BONE BREATHING AND SOUND HEALING
Nourishing and building up the kidney energy during the winter season means we’re also nourishing the bones. The body’s bones are considered sacred in many indigenous cultures and thought to contain not only spirit (as each of the organs do), but also the spirits of our ancestors. Qigong agrees. Jing, the essential Qi we are born with that is stored in the kidneys, holds the wisdom of our ancestors, our heritage. It also generates bone marrow, which is involved in the production of blood, which then carries Qi through the whole body. We can supplement our overall Qi it by cultivating it from all around us—earth, universe, and nature. Through the practice of bone breathing, specifically, we will increase the Qi in and around the bones.
We often think of bones as dry and lifeless, but the opposite is true. When working with Qi and the bones I love to remind myself that we are the same stuff of the universe—that it’s star dust that makes up the amino acids that make up the proteins that make up us. We are alive down to our bones—born of a beautiful and ancient lineage. Our bones are literally alive with bio-electromagnetic Qi. Because of this, bones are affected by vibration.
Using our ears, the sense organ associated with the kidneys, this week we will open to the healing vibrations of the gong in our Inner Smile Meditation. The tapping and knocking we do in Qi self-massage also stimulates the bones with vibration. Shaking during our initial clearing, is an excellent bone builder. The Bone Marrow Cleanse, which we will continue this week, affects the deepest layer of Qi in the body, the bone marrow. With our bones in mind we’ll also practice “Washing the Spine in the River” and “Gathering Starlight.”
All of this bone work still lends itself to shaking off and releasing held stress and fear in the kidney, adrenal and bladder energy centers. Using the safe and effective tools of qigong—posture, breath, visualization, and intention—we will cleanse, nourish, and vibrate our every cell with calm, fresh, peaceful Qi.
Namaste,
Sandra
© Sandra Tonn