FAQ about the FIVE SPIRITS

GIVE ME THE "BIG PICTURE" PLEASE

Five Spirits, five elements, five Yin organs, five colors, five emotions... 

In Chinese the Five Spirits are called Wu Shen. 

The Five Spirits represent different aspects of the human psyche. Each spirit is associated with an organ system and a specific role in the conscious and subconscious mind.

If you're familiar with the emotions associated with each of the five elements, you've basically met the Wu Shen. 

The mind, body, and spirit are an interconnected network. The Wu Shen weave this network together, creating a holistic vision of the psyche. While the Wu Shen are anchored to Yin organs of the body, they move freely within two realms: the ethereal and the corporeal aspects of our existence. 

Movement catches and then holds my interest. Movement is what drew me to Qigong and to the Wu Shen. 

INTRODUCE ME TO THE FIVE SPIRITS

• Shen (Mind/Spirit): Fire element. Associated with the Heart; governs consciousness, the mind, and spirit.

• Hun (Ethereal Soul): Wood element. Associated with the Liver; governs dreams, creativity, and planning for the future.

• Yi (Thought/Intellect): Earth element. Associated with the Spleen; governs thinking, memory, and intellectual processing.

• Po (Corporeal Soul): Metal element. Associated with the Lungs; governs our physical connection to the world, sense of self, and grounding.

• Zhi (Willpower/Wisdom): Water element. Associated with the Kidneys; governs willpower, life force, and instinct. 

You will notice that the descending order of the Spirits is different than that illustrated in the image below. I've introduced the Spirits in keeping with a practice I've created called "Descending Kunlun Mountain." Shen, fire, is at the peak of the mountain. And Zhi, water, is at the base. 

The image here places the Spirits near their corresponding organ. 

• Po = Lungs
• Shen = Heart
• Hun = Liver
• Yi = Earth 
• Zhi = Kidneys

WHAT ARE THE ORIGINS OF THE FIVE SPIRITS?

The concept of the Five Spirits in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was born in ancient Taoist psycho-spiritual-alchemical practices. 

Theories suggest roots in ancient Siberian shamanic traditions, later blending into Taoist thought. The practice of "awakening" the spirits is compared to "calling in the spirits" in a shamanic ritual.

WHAT DREW ME TO THE FIVE SPIRITS?

Short answer: body centered psychotherapy. I wrote an article called DESCENDING INTO AWARENESS describing my experience with Hakomi Therapy. 

When I first stumbled upon a book Five Spirits: Alchemical Acupuncture for Psychological and Spiritual Healing by Lorie Eve Dechar I was beyond intrigued. For one year, I studied each Spirit individually, trying to make sense of something I knew would offer more color to my jigsaw puzzle called life. My library grew, I was obsessed. At times I thought, this is too much, how can I make sense of it all. The puzzle pieces began to fall into place and I realized, "it's actually not that complicated." 

While I don't anthropomorphize the Spirits, animating the elements with Spirit qualities makes them much more accessible.  

That's the easy stuff, let's get dirty. 

"SHEN" IS "SPIRIT." HOW DID WE END UP WITH FIVE SPIRITS? 

Chinese Medicine considers Shen to be one of the three treasures that constitute life: 

• Jing, the essence 
• Qi, the life force 
• and Shen, the Spirit 

The Spirit is the most observable. We can see Spirit in people's eyes, in their posture, the way they move... 

The Spirit reflects emotions. Your thoughts, associated with emotions, originate with your psyche. The home of your psyche is the heart/mind. The heart, not the brain, is the home of Shen. 

To distinguish the various "colors" of the psyche or the Shen, we explore the Five Spirits. 

SPIRITS AND SOULS, WHAT'S WITH THAT? 

The Hun and the Po are Souls, although each contain three (Hun) to seven (Po) Spirits. The Chinese character for these two Souls includes a character, Gui, "ghost." Oh oh.

Gui = ghost = independent existence, beyond our consciousness. Not controlled by the mind.

Let's use familiar terms: subconscious and conscious.

The subconscious relates to both Hun and Po. Hun governs dreams and the ethereal mind. Po manages physical sensations and primal drives. When in balance the Hun and Po represent the interplay between the ethereal spirit and the corporeal body.

The subconscious soul is Yin, being substantial (somewhat tangible or humanly).

The conscious mind interacts with the Shen, Yi, and Zhi. Spirit is classified as Yang: insubstantial, intangible, heavenly.

The soul is eternal and can never be damaged or broken.

The spirit can be crushed, lost, torn, stolen or affected by life's circumstances.

It's tricky.


SPIRITS, ARE THEY GHOSTS? 

I have introduced the 5 Spirits to students. More than once the question has arisen: wait, spirits, are they ghosts? I'm afraid of ghosts, they're evil.

And yes, I did refer above to "Gui," ghosts.

When we die, the Hun leaves the body and ascends to Heaven. Unfinished business? Yes, the Hun may take the form of a ghost and hang out in the earthly realm.

When we die, the Po remains with the corpse and decomposes into the earth. And yes, there are those who believe that if the body is not properly handled, or the spirits are unable to pass on due to a violent death, unfinished business, or an improper burial, the ghosts may return to earth.

The Shen merge with the universal Tao (the cosmic life force) or join the ancestral realm, becoming part of the flow of existence. The individual "self" does not remain.

The Yi simply dissolves as its function in the body ends.

The Zhi returns to its source, water.

THE FIVE SPIRITS FOR CANCER PATIENTS

First off, everybody has a different experience with cancer. I was diagnosed with a form of Leukemia in 2022 and then another more aggressive cancer, Merkel Cell Carcinoma in February of 2025. I'll describe my journey and also what I've learned from friends with cancer. 

When I was first diagnosed and then began treatments, I disassociated from my body, it no longer belonged to me. Cancer had taken over. Feeling overburdened, I turned my attention away from my body. My corporeal self seemed out of my control.  

I found refuge in the ethereal realms: clouds, the beautiful blue sky, the stars, the moon, the Milky Way... 

Eventually I lost all strength in my lower body. My legs literally gave out. My lumbar vertebrae began to break. An acupuncturist immediately recognized what was happening. "We need to focus on your body, consider your fears, and create intention." PO, ZHI, and YI.  

As I continued treatments, a very kind Social Worker found me. He called, we talked, he invited me to join a support group of cancer patients. I attended the first meeting, ready to tell my story while being present for the other people. 

Two women caught my attention when they entered the room. Their eyes were dark and lifeless, no SHEN. Their posture, the way they moved, the way they talked also seemed lifeless. No Shen. I have "sad panda" days, they were having a "sad panda" day. One had just learned that her cancer had progressed from stage 3 to stage 4. The other had a new pain that was troubling her. One member of the group is an Art Therapist. Perfect. We had an activity. 

We all were given a sheet of paper with scribbly lines and a set of water colors to share with our neighbor. We started on our art project. I noticed a shift with other group members who had come in with bad news, or unexplained aches and pains. Having cancer, any new sensation, bodily function, a pimple, can set off the red alert button. 

As we carried on painting, I saw "sad pandas" begin to interact freely, smile, laugh. Their eyes began to shine. Their voices began to sing. 

This "sad panda" went to my next meeting. I was fatigued and foggy headed because of treatments. I mentioned my observations of painting day. We had all changed our focus from our aches, pains, pimples, new diagnoses, to our paintings. Black scribbly lines turned into stained glass windows, the sun shining brightly through the panes. Just remembering the painting project "lifted my spirit." 

A cancer diagnoses brings up many emotions. 

• Life is unfair
• I'm a victim of this horrible disease
• I have times that I need to withdraw and let myself feel depressed
• Life can seem colorless

The HUN and the SHEN may become depleted. 

When a person is deprived, the Hun will flee causing lack of concentration, procrastination and boredom. The Shen may stay in the safe harbor of the heart and not try to fly amongst the stars. 

Unless, you're me. 

Back to the top of my story. When I began treatments, I divorced myself from my body. My body no longer belonged to me, it belonged to cancer. But, friends and doctors were in awe because I was smiling. I had found refuge in my dreams and in the ethereal realms of the stars, the moon, the clouds. While that seems like a lovely place to be, I lacked balance and paid the price. 

Back to the top of this story: 

Out of balance, that's when my lower body gave out. Literally. 

THE FIVE SPIRITS AND RECOVERY

Just as with cancer patients, every story is different regarding substance abuse recovery. When I decided to "go sober" over a year ago, it was easy. A good friend helped by asking me "why do you want to be sober?" rather than "why do you want to quit drinking." I gave up alcohol, told my friends I'm no longer drinking, and a more healthful way of life began. 

But, some people have chosen recovery because they've lost their job, their marriage is failing, they've lost their driver's license, they've spent time in prison. Giving up their substance(s) has become a matter of life or death. 

Recovery isn’t just about not drinking or using— it’s about reconnecting with the body, the nervous system, and our psyche. These have been under strain for a long time.

Understanding addiction involves recognizing the five C's: craving, compulsion, consequences, control, and coping.

Leading Qigong practices with people in recovery I see the initial expressions of fear, lack of control, giving up, feeling defeated, lacking hope.

Mindful breath work accompanied by movements encourages looking inward with a gentle focus. Of course, balance of the ethereal and material realms encourages the practitioner to feel supported and expansive.

To be able to say, "I feel really good" without that bottle, is a win even if just for a moment. One moment becomes two, two becomes a life time.

Back to that initial question: why do I want to be sober? I want to support my health and live with integrity.

I wish the same for you.


Brian