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

THE BEAR/DEER CONUNDRUM

Look at various books or watch videos and you will see animal Qigong forms being associated with seasons and elements. One teacher may associate the deer with winter, another with spring. The tiger forms, are they spring or fall exercises? It’s a conundrum.

Taoist practices draw inspiration from nature, movement, the elements and the seasons. Each season is associated with an element, a color, a sound, an emotion, an organ… The organs associated with winter are the kidneys, the element is water. It is especially important to nourish the kidneys during this time. The kidneys store fear but also our self-confidence.

The earliest Taoist practices were inspired by the ways of animals. Shamans drew inspiration from the stars. They saw green dragons, vermillion birds, yellow snakes, white tigers, and black turtles. Eventually these mythical creatures of the heavens were joined by animals walking the earth or flying in the sky. These animal forms were eventually standardized, becoming the Five Animal Frolics.

A previous post called Listening to Trees explores the Five Element and Five Season models commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). But, where do the Five Animal Frolics fit in? Metal is always the element of winter, fire is the element of summer, water is the element of winter… but the animals? The animals take some twists and turns. Literally and figuratively. Get ready to think outside of the box. 

Model #1: Five Elements/Seasons/Organs with the five animals. Reminder: the fifth season is what some call "harvest." Others call it late summer, we used to call it Indian summer. 

Model #2: Five Elements with Five Animals, but the animals are in a different order. 

The inconsistency among these models? Animals. Time to frolic and dance. 

Animal Frolics imitate movements of the tiger, the deer, the bear, the monkey, and the bird. Let's look at the bear. 

Mimi Duo Deemer in her book Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis describes the bear forms: 

"The forms... draw on the power and strength of the bear, but also use twisting and rotational movements that directly stimulate and release tension from the area of the kidneys and adrenal glands." 

The forms that she demonstrates release tension in the back, build suppleness in the waist but also strength the  legs and arms. We release fear and embrace self confidence, "...make me feel powerful and full of perseverance." 

Winter is the season of maximum Yin, time to rest. Winter is when nature lies fallow. Energy is conserved. Plants store resources deep in the earth. 

If we as humans were to follow our natural inclinations, we would seek out cozy, warm havens to settle in for the winter. 

I join some others relating the bear to the harvest season and those "in between times" that occur before each equinox and solstice. Time to gather our resources and prepare for the upcoming season. The Chinese Health Qigong Association describes the bear as clumsy, heavy and slow. The bear sways, the bear lumbers. Focus is placed on the area of the stomach and spleen, organs of the harvest season and the metal element. 

Swaying motions affect the epigastric region, back to the stomach and spleen. During the harvest and fall seasons the bears need to put on weight to prepare for winter and hibernation. This process is called hyperphagia. During hyperphagia bears live for food, don’t get in the way. 

We practice movements imitating these qualities of the bear. Movements nurturing the stomach and spleen. Movements rooting us to the earth. But we’ll also nurture the kidneys and the water element by turning and twisting the waist. 

And now, the deer.

The deer also conjures images and movements of the winter. Deer spring into action, but then they stand still and alert. Yesterday in Colorado we had a snow storm, action. Today feels quiet and withdrawn, stillness. 

Many deer forms utilize lateral flexion and rotation of the waist, home of the kidneys. The kidneys are the organs of water, of winter. 

But then, there are movements that elongate the gall bladder meridian and strengthen the muscles along the liver meridian. 

Gall bladder and liver, organs of the spring and of the wood element.

Mimi Kuo Deemer describes the deer forms as related to the spring. 

“… they follow coiling pattern through the spine that suggest the movements in spring, which are to spiral upwards and outwards. The deer represents grace, sexual vitality and spirit.”

Let’s bring it all together: 

During the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-250 CE), an esteemed doctor named Hua Tuo formalized movements imitating the instinctual patterns of animals. He called this practice Wu Qin Xi, or Five Animal Frolics. 

Hua Tuo practiced acupuncture, surgery, herbology and movement. “Movement is the only reason that teeth are falling out and tongue is not!” and that “moving water can’t become stale and that worms can’t be found in door hinges.” 

By moving with intention we learn to trust our inborn animal instincts. We learn and imitate their rhythms and movements as they adapt to the seasonal changes.

Hua Tuo prescribed an order for learning the Animal Frolics: tiger, deer, bear, monkey and bird. While many have theorized an association with the seasons, his learning order does not reflect a seasonal order.  

Honor the bravery and ferocity of the tiger, the sereneness and attentiveness of the deer, the ponderousness and heaviness of the bear, the nimbleness and smartness of the monkey, and the lightness and grace of the bird. 

The Chinese Health Qigong Association states:

“Wu Qin Xi is not designed just for superficial imitation of the outer attitudes of those animals… the postures and movements of the exercises are elegant, so as to stimulate enthusiasm for learning and practicing the exercises… after a certain period of practice, both physical and mental health are improved.” 

Think and move like the tiger, the deer, the bear, the monkey and the bird.

Become these animals. 

Resource time!

The 5 Element Theory and the associations of each element. The animals listed on this table are from the 5 Sacred Guardians, yet another set from the old days. These are mythical creatures based on Astrology.  That’s for another time. 

Videos to practice with:

Deer Forms, Chinese Health Qigong Association

Bear Forms, Chinese Health Qigong Association

The following four videos are by Alex Hui

Qigong with Kseny

The outline for my upcoming practice

Be well, be happy, respect your instincts, frolic, and follow your bliss.
💗

Brian

SEASONAL CHANGES; SUMMER TO "HARVEST"

Look out, we're moving into Pumpkin Spice Latte season.

The party called Summer is winding down.

My friends at the Pacific College of Health and Science (I used to visit them regularly for acupuncture and Chinese herbs) tell us about seasonal changes:

Whenever there is a season change, according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) beliefs, the energy frequency of the body or a person’s “qi,” may not be in harmony with the season’s frequency. Therefore, a person’s qi may be blocked, which leads to negative side effects from bodily sickness to mood swings.

A most obvious seasonal affect change involves food.

Our bodies reflect seasonal changes in a variety of ways including simple ways like what we crave to eat. Sperber used an example: “Who wants to eat a big heavy stew in the middle of summer? No one.”

Fun facts to remember:

• TCM recognizes five seasons: Spring, Summer, "Harvest" (my term for late summer/early fall), Fall, and Winter. 
• Five elements are associated with the five seasons (in the same order as the seasons): Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. 
• The elements rise, like fire, and the elements fall, like water. Except for Earth which holds steady, neither rising nor falling. 
• Each element is associated with a body organ (same order): Wood = Liver, Fire = Heart, Earth = Stomach and Spleen, Metal = Lungs, Water = Kidneys.
• Five animals are associated with the five seasons (same order): Tiger, Monkey, Bear, Crane, and Deer. Some Qigong practitioners associate the five animals differently. This is the order often used, and the one I like. So there. 
• Living in the mountains of Colorado, it's clear that we're coming into "Harvest" season. 

Tomatoes are ready to be picked. I've already harvested my fresh peas. My jalapeño peppers are turning from green to red. I'm pulling out flannel shirts to wear for at least part of the day. My pumpkin blossoms are about to become pumpkins and my sunflowers are freakishly tall with HUGE flowers.

We're not just moving into cooler weather, we're moving into Earth season, Stomach and Spleen season and the season of the Bear. While I'm a huge fan of the summer monkey frolics, I'm ready to move on.





SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM OUR FRIENDS at Colorado Parks and Wildlife

Black bears in Colorado are entering hyperphagia and will spend up to 20 hours a day trying to search out and eat as much food as possible as they fatten up for winter...

Twenty chicken sandwiches, 10 large orders of french fries, 10 soft drinks and 10 milkshakes is the approximate fast food order needed to total 20,000 calories. That is how many calories hyperphagia, an increase in feeding activity driven by biological need, drives a hungry black bear to consume every single day as they pack on the pounds to build up their fat reserves to survive the winter.



Okay, no need to go food crazy, but we should consider how our seasonal biological needs shift. Like the bear, it's time to get our feet on the ground, clean the house and take care of home projects, settle back into the kitchen and make some comfort food. It is a time when we get to come home to ourselves, and absorb the fruits of our labors. Time to take care of the Stomach and Spleen.

During our practice "in a park" this week we tapped specific acupressure points; we acted like monkeys but started thinking about some sweet bear moves; and we dredged energy channels of old stagnant Qi and then cultivated new Qi, strengthening our immune system and general vitality.

After turning and twisting and warming up, we practiced Tapping the Eight Nests, unblocking Qi flow and encouraging movement of lymph. My teacher Alex Hui will explain and demonstrate.


Tapping and moving while focusing on specific points and areas of the body is essential. 

For example, tapping on Lung One and Two points boosts Lung Qi. 

After "Harvest" comes Fall when I am likely to experience respiratory problems. I can nip that in the bud by purging stagnant Lung Qi and replenishing it with new, clean Qi. 

The Kua (inguinal crease) is home to many lymph nodes. By tapping at and moving from the Kua, we can wring out those nodes and get lymph AND Qi moving. 

The diagram captured from a video by Steven Cardoza shows the Side Channels connecting the Lung points (near the shoulders) and the Kua (tops of the legs).



During our practice I also introduced bits of Bear movements. We'll finish those up this next week.



But, since we may not quite be ready to drop summer "like a hot potato" we continued with Monkey forms. You can find those on a previous blog post. Ready? Go!

Our Qi cultivation brought us back to Ji Ben Qigong forms which you'll also find on a previous post.


Enjoy!

Qigong, what is it and how on earth do you say it?

WHAT IS QIGONG?

What is Qigong? What does it mean?
Qi = Life force. It is pronounced "Chee." Gong = Cultivation. Say "Gong" the “”o” is like aw as in paw. 

The ideogram for Qi is made up of steam over rice, implying that Qi is nourishing and ethereal. The rice cooking symbolizes the release and utilization of energy. In the Chinese language, Qi is part of everything. It can be used to describe a person's complexion, the weather and one's emotional state.

Qigong is a practice which hooks us up with nature and with our own personal connection to the world.

There are many styles of Qigong. I practice primarily Taoist Qigong and Medical Qigong. I also love Animal Qigong which has routes in ancient Chinese shamanic traditions. Cool stuff.

While the Taoists and Buddhists were creating Qigong practices centuries ago, Qigong is not a religion or specific to any religion.

Sweet, now what is it?

Qigong is a slow, meditative movement practice. Qigong employs breath work, visualization, meditation and movement. Each practice draws on influences from nature: the elements, animals, the seasons.

Qigong is one branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the others being acupuncture, nutrition, herbology, and massage.

Five elements are key to TCM: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.

Five... wait, five? Yes, five seasons are also important in TCM : Spring, summer, late summer which I refer to as "harvest," fall and winter.

There are many animal practices with Shamanic routes: the deer, bear, monkey, crane and tiger. But many other images of mythical animals were conjured as far back as the Paleolithic period: the dragon, a vermillion bird, the white tiger, the black turtle and the yellow snake.

Practicing Qigong with me will introduce you to mythical creatures, connect you with nature and the seasons. And, it will connect you with your body. Again, I practice Medical Qigong. Possible physical shifts may include: decreased muscle pain, breaking up of fascial adhesions, headache relief, sinus pain relief, lower blood pressure, decreased joint pain, more energy, better sleep, balanced moods and on and on and on...

LISTENING TO TREES

I moved to Colorado with my parents when I was 16 years old. Like many young people I was trying to find my place. Life had been a little rocky before the move and I took this as an opportunity to redefine myself. Nobody knew me or my past. I was a clean slate.

My sister inspired me with books. As a gift she sent me a copy of the I-Ching, the Book of Changes. Hungry for new direction, I took this odd yet intriguing book up to a mountain park and sat under some tall trees. I read a little, and then sat. I just sat, unintentionally meditating. 

It must have been spring because I remember patches of melting snow. I remember the smell of the earth and the warmth of the sun. I remember listening to birds and the sound of the breeze in the trees. I remember just feeling, without words, without an intended meaning. I remember looking up, realizing I was part of something big, something nurturing. 

Nature.



Taoist philosophy and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) observe nature, providing an understanding of where and how we fit in. Connection. These observations go back to ancient times. Early Shamans gained inspiration from animals, from elements, from the stars, from light and shadows, from the seasons.

A common thread connecting all living things is Qi, energy. Qi exists in nature. We cultivate Qi from the foods we eat, from the air we breathe. Practicing Qigong outside connects us with the five elements common in TCM and Taoist philosophy: wood, fire, the earth, metal, and water. The elements teach us how to get unstuck, how to move. If I’m feeling stressed, I remind myself to move around obstacles like water. If I’m feeling unbalanced, I root myself like a tree and reach towards the sun.  

During Qigong practice, we observe and imitate the movements of animals, mythical creatures, swaying trees, streams and ocean waves, children playing, clouds drifting. We learn by becoming these things.





Each element is paired with a season. 

• Wood = Spring: growth. 
• Fire = Summer: expansion, heat. 
• Earth = Harvest (late summer): abundance. 
• Metal = Fall: inspiration and letting go. 
• Water = Winter: stillness, conserving of energy.

A note about Taoism:

Taoism is a philosophy. You can be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Atheist, Agnostic… and still be inspired by Taoist thinking and practice Qigong. There are those who practice Taoism as a religion with rituals and icons. Deities, often borrowed from other cultures, and are assigned particular roles. But I stick with learning from Taoist philosophy without the rituals and icons. Well, maybe one ritual: 

I do bow.

At the end of each Qigong practice session I bow three times. By bowing I am showing reverence and connection.

The first bow is to my teachers which include all living things; the people I study with, practice with, the people and animals and living things that I come in contact with: trees, my dogs, the breeze, the blue sky. I learn by noticing the world. 

My second bow is to my body, my biology, the Jing I was born with. Biology shared with children, brothers and sisters, parents, ancestors. 

My final bow is to the Tao, the Way, my place in nature, perhaps a collective intelligence. I call it the Tao. The Tao unifies all living things.

This is what I discovered decades ago as a kid sitting under a tree in a park on a mountain on a cool and sunny day with an odd little book about changes.

Collected together, the ethers of the universe constitute a unity; divided they constitute Yin and Yang; quartered they constitute the four seasons; [still further] sundered, they constitute the five elements. These elements represent movement.

-Tung Chung-Shu

Now, go find your tree.

EARTH DAY QIGONG

What a lovely morning practice we had in Davis Lane Park.

We celebrated Earth Day, one week late, but shouldn't every day be Earth Day? 

Being a chilly morning I chose to begin with more vigorous warm-ups and Silk Reeling. We then practiced forms associated with the Earth element. Now, hold on to your hats, this is where I took us to for a ride. 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), of which Qigong is one branch, references the elements, the seasons, directions, sounds, our body's organs and meridians and even animals.

You'll notice that there are FIVE seasons. What, What? Yes, we have the run of the mill Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter but between Summer and Fall we have a season I like to call Harvest. 

You will also notice that Earth is the element of Harvest. Brian! It's Spring! Deer Frolic time! We're supposed to focus on the Wood element, the deer, the Liver and Gall Bladder Meridians. I was never good at "supposed to." I was thinking out of the box when I proposed Earth element forms including Monkey Frolics! Being cheeky myself, Monkey Frolics are my favorites. 

As with all group practices, I pick and choose movements and forms to fit our group. From this list we did Spinal Twist (good warm-up), and we talked the Qua (the inguinal crease) with the goal of feeling weight distribution through our legs and opening our hip sockets. More warm-ups with shoulder and back opening pumping and swinging. 

By this time we were ready to bring it down, do some flow, some Silk Reeling, Coiling Snake, and  a little brain exercise called Open and Close the Door. 

After a meditative earth focused Wuji (emptiness stance) we started our flow with some "frisbee throwing" a.k.a. Diagonal Flying. This also introduced our focus on the Solar Plexus, the Earth Element Center. 

As always, I am providing YouTube videos created by some of my many teachers. Some of the forms will feel familiar, some will be new. Enjoy your practice!

Mimi Kuo Deemer practicing Earth Element Forms

Mimi Kuo Deemer, Earth Element

Nick Loffree, Qigong for Harvest

Alex Hui, Monkey Form

KUNLUN MOUNTAIN

    THE DRAGON'S SPINE, KUNLUN MOUNTAIN RANGE

The Kunlun Mountains are known as the "spine of the world" or the "dragon's spine" due to their unique geological formations and their significance in Chinese mythology. These formations have fueled legends of the Kunlun Mountains being a sacred realm and the gateway between heaven and earth. The Kunlun Mountains extend eastward about 1800 miles (2880 kilometers) between the Tibetan Plateau to the south and the Tarim Basin to the north. I will refer to the singular Kunlun Mountain, one of 228 peaks in the Kunlun Range. 

Looking from space, the Kunlun Range resembles a dragon. Rock formations resemble the vertebrae of a giant dragon. 

Mountains elicit and sense of awe, of wonder, and the urge to climb and explore. The climate is guaranteed to be unpredictable, as is the topography. But the challenge of the ascent is real. As we climb, we pass from dense forest to sparse yet hearty alpine ground cover. We are drawn by the challenge of the summit. 

We reach the summit. Expansive blue sky, or the dark night sky, the intense sunlight, or the moon that seems close enough to touch, the planets and stars, all of these draw our attention even higher, upwards.

It's no wonder that the ancients built sacred temples and shrines high on the mountaintops. 

Originally, Kunlun Mountain was seen as the center of five mountains. Much like the Earth element is seen as the center of the four elements associated with the four seasons. 

Read more: Water Flowing Underground

Kunlun Mountain was regarded as the center of the world. As Chinese civilization evolved from province to province, Kunlun Mountain "moved." Convinced perhaps by Christian missionaries that mountains can't move, and "center" is a fixed location, the mountain found its home. 

Home to Taoist sorcerers, alchemists and magicians, the mountain was an inspiration, influencing their traditions. The Kunlun healers no longer live on the mountain, but continue practicing in Southern Asia.  

The peak rises high above the clouds which drift through the treetops. The trees stand firmly rooted in the earth. Venturing in to the subterranean levels we explore canyons, and mysterious caves and labyrinths. Then at the base of Kunlun Mountain is a spring, water flowing throughout the year. 

Photo by Lucian Manthey www.lucianmanthey.com

We will use Kunlun Mountain as a metaphor for human consciousness. From the Ethereal realms we begin manifesting dreams. Our dreams become seeds which are planted and nurtured by the earth; inspiration and dreams become intention. As our exploration takes us deeper, we enter the darkness of canyons, caves and labyrinths; the Corporeal realms. We are in awe of the light of the sun and the moon shining off of precious metals. We are also cautious, and aware. The depths reveal water, mysterious, dark water. 

Dragons? Going back to the Kunlun Mountain Range as seen from outer space, the range resembles a dragon’s spine. The dragons offer a sense of power and transformation. I find solace in knowing that I am accompanied by dragons in my own personal journey.  Mimi Duo Deemer teaches about the cultural significance of dragons as well as many dragon forms:

“In Chinese culture, dragons possess the power to transform, change, and overcome obstacles. As protectors, they unify our energy, enabling us to summon the courage, strength, and unwavering spirit to awaken us to our full potential.”

Enjoy the journey. In following posts we will consider the human psyche and the Five Spirits. 

I hope that you find peace, balance and good health as we travel towards the stillness of winter. 

Brian

FAQ about the FIVE SPIRITS

GIVE ME THE "BIG PICTURE" PLEASE

Five Spirits, five elements, five seasons, five yin organs, five colors, five emotions... 

In Mandarin Chinese "Five Spirits" translates as "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. Or, you've seen them at a party. 

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. 

Movement catches and then holds my interest. Movement is what drew me to Qigong and to the Wu Shen. Yes, I was that kid, I couldn't keep still, I was always moving. Was? 

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. 

I've introduced the Spirits in keeping with a practice I've created called "Descending Kunlun Mountain." The graphic below introduces the Spirits as we descend from the ethereal to the corporeal or material realms of the psyche. 

The image here places the Spirits near their corresponding Yin 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 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 essences makes them much more accessible. You see, I think like a dog, I think in pictures rather than words. Seeing essences allows me to integrate the Spirits into my daily life.  

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

The Spirit reflects emotions. The home of your psyche is the heart/mind. The heart, not the brain, is the home of Shen. The brain is a tool for the mind. 

To distinguish the various "colors" of the psyche we introduce ourselves to the Wu Shen, the Five Spirits. Remember, white light is created by the various colors of the rainbow. Shine a white light through a prism. The white light is broken into a rainbow. These colors are the Spirits. 

• Red = Heart = Fire = Shen Spirist
• Green = Liver = Wood = Hun Soul
• Yellow = Spleen = Earth = Yi Spirits
• White/Silver = Lungs = Metal = Po Soul
• Blue = Kidneys = Water = Zhi Spirits

SPIRITS AND SOULS, WHAT'S WITH THAT? 

The Hun and the Po are Souls, although each contain three (Hun) and 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 harmony the Hun and Po represent the interplay between the ethereal and the corporeal.

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 Five 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 the heavens. 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 merges with the universal Tao (the cosmic life force) or joins 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.

HOW CAN I APPLY OF THIS TO MY LIFE?

Let me tell you a story.

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've described my journey and what I've learned so far from friends with cancer in another article Qigong for Cancer Patients

A cancer diagnoses comes with many emotions, thoughts, fears, questions:

Life is unfair

I'm a victim of this horrible disease

I want to hide

Life can seem colorless

The HUN and the SHEN may become withdrawn. 

When a person is in distress, the Hun will flee causing lack of concentration, procrastination and boredom. The Shen, rather than taking flight in the stars, may hide in the safe harbor of the heart. 

Unless, you're me. 

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, and in my hammock under the tree in our backyard. While that seems like a lovely place to be, I lacked harmony and paid the price. My lower body became so weak that I couldn't get up out of a chair. Bones were literally breaking. 

Eventually I acknowledged and embraced the other realms. I became empowered. 

I stand in awe of the colors of the rainbow. 

May your life be filled with color. 

May you take time to enjoy the colors. 

I love you all,

Brian