“For the heavens, the ruling principle is to be aligned, for the earth, the ruling principle is to be level. For human beings the ruling principle is to be tranquil. Spring, autumn, winter and summer are the seasons of the heavens. Mountains, hills, rivers, and valleys are the resources of the earth. Pleasure and anger, accepting and rejecting are the devices of human beings. Therefore the Sage alters with the seasons but doesn’t transform, shifts with things but doesn’t change places with them.”
Chinese medicine and all its associated practices, such as Qigong and Tai Chi, seamlessly integrate the functions of our body, mind and spirit. The key point to health is to balance our ever-changing nature with that of the natural world around us. Though Chinese Medicine is a thousands of years-old science, even a rudimentary grasp of this process is a powerful way towards active self-care. Increasing our awareness of ourselves, nature and how we feel allows us to regulate our activity, nutrition and mental states. We learn to balance and rebalance ourselves as needed and stay fluid with our well-being.
Emotions have a big place in this equation and Chinese medicine has studied myriad ways emotions affect our overall health. The good news we need not study the ancient texts, rather establish the habit of self-observation. For example, when we are angry, we feel our blood pressure rise, maybe then we don’t sleep well and feel crummy the next day. Imagine that dynamic for several weeks (or years!) and the consequences.
Chinese Medicine considers emotions as “internal pathogenic factors.” When emotions are experienced in excess or abruptly, or for prolonged periods of time, they directly affect our internal organs, disrupting the flow of Qi and blood. (There are also “external pathogenic factors” - wind, cold, heat (or fire), dampness, dryness, and summer heat. Think about late fall, for example – and how a damp windy day can affect us if we are not covered up. )
This system says there are Seven Emotions: joy, (as in untethered joy), anger, worry, pensiveness, sadness, fear, and fright. Each of these emotions is associated with a season, a color, a taste, a smell, an internal organ pair and specific functions within our body. Therefore, we are cautioned against excess or deficiency in our “seven emotions” landscape. Although we should not be afraid to live our life and experience our emotions. Instead we are encouraged to take up a practice that will amp up our awareness. The more we know ourself, the better we can sense when we are heading towards the cliff. We’ve all let the pot boil too much and then there is soup all over the stove! Next time, we set the timer and adjust the heat for the simmer.
Recently I told a story in class of my emotionally charged experience with the TSA. After a lovely weekend in San Diego with my BFF, my intended flight back to Seattle was cancelled, and the next flight possible was the following day. I would need to miss 2 days of classes, which was upsetting, but thanks to the Moon, classes continued with well qualified teachers in my stead. Understanding there was nothing I could do and that everything was fine, I enjoyed extra time with my BFF. I went to the airport early the next day, lines were not long and everything was smooth. Until I reached the TSA counter. Though I had my ticket, they did not show me flying that day in their system. It was clear to me they felt it was my mistake, that I was wasting their time and that of the other passengers waiting to get through the line. I was instructed three separate times to return to the ticket counter and then come back through the (ever increasing) line with a variety of proofs showing I was indeed ticketed. My boarding window was narrowing. My agitation was widening.
Finally, I was instructed to have an Alaska Air ticket agent walk me through, which worked. After I was randomized (!!!), I boarded the plane. Unfortunately, that was not the end of it. We sat on the tarmac for another 15 minutes because “there was a discrepancy in the passenger manifest.” Luckily, I was not carted off the plane and enjoyed an uneventful flight back home. Admittedly through this process I was not thinking about my internal organs. I was however working very hard to breathe and keep my emotions steady (the third time through, the Alaska Air ticket agents and I breathed together!). I kept telling myself it was probably not a good look if the professional Tai Chi/Qigong teacher let her pot boil all over the TSA burners.
We all currently have bigger cultural fish to fry than a singular missed flight. I don’t know about you, but I work intentionally every day to balance my emotions during all the chaos we are living within. I understand if I get stuck in anger, grief and worry I risk beginning to live my day to day guided by those emotions. In doing so, there is real potential for adverse effects on both my health and in my relationships. Does my training help me always avoid feeling strong emotions in stressful situations over which I have no control? NO! Does my training help me breathe and stay steady while experiencing them? YES! Tai Chi & Qigong practice gives me the tools to steady myself while experiencing stressful situations. Life gives me a chance to use those tools.
Over my life I have come to better understand my emotions in my own life’s landscape. Sure, I study the principles but moreover I study myself. I don’t deny what I am feeling, but I work to keep the energy moving. I practice, I garden, I paint. I spend time with friends. And I revel in how grateful I feel to be in work that makes a contribution to the good while surrounded by amazing people. We all need to be with people right now whose intention it is to be healthy and balanced and even laugh amidst “it all.”
Fundamentally everything changes. Rather than getting stuck in one place, let’s be healthy and happy as the wheel turns.
Last week I consulted the I-Ching, asking the question: “In what ways may I support my emotions during these times?” I’m always amazed at the profound nature of the text. (This translation by Brian Browne Walker)
#17 "Following" - Do not argue with what is, simply follow the progress of truth.
With a changing line to:
#51 "The Arousing (Shock)" - The shock of unsettling events brings fear and trembling. Move toward a higher truth and all will be well.
Take care, Friends! Breathe. Feel your feet. Eat long simmered soup.
Kim