedback
Ed
Once again a powerful experience.
It's truly amazing how a virtual group of strangers are coached and
supported to bare their souls in the quest of the "Holy Grail" ...
to KNOW thyself.
You provide and demonstrate a risk free environment where we feel safe to
say and do anything.
Where would I be and what would the world be like if this technology were
taught in school?
I have waited quite a while to send you this. I left the workshop quite
alive and excited. A few days after coming home and going back to work that
changed.
I have been
exhausted, unsettled and have an overwhelming feeling that I have way to
much on the go to be proficient at anything. Anyone who knows me would think
this odd, as I am considered quite proficient at my job.
I am trying to experience these feelings to the fullest and am experiencing
a bit of an AHA.
The positive intention of these feelings may be used to align my daily
routine with my snapshot.
The workshop has left me with some powerful tools that I am employing in my
life.
Thank You
|
Yes. |
|
Fri, 27 May 2005
Wife Approves
of Workshop
I am in a great space after the workshop. My wife loves you!!
|
Congratulations
for deepening the connection in your Essential Tribe.

When
the Connections are Tight
the
lights sometimes go on
when
the lights go off.
Clip: http://www.universital.com.br/
brasil3d/galeria/imagens/turn-on-high.jpg |
|
Thu, 26 May 2005
Stuck Sender
Dear Ed,
After so many hot seat sessions, do you have an estimate of the average
duration of a hot seat session?
In a 2/6/04 FAQ you mention that "A stuck sender indicates a stuck
receiver." I am not sure if time is a good measure of
"stuck-ness", but I don't know what other alternative I may use
either.
In your
experience, when the sender seems to be going in circles, would it help if
we ask him, "What are you feeling right now?" (but not expect a
verbal answer), or do questions just tend to derail his process of feeling
what he needs to be feeling at that moment (which may be the feeling of
going in circles for as long as it takes us)?
In one case, the sender has been on the hot seat for over two hours. I
wonder if that's what it takes or it's just that we are stuck as receivers.
If it is the latter, how can we take the "opportunity for both to work
through the issue", as you write in the FAQ response. |
Stuck-ness
is a measure of a receiver wanting a sender to be somewhere else.
When
you relentlessly validate your sender being just the way he is, stuck-ness
disappears.

Boat
Suspends Truck
by
Trailer Hitch
The
Truck Driver
appears
stuck
only
to someone
who
does not like
being
in this position.
Clip: http://www.offroaders.com/
readers/stuck.htm |
|
Thu, 26 May 2005
Fortune Cover
Hi Ed,
I find it interesting to note that somehow I think about you when I see the
cover of the current issue of Fortune ("Real Estate Gold Rush").
Any insights you may share regarding the cover? Thanks.
As I read the article, it sounds like to me the success of those people
interviewed is a form of trend-following, where they find the
market (region) whose property value are skyrocketing (I have a thrusting
breakout in mind). However, I don't see much risk management they apply
(e.g. "If the market does crash - which he doesn't expect - (an
investor) says, 'You just hold on till it comes right back up.'") |
Magazine
Covers about major trends sometimes appear around the trends' ends.

Fortune
May
30, 1995
Clip:
www.fortune.com |
|
Thu, 26 May 2005
More on Issues
Hi Ed,
I have no insights as to what your issue might be or if you even have an
issue but I sense drama in your responses to trading related questions and
material. For example (as published on FAQ Nov 14 2004, Evolution) ...
Your Answer:
|
The
basic Trend Trading rules are:
Trade with the Trend
Cut Losses and Ride Winners
Manage Risk |
The subject is
hidden.
Who is taking
responsibility for these rules?
Most, if not all
your other answers (TTP specific) contain a clear subject.
|
Rules
is the subject. Trading is an adjective, Trend is an adverb, as is
basic. The rules themselves are objects.
The
rules exist independently of responsible parties.
Successful
traders tend to take responsibility for (following) the rules.

Rules
bring up k-nots.
When
you untie your k-nots
you
can more easily
follow
the rules.
Following
Rules and TTP
work
well together.
Clip: http://www.caverun.org/CaveRun
Lake_Churches_and_Religious_
Organizations.htm |
|
Wed, 25 May 2005
Where's the
Beef ?
Hi Ed,
You mention studies at:
White
Paper - Friday, 13 May 2005.
I can not find the
studies section.
Also, your charts link is not working.
|
I
have Studies at the Resources link, above.
I
am revising the charts section. I do not know of any current links to
it.
|
|
Wed, 25 May 2005
Issues
re:
Gimme What I Want
Hi Ed,
I have the interview and I find it quite helpful, this is why I recommend
others read it also. I don't believe the interview offers specific trading
advice or recommends specific parameters for a system.
I recommend you take the Hot Seat because I perceive discussing trading
is an issue for you.
I won't hazard a
guess why. If you don't want to post the interview I support you in that
decision. I'm not trying to manipulate you in any way, I am using my
receiving skills and I sense an issue you may want to explore ... or may
not.
Sometimes the
Chief gets so entwined with helping others he is blind to his owns issues.
I'm not upset by you not elaborating, I honestly sensed an issue.
You may consider taking your feelings of wanting to guess other peoples
drama into your tribe meeting.
Please don't take my reply as manipulative. Be humbled by the fact
your TT site is teaching others to be better receivers.
|
Some
people like to quote me in their works or otherwise imply a connection with
me. Some seek permission and some do not. Some even synthesize
virtual interviews - that may contain substantial inaccuracies. Please
be careful.
I
discuss trading at great length on this site. If I have an issue with
discussing trading, I am open to your insights as to what that issue
might be.
Note:
I have limits about what I publish on FAQ. See ground rules.
-----
Part
of what I do on this site is to guess drama from very little evidence.
For
example, I notice you are instructing me on how to feel (in a sentence with
no subject).
In
TTP we encourage people to feel what they feel, not what we want them
to feel.
-----
I
don't consider teaching others as a path to becoming humble.
I
already receive that service from the markets.

Soybeans
They
sometimes rise
to
great surprise.
They
sometimes tumble
and
keep you humble.
Clip:
http://www.soils.agri.umn.edu/
research_old/ars/Images/Photos/
SOYBEANS.GIF |
|
Wed, 25 May 2005
Workshop
Feedback
Dear Ed,
Thank you for the workshop and TTP.!!!!!
From the first contact with Ed's homepage about TTP for me it's crystal
clear - This is the way to go.
The workshop is
excellent and we all learn about this psychological technology. Ed and his
team of his local tribe are very supportive and people gathering from all
over the world form a new large tribe and support each other and practice
TTP for mutual growth.
My hot seat
experience is unbelievable. "What is between you and your snapshot
(goals, vision) old hidden feelings like tremendous sadness and anger pop up
and the receivers of my little sub tribe support and relentless receive my
feelings and the different forms like tears, movements of the whole body and
somebody in me screams out again and again. - Now, What is between you and
your snapshot now? NOTHING!!!!! NOTHING!!!!!
NOTHING!!!!! NOTHING!!!!!
Best to you and your family.
|
OK. |
|
Tue, 24 May 2005
Tribe Update
Hi Ed …
Just to request an
update on some previously reported news. The [City] Tribe has four (one
female) committed members that meet once per month.
We are finding
good results personally and tangibly as we utilize the process. I reply to
about one email enquiry per month re the TTP.
Please correct the
spelling of my last name to read [Name].
Many regards and
keep up the good work.
|
OK. |
|
Tue, 24 May 2005
Learning
How to Grow Kids
Ed,
Since I only recently began experiencing my feelings after many years of
suppressing them, I intend to help my children learn the process much
earlier in life. I’ve attached a portion of a newsletter I receive which
may be helpful to others.
-----
Some ways in which parents can help are:
Paying attention to their children’s feelings and helping them
understand and articulate those feelings.
The best advice for parents might be to spend less time focusing on what our
children will be and more time enjoying and supporting our children in the
here and now with optimism, high (but realistic) expectations, and gentle
coaching to succeed.
|
Understanding
and articulating are steps toward fully experiencing.
Help
is a step toward relentless validation.

In
Matters of Importance
understanding
and articulating
are
no substitute
for
fully experiencing.
Clip: http://www.rwrinnovations.com/
_images/lovers.jpg |
|
Tue, 24 May 2005
Workshop
Feedback
Hi, Ed --
The workshop was
very helpful in many ways. Most important was clarifying my snapshot, and
identifying what is between me and achieving it.
Since the
workshop, I have:
1) Worked at
further clarifying my snapshot, including taking the hotseat with the [City]
tribe to experience the snapshot.
2) Communicated with my support team about my progress.
3) Communicated with the people I am supporting in order to help them
progress.
4) Reviewed learnings from Reno with our tribe.
5) Continued making progress in refining my system with a greater sense of
clarity, purpose and calmness. The feeling which I
have in my snapshot is a combination of calmness and excitement, which I am
able to experience more vividly and frequently.
Again, an excellent workshop. Thanks for your leadership and support.
|
OK. |
|
Tue, 24 May 2005
The Demise of
Trend Following
Hi Ed,
Here is an article on Trend Following.
No
Bull Market in Trend-Following.pdf
|
Stories
about the demise of Trend Following tend to occur around the start of major
trends.
|
|
Tue, 24 May 2005
Manipulation
Ed,
I read the chapter in your book last night on manipulation.
I never realized
how my unwillingness to experience certain feelings has allowed others to
manipulate me.
Thank you for the
“AHA”. I further commit myself to the TTP process, so I may fully
experience my feelings without judgment.
|
OK.
It's
easy to fall into manipulative games. Pop music is full of how-to
instructions, in detail.

Janice
Joplin
One
of the best ever
purveyors
of manipulative songs
-----
PIECE
OF MY HEART
by Bert Berns /Jerry Ragovoy
Recording by Janis Joplin & many others
Didn't I make you feel
like you were the only man?
Didn't I give ya everything
that a woman possibly can?
But with all the love I give you
its never enough
but I'm gonna show you baby
that a woman can be tough
so come on, come on,
come
on, come one
and take another little piece
of
my heart now baby.
Break it
break another little bit
of
my heart now honey.
Have another little piece
of
my heart baby.
You know you got it
if it makes you feel good.
Clip: http://www.flexform.de/tattoo/
stars/janice_joplin1.jpg
More Whiney Songs:
http://www.gregtamblyn.com/news.html |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Blurry Face
Dear Ed,
It is nice to read your reply on Snapshots (5/17).
I try to proceed
as your suggestion, putting my face in the snapshot and notices the
feelings. And this is really strange - I have a great deal of difficulty
doing so.
My face becomes
either very blurry, or just becomes a totally different face (of someone I
don't know, or sometimes even a different race).
This really fascinates me - am I avoiding / denying my own self
subconsciously? Or do most people also tend to fail to see their own images
clearly in their own minds? I appreciate your insights.
|
You
might consider taking the blur to your Tribe as an entry point.

Clarity
is Essential
to
experiencing
and
sharing your vision
Clip: http://www.freebob.com/ICB/
Pictures/2002/09-14%20East%20Bay
%20Social%20Skate/0577%20
-%20Blurry%20bikers.JPG |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Movie
Hi Ed,
My favorite book is 'Reminiscences of a Stock Operator', I've read it many
times. I think it would make a great movie.
Do you have any connections in Hollywood to help make this happen?
Thanks for your commitment to FAQ, I enjoy reading your answers.
|
Thank
you for the invitation to help subsidize your vision by providing
connections.
I
prefer supporting you by encouraging you to clear your k-nots so you can
bring clarity and passion to your endeavors.

Movies
are
a good way
to
sell corn
for
$200 per bushel
and
sugar
for
$3 per pound,
Clip: http://gifts-in-a-basket.com/
Movie%20Treats.jpg |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Seeking
Do not seek to follow
in
the footsteps of the wise.
Seek
what they sought.
---
Basho
Dear Ed,
I encounter those who say they want to be great traders. Early on, before
you became a "market wizard," what did you seek?
|
FAQ
does not reveal personal information. See ground rules.
Basho,
famous for Haiku Poetry, begins as an attendant, a wanderer and a Samurai
before settling into poetry.
It
seems that Basho, himself might have a meandering quality to his seekings.

Basho
(Banana Plant)
A
living gift from a student
becomes
a landmark
at
the poet's shack,
and
eventually becomes
his
name.
Clip: http://www.tropical-island.de/
KCH_Sarawak_Banana_plant2_b.jpg |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Draw Downs
Ed,
This article has a section on how bad futures funds are doing this year.
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/
news?pid=10000103&sid=
aJI.kNTMLsN4&refer=us |
So
what do we do
when
the draw-down's bigger?
We
stay on task
and
keep pulling the trigger.
(From
the Trading Tribe Whip Saw Song) |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Questions
Regarding C++
Good morning Ed,
Regarding your use of C++:
In my snapshot I
have committed to learning and programming in C++. I purchased the book you
recommended and I purchased the Microsoft Visual C++ program that allows me
to compile and link the program.
I am beginning to
learn to program C++ and as I get further into it I'm wondering as to why
you use this particular program as opposed to Fortran or some other
programming language.
Is it because it
is easier to download data from the internet? Or is it because of it's
speed? Or is there some other attribute that I'm not aware of yet.
I'm looking forward to receiving your book.
The support group for my snapshot has been great. I only could have met this
great group through the Reno seminar. |
Most
every modern programming language has enough features to run trading
simulations.
Visual C++ is the traditional workhorse that supports the Microsoft
Foundation Class of routines that drive Microsoft Windows applications.
The
knowledge base and working examples of C++ programs is extensive.
Visual Basic also works well. Microsoft is merging Java, the language of the
Internet Applet, with C++ to create C#. C# is still fairly new.
The Foundation Class is morphing into the .NET platform.
You
can find many other languages for specialty applications. FORTRAN is a
legacy of the early "punch-card" days, for scientific (formula -
translation) applications. Some commercial testing software has its own
specialty testing language.
All in all, Visual C++ seems to me still to be the mainstream language. You
can write just about anything in C++ and, once you master it, you can pick
up C# and Java rather easily.
Once
you learn how to think like a programmer, many worlds open to you. -
including knowing how to communicate with programmers.

C++
Pointers,
Inheritance, Encapsulation,
and
other cool concepts.
Clip: http://www.cyber.rdg.ac.uk/
prospective_students/faq.htm |
|
Mon, 23 May 2005
Snapshot in the
Now
Chief Ed,
I search and examine the site using the search feature and I find no
detailed description of Snapshot creation.
Is there a page on the site where Snapshot creation
concepts/tools/techniques are detailed?
|
The
Snapshot Process requires a fully functioning Tribe and considerable
specific training.
Traditional
goal setting includes creation of a plan for the non-existing future and
creation of steps to get there. The substance between you and your
goal is non-existing time.
The
Snapshot Process keeps everything in the now, and uses TTP to locate and
dissolve the k-nots between you and your Snapshot.
Outside
the context of a Tribe, instructions for conducting the Snapshot Process,
can default to an invitation to employing goal setting as part of a drama.
To
find out how to do the Snapshot Process, visit a [W] Tribe (one that has a
leader with Workshop experience) or sign up for a workshop yourself.

The
TTP Snapshot Process
takes
pictures
that
you develop
on
the hot seat.
Clip: http://www.4-hontario.ca/
graphics/camera.gif |
|
Sun, 22 May 2005
Gimme
What I Want
or Get on the
Hot Seat
Hi Ed,
You might consider taking your feelings about:
not
sharing the [Name] interview
and
other trading related knowledge
to your tribe
meeting as an entry point.
|
FAQ
does not or offer specific trading advice, or recommend specific trading
system parameters, See Ground Rules.
In
TTP we recommend someone take the Hot Seat if he elects to present an issue.
We
do not recommend someone take the hot seat as a manipulation to get him to
do what we want him to do.
-----
If
you wish to consult with me privately, see the private consulting link at
the bottom of the Index page.

Arrogance
is
an unrealistic
sense
of entitlement.
It
can be tricky to trade
by
trying to convince the markets
that
you deserve to make money.
Clip: www.jimcromwell.mcmail.com/
emotions/Arrogant.htm |
|
Sun, 22 May 2005
Cyprus Trading
Tribe
Dear Ed,
Please note that my details for starting a Trading Tribe in Cyprus are as
belowf or updating the tribe directory. I am interested in starting a Tribe
here in Cyprus. I have not found anyone interested in joining me in the
personal growth and self improvement your work provides.
I look forward to reading your book.
|

Welcome
Limassol
Cyprus
|
|
Sat, 21 May 2005
Workshop
Feedback
Dear Ed,
Below you find a description of my two weeks that passed since the workshop
begins:
Friday, 6th of May 2005: I feel shy being in a room between very
successful persons and I feel strange in a room where several TTP sessions
are going on at the same time.
Saturday, 7th: I feel more comfortable in the group. Even the
successful persons don't show any form of arrogance. Between a lot of
interesting concepts I learn about the snap shot process and I develop a
snap shot like everybody does.
My snap shot
includes: I am working at a computer on a deck behind a small house standing
at a beach. My wife is coming from the beach. I place the scene in the
Mediterranean because I think that my wife does not like to live in the
tropical zones.
I also think to
include "something else" (see also 18th of May) but I don't want
to be to demanding to my snap shot, because I do not want to decrease the
probabilities that it can come true.
Later that day we
perform TTP sessions. Our process manager is Easan. He impresses me because
he is able to give explanations during the process without pulling the
person who is in the hot seat out of his feelings. Later, I am on the hot
seat and I am faced with the question "What stands between you and your
snap shot?".
My issue is that I
feel stuck. It seems to me that I can't feel a feeling. I am just sitting
there, staring, clinging with my hands to the chair biting my teeth
together. That is my form. The receivers are great they say things like
"Yes, be more stuck!", the process manager says something like
"What a great stuck person you are doing".
I take a while
until I begin to feel curious about feeling stuck and I begin to laugh about
me sitting there stuck. Suddenly feeling stuck is something not that bad,
just something that makes me curious. A feeling like ants below the stomach
accompanies that discovery. If I understand it the right way, feeling stuck
is the happy judge.
Then after a lot
of years I begin to cry without any reason. There is a grumpy judge saying
"I don't cry any more" and the feeling that I am unwilling to
experience for years is crying. All the receivers and the process manager
are doing a great job. I am very happy that they help me to experience these
feelings and forms. I notice that all other tribes are finished and I don't
want to make the others wait, so I decide not to go into the reintegration
phase, although my tribe offers to do so. I plan to go through the
reintegration together with my local trading tribe.
Sunday, 8th: I feel lighter. The persons of the Incline Village Trading
Tribe and other persons who do TTP for a long time seem very balanced to me.
I have the
impression that I don't risk anything when I talk to them. We form support
groups for our snap shots. I begin my trip home. I am stuck at Reno airport,
because somebody canceled my flight and postponed the next flight for two
hours. I discover that being stuck at Reno airport can be real fun, because
an employee of the airline plays a game like Trivial Pursuit through the PA
system of the gate with the waiting passengers. Everybody is laughing and we
have a lot of fun.
Monday, 9th: I manage to catch a flight home from San Francisco. A woman
sitting next to me on board of the aircraft asks me about the TTP book,
which I am reading. She tells me that she is a psychologist and she asks me
to summarize the book to her. I do my best to explain the Fredian Model and
the TTP to her. She is very interested and I give her the URL of your web
site.
Tuesday, 10th: I arrive at home. I go to office and I notice that I feel
easier being in the office. I notice that I don't have that feeling like
something is closing my throat any more. When I see my wife in the evening
she immediately asks me "Did you cry?". She is a very warm person
and knows that this is a feeling or form that waits for years inside of me
to come at the surface.
Wednesday, 11th: I notice that my driving is a lot more relaxed then before
the TTP. I send the TTP books to the other tribe members. In the evening my
wife, who is a doctor, tells me that she found an organization, which sends
doctors to other parts of the world, like Australia, New Zealand or the
Caribbean.
My wife does
not know about my snapshot and I tell her that I would like to live at the
sea. She tells me, she too. I feel that my hair on the back of my head is
rising.
I choose to place
my snap shot outside of the tropical zones for my wife and now she comes
presenting me a possibility to move there. This situation seems very strange
to me and I remember members of the Incline Village Tribe saying:
"Your snap shot may come true even this year or next year." I
think a lot about causality and intention, commitment, result.
Thursday, 12th: My parents-in-law arrive from abroad to support my wife,
while I go to hospital to get some surgery done to remove something that is
causing me pain for more than 15 years. My father-in-law says "I am
happy you went to the US for the workshop, because it shows how serious you
take the idea of investment."
While driving to
the hospital I notice that I drive aggressively again. The more my wife
complains about my style of driving the more aggressively I drive. It seem
clear to me that there is a drama going on. I decide to take this as an
issue into the TTP.
Friday, 13th: I am in hospital. The operation is successful without any
problems. I am happy to see my wife when they drive me with the bed out of
the anesthetic recovery room. I sleep a lot while my wife stays next to my
side in the hospital. I like to see her next to my bed every time I wake up.
Saturday, 14th: I am still in hospital.
Sunday, 15th: I notice the feeling, like something is closing my throat,
again while talking to a nurse. The feeling disappears after a while. I
decide to take this feeling into the TTP. I leave hospital.
Monday, 16th: My parents-in-law leave. I still feel pain from the surgery.
I have th | |