THE FIVE SPIRITS
My initial encounter with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) was comparable to the sensation of consuming water. Instantaneously, I had a fresh and revitalizing perspective on how I perceived myself, my body, and my emotions in this world. When one acquires new methods of thinking and a fresh perspective, it is sometimes necessary to unlearn some old patterns and habits in order to allow the new information to truly sink in.
My educational trajectory was profoundly transformed when I started studying the metaphysical aspects of medicine. As soon as I started researching the consciousness of our organs, I realized that an extraordinary number of my interests were converging. TCM is non-linear, holistic (connecting the mind, body, and spirit into a collective network), and it possesses not only physical but also emotive, energetic, and spiritual properties. All of these distinct facets are collectively influencing (or, in certain instances, competing with) our overall experience as being human on this planet. Due to the interrelation between our material (earth) and celestial (heaven) realms, every one of our afflictions, symptoms, maladies, and behaviors results.
I deemed it amusing to create a sketch depicting the incorporation of the metaphysical dimension into this relationship. The mind, body, and spirit.
THE SHEN – MINDFULNESS
The Shen is the essence of “The Mind” and stands for the human mind and its awareness. It’s the wellspring from which all other forms of spirit flow, and the foundation upon which mankind rests. The Shen governs not only who we are and how self-aware we can be, but also how we perceive and relate to the others around us. The Shen governs perception, insight, ideas, the ability to expand beyond the Self (create relationships), and the determination of our values, morals, and wisdom, making it crucial for integrating our psychic and emotional lives. The Mind connects our intuition and inspiration, enabling us to know our own truth and our life’s purpose so that we can express our true selves in the world.
According to traditional Chinese medicine, the heart is “the origin of mental life” and the “monarch” of the body’s other organs since it is the only one with the capacity to recognize, evaluate, and genuinely feel a person’s whole range of emotional experiences. Although the organs will respond differently to different emotions (anger, joy, sadness, fear, guilt, etc.), they do not “feel” the emotion themselves; rather, they simply reflect the impact of the emotion as it is perceived by the Heart. In this context, the Shen is also called the Heart-Mind, lending credence to the old saying that the heart has a mind of its own.
All of our senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch) rely on the Shen for meaning because of its central function in processing interactions with individuals and external stimuli, just like the brain does in Western medicine.
According to TCM, the Heart is the source of the tongue, so the Shen is the “most visible” of all the spirits. This can be seen in a person’s demeanor and communication skills, such as the brightness (or dullness) of their eyes, their ability to maintain eye contact, and their use of clear, logical language. To “click” with others and cultivate mutual understanding, a “Shen to Shen” exchange of energy is necessary.
Whenever the Shen is strong, there are…
Wisdom, compassion, empathy, clear speech + confident self-expression, eye contact during conversation, alert eyes, flowing ideas, inspiration, clear thinking & consciousness, sharp insight, good intellect, self-awareness, a strong sense-of-self, sound sleep (since the Shen retreats back into the Heart to be housed at night), a balanced emotional reality.
Symptoms of a disrupted Shen and a damaged Heart include…
Insightlessness, inappropriate or erratic behavior or speech, social awkwardness, low self-esteem, difficulty expressing oneself, hypervigilance and paranoia, lack of self-awareness, inability to connect with others (including a lack of eye contact), empathy deficit, irrational fears and beliefs, emotional imbalance (fixation on one emotion), panic attacks, disturbed sleep, etc.
THE PO – THE ANIMAL OR CORPOREAL SOUL.
The po is the Lungs’ sprit-mind reserve. At the moment of our first breath, it becomes a part of us, and when our last breath is taken, it dissolves.
The Po is your immediate, lived experience; it is your gut reaction to a certain situation.
When in harmony, the Po facilitates…
the use of the breath as a means of remaining in the here and now. When at its best, it’s a symbol of confidence and justice. Someone with a healthy Po would have a strong, clear voice, good lung capacity, and the moral fortitude to behave justly.
Weakness of the Po…
might manifest as prolonged or unresolved grief, a lackluster speaking voice, listlessness, despair, or an overwhelming sense of loss or incompleteness. In this situation, a person can be unable to live in the present or make progress because they are preoccupied with an event from their distant past. This sad aura could also be accompanied by persistent respiratory problems like a persistent cough or asthma.
Supporting the Po and bringing them back into the present allows them to grieve in a healthy way. Overreacting is replaced by responsiveness and reliable instincts. The cloud of despair lifts, allowing us to take in the splendor of the here and now, to be filled with amazement and wonder, and to get a glimpse of inspiration.
THE YI – THOUGHT
The Yi resides in the Spleen and is the spirit’s mind. Mind, reasoning, and awareness are all involved, along with purpose and originality.
According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the spleen plays a pivotal role in the digestive process by sorting out the food we need from the food we don’t. A physical impairment in digesting may come from a compromised Spleen. When the Spleen is weak, the Yi is weak, and mental digestion suffers. This suggests that effective deliberation may be impaired, leading to excessive thinking and ruminating over problems. They could be “foggy brained,” or bored and uninterested because they lack clear goal.
According to a proverb, “the Yi guides the Li which guides the Qi,” where “Li” refers to ceremony and “Qi” to energy, the former depends on the latter. Have you ever observed that a wish to do something as general as “get in shape one day” or “learn a new language” rarely comes to fruition until you establish some kind of structure (or ritual) for yourself to follow? A wise woman once told me, “a dream without tangible goals is just a wish.” A strong and clear intention (Yi) allows us to construct well-thought-out plans and goals, which direct our energy in that direction (i.e., bring about the desired reality).
The values of loyalty and faithfulness are also fostered by a robust Yi. During times of stress, the Yi’s good qualities can become distorted, leading to “‘stifling’ loyalty, exaggerated sympathy, and even self-destructive generosity” (Kaptchuk, 60).
Taking care of your spleen and its spirit-mind, the Yi, can help you…
set objectives with precision, gain insight into how to achieve those goals, stay motivated to work toward those goals, and be the kind of loyal friend or partner others can count on.
THE HUN – THE IMPALPABLE SPIRIT
The Hun, or Ethereal Soul, is the spirit in Chinese medicine that most closely corresponds to the Western concept of the soul. Like the soul, it is bound at birth but free to pursue its own path after death, and it retains its physical form while doing so. The Hun’s purpose and nature can’t be grasped apart from its nomadism.
To begin, the Hun is a distinct consciousness that can “come and go” from the Mind at will. The Mind is more analytical and responsible for analyzing and integrating data received from the outside world; the Ethereal Soul is in charge of making one’s inner world and dreams conscious and real. It serves as a signal to the Shen that it’s time to act on one’s gut feelings, dreams, ideas, and creative impulses, rather than just thinking about them. The Ethereal Soul, Yin by design, stimulates the mind in a number of ways:
- Imaginary travel while sleeping and dreaming
- beyond one’s current situation by actively working toward a more desirable future
- by mapping out objectives and steps to reach them
- beyond one’s own interests, towards the promotion and preservation of others’
Since the Hun needs motion to connect with and disconnect from the Mind, it makes sense that it would be housed in the Liver, the organ responsible for regulating blood flow. The ethereal soul’s physical “come and go” is facilitated by the liver’s unrestricted flow of qi and blood. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Liver is the monarch’s principal delegate. Those who are good at leading themselves, managing their time, and sticking to a regimen have a Liver personality and a healthy Ethereal Soul.
When the Liver functions normally, there is…
an abundance of Liver Blood, and the Liver Qi flows easily, the Hun is at peace, and ideas and creativity can flow freely into the Mind. Intuition will be strengthened, a goal will become clear, and the person’s sense of purpose in life will be strengthened. They can map out the actions required to make their goals a reality. In short, a strong Hun gives one the confidence to realize their full potential and handle emotional highs and lows. A well-rounded Hun is adaptable in the face of adversity and unyielding in the face of frustration.
When the Liver is weak (from causes like Liver Qi stagnation or a Liver Blood/Yin shortage)…
the Hun is unable to travel freely, leaving the Mind without stimulation and leading to apathy and depression. They will feel aimless and confused. They may become emotionally detached, or they may internalize to the point of perpetual stewing, both of which lead to bitterness. Due to the Liver’s proximity to the eyes and the physical sense of “sight,” problems with one’s ability to dream, sleep, and connect with one’s intuition may arise. This can lead to feelings of hopelessness and a lack of motivation to change one’s “stuckness” and their current situation in life. The Ethereal Soul may know what it has to do to pursue its potential, but if the Mind is overly controlling or not receptive to the Soul’s input/desires, the person may be unable to “get the ball rolling” in the direction they prefer.
When the Liver is overworked…
pathogens (often Liver-Heat Rising or Liver-Fire) will spread rapidly and overwhelm the Mind. Someone may be brimming with creative energy and ideas, but due to the ephemeral nature of the Hun, they will be unable to see them through to fulfillment. Affected individuals will be prone to mania, agitation, fury, and rage as a result of their Hun-disturbance.
Insomnia, PTSD, and other forms of involuntary dissociation, as well as purposeful escapist (such as excessive daydreaming, procrastination, substance abuse, etc.), may all have their roots in a disembodied Hun.
THE ZHI – THE INTENT
Our willpower comes from the Zhi. According to TCM, the Kidneys are where we keep our “essence,” or the sum total of our inherited characteristics, our reproductive capacity, and our reserves of vitality. Even though the kidneys are linked to the yin water element, the yang “life gate fire” is thought to be housed there. The yin and yang characteristics of the Zhi reflect this duality.
Fear is a Kidney emotion, but the virtue of the Kidneys’ spirit intellect is wisdom. Do you remember times in your life when you overcame your fear of the unknown and gained wisdom from the experience? It’s something you work on for the rest of your life. Having faith and trust in one’s own destiny, or one’s voyage into the unknown, is central to the Yin Will. The Yang Will is more immediate; it involves the deliberate actions and foundational choices that bring about the consequences you seek.
Patients may express a wish for things to be different than where they are in their life cycle, such as a fear of aging, when there is an imbalance between the Zhi, which can manifest as restlessness, a desire to run away from one’s existence, or a vague or existential terror. A lack of willpower and motivation is a key feature of persistent depression, and this can occur when the Kidney Qi is diminished. However, the Zhi can also take on a destructive quality, leading to impulsive behavior and dangerous gambles. Premature aging (appearing older than one’s years), low back/knee pain, bladder difficulties, burnout, chronic exhaustion, recurrent or lasting illness, ear ringing, thyroid imbalances, memory loss, and edema are all possible co-occurring symptoms.
Have you ever set out to accomplish something,
been convinced that you could do it and worked steadily toward your goal until you finally succeeded?
A job (or a new career)? A degree?
The pursuit of expertise in a hobby? The incubation of a pet project?
Like the Wizard of Oz, the Will operates relentlessly behind the scenes of your awareness, guiding you to your goal. It appears once you get there to say something like, “Well, look who it is…you did it!” I had faith that you would succeed. You have arrived (in your “dream,” aka your actualized reality) at the perfect moment.
The Yang Will provides the determination to get started, while the Yin Zhi is what emerges as a result of doing the task at hand. Zhi in good health encourages us to trustfully plunge into the unknown, seize control of our lives, and come to terms with the fact that we are, in fact, co-creators of our own reality. Pick your poison, as the old adage goes. It’s not easy to start healing and making positive life changes. But it’s not easy to stay put when you’re filled with remorse.
Zhi probes: How about this…What are your plans, if any?
Regarding this discussion of the spiritual aspects of the organs, in which area do you perceive yourself encountering the most difficulty?
In which areas do you excel?
Which aspect or aspects of your existence appear to be the most unbalanced?
Sources:
https://giovanni-maciocia.com/shen-and-hun-psyche-in-chinese-medicine/
Lecture notes from Scott Moylan, M.S, L.Ac, Elements of Healing, Essex, VT.