Summer and the elemental phases of Fire
As we move into the summer months, it also begins the season of Fire. According to TCM Five Elements theory, Summer is the time of the Fire Element.
Fire is the one element associated with the Four Organ System meridians. Imperial Fire and Ministerial Fire.
The Heart (the emperor) (personal truth/interpretation) and the Small Intestine (assimilation and judgement) are the meridian pair belonging to Imperial Fire. This pair represents Interpretation and Assimilation. Its color is Red and represents the body tissues of the blood and blood vessels, and the body indicator is the complexion - a moderately rosy tone of skin may mean a balanced circulatory system.
Those with Fire constitutional types may blush easily. This may be a characteristic of the active Fire energy, and also coincides with intensely felt emotions.
The sense organ and sense associated with Imperial Fire are the tongue and speech. Part of the Heart's healthy function is speaking your personal truth, which is complemented by the Small Intestine, which is representative of clearly communicating and clearly hearing what is being communicated.
The overall emotion associated with this element is Joy, expressing itself in laughter. When balanced, it allows us to express ourselves in a warm manner, with frequent smiles and an authentic sense of humor. In times of flux, the emotion becomes melancholy (also a slowing down or calming). Laughter takes on a nervous quality or appears at inappropriate times, or perhaps even as a little laugh after every sentence or a sarcastic, joyless humor
The Heart represents the functions of the “Personal Truth”, “Consciousness”, & “Healthy Awareness of self-identity”. It has an elemental pair with the Small Intestine, forming the TCM element of Imperial Fire. Together, the combined function of these paired meridian channels is Interpretation and Assimilation.
The heart’s Physical healthy function is the healthy electrical functioning of the heart organ- the engine that keeps the circulation going throughout the body systems.
Metaphysically (According to TCM), HT has the following functions
· Calm Abiding, not anxious or overwhelmed by emotion
· Restful Sleep
· Ability to identify that which gives you joy
Small Intestine (SI) represents the functions of “Assimilation of Food and Emotion”, & “Listening and Communicating in a clear/satisfying way”.
Small intestine’s Physical health function is the healthy intestinal assimilation, healthy ear function, clearing out ear inflammation, and duplicating the spleen’s function of adequate warmth to transform stomach contents and absorb water to prevent loose stools
Metaphysically (According to TCM), SI has the following functions
· Being able to listen and communicate in intimate conversations in a way that satisfies the heart and spirit
· Truly hear what is said, truly communicate what you mean
· Ability to process and integrate emotional experience, rather than being overwhelmed by it or suppressing emotion
· Ability to integrate experience and frame it in a positive manner
In general, Fire’s (both ministerial and imperial) healthy function is the ability to be 100% present in the moment and with other people, and the ability to experience intimacy and be ok with vulnerability.
Fire also governs the blood and blood vessels. It represents the season of Summer and the color red. Fire is associated with the tongue and speech. Its emotion is Joy and in times of excitement or change, its overriding manner is melancholy, as in a slowing down or calming.
Ministerial Fire is represented by the pair of Pericardium and the Triple Heater
Pericardium (PC) represents the functions of the “Emotional Buffer/Deep Circulation” & “Healthy medium–to–deep intimate layer.” It has an elemental pair with Triple Heater, forming the TCM element of Ministerial Fire. Together, the combined function of these paired meridian channels is Circulation and Protection.
The pericardium’s Physical health function is to protect the heart. Also, Healthy functioning of the heart muscle, health of chest circulation/free flow in the cardiac arteries, and benefits the health of all blood vessels.
Metaphysically (According to TCM), LU has the following functions. Think of the pericardium as the imperial guard, which decides who gets to speak to the emperor and who is denied access.
· Healthy flexibility to move between opening and closing the emotional heart center as needed
· Restful sleep
· Willingness to be intimate even though it could be potentially painful
· Intimacy with self: coming into the core of self, knowing who you are at your core
· Knowing and trusting self
Triple Heater (TH) represents the functions of the “Protection/Adaptation/Peripheral Circulation” & “Healthy superficial–to–medium intimacy.”
Triple Heater’s Physical healthy function is to protect the heart. Also, Healthy lymphatic circulation and reduction of swelling, Healthy peripheral circulation, and Healthy immune response
Metaphysically (According to TCM), LU has the following functions
· Healthy ability to protect oneself
· Ability to perform superficial social movements, make basic connections, small talk, and scrutinize the safety of closer contact
Fire Meditation (as taught in Zen Shiatsu Chicago)
Begin lying down on the floor, on your back, with a comfortable distance between your legs, and your arms down to your sides with the palms facing up.
Gently close your eyes. There is nowhere to go, there is nothing to do. Gently allow yourself to be fully present in your breath, your body, your mind, and your spirit in this moment. Allow the body to soften and surrender into gravity.
Bring your awareness to your breath.
Now simply watch your breath. Do not manipulate your breath in any way – simply become aware of the movement of the breath. Feel where the breath begins and where the breath ends. Immerse yourself completely in your sensory awareness of your breath. Now watch the one who watches the breath – your awareness, your own consciousness. Become aware of your own awareness. Allow your spatial awareness to be everywhere present in this moment. This is your authentic, essential self……infinite, eternal, expansive, and free. This is your own inner guru, the presence which brings you from the darkness into the light.
Now bring that awareness back into your body. Can you feel the beating of your heart? The spark of life in your breast, which beats your heart 250 to 300,000 times a day. It breathes your lungs 15 to 20,000 times a day. This spark literally “inspires” you. This individual divine spark is part of a greater radiance of Universal Consciousness which moves the planets in their orbits, allows the moon to wax and wane, and causes the ocean to ebb and flow. It is the beat of life that beats in you, in your chest, in your skull, in your groin; in your pulses and through your veins.
This is your spark, your soul, your anime, your spirit…that which gives you the gift of discernment, the power to love, the heart of compassion, and the consciousness to feel your connection to all things. This is your inner light.
Now allow yourself to feel your own heartbeat. Allow yourself to feel the heartbeat of the Universe. (Pause). This is the electricity at the heart of your circulatory system – the impulse which beats your heart, breathes your lungs, allows you to be present, fully present, fully aware, and fully responsive to life.
In healthy expression, the Heart integrates the input from our 5 senses and generates appropriate internal responses. The heart constantly mediates between our internal thoughts and feelings and our external responses. In meditation, we become clear internally. Then, and only then, can we speak in peace from the truth of our Heart and speak from the Heart of our truth. The tongue is the sprout of the Heart, and a healthy Heart speaks peace and contentment. It is from this depth and richness of spirit that we express the creative spark, the joy in living, the transforming power of love. Allow yourself in this moment to open to that spacious, peaceful place of contentment. (Long Pause)
The Small Intestine chooses which parts of food to integrate and absorb completely into our own body. It hears the truth of another’s speaking, discerns their heart’s truth, and brings it to our heart. It sorts out our own beliefs and puts us in touch with what is true for us. Be aware of your small intestine in your belly, continually churning and separating, sorting nourishment for our body and unspooling a ribbon of stories and interpretations into our past.
The Heart Protector enables our individual spark to connect with the Universal Shen and to permeate the body with our Soul, thus the many practices of “fully embodying” the Spirit. It allows us to be aware and intimate with ourselves and have the foundation for intimacy with others.
In this moment, imagine that you could touch every cell of your body with your breath. As you deepen your breath, feel your energy flowing through every cell. Feel your awareness, your consciousness in every cell of your being. Experience your spatial awareness everywhere present.
Feeling your consciousness in each cell, notice the awareness at the surface of the body, the natural boundary between you and everything else. (Pause). The healthy function of the Triple Heater informs this awareness at the surface and enables any response necessary to protect us on all levels. Feel the interweaving of all the connective tissue of your body. The Triple Heater is the space through which all fluid flow happens. The Triple Heater is also expressed through the diaphragm. The diaphragm has several holes allowing major arteries and veins to pass through, allowing communication from chest to belly. The dome-ing and flattening of the diaphragm with the breath has the effect of moving connective tissue space, massaging the internal organs, expressing circulation, and protection.
Feel the breath expanding and alternately massaging your core. (Pause)
Now bring your awareness to your heart center. Within your heart, see a golden flame. (Pause). Feel the warmth and comfort of this flame relaxing your Heart. Imagine yourself enveloped in a golden, flickering flame. (Pause).
See that flame grow into a fire - dancing, and luminous.
You are that spark, that fire, that light, that warmth, that movement, that freedom, that joy, that spontaneity, that luminosity. (Pause).
Luminous, shining, glowing with light….. (Pause).
See your golden light shining into the immediate sphere of space around you, like the oval of light forming around a candle flame……….
Allow that inherent joy, your inner light, your presence, your contentment, to radiate from that oval of light out into the world, which is also you……..
