The Wood Phase
Wood is the 'element' or energetic phase that is unique to Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Taoist cosmology. It embodies the impetus to exist and to thrive. Think of the seed, holding the potential for an enormous tree, and of the strength and power that pushes the blade of grass, rooted in the earth, resolutely through the asphalt. Wood's season is Spring, the time of rebirth, new beginnings, and new growth. Its color is green. The energy pathways in the body associated with Wood are the Liver (yin) and Gall Bladder (yang).
The core emotional-spiritual energy of Wood is assertion. The Liver is often likened to a General, making long-range plans and strategies. This synergistic assertiveness of Wood springs forward in a healthy way to carry out these plans. Without assertion, nothing would get done. At the same time, the Liver is responsible for establishing a smooth flow in the body and in the emotions. When the Liver is harmonious, the individual tends to be calm, with clear judgment and capable of decisive action.
Chinese Medicine refers to the extreme emotions as the Seven Dragons'', powerful energies that can be potentially damaging to the body-mind. The extreme emotion of Wood is anger. One of the classic indications of Liver disharmony is emotional difficulty related to anger. With the Liver responsible for over 500 functions in the body-mind, and overtaxed by the high-fat and highly-processed diets, intoxicants, chemicals, and other toxins that we subject the Liver to, it is no wonder that anger is such a prevalent problem in our society. Typically, mood swings as well as emotional excesses may be related to Liver disharmony.
Anger and frustration may change into a range of distressed emotional
states, from the hyperactive (yang) manifestations of irritability, impatience, resentment, animosity, belligerence, indignation, bitterness, and vengefulness, to the hypoactive (yin) manifestations of guilt, self-blame, lack of motivation, apathy, boredom, impotency, and depression. The synergic feeling states related to anger are self-assertion, motivation, the will to become, creativity, 'response-ability' or the ability to respond appropriately, and kindness.
A shouting tone in the voice, whether it is actually shouting or not, may be a sign of Wood imbalance. A healing sound for the Wood element is `Shhhhh,' with the tongue near the palate.
Taken from article in Massage & Bodywork Magazine (Dec/Jan 2003) by Barry Kapke, Director of the Bodhiwork Institute in Petaluma California and founder of Insight Bodywork. www.bodhiwork.org
QUESTIONS: WOOD AND YOU
These questions can help you see how you grow. Stand with your back against a tall tree. Imagine that your spine is the trunk and your head is above the treetops. From this vantage point you can see the landscape of your whole life. Answer the questions clearly and truthfully.
1. How do you feel in spring?
2. What are your pet peeves?
3. When has it been difficult for you to make a decision?
4. How do you feel when your plans are thwarted?
5. When was the last time you shouted at someone?
6. When was the last time you wanted to shout at someone?
7. How do you feel in green clothes? In a green room?
8. Do you have a green thumb?
9. Is your closet organized? Your pockets? Purse? Desk?
10. Do you enjoy organizing people and events?
11. How coordinated are you?
12. HOW is your vision?
13. How are your fingernails and toenails?
14. How often do you drink alcohol? Why?
15. What frustrates you?
16. How do you feel in windy weather?
17. Do you enjoy sour, acid foods?
18. Have you ever been angry enough to cry?
19. How is your sense of direction? How are you at giving directions?
20. Did you have any developmental problems as a child?
21. What were the circumstances of your birth?
22. What are your experiences and feelings about childbirth?
23. How would you like your life to be five years from now? Ten years from now?
24. Do you have plans for your old age?
25. What creative activities do you enjoy? How often?
26. What new ideas or concepts have you come up with?
27. How are you a better person today than ten years ago?
28. What are your dreams in life? Your hopes for the future?
29. When have you felt full of hope?
30. What is the purpose of your life?
As you answer the questions, notice how responsive you are to the process of growth in your life at this moment. Like trees, we grow in different seasons and in different soils. What season of growth are you in right now? How fast or slow is it? What type of growth is it? What are the obstacles to your growth? As you cycle through different stages of growth through out your life, how is the one you are in now similar to some other period in your life? Refocus on the tree you've been with. Ask this great teacher what you need to do to open your life more to growth and change within you. Visualize roots going down into the earth from your body next to this tree and then mentally draw leaves sprouting and blossoms and fruits coming forth from you. Rejoice that you are growing. Feel the frustration of the places in you where you are being thwarted. Touch the upward thrust of your life: Wood.
Excerpt from Plant Spirit Medicine by Eliot Cowan www.bluedeer.org/psm.html
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