WATER FLOWING UNDERGROUND, Talking Heads

Water is hidden in the ground beneath the snows of winter. The flow of creeks and streams is seemingly halted as water becomes ice. 

Water represents the vital essence of life, a reservoir of potential, wisdom, and 

adaptability. During the winter water is in a state of Wuji, the primordial void before differentiation into the complementary forces of Yin and Yang.

 Associated with winter, water embodies the qualities of stillness, reflection, and renewal, 

 The Kidneys along with the Urinary Bladder are the organs of the Water element. The Kidneys store and conserve the body's vital essence (Jing).

A balanced Water element facilitates wisdom, flexibility, and adaptability, allowing individuals to navigate challenges and embrace change. 

Our finest teacher: nature. 

New word: Biophilia: a natural affinity with plants, animals, water. But it's actually more than an affinity, research shows that all humans actually benefit from and have an instinctual need for these connections.

Observing nature provides wisdom and guidance while fostering resilience, patience, and connection. How does this come to be? Observation, reflection, imitation and connecting with something larger than ourselves.

We collect Qi from nature: trees, rivers, stones, while we garden in the earth, feel the warmth of a nice fire, experience negative ions at the beach.

Five elements of nature create a framework for many practices: Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and Wood. A quick review for those who think in pictures, like me.           

Five elements, Earth as Center, Balance

 

Five Elements, Generating and Controlling Cycles

"Nothing in the world is as soft and yielding as water yet for dissolving the hard and inflexible nothing can surpass it." Tao Te Jing, chapter 8 

QiGong Water Forms encourage us to observe, and feel ebb and flow as we move the body and breathe in a continuous and unbroken manner. We are drifting along currents while we also push and pull water like the tides. 

Water forms give us a chance to practice Wu Wei, effortless action. 

Savannah friends, where is this fountain?

Let's get into the forms. 

Rippling Waves Water Mudra

• Imagine you’re floating your hands above moving water, Let your motions be fluid and spontaneous. Observe without naming. Feel the water without trying to move the water. Wu Wei.

Move like water

• Feel waves moving up from your feet, up the spine from the sacrum through the neck. Your head, your Bai Hui, is being gently moved like a floating buoy on the surface of the water.

Fountain

• Drawing up from the Bubbling Spring points on your feet, your hands draw water up the central channel through the crown, the Bai Hui. Then your hands separate and fall to the sides of your body. Imagine rain falling. Effortlessly. 

Pushing Waves

• While we imagine pushing and pulling waves, like we’re steering the tides, we can settle in Wu Wei by riding the waves forward and back as the tide moves in and out. 

Daoyin

• Water meets earth. Fluidity as we engage muscles and tendons by stretching. We’ve turned our focus to our bodies. We twist and stretch, opening joints and waking up the spine as we turn one direction, then the other. This is a wonderful introduction to our next form: 

Swimming Dragon

• Whole body spiraling. Our spine opens. Internally we feel the power and flexibility of a dragon swimming through a deep, dark blue sea. In yogic traditions, Kundalini is the latent spiritual energy coiled at the base of the spine. Its awakening is felt as that energy coils up the spine.

6 circles

• I love this variation of Dragon Circles as taught by Konstantin Rekk. it focuses our attention, connecting with Earth, Heaven, Living Beings, Yin Yang, and the Universe. 

I will be practicing the forms listed above as a part of the National Qigong Association Zoom series called Syner-Qi in December. The entire practice will include being escorted by Guardian Dragons through the realms of the Five Spirits.

 Another captivating video forthcoming. 

And just for fun:

I wish you good health and happiness,

Brian

AND THE SEASONS, THEY GO ROUND AND ROUND - Joni Mitchell

 

How often to you feel like you’re in-between two things: two meals, two tasks, two days? Between yesterday and today? Nighttime, an in-between time. Nighttime, a reset. Nighttime, Wuji, emptiness. A time for potential, limitlessness, or the unmanifested, the in-between time. Wuji is described as a state of primordial nothingness or the ultimate void from which all things arise.

Viola part from the Opera "Paul Bunyan" by Benjamin Britten
End of Act One. Perfect. 
Sticker Work by Sam Headlee

“… have faith in tomorrow. That these hours of ambiguity and indecision may also be the hours of healing.”

How about the in-between times seasonally. 

It’s late August or early September, the color of the sky seems a little softer, the evening temperatures are much cooler (at least here in Colorado). But here in the Northern Hemisphere, Fall doesn’t “officially” begin until September 22nd, the Fall equinox.

Even meteorologists concur. “This just doesn’t seem right.” They talk about astronomical seasons defined by the tilt of the earth and meteorological seasons determined by the Earth’s temperature. According to meteorologists, Fall begins right after Labor Day, the beginning of September.   

Winter: feels like it around Thanksgiving. Nope.

Spring: we want to start planting our gardens in early to mid March. Nope.

Summer: here in Colorado we can still have Spring snowstorms in June. Yup.

WELCOME TO THE “DOYO” ZONE

DOYO, a Japanese word used in both traditional Japanese and Chinese medicine.

18 days before each equinox or solstice is a transition time, the in-between time. DOYO periods are governed by the Earth element which is most active and requires extra attention to diet, eating at regular times, observing emotions, practicing moderation, and yes, Qigong and moderate exercise.

Below we have the often used generating and controlling cycle of the elements and the seasons. "Late Summer" or what I call "Harvest" falls between Summer and Autumn. Growing up we called this "Indian Summer."

Five Elements, Five Seasons
Harmony Within Acupuncture

I follow this model of four seasons determined by the Solstices and Equinoxes. Whoa, me? A Pragmatist?

DOYO, again is the transitional 18 days at the end of each season. Some people subscribe to the idea that DOYO starts 10 days before the end and lasts 10 days into the following season. Rebels. 

Mend Acupuncture

As you can see, every season is associated with an element. DOYO, again is associated with Earth element which is both Yin and Yang. 

Sympathy and worry are emotions linked to the Earth element. When balanced, the Earth element fosters empathy and compassion, while imbalances can lead to excessive worry, anxiety, or feelings of being taken advantage of.

The Earth element also governs the “Yi,” intention. It's important to be mindful of what we mentally and physically ingest, as these can impact our choices, as well as our emotional and physical well-being.

Recommendations, what to ingest:

Food supporting Earth element:

• Yellow and Orange Foods.
• Naturally Sweet Foods: sweet potatoes, carrots, peaches, rice, squash.
• Whole Grains: short grain brown rice, whole grain breads.

Cooking methods:

• Steaming and slow cooking to maintain nutrients.

Avoid:

• Excessive amounts of dairy, raw foods, and foods that are overly cold or creamy.
• Processed foods and added sugars: Limit or avoid processed foods, added sugar, and overly salty foods. 
• Excessive Sweetness: While natural sweetness is beneficial, excessive amounts of sweet foods can negatively impact the Spleen and Stomach.

Sing:

Yes, Sing! Every element has an associated sound, through which it expresses itself. The sound of the Earth element is singing. Whether your stage is the shower, the car, or in the middle of a park, get those vocal cords warmed up and sing your heart out!

Qigong: 

I wish you all happiness and good health.

Brian

QIGONG FOR LYMPHATIC FLOW

Talk to any cancer patient and survivor and the topic of lymphatic system will most likely arise. Why?

Lymphedema: a condition characterized by swelling that occurs when the lymphatic system fails to properly drain fluid from the tissues. Lymphedema can not only cause swelling, but also heaviness, and discomfort in the affected areas, typically the arms or legs. 

I have learned in my own journey that no two people share the same cancer story. The prevalence of lymphedema varies significantly depending on the cancer type ranging from 2% to 90%, quite a range. 

My story? I had surgery to remove a sizable tumor from my right rump. The cancer had metastasized to lymph nodes in my groin. Ten nodes were removed, five tested positive for metastatic cancer. Radiation therapy came next, same areas, butt and groin. 

I’ve now been on extremely high doses of prednisone to combat a side effect of immunotherapy. Steroids can cause or worsen lymphedema. 

Cancerous lymph nodes + lymph node removal + radiation + medication = you got it, lymphedema. 

Primary and Secondary Lymphedema

Primary lymphedema is caused by genetic or congenital malformations of the lymphatic system, while secondary lymphedema is caused by damage to, or blockage of, your lymphatic system due to: surgery, lymph nodes are often removed as part of cancer surgery. Even if a cancer had not metastasized to lymph nodes, radiation therapy can cause damage to the otherwise “healthy” nodes. And yes, medications can cause or worsen lymphedema.

Surgery or radiotherapy for breast cancer can cause secondary lymphedema in your arm and chest.

Surgery or radiotherapy for bowel cancer, prostate cancer, cancer of the reproductive system can cause secondary lymphedema in the legs.

Lymphedema can also happen in people with melanoma or merkel cell carcinoma if lymph nodes have been removed as part of the treatment.

Lymphedema may occur immediately after your lymphatic system has been damaged or blocked, or it may develop years later.

So, you have swelling. Wear those sexy socks. 

Well, there’s more to it: 

Having lymphedema can cause anxiety, this stuff is chronic, it’s going to stick around. Great, one more thing to deal with. Depression, if you know me, you know I paddle board, I bicycle, I walk the dogs. I can’t do these things at least for a while because of other treatment side effects. Bicycling and walking will eventually help, but standing on my paddle board? That will take some time. 

And, how about fashion? Yes, it’s not unusual to see compression socks with shorts. Athletes wear them. And there are some fun compression socks on the market. If people are going to notice my socks, I want them to NOTICE my socks.  

What can be done?

MOVE! 

Unlike the circulation of blood which is driven by the heart, movement of lymph relies on muscle contraction and relaxation. There is no other pumping mechanism. We don’t move? We end up with stagnation, sitting water unable to flow. And, taking certain medications causes further retention of fluids, rain falling on the already boggy area. 

There are techniques and practices which move lymphatic fluids: 

• Manual Lymphatic Drainage performed by a massage or physical therapist
• Dry brushing
• Deep breathing
• Walking
• Staying hydrated

And, you got it QIGONG! 

Qi, our body’s vital energy, moves along meridians. Qi, like lymphatic fluid can become stagnant. The symptoms of Qi stagnation can vary depending on the location and severity of the blockage. 

Emotional symptoms such as depression, mood swings, and irritability are common. 

Physical sensations such as localized or moving pain, digestive issues, headaches, muscle tension and stiffness present themselves. 

But, we can move Qi. We can seek out and utilize:

• Acupuncture
• Massage
• Diet
• Herbs 
• TAI QI AND QIGONG! 

 

As I prepare to introduce Qigong to my beloved Cancer Patient Support Group, I intend to incorporate specific movements which will encourage not only the movement of Qi, but also lymphatic fluids.

From warming up, to breathing, circular movements, twisting, muscle contraction, we can move Qi and also lymph. 

I have created two videos of practices addressing flow of Qi and Lymphatic Fluids.

The first is standing. The second is seated and WAS going to be shorter. Have we met?

I wish you health and happiness!

My four verbs: To Heal, To Restore, To Strengthen, To Enliven

Brian