News
2025
Finding Calm Amid Chaos: How Practitioner Virginia Doran Restores Balance with Auricular Acupuncture
Virginia Doran’s journey into holistic health began in the 1970s practicing therapeutic massage in the heart of bustling New York City. Guided by an intuitive sense of purpose and a passion for healing, she has spent over four decades helping others find balance and peace. Today, she shares her gift with the Holistic Health Community as a volunteer practitioner offering auricular acupuncture—a gentle yet powerful modality focused on the acupuncture microsystem of the ear.
Auricular acupuncture works by stimulating specific points on the ear, which correspond to nerve endings throughout the body. Virginia’s sessions, conducted in a serene group setting during Holistic Health Community’s in-person Holistic Healthcare Days, are a sanctuary of calm in a chaotic world. She describes the experience as deeply rewarding: “Things are so stressful right now,” Virginia shares. “If I can help someone sleep better or feel less anxious, that’s a good thing. People leave a session with a sense of well-being—peaceful and ready to meet the next hurdle in their life.”
Virginia’s journey into holistic healing is as inspiring as the work she does today. She began her career as a massage therapist in New York City, where a psychic meditation teacher foretold that she would one day transform lives with acupuncture. At the time, acupuncture wasn’t yet legal in her state so Virginia was skeptical, but the prediction planted a seed. Fast forward several years and Virginia earned her license, becoming one of New York State’s first acupuncturists. From there, her career flourished—particularly when she started specializing in anti-aging facial rejuvenation acupuncture. Her expertise gained extensive media attention on its own, leading her to teach internationally while building a thriving practice. Her expertise also extends beyond acupuncture, encompassing disciplines like Chinese and Western herbs, Eastern and Western nutrition, Shiatsu, Energy Medicine, and Native American healing practices.
As a practitioner, Virginia combines her expertise with a deeply intuitive approach, believing that true healing addresses both physical and psycho-spiritual needs. “Acupuncture isn’t just about the body—it’s about helping people find homeostasis, that balance where they can truly thrive.”
Virginia first connected with the Holistic Health Community through friends and was immediately drawn to its mission of making holistic care accessible to everyone. Volunteering allows her to give back locally after years of traveling to teach her advanced acupuncture methods in acupuncture schools and for professional associations throughout Europe, Australia, Canada and Japan to share her knowledge. “The people here reflect the kindness and creativity of this community in Ulster County,” she says.
Through her work with the Holistic Health Community, Virginia continues to touch lives and spread healing, positive energy throughout the community. When asked why she supports organizations like ours, Virginia is emphatic: “We should always help those less fortunate. The Holistic Health Community is special because it’s a small nonprofit—it’s about neighbors helping neighbors.”
Whether you’re new to acupuncture or a longtime believer in its benefits, Virginia’s auricular acupuncture sessions offer a unique opportunity to connect mind, body, and spirit. If you’d like to experience this modality—or others like it—at no cost, join us at our next Holistic Healthcare Day in Stone Ridge. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to stay informed about these free healing sessions.
Learn more about Virginia and her work at luminousbeauty.com.
