Diane Hancox

by on

Yin/Yang and Five Elements Introduction

More about Yin/Yang …

Yin Principles

Yang Principles

Earth, dark, cold, moon, night

Heaven, light, warm, sun, day

Introverted, intuitive

Extraverted, analytical

Feminine, receptive, flaccid

Masculine, active, rigid

Fall, winter, front, deep

Spring, summer, back, surface/superficial

Storing organs/meridians (kidney, liver, heart, lung)

Collecting organs/meridians (bladder, stomach, intestines)

Yin/Yang Philosophy …

Everything changes except the fact that everything changes.

Yin and Yang only exist in relation to each other.   They co-exist, in tandem with each other.

Either yin or yang tends to be dominant; there is nothing neutral.

Five Elements philosophy brings together Eastern and Western mindsets.

Western

Eastern

Linear, logical, cause & effect (left brain)

 

Cycles & patterns, connection, change, flow (right brain)

Duality, right & wrong, good & bad

Polarities, continuum, 3rd eye, Yin/Yang, balance

Ego-based

True Self

Goals, production, do-ing

Process, journey, be-ing

 

Five Elements incorporates 4 traditional health practices: 

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)– used for over 4000 years, involving concepts of Yin/Yang, Qi (“chee”) energy flow, meridians, acu-points, interdependence of body organs/systems, goal of balance

Japanese Bodywork – manual therapies including acupressure that improve physical and emotional well-being.  Also, reiki, Japanese massage, Shiatsu.

Western Psychotherapy – uses the awareness of body to identify and process emotions which are often released from acupressure.  Concepts from Wilhelm Reich (segment work), Hakomi Method and NLP are incorporated.  Reich stated that “Every muscular rigidity contains the history and meaning of its origin.”

Taoism – based on the concept of the Tao (“Dow”) or the “Way” which emphasizes the importance of living in harmony with nature/universe and on the concept of Wei Wu Wei (see below).  It encourages inner peace, wisdom and compassion. Physical practices include Tai Chi and the Eight Pieces of Brocade (a form of Qigong).