Balancing The Energy Of Our Heart And Kidneys Is How We Find Homeostasis.
Now that we are in the second half of winter, passing the midway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox known as Imbolc, on February 2, we can feel a subtle shift of energy. It’s when the deep winter thaw starts to happen. This time is also known as a “quickening”, being the action of bringing someone or something to life. It’s exciting, even as the winter resides here in the northeast for a couple more months, we are on the other side of the cold dark days.
Aligning my practice to the 5 elements that correspond to the 5 seasons according to Chinese medicine, by focusing on the element and the organs that are energetically running the strongest in each season, I’ve learned to love and respect the winter. Winter energy is the time that all seeds require, a dormancy and quiet stillness, so something new can emerge. It’s necessary and vital to blossom into an abundant spring of inspiration.
The winter energy corresponds to the water element that is associated to the kidney and bladder energy.
Balancing Fire and Water:
~ Fire building handstands, invigorates and builds confidence
~ Water flowing forward bends, soothes the nervous system.
In the winter stillness, we can allow the mind to settle into clarity so we can observe the deeper patterns in the subconscious that have a profound effect on us. The power of self-observation through meditation reveals our conditioning and old impressions on the psyche that may be blocking us from moving forward. When we observe without judgment, we have the chance to notice the conditioning or the past traumas and create space internally for them so they have a chance to heal. We can then apply the seasonal practices to come back into balance, where clarity and healing can occur. In our breathwork and meditations, we observe without judgment where we fall out of balance, so we can start there.
When we are falling into fear in the winter, we need to cultivate the strength and virtue of the season, being the willpower and wisdom of the water element, that corresponds to the kidney energy (or chi/ qi) so we aren’t subject to being taken over by fear. When there’s any disharmony it will show up as fear and loneliness. Kidney excess can look like work addiction, and a weak kidney chi can appear as a lack of strength, endurance, and willpower.
A balanced kidney constitution appears as willpower, endurance, wisdom, gentleness, and self-understanding.
The lungs, from the metal element in the autumn, are energetically the mother or generator of the kidneys, the water element. Consider the metal element as the minerals deep in the earth that create mineral-rich water, which we need to survive. Utilizing the lungs, we can increase the breathwork, to clear the fearful mind of maladapted kidney chi. When we fall under the negative emotions of the current season, we look to the previous season to nourish us and two seasons back to control and regulate.
The earth element of the late summer, 2 seasons back from winter, is the controller of water. Think of the banks of a river, controlling the flow of the water, or the earth surrounding a lake, containing the water.
We look first to our physical practice, the Jing, to bring us back into alignment. Holding standing and strength-building poses in the winter is the earth controlling the water. We build muscle mass in the late summer of earth time by holding poses for a minute or more, which builds not only strength in the muscles but also strength and willpower in the mind.
We can then look to the breathwork, the Chi, from both the controlling and generating seasons. The metal element cuts away and lets go of what’s no longer needed. Pranayama (breathwork) releases turbid emotions. The earth element is all about stability, and the specific breath work we practice in the earth element helps us keep to our center. The center is where wisdom resides, and wisdom is the virtue of the water element.
The Shen (consciousness) of the earth element is Yi, which is our intellect and what we learn in this lifetime. When we are subject to fear, the imbalanced energy of the water element, it’s often fear of the unknown. This is where the intellect of the earth's element can control the water by learning what we are fearful of. Learning often subdues the fear so we aren’t paralyzed by it and then can start to move, breathe, and access wisdom.
This is using the jing, the physical practice, the chi, the energetic breathwork, and the meridian flow focus to calm the emotions, and the Shen, the consciousness of the season to find balance. In the polarized seasons of the winter water, the yin of yin energy, and the early summer fire, the yang of yang, we look to include both to find a balanced constitution.
Utilizing fire and water meridians is the perfect balanced yin and yang, where healing resides and we can thrive.
Focus the mind to guide the chi of the water element:
INHALE the the kidney meridian that runs up the inner feet, the inner legs, through the inner body to the inner collarbones.
EXHALE the bladder meridians that run from the inner eyes around the head down the back body and back legs to pinky toes.
Focus the mind to guide the Chi of the fire element:
INHALE The small intestine meridian from the pinky nail up the arms, the shoulder, the neck to the inner ear.
EXHALE the heart meridian from the armpits down the inner arms to the pinkies.
Strengthening and stretching both the arms and legs balance the fire and water, which creates homeostasis, where the root of healing can occur.
We are ultimately responsible for our own healing.
The Meridian Flow practice transcends chronic pain, anxiety, and autoimmune issues naturally.
From my heart to yours
Namaste,
Maggie