Yin class planning for Halloween
Why not connect your class with the spirit of the Liver: the Hun or ethereal soul. It is described as the soul of the living or the dead. Chinese stories relate about wandering ghosts, as the expression of the Hun, leaving the body after death who haven't had anyone praying for them, practising the death ritual of the soul. It is saidthat the Hun stores all the past experiences manifest during dreams. It is believed to live on after death and continuing to the next life.
The Hun helps to influence life/decision planning, and if it is not rooted, it expresses through floating feelings or fear before sleep and insomnia can occur. It is a common affliction showing that the Liver Qi is depleted. Blood cannot return well to the Liver at night, and all functions become weak.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine view, the Liver is mostly understood as in Western medicine, although Liver Qi ensures the smooth flow of internal Qi throughout the body, and it also stores and controls the amount of blood circulating. Withdrawing it and storing it when resting or sleeping, and releasing it during exercise. It is also regulating the menstrual blood flow. Associated with the central nervous system, and autonomic nervous system it governs our emotional state. It is in charge of the tendons, the nails and the eyes. The Liver is the second largest organ of the body, and it is situated on the right side of the body, but the Liver Qi flows from the left side of the body, drawing its energy from right to left. If the Liver Qi becomes stagnant with deficient liver blood, the tendons, ligaments, muscles will not be hydrated, nourished enough and will result in cramps, lack of strength and flexibility, blockages of all sort. The quality of the nails strong and healthy, and the look of a fresh eye with clear vision shows the balance of the Liver Qi; any troubles will manifest as brittle nails, with white spots, lack of flexibility, myopia or blurry vision.
"The spirit of the liver, the hun, rules the nervous system and gives rise to extra-sensory perception" (1)
The Liver ensures mental and emotional stability. It is described as the 'seat of the emotions' also called the 'Immature Child'. Liver Qi needs freedom, expansion and free wandering. Stress, anger, impulsive actions may damage this free flow and create a depression of liver Qi. Anger and depression causes stagnation, as it produces heat from the Liver to rise into the head, the angry face person may be reddened, and redness anywhere always means heat. Depression generates recurrent sight, pain and discomfort in the chest and breast (for woman).
When stagnation occurs, emotional imbalances will be felt such as outburst of anger (excess) (yang energy), or depression, (deficiency yin) sinking energy under the influence of Po (the spirit of the lung).
When depression settled for too long, Traditional Chinese Medicine relates that the Hun can leave the house of the Liver and wanders until wholeness is restored. By connecting back with the Shen of the heart, and the Po of the lungs, with arms stretching and conscious visualisation of the energy returning to the Liver and gallbladder via their respective meridians(2), the Hun can return with a new perspective and loving-kindness towards the self.
Focusing on the meridian and virtues of the Liver (kindness, gentleness, forgiveness) in association with those of the kidney (security, confidence) and heart (compassion, unconditional love) will help to bring the Hun back to the Liver to follow our dreams. Happy Halloween!
And for some inspiration, you can also watch my yin winter class on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqFc4l4E708
Namaste
................................................................................................................................................................................................
REFERENCES
1- The Yellow Emperor's Classic or Medicine, A new translation of teh Neijing Suwen by Maoshing Ni, Ph.D., Chapter 5.
2- Liver Qi pathway, opening and stretching the interior side of the legs and bending sideways. Please check the diagram here: https://www.acatcm.com/liver-meridian-foot-jue-yin
Galbladder Qi pathway, from the little toe to the corner of the eye, please check the diagram here https://www.acatcm.com/gallbladder-meridian-foot-shao-yang
Image reference: A detail of Chinese artist Ma Yuan's "On a Mountain Path in Spring". 1190-1225 CE. Ink and colour on silk. (National Museum, Taipei, Taiwan).