August 1, 2011

Fear of Drama

Dear Ed,

My problem seems to be that I have too many issues to deal with and I don't get enough hot seats on my tribe. On the brighter side, since I joined my tribe I have written down my stock and futures trading systems and I am following my stock trading system diligently.

I have very strong feelings come up when I trade futures. I am unable to feel these myself. Our tribe is now more focussed on sticking to the system and we don't spend enough time on the hot seat (not just me, but none of us).

I tried to see if there is another way for me to work on experiencing my feelings. I attended that Art of Silence course offered by the Art of living foundation. It involves maintaining verbal silence for a few days (at least 2) and spending a good amount of time in guided meditations.

At the end of the course we did some processes (which included even dancing spontaneously) and I feel I truly allowed myself to experience my feelings (though not necessarily with a conscious field of validation. The validation was in the encouragement from the instructor to just go with the dancing 100%.

He did dance too and the fact that he was not better than us helped I guess!). I did find this dance very helpful but in the process (since I am used to the hotseats) the instructor seemed to notice (this is my theory) my willingness to enjoy my feelings and wanted me to help out by being a volunteer.

Now I think I have complicated my situation even further, as volunteering is fine (as a valid payback for the course), but in the process I fear some of the worst dramas of my life could unfold (I am a very shy person and just the thought of being in front of a crowd which the volunteering would require) terrifies me.

I don't know why I am writing this email to you. Hopefully you can shine a mirror on some feelings that are evident in this email, as you have done very well in the past.

Thank you,

August 3, 2011

Consulting

Ed,

How's it going?

Are you available for the in-person consulting you mentioned on your website for $5000? You are undoubtably one of the great traders alive and I'd love the opportunity to learn from you.

My goal is to learn anything you're willing to teach about basic trading strategy and discipline. I'm 25 years old, and I'm trading with a bankroll that is 50% mine and 50% investors'. It's been a lot of fun so far, and I'm doing well, but I know I can learn more.

Michael Marcus, Larry Hite, and Bruce Kovner all credit you - to some extent - in adding to their success. I'd like to be on the level of Bruce Kovner and Paul Tudor Jones someday, and if you would accept I would like the chance to just listen at your feet, so to speak.

Thanks,

August 4, 2011

Mechanical Trading

Dear Mr. Ed

If trading is all about discipline and following the system no matter what, then why not give money or keep an employee who follows the mechanical system 100%?

If the future cannot be predicted then what is the role of the human trader?

I have not been able to figure out these questions for awhile now and long after I finished developing my trading system.


Thank you.

August 6, 2011

TSP

Dear Mr. Seykota,

I have been following your TT page for a long time. I find the TSP very interesting.

I see that there are no more new contributions after year 2006. Is TSP closed? What are the reasons for this? Is there a chance TSP will be "live" again?

Thank you.

August 6, 2011

Happy Birthday!!!

Ed,

Thank you for sharing so much freedom and love with me.

I love you.

http://youtu.be/7ttEzMKE0r0

August 8, 2011

The US Government as a Family

Ed,

If the U.S was a family, it would be making $58,000 a year, spend $75,000 a year and be $327,000 in credit card debt. They are currently proposing BIG spending cuts to reduce their spending to $72,000 a year.

These are the actual proportions of the federal budget & debt, reduced to a level that we can understand.