Saturday, 24 April 2021

April 27 2021 - Full Moon in Scorpio, Affecting the Kidney Meridian

On Tuesday 27 April 2021, we'll encounter a full moon in Scorpio which will affect our kidney meridian - the Yin meridian that has as its paired meridian the Yang Bladder meridian, both Water element meridians - and second chakra.

The Kidney system stores 'Jing', our congenital & acquired essence, and it supplies this Jing to all organs. In Chinese Medicine the kidneys are also seen as the source of the body's Yin and Yang, the 'congenital root' or origin of life. The kidneys store the primordial Yin and the primordial Yan, aka 'kidney yin', 'true yin' or 'true water' and 'kidney yang', 'true yang' or 'true fire'. The Kidney Yin is the foundation of the fluids in the whole body, and moistens and nourishes all the organs and tissues in our body. Kidney Yang is the foundation of the Yang Qi of the whole body, and warms and promotes the functions of these same organs and tissues. Both are mutually dependent: promoting and restraining each other, they lead to an internal harmony of Yin and Yang and a healthy functioning of all the organs. In TCM, the 'Ming Men Gate' or 'Gate of Vitality' is seen as located behind the kidneys.

The kidneys themselves are two bean-shaped organs, each about the size of a fist. They are located just below the rib cage, on either side of the spine. They are the last stop for filtration and detoxification of body fluids, and are responsible for filtering all the fluids, including the blood, lymph, synovial fluid, cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluids that carry debris released by the cells in detox and metabolism. Every day, they filter about 113 to 140 liters of blood to produce about 1 to 2 liters of urine. Many people today have lost the kidneys' ability to properly filter the lymphatic system, and if the lymphatic system itself isn't moved properly (through body movement or lymph massage), the body fluids and lymph become stagnant, and cellular waste and acidity start building up. This can in turn lead to lymphoma, a cancer in blood and lymph tissues.

The Kidney energy is also responsible for, amongst others, how we age and the quality of our bones, spine and bone marrow (Kidney Qi produces bone marrow, the root of our stem cells and repair & regeneration during sleep). Furthermore it rules the ears and our hearing, as well as the knees. 

The Kidney system is responsible for pulling prana (lifeforce) from the lungs, and provides digestive fire for the Spleen and warmth to the Heart. 

It also nourishes the brain and nervous system. Chinese Medicine already described the Autonomic Nervous System over 4000 years ago: the Sympathetic Nervous System corresponds to Kidney Yang, the Parasympathetic NS to Kidney Yin. The Kidney energy also controls our hair and the greying of our hair - the hair being a kind of energy receiving system, strongly linked to the nervous system (and often called the nervous system on the outside of the body) and the fight-flight response.

Lastly, the Kidneys generate generosity, creativity, motivation, desire and libido. Low Kidney Qi can lead to low creativity, low libido, lack of motivation, etc. It's also in the Kidneys that fear is stored, and that we become aware of danger. 


Scorpio is known to have a nasty sting, But the kidney energy in fact can be used to either soar like an eagle -- or indeed crawl like the scorpion. Balancing and strengthening the kidney meridian will enable us to do the former. A balanced second chakra and corresponding water element give us access to our creative energy. To uplift oneself and others is an expression of our creative spirit.

A blocked creative energy on the other hand can manifest as self-gratification and destruction. Emotions as fearfulness, anxiety, confusion, frustration and the need for perfection can rule. Even a vengeful attitude is characteristic for a blocked second chakra and kidney meridian.

Our kidneys are easily damaged through overdoing life with thrills, stress, drugs and other stimulants like coffee, black tea, green tea, etc., so now would be an excellent time to reduce or eliminate these from you life. Do you know it takes between 5 to even 8 liters of water to rebalance the kidneys after just one cup of coffee or black tea?? If not rebalanced immediately, the effects of that one cup can last up to 2 months wreaking havoc on the glandular and nervous system.


Image result for image kidney meridian       
Meridian pathway: 
The Kidney meridian begins (on either side of the body) at the outside of the little toe and immediately goes under the sole of the foot. It follows the arch, makes a circle around the inner ankle and then comes up the innermost (medial) side of the leg (just beneath the Liver meridian) and goes into the tailbone. 
From there it follows the spine to the kidney (again, this happens both left and right) and then branches:
- One branch heads to the Urinary Bladder, where it comes back to the surface of the abdomen and runs up the chest, ending at the clavicle. 
- The other branch touches the liver and diaphragm and moves up through the lungs and throat until it ends beside the root of the tongue.


Symptoms of an imbalanced Kidney meridian
  • Kidney problems
  • Lung problems; shortness of breath, shallow or rapid breathing
  • Throat problems
  • Emotional upset
  • Anxiety & fear
  • Phobias
  • Panic attacks
  • Lower back pain
  • Adrenal fatigue / burnout (the HPA (Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Adrenals) Axis is a delicate relationship within the endocrine system. Any imbalance between these 3 will cause severe problems. The pattern is usually linked to Kidney Yang (aka sympathetic nervous system) imbalance, as well as fear and/or stress in the endocrine glands.
  • Exhaustion + need for stimulants (e.g. coffee) in the afternoon to keep energy levels up
  • Dizziness upon standing
  • Sweaty hands & feet
  • Knee pain
  • Heel pain
  • Bloating
  • Bone & ear problems
  • Cold in extremities
  • Muscle tightness in the low & mid back, diaphragm, or upper shoulders
  • Urinary tract problems (can be chronic)
  • Reproduction problems, infertility
  • Impotence
  • Lack of libido
  • Hormonal imbalances
  • Birth defects
  • Frequent or nighttime urination
  • Genital disorders
  • Weakness in lower limbs (legs)
  • Bone marrow problems
  • Stem cell disturbance
  • Tinnitus - ringing in the ears
  • Puffy face or puffiness under the eyes; dark circles under the eyes
  • Premature greying of the hair
  • Hair thinning or hair loss
  • Hypothyroid (underactive thyroid)
  • Pain or numbness along the meridian pathway
  • Lack of clarity
  • Problems with memory
  • Issues with self-worth
  • Lack of sense of belonging
  • Lack of trust
  • Paranoia
  • Laziness
  • Antisocial behaviour

Things to eat & drink
  • Drink cucumber juice
  • Turmeric, added to meals, juiced or taken in Golden Milk
  • Eat black foods: eggplant (aubergine), beans, seaweed, licorice, black olives. Not black coffee or tea!
  • Eat naturally salty foods: olives, seaweed, ginger, cinnamon.
  • Kidney-cleansing herbs: parsley, ginseng, dandelion, corn silk, saw palmetto berries, juniper berries
  • Schisandra berries (or Wu Wei Zi) protect against leaking energy and essence, and function as an adaptogen for the nervous system, much like Ashwagandha, helping to calm the spirit, treat insomnia and forgetfulness, improve intellectual activity, concentration, fine coordination, sensitivity and endurance.

Avoid
  • Coffee & black tea
  • Sugar
  • Overworking
  • 'Pushing through' 
  • Fearful environments
  • Stress

Tips
  • Hold and massage the index finger of each hand for 2 minutes
  • Wear a silk or cotton cummerbund around the waist
  • Relax
  • Accept & respect normal fluctuations in energy levels

Yoga for the kidneys
  • Camel Pose
  • Baby Pose
  • Cobra Pose
  • In butterfly pose, exhale the head down, inhale up.
  • Life nerve stretches (forward LNS as well as with spread legs to work on the inner-leg meridian)
  • Chanting - Chatr Chakra Varti (Last 4 lines of Jaap Sahib). Increase the effect by holding the left hand on the right knee and right hand and index finger up at shoulder level making small circles with the index finger.

Kriyas & Meditations for the kidneys:

Gemstones & Malas that will help with kidneys and above described symptoms:


By Japjeet Rajbir Kaur @ Shuniya Yoga, www.shuniya-yoga.org .
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .
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Sunday, 21 March 2021

March 28, 2021 - Full Moon in Libra, Affecting the Urinary Bladder Meridian

The upcoming full moon in Libra will be affecting our Urinary Bladder meridian, also known as the 'guardian of peace'. The Bladder meridian is the Yang partner of the Yin Kidney meridian, and both are associated with the Water element. It is the meridian with most points in the whole meridian system, and symptoms can be manifold (as shown below) with many different areas of the body being affected.

The bladder is also called the "Minister of the Reservoir" and is responsible for storing and excreting the urinary waste fluids passed down from the kidneys. As an organ, this is the only function the bladder has.

However, as a meridian / energy system, the Bladder meridian is intimately related to the autonomous nervous system -- it is the only meridian that flows through our brain and along the entire back and directly affects our nervous system as well as our emotional memory storage. The Bladder meridian runs along the back of the body from the eyes to the little toes, with 2 parallel branches flowing along each side of the spine (see below for a detailed description of its course). These four branches of the Bladder meridian directly influence the sympathetic & parasympathetic trunks of the autonomous nervous system, which regulates our fight-flight(-hide) response, and, in turn, all the body's basic vital functions.

In the pressures of modern life many people suffer from an overly-activated sympathetic nervous system, causing a constant state of apprehension, fear, or worse. This can be accompanied by tension and pain along the spine and its periphery. Over time, it crystallizes into a fixed pattern of fear which can inhibit the decision-making capability and manifest as chronic high blood pressure, ADHD, bi-polar disorder, heart disease, panic attacks, and low libido. 

Back tension and pain can be relieved by stimulating the energy flow along the spinal branches of the bladder meridian. Such stimulation induces total relaxation by switching the autonomous nervous system over to the restful, restorative, parasympathetic mode.

Meridian pathway: The Urinary Bladder meridian, like the Gall Bladder meridian, starts at the eye. It begins (both left and right, as always with meridian paths) at the inner eye and goes up, across the forehead, to the crown of the head. One branch splits up here, enters the brain and then reemerges at the scapula (shoulder blade) and runs just inside the line of the scapula down the spine to the buttocks, where it reenters the body and runs to the urinary bladder and the kidneys (left and right). 

The second branch - left & right - flows down from the crown, down the back of the neck and shoulders and runs just outside and parallel to the first branch. This branch continues down the back of the buttocks and legs, circles the outer ankles, runs along the outer edge of the foot, and ends in the small toe where the Kidney meridian begins. 

Dr. Motoyama believes that the Ida and Pingala nadis correspond to the Urinary Bladder meridians, because they run along either side of the spine. 

From the above explanations one can clearly see how it could be said that the Bladder meridian 'rules the back of the body'. With some 80 meridian points in 4 lines running down the back, it is easy to see how the back is a fertile field for the storage of old wounds that can later become organ imbalances (e.g. kidneys), almost literally bearing the burden of the past. Feelings held here can include guilt, feelings of duty, but also feelings about sexuality, self-control, self-support and stability. Releasing the tension in the back and stimulating the bladder meridian will automatically release the stored psychic tension, thus resolving many physical and psychological problems.

   

The bladder, together with the kidneys and sexual organs, relates to the second chakra. The second chakra is connected to the Water element and key here is learning to step into the flow of life, without resistance and with deep trust for what is and what is to come. Over time, water can even shape the earth. The opposite of trust is fear - the emotion mainly associated with second chakra & water imbalances. Fear causes us to tighten and contract, and makes us cold and frozen. An imbalance in the Urinary Bladder channel is connected with the inability to cope with life and fear of change. 

Few things in life disturb our spiritual well-being more than feeling that we have little or no vital energy or lifeforce, especially if this is accompanied with a sense of internal panic, raciness or overwhelm where we feel unable to meet life on its terms. We may freeze in fear, or thrash about in fear, imagining ourselves alone, isolated, without or even beyond help, facing a potentially terrifying future. In such circumstances, everything and everyone starts posing a threat. We want to hide, we feel we need to rest, we long for a hibernation that could restore our reserves. If you weren't able to spend the winter in some form of hibernation, you might really feel that need surface now as Spring is demanding a different energy from us. We can become pre-occupied with self-preservation and - as our physical resources diminish still further - we could notice our will to live start diminishing as well.

As Paul Hougham writes in The Atlas of Mind, Body and Spirit: "Typically if we have an imbalanced bladder meridian we will be concerned with energy on an almost existential level - wondering if we have the strength to carry on. The nightmare that this can turn into for some is a parched and paranoid terror of fearing for our lives, so we can become frantic in seeking the barest scrap of refreshment and energy. But we can never hold water actively - it literally slips through our fingers, and energetically there is a level of trust and surrender required in order to be able to hold a vessel, a grail, to hold the waters of life. On the land, hard, dry earth will cause sudden rains to move on and pass by and we need a discipline of surrender and permeability in being able to hold this resource within our energy field." (p. 156)


Imbalance or blockage symptoms:
  • Inability to urinate or the opposite: frequent and urgent urinating
  • Painful urination
  • Incontinence
  • Dark or bloody urine
  • Dehydration & thirst
  • Bladder infections (for women this is often related to anger towards men)
  • Men: swollen prostate
  • Women: prolapsed uterus
  • Fevers
  • Pain in the ankles and kneecaps
  • Backaches
  • Headaches (esp. occipital)
  • Pain in neck or shoulders, stiff neck
  • Leg cramps and sciatic pains
  • Nose bleeds
  • Diabetes
  • Aversion to cold or fear associated with cold environments
  • Mental problems
  • Timidity
  • Fear
  • Anxiety
  • Jealousy
  • Frustration
  • Resentment & holding grudges
  • Suspicion
  • Anger
  • Tearfulness
  • Listlessness
  • Control-issues
  • Negative attitude
  • Fear-based inflexibility of mind and emotions
  • Radically changing moods 
  • Lack of confidence, or the opposite: over-enthusiasm
  • Low libido
  • Diseases of the lower limbs


Things that are good to eat, drink & do:
  • Drink lots of healthy living water (preferably fresh spring water or purified and remineralized water as you want to avoid chlorine & fluoride)
  • Alkaline diet high in fresh fruits & vegetables
  • Cruciferous vegetables
  • Cranberry juice and cranberries in case of bladder infection - otherwise too acidic though.
  • Goji berries & blueberries
  • Black foods (black grapes, black olives, seaweeds, black sesame seeds, black seed, aubergines, ...)
  • Honeydew melon & water melon
  • White horseradish ('mooli') -- juiced, grated, in a salad, mooli pronthay, ... & normal radishes
  • Cucumbers & zucchini
  • Celery
  • Root vegetables: Sweet potatoes, yams, carrots, squashes
  • Garlic & onions
  • Fresh juice of 2 parts spinach and 1 part carrot
  • Nuts & nut oils
  • Relax and take everything with a little inner smile


Things to avoid:
  • Salt, as it dries out the body - use only healthy salts like Himalayan, Celtic or unprocessed sea salt.
  • Caffeine - coffee, black tea, green tea, caffeinated drinks -- they cause profound dehydration
  • Dehydration
  • Excess emotional frustration & emotional stress
  • Poor quality drinking water (esp. containing chlorine and fluoride)
  • Hair dyes & cosmetics
  • Heavy metals (in medicine, water, dental work, vaccines, ...)
  • Processed table salt
  • Acidic-producing foods (alcohol, sugar, caffeine, sodas, wheat & gluten, hot peppers & chili, spicy foods, MSG, tomatoes, ..)

Tips:
  • Hold and massage the pinkie finger of each hand for 2 minutes on either side. Repeat as often as you like
  • Wear black clothes
  • Listen to calming (mantra) music
  • Contract the muscles when you are urinating, to briefly stop the flow of urine. Do this daily to help prevent kidney stones.
  • Wash your hair every 72 hours if you can -- after 72 hours, the oil secretions from the scalp are reabsorbed into the brain and can cause severe imbalances in the nervous system.

Yoga for the bladder:
  • Meditation for the Second Chakra: https://www.libraryofteachings.com/kriya.xqy?q=&id=c91c58f2-fa59-024e-3f6b-b17d763443b&name=Second-Chakra-Kriya 
  • Any yoga for the back 
  • Forward bends & back bends
  • Any calming meditations and pranayamas
  • Alternate Nostril Breathing
  • Forward Life Nerve Stretch to lengthen and stretch the bladder meridian
  • Shoulder Stand followed by Plough Pose
  • Spinal Flexes
  • Cat-Cow 
  • Camel Pose
  • Triangle Pose
  • Locust Pose
  • Bow Pose
  • Standing with the hands in Venus Lock (fingers interlaced) on the head, swinging loosely from side to side. In the same position, bend forward from the waist on the exhale, and up and back on the exhale
  • Calming the Mind meditation: place the left hand on the heart center, right hand in gyaan mudra on the right knee. Through rounded lips, inhale and exhale with a whistle, breathing slowly and deeply.

Gemstones & Malas for the bladder or second chakra:

By Japjeet Rajbir Kaur @ Shuniya Yoga, www.shuniya-yoga.org .
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .
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Saturday, 20 February 2021

February 27 2021 - Full Moon in Virgo, Affecting the Small Intestines

February's full moon in Virgo will be affecting the Small Intestine (SI) meridian.

In Chinese medicine this meridian is connected to the Fire Element (which has 4 meridians connected to it, while the other 4 elements only have 2 meridians each connected to them). The Small Intestine Meridian is a Yang meridian, paired with the Yin meridian of the Heart. All Fire Element meridians help us connect with the inner fire, the flame of our soul. 

The path of this meridian runs as follows: it starts where the Heart meridian (its Yin pair) finishes, namely in the outer tip of the little finger. It then runs along the back edge of the hand, through the wrist, upward along the outer forearm and upper arm, to the shoulder. After zigzagging along the back of the shoulder it meets the Governor Vessel meridian which runs along the center of the back. Here it branches, with a first branch going inside the body and descending through the heart, diaphragm and stomach before ending in the small intestines. A second branch ascends along the side of the neck to the cheek and outer corner of the eye, from where it goes to the ear. A third small branch leaves the cheek to run to the inner eye, where it meets the Urinary Bladder meridian.



                                          

The human Small Intestine is about 6 meters or 20 feet long. A semi-permeable barrier that sorts (and thus is responsible for discernment) solids and liquids into useful nutrients vs. waste to be eliminated, it is responsible for the absorption of nutrients from our food into our blood (which then takes it to our cells). Its surface is a mucous layer containing beneficial bacteria and essential parts of the immune system. 

The term 'leaky gut' refers exactly to this intestinal barrier becoming compromised, holes appearing, and particles that shouldn't be entering our bloodstream doing exactly that, thus creating food intolerances, inflammation, immune system issues and ultimately auto-immune disorders. (This is a field of natural healthcare that I'm personally specialised in as a natural healthcare provider, so feel free to contact me if this is something you want to work on).

The SI meridian's energy is about separating the pure from the impure - on the physical, mental and emotional level. It can be regarded in connection to the Ayurvedic or yogic Agni Tattva, i.e. the fire of digestion, but also the fire of transformation, of alchemy, of profound inner change. The digestive fire changes food into blood. The fire of the heart gives us spiritual endurance; when we see that fire in someone's eyes, we know they are living from their heart. Fire is the great purifier. 

On a mental/emotional level, the SI meridian stands for Discernment - the so-called Buddhi aspect of the mind (aka Bibek Buddh). The SI meridian influences our mental clarity, judgment, and our powers of discernment. The ability to distinguish relevant issues with clarity before making a decision is attributed to the Small Intestine. 

A weak Small Intestine loses the capacity to discern useful nutrients from garbage. This manifests in poor absorption of food, but the brain will soon start spluttering as well, becoming overwhelmed and indecisive. 
The SI function can also be affected by emotions such as anger that cause Liver Qi to stagnate, and fear, which together can cause digestion to stop altogether. That's why we say to never eat when you're angry or upset...

The key for this full moon is to simplify everything. Keep your diet simple and pure. Keep life simple and pure.


Symptoms of an imbalanced small intestine meridian:
  • Problems digesting food
  • Stomach problems
  • Pain in lower abdomen
  • Bloating
  • Gas
  • Constipation
  • Sluggish gut
  • Gut inflammation
  • Leaky gut
  • Bacterial imbalance
  • Confusion about what is and isn't pure
  • Unclear life direction
  • Inability to make decisions
  • Inability to focus on 1 single task
  • Taking on too many things at once
  • Feeling of being pulled in many directions
  • Ear problems (e.g. deafness)
  • Eye problems
  • Pain in shoulders and neck (along the path of the meridian)
  • Congestive Heart Failure is also linked to SI chronic inflammation
  • Restlessness
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Moodiness
  • Irritability
  • Pessimism
  • PMS
  • Melancholy
Things to avoid:
  • An overly critical attitude
  • Too much self-analysis
  • Overeating low nutrient foods that require excessive sorting
  • Eating on the go without complete chewing (stresses the small intestines)
  • GMO foods with pesticides and herbicides
  • Excess cold and raw foods (can cause cold to accumulate in the Small Intestine)
  • Excess hot and spicy foods (can cause heat to accumulate)
Tips to balance the meridian:
  • Hold and massage the little finger of each hand for 2 minutes
  • Wear red clothes, use red crystals such as garnet, red jasper, red carnelian, red agate, ...
Things to eat:
  • Bitter foods: turmeric, quinoa, basil, grapefruit, karela (bitter gourd), rucola, green tea (washed), dark chocolate, ...
  • Red foods
  • Psyllium and chlorophyll daily help to keep the intestinal tract clean.
Some malas that can greatly help balance this meridian:

Yoga for the small intestines: 
  • Any and all postures that work on the third chakra and navel point: leg lifts, leg pulls and pushes, Stretch Pose (1-11 mins.), Sat Kriya (3-31 mins. -- see https:www.3ho.org/articles/everything-kriya-sat-kriya for a full explanation), pumping the navel and breath of fire, ...
Stretch Pose


Sat Kriya

  • Yoga Mudra: sitting in Rock Pose (on the heels) with the hands interlaced in Venus Mudra behind the back, bow forwards bringing the forehead to the floor (or onto a cushion that you put in front of you) while lifting the arms up behind you as high as you can. (You just lift up the arms as high as they can go - it might look nothing like the picture for you and they might only be lifted slightly - don't worry, that's okay).
Yoga Mudra
  • Shoulder Stand with long deep breathing or breath of fire. (3-10 mins - not advised when menstruating).
  • Half Boat or Boat Pose (1-3 mins.)
Kriyas:
By Japjeet Rajbir Kaur @ Shuniya Yoga, www.shuniya-yoga.org .
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .
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Wednesday, 20 January 2021

January 28, 2021 - Full Moon in Leo, Affecting the Heart Meridian

The Leo full moon coming up on Thursday 28 January will be governing the Heart meridian. 

The heart meridian is one of the Yin meridians of the Fire element (the Pericardium being the second Yin meridian of this element) and is paired with its Yang counterpart of the Small Intestines meridian (both connect in the tip of the little finger).

To quote from the ancient Chinese text the Huang Di Nei Jing (written 4,700 years ago): "The heart is the sovereign of all organs and represents the consciousness of one's being. It is responsible for intelligence, wisdom, and spiritual transformation."

The heart meridian is considered to be the seat of spirituality as well as the ruler of wisdom and good judgement. The heart moreover also rules clarity of speech; that is why words can touch our heart so deeply in a positive way, or hurt so deeply. The heart (also called the Hirdaa in Gurbani) is also where we can meet our spirit, our soul, most easily.

When the heart is strong we radiate, especially from the eyes -- the Heart houses the Shen (the Spirit of the Heart) which radiates and shines from a person's eyes and face.

The heart is the first organ to start working while we are developing in our mother's womb, and it's the last to give out - in between, it beats steadily, without ever taking a break (unlike other organs which get to rest at intervals). 
The Heart is truly the Emperor of all organs, and it rules over our entire being: physical, emotional, mental and subtle. It is responsible for our blood and for circulating it through the vessels to nourish the cells. Chinese Medicine understands that the Mind & Perception (our mental abilities as well as our Consciousness) actually reside in the Heart - not in the brain, as Western medicine mistakenly thinks. Tellingly, the heart's electromagnetic field is many times stronger than the brain's electromagnetic field.

The Heart also dominates sleep. If it is strong, a person will fall asleep easily and sleep soundly. If the Heart is weak though, the person's mind will 'float', causing an inability to fall asleep, disturbed sleep, or excessive dreaming.

Causes of an imbalance in the Heart meridian can include tremendous emotional sorrow or a sudden powerful emotional shock (which is well-known to cause heart attacks or strokes).
Image result for heart meridian


The 3 branches of the Heart meridian all begin in the heart. One branch flows downward through the diaphragm to meet the small intestines. Another rises up alongside the throat, runs alongside the mouth (both left and right) over the cheek and ends in the lower eye both left and right. The third branch (again of course left and right both) runs across the chest, through the lungs, and comes out through the armpit. It flows along the midline of the inside upper arm, through the inner elbow, along the midline of the inner lower arm, until it crosses the wrist and palm, before ending in the inside tip of the little finger where it connects to the Small Intestine meridian.


Symptoms indicating an imbalance or blockage:
  • Disorders of the heart and chest: palpitations, pain
  • High blood pressure
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Pain along the meridian path.
  • Night sweats
  • Vivid or disturbing dreams
  • Insomnia
  • Sadness and sorrow 
  • Nervousness or fearfulness & anxiety
  • Mental confusion & confused thinking 
  • Poor memory
  • A sense of dread
  • Emotional ups & downs 
  • Any kind of speech problems: talking incessantly, laughing inappropriately, nervous giggling and talking, stuttering, aphasia (the inability to speak)
  • Loss of taste 
  • Bitter taste in the mouth
  • A red tongue tip (caused by heat), red face
  • Inability to love
  • Lacking emotional warmth
  • Easily becoming hot-cold on the emotional level
  • Rounded-off shoulders
  • Mouth or tongue sores
  • Cataracts 
Remember: Where there is love, there is no fear. Where there is fear, there is no love.

What best to eat?
  • All red foods: red peppers, watermelon, cherries, red grapes, strawberries, raspberries, cherries, grapefruit, red cabbage, tomatoes, saffron, etc.
  • Bitter foods: rucola, red beets, turmeric, basil, Brussels sprouts, quinoa, bitter gourd (karelay), dark chocolate, green & black tea (in moderation if at all, and definitely do always wash the leaves first because of the caffeine's effect on your kidneys (one cup's effects will last for 8 weeks) - I stay clear of these regardless what moon it is, or I choose matcha green tea which is the only actual 'tea' leaf I consume), etc.

What to reduce or avoid?
  • Be aware: too much of bitter foods is not good 
  • Spicy food
  • Sugar
  • Overthinking
  • Try to avoid distraction or unclear direction in life (Archer Pose is a great way to work on this aspect and help the Heart meridian in this area).
  • Time pressure - the heart suffers from this. Try not to feel rushed and pressured, keep breathing and relaxing through this time.
  • Stasis or stagnation
  • A lack of love in your environment

General tips to help this meridian:
  • Wear red, pink or green clothes or carry red, pink or green stones (red coral, garnet, unakite, rose quartz, pink Peruvian opal, rhodonite, pink tourmaline, ruby-zoisite, mookaite, chrysocolla) over the heart or on the little finger. 
As you might know, I make malas, and you can order malas in these crystals on the webshop or directly with me if you want: https://www.shuniya-yoga.org/product-category/malas/ - I have included a small selection with links at the end of this newsletter, but you'll find many more options on the webshop.
  • Hold and massage the little finger of each hand for 2 minutes. 
  • Think and say the key phrase “I will.” 
  • Practice gratitude
  • Journal, express your emotions
  • Meditate & find time for reflection
  • Make time to create nourishing environments for yourself
  • Connect to those you love
  • Rumi has written beautifully about the Heart - reading his work can be a great way to connect

Yoga for the heart meridian:
  • Cow Face Pose: Grab your hands behind your back. One arm goes over the shoulder, with the other under and behind the back. In KY, the crossing of the legs in shoelace is optional. Do Breath of fire for 3 minutes, then reverse the arms and repeat. If your hands don't touch, you can hold on to the ends of a small towel or cloth. 
Image result for cow face pose kundalini yoga
  • Sit with the hands folded over the heart center, left hand under, right hand over, and just be with your breath.
  • All exercises with the arms at shoulder height or above.
  • Mantra - Chattr Chakkr Vartee is a great mantra for the heart, as is e.g. Guru Guru Wahe Guru Guru Ram Daas Guru

Kriyas:

There are dozens of Kundalini Yoga kriyas for the Heart Chakra. I used to even run 3-day retreats on this topic and offer a 10-session private class series on it too. Here are a few nice ones to practice: 
·         Kundalini Yoga for the Electromagnetic Field and Heart Center
·         Kriya to open the Heart Center
·         Exercises for the Heart Center (we practiced this kriya in class last week)
·         Praanic Meditation for the Heart Center
·         Meditation for Projection & Protection from the Heart

Malas that can be extremely helpful (and there are many more on the webshop, just search for Heart Chakra):



By Japjeet Rajbir Kaur @ Shuniya Yoga, www.shuniya-yoga.org .
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .
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Friday, 4 December 2020

December 2020 - Full Moon in Cancer, Affecting the Spleen Meridian

The last full moon of 2020 will be affecting the Spleen(-Pancreas) meridian and the Spleen & Pancreas both. Together with the Stomach meridian, the Spleen meridian is associated with the Earth Element in Chinese medicine. 


As you can see in the below images, the Spleen meridian runs very close to the Stomach meridian.

  
The Spleen has quite a wide range of functions in the body, ranging from digestion to the immune system, preserving muscle tone and taking care of our sensuality. The Spleen basically manufactures Qi energy (prana) from the food we eat: it plays a central role in the production of blood and the extraction of prana (Qi energy, life force). Its role is to transform and move foods, liquids and thoughts (!) in the body (all that we consider 'digesting'). This is why the Spleen is also called 'the source of postnatal (i.e. acquired, or 'not born with') Qi/Prana'. It sends the pranic essence to the lungs and heart plus distributes nutrients through the blood to every cell. 
The spleen houses the body's thoughts and intentions (Yi) - hence why one of the imbalances comes out as overthinking or worrying - and is responsible for sharp analytical thinking, memory, cognition, intelligence and ideas. 
The spleen also plays a primary role in the lymphatic system (it is the largest organ of the lymphatic system) and immune system as it helps the body recognise foreign invaders. It keeps our tissues, muscles, and thoughts moist, supple, adaptable. The spleen is responsible for the removal of old red blood cells and the production and storage of white blood cells, which cleanse pathogenic bacteria from our blood. Functionally, the spleen is equivalent to a large lymph node, with a focus on cleansing our blood and thus aiding immunity.
The Spleen is in charge of us being centred and feeling well with who we are and where we are on this planet, providing a stable 'home environment' for ourselves. If we have that stability, we are able to focus our minds keenly and sharply
The Spleen is known as the Mother Organ of the physical body (as it nourishes the other organs) and relates to the earth element. It governs our sense of taste and 'true nourishment'. 
It also regulates our different bio-rhythms, including women's menstrual cycles.
The sweetness of life is needed to feel nourished, grounded and balanced in life. The spleen is associated with the Earth element, and with the energy of a Mother - and to take good care of it, think of what you could associate with this: 
  • warm food (broths, soups)
  • lightly cooked vegetables, especially nourishing root vegetables (see below)
  • a stable home environment
  • calm eating habits
  • regular mealtimes
  • a comfortable daily routine
  • chewing your food well
  • doing one thing at a time instead of multi-tasking (or eating while doing something else)
  • mindful living
  • taking a break, doing nothing
Worry and overthinking are the Spleen's greatest enemies and cause spleen depletion.
Follow the suggestions below to increase the experience of a sweet life (without needing sugar or artificial sweeteners!). 
Symptoms of an Interrupted Flow, Imbalance of, or Blockage in the Spleen Meridian: 
  • general muscle tightness
  • muscle weakness
  • digestion problems & stomach pain
  • abdominal bloating
  • worry
  • (mental) stress
  • depression
  • craving for news and reading
  • overeating
  • irregular meals
  • not being able to relax at mealtimes
  • thinking all the time, overthinking
  • compulsive behaviour
  • cold hands
  • being distracted, not finishing things
  • chronic fatigue
  • exhaustion (physical and/or mental)
  • mental sluggishness
  • Alzheimer's
  • dementia
  • diabetes
  • obesity
  • avoiding protein in your meals
  • nightmares
  • oedema
  • cold hands & feet
  • too much standing
  • craving cold or raw food (detrimental to the spleen)
  • easy bruising
  • dizziness
  • pale complexion
  • sleepwalking
  • vaginal discharge

Things to Eat:
All yellow/orange fruits and vegetables (squash, pumpkin, parsnip, carrots, papaya, banana, oranges, persimmons, ...). 
To promote the feeling of nurturing oneself, eat naturally sweet foods. Ripe bananas would be an excellent food for balancing this meridian. 
Another great food for the spleen is a dish of millet with Chinese dates and some pumpkin or squash cooked to a soup. 
Sweet flavours are known as the flavours of harmony and are associated with Mother Earth. If the spleen is in distress, sweet flavours can harmonise and benefit the central Qi. If, however, one uses sweet foods excessively, they will start producing phlegm, obstruct transformation and harm the flesh of the body, which in turn will lead to swelling, bloating, obesity, and diabetes. 

Things to Avoid/Reduce:
  • Living in the past
  • Worrying
  • Overthinking
  • Too much work/stress
  • Multi-tasking
  • Standing while you work
  • Irregular mealtimes
  • Chaotic schedule
  • Raw foods, fruit juices, milk products
  • Cold foods and drinks, iced drinks
  • Overeating
  • Caffeine (caffeine acts as 'False Qi', which can lead to high blood pressure, agitation, depression and heart palpitations)
  • Honey
  • Chocolate
  • Sugars, sweets
  • Glycemic foods
  • Processed foods

Tips:  

Yoga for the Spleen:  
  • Horse stand: Stand with feet firmly on the ground, knees slightly bent, hands loosely on the thighs, body relaxed. Close the eyes, visualize and feel the energy flowing from deep within the earth upwards through the soles of your feet and continuing up.
  • All pranayama (breathing exercises), but especially Sitali Pranayam, which takes poison away from the spleen, liver and digestive system.
  • Camel Pose 
  • Back Platform
  • Locust Pose: Lie on your stomach with your chin on the ground. Make fists and place them underneath your groin and lift your legs up. Hold with long deep breathing. Relax in the posture and visualize the colour YELLOW in your body, up to 10 minutes.



Recommended Kriya and Meditation:


Meditation Malas / Crystals that will support the Spleen:

- Yellow Jade malas: and I have 2 ready for sending out: https://www.shuniya-yoga.org/product/8mm-yellow-jade-mala-on-dark-honey-yellow-thread/ and https://www.shuniya-yoga.org/product/8mm-yellow-jade-mala-light-yellow-thread/ - more combos with Yellow Jade can be found on the webshop as well and could be made again, just search for Yellow Jade in the search box.


By Japjeet Rajbir Kaur @ Shuniya Yoga, www.shuniya-yoga.org .
Expanded from information on www.breathislife.com & www.fiveseasonsmedicine.com .

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