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April 24, 2006 at 1:31 am #13164matblackParticipant
I’ve had a cold for 3 weeks.
It was from cold energy invading my tai yang channel.
Symptoms are cold and aching back/neck and legs.
Although it has not gone internal, it is using up my yamg energy and also consuming qi. This is manifest as fatigue and weakness.I’ve been doing wuji qigong, ocean breathing, healing sounds and circulating the orbit. All indoors as the weather’s getting cold.
I’ve been told to stop until I’m fully recovered.Some people say not to practice qigong when unwell, as it may exacerbate the situation by opening the body to further attack, or it may internalise the pathogen or spread it to other areas of the body.
Other say that qigong wil strengthen the body so that it’s better able to expell sick qi and accelerate healing.
Both points are valid to me.
So…………is there a form that can be safely practiced when unwell that won’t worsen the situation and restore vitality?
Thanx very much.
April 24, 2006 at 2:24 am #13165Alexander AlexisParticipantHi matblack,
I can tell you a few things from my experience which includes having been sick ALOT in the past.
The first, most basic one, is to surrender to what is happening fully and not try to change it. Welcome it and allow its presence and process to be in you and to be “completed” by not interfering. It is trying to tell you something and to accomplish something. Be big and hold it all as if you are the cauldron (because you are). While you are doing this be smiling to yourself at all levels. The smile changes energies to their most balanced wholeness. Smile from your Heart to yourself. Let it take you.
Michael (Winn) schooled me once when I entered a workshop with poison ivy to concentrate simply on generating positive energy until the positive overcame the negative. That is all one needs to change the course of something imbalanced, he said. I was able to stop the advance of it by the end of the weekend and by the end of the week it had disappeared completely. My action altered the way I have gotten poison ivy from then on, getting it very mildly and having it disappear in a short time instead of the opposite.
The practices you are doing would all work to help with your situation but only if you do not try to force yourself. That resistance will create more of the problem and “drive the disease deeper” as they sometimes phrase it. Let go.
In your “allowing” process, you need to make space for any feelings that want to be released. If you can totally surrender to this the “sick-ness” will “express” itself rather magically and pass on through. Also, be open to doing what your body tells you that you may not normally think to do when “ill”. Much of your personal healing will be about getting to know yourself more deeply and this is a highly individual thing. You could be transmuting something very deep from the cellular level and it just looks like a cold.
If you are a regular practitioner then your body is used to receiving signals from you and you from it, from your field. Be open and listen to and communicate with your field in unusual ways and see what happens. I would not be afraid of the doing the external practices, if any, that are inspired by this kind of communication.Happy healing,
AlexanderApril 24, 2006 at 5:40 am #13167matblackParticipantMy God
Alexander, I appreciate your sincerity. Your advice is just what I needed to hear.
Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx Thanx ThanxApril 24, 2006 at 2:51 pm #13169Alexander AlexisParticipantYou’re very welcome. I’m glad you found my message helpful. Wholeness, Alexander
April 27, 2006 at 3:59 pm #13171Alexander AlexisParticipant“That’s interesting. I once had a similar thing with nettles. I just decided to let the sting in and it was gone in seconds.”
Right! It seems that non-resistance, which means acceptance, is the Way. The trick is to be able to relax and not get scared or otherwise react to the experience. That seems to be what throws you off your center. Practice, practice….
“I like what you said to fajin about relationships, btw.”
Glad it had meaning for you. Thanks. “Relationship” is THE big issue.
-AA
April 29, 2006 at 8:05 am #13173matblackParticipantAlexander, your suggestions have been helpful.
I focus where the cold sensation is most pronounced. Then relax there, smiling.
It turns out that the area gets intensley hot and painful. In the begining, there was some emotion there but during the last few days, it has just been a very intense sensation comming OUT from WITHIN.
The more open and soft the smile, the deeper the release.At times the pain is follwed by a pleasant wave sensation which flows slowlly down my back to my kidneys.
You said >>You could be transmuting something very deep from the cellular level and it just looks like a cold.<<
Highlly possible, given how deep an area the energy is comming from.
Thanx
matApril 30, 2006 at 2:30 am #13175Alexander AlexisParticipantHi Mat-
Something else you might try that has often been a part of the healing process for me and others is to let your body make whatever sound is associated with how you feel. Start from whereever you are, whatever you are feeling and just let it come out as it is, in any way it wants to. Body often expresses primally and you may not even know what you are expressing about. That is, it could just be deep pain without words or understanding. Let go to the body’s feelings and let it lead you. Remember to let go of your breathing.
From what you say, it sounds like you might be feeling a little better. That right?
Have you gotten any help from an acupuncturist to balance you chi flow?
Are you taking baths with sea salt?Best, A
April 30, 2006 at 4:44 am #13177matblackParticipantG’day Alexander,
it seems to be mainly pain. I mean, in the begining, (first couple of days) there was a bit of sadness/grief which helped illicit the pain, but if an emotion comes now, I’d honestly be faking it.I’ll see if any sounds come from now on. Thanx for the suggestion.
The main way to really bring out the pain has been to just be open and soft.
Whether it matters or not, I have no idea what it represents, though I tell my body/mind that I’m opent to learn/recieve any message it wants to tell me.A: >>From what you say, it sounds like you might be feeling a little better. That right?<>Have you gotten any help from an acupuncturist to balance you chi flow?<<
Herbal medicine as the TCM doctor said they are more effective at getting to the channels than needles.
I haven't done the sea salt baths, I forgot what they do?
Thanx
mApril 30, 2006 at 7:56 pm #13179Alexander AlexisParticipantHi Mat, That’s all good, what you say. As you probably understand, pain means stuck energy. That always means a deeper process is going on and sometimes we just have to go through the experience, be with ourselves as it happens and very little that we “do” for it will change anything. The surrender thing we originally talked about is the way to go while having a knowing that you are “completing” yourself through the process.
Also, sometimes we are not dealing with our own pain. It could be familial or social. We’re part of such a big picture. Those of us who are cultivating ourselves are often asked to handle a lot these days to clear the field in general.
As for the sounds involved, I have found that they are often not pretty to begin with so don’t begin thinking you’re going to be toning pure sound, though you could start that way. It may end up that way after a while, but pain will sound painful and move from there to whatever it wants to become.The doctor might believe that is true for you in this situation. As a rule though it will differ from one person to another. I had the hit that needles would/could be balancing for you. Maybe just some soft acupressure from a friend to assist you.
Salt is the great neutralizer, extractor and purifier. It will pull out physical and energetic junk from your system. It is very grounding. Sea salt, epsom salt, baking soda, apple cider vinegar will all do that. You can mix and match them. Vinegar baths get deep toxic emotional stuff out.
If anything else comes to me, I’ll write more later.
Blessings, Alexander
May 1, 2006 at 12:25 am #13181matblackParticipantAlexander, your suggetions and ideas are very encouraging. I’m apreciating your insights.
A >>The surrender thing we originally talked about is the way to go while having a knowing that you are “completing” yourself through the process.<>Also, sometimes we are not dealing with our own pain. It could be familial or social. We’re part of such a big picture. Those of us who are cultivating ourselves are often asked to handle a lot these days to clear the field in general<<
I've actually had the intention latelly of wanting to clear and/or harmonise any genetic distorions that I've inherited, not just for myself, but definetlly for my kids if I have any.
Thanx for the bath info, I'll do it.
mMay 1, 2006 at 3:06 am #13183Alexander AlexisParticipantMat, Do you know the Kan and Li practices? Those are designed to steam the very issues you’re referring to. My instincts are telling me to tell you to go slowly. And when you do the baths be moderate with the heat of the water. -A
May 1, 2006 at 7:00 am #13185matblackParticipantAlexander, do I know the Kan and Li practices? Mate, I’m not even close to that level yet.
I was working on the orbit when I ran into this current ‘hot spot’
(actually the cold came first and hung around in the area of the hot spot)Kan and Li is a while off for me yet. I think it will require comming to the states (one day) to learn that.
BTW, the ‘hot spot’ is located in the area of c7 dazhui GV14
In terms of the intention to clear/harmonise genetic distortion, I didn’t conciously do anything, other than express the will. This current experience just kind of showed itself.
There’s no certainty that it is a genetic issue, but I did mention to one of my sisters that it’s up to us to resolve any ancestral crap for the sake of our kids etcMmmmm Kan and Li……………one day I hope.
May 1, 2006 at 3:00 pm #13187Alexander AlexisParticipantHi Mat,
In reviewing some of our previous messages to see the bigger picture and since I cannot see you physically and know little about you, I have to rely on my gut for what to say.
I think you should go with the simplest practices you can -deep rest and surrender, deep inner smile to allow the clearing and completing of the process on its own terms, allowing the fullness of your breathing to happen, and some chi gung when you really feel like it but not as an effort to get rid of the problem, as we said before.
The Kan and Li practices are an extension of the smile and where it takes you in the greater scope of things. If you allow the smile to cook you, and focus only on generating loving energy, you will achieve a good result. Your body needs to stabilize to heal so be most gentle. The inner message that I’ve learned from practicing in the past with intent to change myself is that I am not the one who can do that, it is the lifeforce that does that and the smiling and other things are merely ways of aligning with the intentions of the lifeforce. So I do everything I can to establish contact with IT and then allow by following.
When you get to the more advanced practices of Kan and Li you will find that they are simpler and more essential than the earlier ones but they all rest on the smile. Hold the space for your healing by aligning through the smile and feel everything that goes on inside you. It will all eventually cook down and you’ll be clear. If you think you need some help from outside go get it. I mentioned acupressure massage. That could be very supportive. You are taking some herbs from the acupuncurist? What are they aimed at doing? Drinking lots of good water? Also how old are you? From what you say it sounds like you are in the southern hemisphere, yes?
Blessings, Alexander
May 1, 2006 at 10:09 pm #13189matblackParticipantHi Alexander, thanx for diggin’ up these ideas. Yeah, I know, without actually meeting, much less knowing someone, it can be a bit tricky as to what to suggest.
A ++I think you should go with the simplest practices you can -deep rest and surrender, deep inner smile to allow the clearing and completing of the process on its own terms, allowing the fullness of your breathing to happen, and some chi gung when you really feel like it but not as an effort to get rid of the problem, as we said before++
I feel most comfortable at the moment just going deep with an open smile and slow breath. That’s what brings out the most pain.
The only qigong I feel like doing at this time is ocean breathing and dan tien breating (ala trunk @alchemicaltaoism)A ++The inner message that I’ve learned from practicing in the past with intent to change myself is that I am not the one who can do that, it is the lifeforce that does that and the smiling and other things are merely ways of aligning with the intentions of the lifeforce. So I do everything I can to establish contact with IT and then allow by following.++
Words of wisdom indeed. I found that trying to actively change the situation is about as effective as lifting myself up by my shoelaces.
The herbs are aimed at helping to balance out the tai yang channel (clear cold and regulate qi flow) ‘cos besides the pain in the GV14, theres still fatigue and weakness through my back, arms and legs
I had accupuncture on the point GV14 yesterday. Last night, the pain was very strong throughout my neck and out to the arms, it’s still there this morning actually.Pleanty of good water here, the lower jiao feels good too.
I’m 29, yep, southern hemisphere, Australia.
(BTW ‘cos of that , I’ve got NO idea what or where the north star is that is often spoken about. Anyone know the southern hemisphere equivealant?)Thanx Alexander, mat
May 2, 2006 at 3:28 am #13191Alexander AlexisParticipantYou can’t do that until after you learn Kan & Li. (smile)
I think you’re on the right track with what to do. When I thought about where the pain was coming from as you described it I instinctivly put my hands over my navel. Maybe connecting the two places while you breathe will help.
I bet Michael would have something to say about your geographical position and the stars.
Best, A
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