week 2 of video series: METAL
Lao Tzu said, “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”
When we work with the metal element we are working with letting go and letting come. With breath and inspiration as well as letting go (literally releasing and not holding) of what is no longer needed or is naturally finished. Our ability to take in and let go affects our use and experience of oxygen, nutrition, waste, and energy. We can’t, for example, take in a new breath until we let the last one go. The same holds true for many of our emotions and life experiences.
Working with metal means working with the corresponding organs—the lungs (yin organ), and the large intestine (yang organ). The corresponding body part is the nose (smell) and also the skin. The healing sound is “Sss” and the energy colour is a pure, shiny, brilliant white.
The acquired emotions or states of the lungs may include grief, sadness, sorrow, depression, shame, guilt, and despair, as well as anxiety, which may manifest in many of the organ/energy centers. The balancing and natural virtues of the lungs include integrity, resiliency, courage, strength, honesty, reverence, justice, righteousness, and detachment.
Blocks or imbalance in the metal element, are often related to constipation, diarrhea, headache, lung disorders (such as asthma), sinus congestion, allergies, fatigue, and loss of enthusiasm for life. Unresolved grief, especially from childhood, is often at the core of many lung and colon ailments. We get emotionally stopped up and instead of taking in and letting out, we hold.
When open and balanced, metal Qi is experienced as the ability to encounter difficulty with tenacity, a willingness to endure, confidence, and a willingness to release physical and emotional wastes, including old beliefs, habits and behaviours, as well as unhealthy relationships and work. The ability to experience our moments as precious and be present in them, whether they are happy or sad, is the power of lung Qi.
This week we will use the inner smile meditation and lung healing sound to practice the alchemy of transforming held or stuck energy. Our self-acupressure will focus on stimulating the lung and small intestine meridians to further allow for energetic balance and flow. Our stretching, posture, breath work, and flowing qigong movements will connect us with our lungs, open, purge, tone, and bring loads of fresh and supportive Qi into the physical and energy bodies.
We will practice Kidney Breathing, Legs Up the Wall, Ocean Breathing, Tiger Claws, the Daoist Five Tonification for Lungs, and more.
I’m looking forward to practicing with you.
Namaste,
Sandra
© Sandra Tonn