A SIMPLE EXPLANATION OF MERIDIANS:

The ancient Chinese healers knew that nature can gives us clues and answers to help us understand ourselves as individuals & collective communities.

There are 12 main meridians in our body – two for each Element (Fire, Earth, Metal, Water & Wood) except the Fire Element, which control 4 meridians.

In Chinese medicine these 12 meridians are given personalities as though they are 12 officials working in a kingdom, each with its own job and duties contributing towards the collective good of the person.

SEASONS: CAN MY MOOD REALLY CHANGE ACCORDING TO THE SEASON?

The answer is a simple yes – here is why:

Look within and ask, “Which season do I long for?  Which is my least favorite?  How do I react to the hope of Spring, the excitement of Summer, the quietness of Winter?

If you have recurring problems at the same time every day, then there is a good chance that the organ/meridian associated with that time is in distress. We have included the times below.

WOOD & SPRING (Liver 1am-3am & Gallbladder 11pm-1am)

Spring is the beginning of the season cycle, a time of birth and new beginnings. It is also the energy of the element Wood. This is the energy that brings new growth; that pushes the new grass through the cold, hard groun, the new branches out from old wood, produces new leaves. It does this so nature can take in the nourishment it needs to flourish. Spring is also the time of hope; this season bursts forward with optimism, offering change after the quiet, still time of Winter.

What is this Wood energy doing? It is moving forward, a direct assertive energy making no apologies for pushing things out of its way. Each seed and sapling is following its own part of nature’s plan. Think of the wood of a tree, it gives nature structure and shape but does not let anything hold it back as it drives forward. Without this type of change all things would wither and die. As in nature the Wood energy is part of the energy of our body – the acupuncture meridians of the Liver and Gall Bladder.

Given that each meridian has a job in the body s kingdom, the Gall Bladder meridian is “The Upright Official who excels in Judgment” and the Liver is “The Official in Charge of Planning”. These Wood meridians give us the energy:

• to have new ideas
• to move forward,
• to have plans
• to change who we are,
• to be assertive,
• to make decisions,
• to have vision,
• to have hope for our future.

SUMMER & FIRE (Heart 11am-1pm, Small Intestine 1pm-3pm, Pericardium 7pm-9pm, Triple Burner 9pm-11pm)

After Spring we move into the active time of Summer.  This is the energy of Fire, the time of activity, warmth, movement, growth and relationship.  Nature itself is moving, the plants are growing, animals are getting ready to produce young and things are busy. In society this is when we are outside, gathering in groups, enjoying each other’s company at parties.  Humans and plants flourish with the warmth of the sun.  There is an uplifted, joyful feeling and a sense of safety.

Fire is our ability to have relationship, to feel safe, to feel in control, to be intimate, to have fun, to laugh and be excited. Fire is the energy of the Heart Meridian – the King or Queen of the body’s Kingdom.  If the Heart is unstable there is a feeling of anxiety and panic – the kingdom is out of control. It is our internal thermostat that looks after our emotional and physical temperature.

No Fire energy = No Warmth = World as a gloomy and chilly place.

Fire is also the energy of the Heart Protector or Pericardium Meridian.  This is our ability to have connection to people, the energy that stands in front of our heart and shields us from hurt, like a warrior would protect a monarch.

The Small Intestine Meridian is known as the “Sorter of Pure From Impure”.  It is the energy that helps us discern what is needed and what is rubbish in a mental, emotional and physical sense.

The Triple Burner Meridian looks after the three burning spaces – the top, middle and bottom of our bodies  trunk area.

LATE SUMMER & EARTH (Stomach 7am-9am & Spleen 9am-11am)

Next is the fifth season, Late Summer.  It is the shortest of the seasons, lasting from four to six weeks. It is that pause between the rising Elements of Wood and Fire and the descending Elements, Metal and Water.  It is the energy of Earth – Mother Earth.

Late Summer is time of harvest, a time of plenty, of reaping what we have worked for throughout the year. The plants and animals have grown and produced the fruit of their labour. If our Earth is of good quality, like quality soil, we will have the ability to produce good food to nourish ourselves.

The Earth is about our feelings of stability. Think of the archetype of an Earth Mother – giving nourishing milk, having an abundance of compassion and care for its young, helping its young feel safe and protected, and giving them space to grow.

The Stomach is the “Official of Rotting and Ripening.” This is about our ability, to take things in, to nurture ourselves, to feel full and satisfied with the fruits of our harvest. Here the feelings of neediness, loneliness emptiness reside.

The Spleen – “The Official of Distribution” enables us to move Qi to each cell as it needs, to know that sustenance will be where we need it. When out of balance it can exhibit as worry and over-concern.

AUTUMN & METAL (Lung 3am-5am & Large Intestine 5am-7am)

Autumn is the energy of Metal, the time when nature rids itself of what is not needed, when nature sheds its leaves and lets go of the rubbish it no longer needs. With those leaves it produces its own compost, enriching the soil, ensuring the next cycle has the nutrients it needs to grow.

Metal is about our own purity, our spiritual essence, our ability to have connection with a ‘heavenly father’. By giving us connection to the heavenly realms Metal helps us understand that we are more than the ‘day to day’ of life, that we are connected to ‘all that is’ and in that it is the source of our real self-esteem.

The Lung Meridian is the “Receiver of Heavenly Qi” giving us the ability to receive pure qi, connection to the spirit and real connection to others.

The Large Intestine Meridian is known as the “Drainer of the Dregs”. It is about our ability to let go of what is not needed from our body, mind, spirit and emotions, thus helping us to stay clean and not clogged up with what no longer serves us.

Metal is the source of such emotions as good self-esteem, loyalty, conceit, and longing for what has been.

WINTER & WATER (Kidney 5pm-7pm & Bladder 3pm-5pm)

Winter is the energy of the element Water, the time of rest and hibernation, when nature retreats to build up its reserves for its next cycle of seasons. This is a quieter, more reflective time of year, a time when it is easy to sleep in, stay at home, and let ourselves rest. The more we rest in Winter the more harvest we can expect in Late Summer.

Water is about our ability to flow and to overcome obstacles.  To understand the attributes of water in ourselves we can think of the many ways water presents itself in Nature. Think how our energy can resemble a mighty river or a trickling stream, the waves of the ocean, a frozen lake, a gentle rain.

Water is the realm of fear, drive, ambition flexibility and will power.

The Kidney Meridian is called “The Controller of Water” and, as we are 83% water, it is an important function.  It is also in charge of the Essential Qi that we inherit from our parents that controls the bigger cycles in our life like puberty, menopause, etc

Water is the energy of the Bladder Meridian, the “Official in Charge of the Reserves of Energy”. It is our ability to keep going or a feeling that we are too tired.