Active Awareness Arts

Animal Symbols

Whitetail Deer

By July 13, 2011 – Posted in: Animal Symbols

Whitetail Deer This text will be replaced jwplayer('mediaspace').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.theshiftcenter.com/video/jwplayer/player.swf', 'file': 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/foxwalkfilms/Nature/White_Tail_Deer.mp4', 'skin': 'http://www.theshiftcenter.com/video/jwplayer/glow.zip', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '620', 'height': '480' });

Hawk

By June 23, 2011 – Posted in: Animal Symbols

This text will be replaced jwplayer('mediaspace').setup({ 'flashplayer': 'http://www.theshiftcenter.com/video/jwplayer/player.swf', 'file': 'https://s3.amazonaws.com/foxwalkfilms/Nature/Red_Shouldered_Hawk.mp4', 'skin': 'http://www.theshiftcenter.com/video/jwplayer/glow.zip', 'controlbar': 'bottom', 'width': '610', 'height': '480' }); The hawk is a great teacher. It teaches how to be observant, to look at our surroundings, to be still and attentive. So when a hawk is making an obvious display of itself in you life [...]

Cardinal

By June 22, 2011 – Posted in: Animal Symbols

A female Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) dropped onto our backyard spruce the other day. I got a pretty good video of her behavior. I saw a couple small white bugs zipping around and noticed when I slowed the video down how she reacted to them. Didn’t really catch that until I saw the slow motion [...]

The Six Healing Sounds

The Six Healing Sounds, also known as "Liu Zi Jue" in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are a set of specific vocalizations associated with different organs of the body, designed to promote healing and balance. Each sound is believed to correspond to and positively affect one of the five major organ systems by regulating the flow of Qi (vital energy) and balancing the emotions associated with each organ.

The practice involves deep breathing and the emission of specific sounds, with the aim of expelling negative energy and emotions from the organs, promoting the flow of Qi, and enhancing overall health. The six sounds and their corresponding organs are:

  1. Lung Sound: The sound for the lungs is "Sss" (like the hissing of a snake). This sound is believed to help eliminate sadness and depression, promoting the release of grief and enhancing lung function.
  2. Kidney Sound: For the kidneys, the sound is "Chewy". This sound aims to reduce fear and anxiety, helping to strengthen the kidneys and improve the body's willpower.
  3. Liver Sound: The liver sound is "Shhh" (like the sound of quieting someone). It is used to dispel anger and irritability, fostering the smooth flow of Qi and blood throughout the body.
  4. Heart Sound: The heart sound is "Ca", intended to cool down the heart fire, reducing impatience and hastiness, thereby promoting joy and happiness.
  5. Spleen Sound: The spleen and stomach sound is "Whoo" (as in an exhale of relief). This sound targets worry and overthinking, aiming to improve digestion and the assimilation of nutrients.
  6. Triple Burner Sound: Though not associated with a specific organ, the triple burner (San Jiao) sound is "Shee" (a gentle, smile-inducing sound). This sound affects all three burners (upper, middle, and lower), promoting the harmonious distribution and movement of body fluids and Qi throughout the body.

 

Practitioners often perform these sounds in sequences, focusing on deep breathing and visualization techniques to enhance the healing effect. The Six Healing Sounds is a form of Qigong, a practice that integrates physical postures, breathing techniques, and focused intention, and is considered a way to maintain health, heal diseases, and extend life in the framework of TCM.

Triple Burner

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the "triple burner" (also known as "triple warmer" or "San Jiao" in Chinese) is a unique and somewhat abstract concept that doesn't have a direct counterpart in Western medicine. It is considered one of the five zang organs, though unlike other organs, it does not have a physical form or specific location in the body. Instead, it refers to the division of the human torso into three regions or "burners" - upper, middle, and lower - each associated with different organs and functions:

1. **Upper Burner (Shang Jiao)**: This area corresponds to the chest above the diaphragm and involves the heart and lungs. It is responsible for the circulation of qi (vital energy) and blood, as well as the distribution of body fluids. The upper burner regulates respiration and influences the protective qi that wards off external pathogens.

2. **Middle Burner (Zhong Jiao)**: Situated between the diaphragm and the belly button, this region encompasses the spleen and stomach. It plays a crucial role in digestion and absorption, transforming food into nutrients and qi that the body can use. The middle burner is also vital for the distribution and regulation of body fluids.

3. **Lower Burner (Xia Jiao)**: This area covers the lower abdomen, including the intestines, bladder, and kidneys. It is responsible for processing and excreting waste products. The lower burner separates the "pure" from the "impure," ensuring that nutrients are assimilated and waste is eliminated.

The triple burner is seen as a functional entity that manages the flow of qi and fluids throughout the body. It is associated with the element of fire in TCM theory and is believed to play a key role in maintaining the body's internal balance and harmony. Disorders of the triple burner can manifest in various ways, depending on which of the three burners is affected, and might involve issues related to metabolism, fluid balance, or the immune system.