The Insatiable Fire

The Essence of Fire is vibrant, HOT... expansive...its flames surges upward then, disppears into air. Its color Red attracts attention. It is a sign of passion.
This reminds me of one of my best friends who loves to laugh, is quick-witted & often animated in her expression. A great story-teller...being surrounded by many people feeds her soul. Her temper comes as quickly as it goes...like a candle in the wind. She is predominately Fire.

The emotion associated with Fire is Joy, & in Chinese Medicine, the organ of the Heart. The Heart is the "Emperor" of the body...it's main function is to drive blood circulation throughout our bodies. The word "Heart" in Chinese is written exactly the same as the "Mind/Spirit" (Xin - pronounced Sheen). The Heart also rules the eyes...so we can determine the Person's spirit through the brightness & movement of the eyes.

Remember the time when you talked about something you're so passionate about: your eyes lit up, your Mind clear & excited, your body felt warm? This is your Heart Fire at work.

When there is a lack of Fire element in the person there will be poor circulation in the body, lack of warmth, low blood pressure, & no joy in life. The emptiness of Fire within the person will always seek it externally from others in relationships instead of giving out. In Acupuncture, I like to burn Chinese mugwort herb (Artemsia vulgaris) on the Heart meridian points to balance this deficiency.
In contrast, excess of Fire element shows in anxiety, over-competitiveness, racing heart beats, heat in body & high blood pressure. Without enough Water element to calm the Fire it becomes out of control....seen in mania (over-Joy), insomnia, or heart arrests.
To balance this Fire element, we need warmth of the community- closeness with loving family & friends. Limit our caffeine, stimulants, alcohol. Eat fresh, wholesome foods. Meditate.
Thank you!

Healing with the 5 Elements. part 1

Ok, here we are...the 5 Elements! Handed down from ancient China, it is one of the unchanging laws that brings order to the complexities of life, discovered through observing the workings of nature.

The Law of the 5 Elements is a further evolution of the Yin/Yang theory...which is the map for understanding energy. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses yin/yang theory to diagnose & treat the Qi (pronounced chee), or Vital energy to restore balance in the body. There's a delicate dance of yin/yang & they are inseparable....only when there is a onesidedness will it go against the natural order of things.

• Health is seen to derive from a flow between rest/activity, play/work, relationship/solitude, material concerns/spiritual awareness.

I call this the "Middle-Way" in which there are no extremes.

Essentially, the Law of the 5 Elements describes the circular sheng (CREATIVE cycle)- the Normal, healthy one:

• Wood creates Fire (when a log serves as a fuel for flame)
• Fire creates Earth (burnt ashes fall back into the soil)
• Earth creates Metal (within the Earth minerals are found)
• Metal creates Water (rocks in stream hold the water in its place)
• Water creates Wood (the source of life allows the trees to grow)

This is the cycle of way nature works. When there's an extreme or lack of one Element, disruption follows in the living cycle.

Our physical body, too, is a make-up of these 5 Elements (like a mini-Universe)...in addition to the conscious thinking Mind, 6th-Sense Intuition, 7th-Sense Ego, & even a 8th-Sense memory StoreHouse or "seeds" of previous Karma potential.

Thanks to Professor J.R. Worsley, who's brought the 5 Elements system to the West, we are able to have a better understanding of how to maintain balance in everyday life.

Starting with the Fire Element next time....I see this element so prevalent in today's society.

Thank you!

Fine art!

The fine craftsmanship that artists put into his/her work I have such appreciation for, especially if the pure intention is to uplift & encourage others. Like the image here of the Buddha encarved in stone. It is an ordinary stone. But the artist saw something extraordinary in it. The graceful & serene face of the Buddha as He is sitting in meditation pose is carved with precision. Hence, the Buddha is the reflection of the artist's mind...one who is working mindfully & completely in the present...beyond space & time. Being in the present moment is pure joy!

This Buddha statue is placed on my small altar & is a reminder to look within, be calm & rest in my own True nature. My True nature & your True nature is the same. Only conceptual thoughts of the "Ego" separate us. That is why practicing meditation is so important to calm our minds & to bring us back to the simplicity of our real nature.

I feel so blessed to have, in this lifetime, the opportunity to learn the Dharma from my wise Teachers...Venerable Zen Master Wei Chueh (Founder of Chung-Tai Zen Monastery), Master Jian Zong (Abbot of Chung-Tai Zen Center of Houston), Master Jian Xiao -(Vice Abbot), & all the Shifus, my Dharma friends, & a foundation of strong, loving family esp. my mother, Upasaka Hsiu Hui Wang who is a real Bodhisattva.

Thank you, take care!

Ever wondered how water lilies & lotus flowers grow so beautifully & pure from the dark, muddy waters? Like one on a spiritual journey: "When you are on the right direction, all you have to do is walk."

Another Beautiful Day!

Hello, Friends! At the request of some good ol' friends about making a blog about ideas in my mind & what i do professionally (Chinese Medicine- Acupuncture)....here I am! Even though blogging has been around for many years, I'm now just jumping in. It does feel...well..EXCITING..to connect with the world in this way & to share meaningful experiences with one another. It is in the human nature to grow....

Soon I will be sharing the 5 Elements theory(passed on by the Ancient Chinese way of healing) & how it affects our body/Mind inside-out. Everything I say comes from real experiences. Please keep posted or subscribe. I'm still figuring out how this works! Thank you, be well!