Ambition Room, (zhì shì), III - 47


     The Chinese say that as we pass through the gates of life and are born into this world, the angels whisper the secret of life. We forget this at the time but it remains an invisible thread that guides our life. If we follow the thread we will live in harmony and balance and be enriched by the path we have been given. Zhì Shì is an inner place of creative drive and desire where one inherits their purpose in life. Zhì is drawn as the development of plants growing over the heart meaning scope, ambition, purpose and will. Shì is drawn as a roof of a building and a bird that suddenly dives at the ground. It means to reach a home, to arrive and a house. Here we can go straight to the home of our will with purpose and determination.

Explanation of Point Name: The kidney stores the will. Since BL 47 is located 1.5 inches lateral to the kidney associated-shu point, it is intimately connected with that viscus. The appellation Will Chamber reveals this relationship.

Thirty spokes join the circular hub of the cart wheel. Only the hole at the center allows the wheel to spin. The center hole is essential, the spokes simply follow. A potter turns his wheel and makes a pot – its use is where there is nothing, only the space within allows the pot to hold water.
- Lao Tsu

October 28, Second Interval

Second Interval, (èr jiān), X - 2


     The Chinese say that there must be duality for there to be existence. Heaven sends its rains to the earth to fertilize and soften her soil so the new plants can grow and flourish. It is from these plants that the air receives its heavenly oxygen for life to prosper. Heaven needs earth to exist, just as earth needs heaven. Yin, the secret darker side of life, needs yang the brighter active part of life. Without darkness the light cannot be seen. Two expresses this duality of the Large Intestine and the Lungs of letting go and taking in.

Explanation of Point Name: “Second space” refers to the “space,” i.e., the depression on the distal side of the metacarpal phalangeal joint, at which the second point of the Large Intestine channel is located.

The main thing is keeping the main thing the main thing.
- M. Brown

October 27, Pearl Jade

Pearl Jade, (xuán jī), XIII - 21

     Pearls are tiny precious stones that are found in the vast ocean of life. Xuán Jī is the jade within the pearl. Xuán is drawn as three pieces of jade strung together and the foot being set into motion. Jī is drawn as three pieces of jade strung together and the smallest subtle thing meaning in a pearl. The Chinese say that the pearl within must be polished with faith, humility and moderation and out of that polishing will come the radiance and beauty of the polished pearl.


Explanation of Point Name:  The combination xuan ji names an ancient astronomical instrument that turns on a pivot, much as the head turns on the neck. Thus the point is named after its location at the bottom of the neck.
     The first four stars of the big dipper form the bowl of the dipper and the last three form the handle. The second and third stars are called xuan and ji respectively. The dip at the top of the sternum resembles the bowl of the dipper. CV-21 is located in the area that corresponds to the bottom of the dipper formed by y the stars. To picture this, simply imagine the collar bone as the handle of the dipper and CV-21 as the bottom of the bowl.
     Xuan ji is also the name of a particular palindrome that was embroidered on satin in the 4th century A.D. It was done by a woman for her husband (who had been banished to Tartary), and it consisted of 840 characters, which could be read the same backwards as forwards.

Yes there is Nirvana; it is in leading your sheep to green pastures and in putting your child to sleep. To write the last line of your poem.
- Khalil Gibran

October 26, Heavenly Stream

Heavenly Stream, (tiān xī), XII - 18


     When heavenly rains fall into an open valley it nourishes all the earth and brings forth an abundance of growth. This is the way the Spleen brings great Qi nourishment, filling it with the breath of heaven, full of inspiration and well-being just like the streams and rivers fill the earth with vibrant water. Here are the heavenly streams flowing through the earth creating life and beauty

Explanation of Point Name: The area above the diaphragm is often referred to as “heaven,” tian, (see SP-8). The ideograph xi refers to the cleft formed by the ribs and sinews that contain this point. The point name is a reminder of the point’s location in a cleft of the upper body.

In health there is freedom. Health is the first of all liberties.
-Henri-Frederic Amiel

October 25, Narrow Defile

Narrow Defile, (liè quē), IX - 7


     Liè Quē is a narrowing, dividing, arranging and partaking. It also means lightening. Liè is drawn as to divide and place in order. It means to arrange to enumerate, to separate and to classify. Quē is drawn as earthenware and to partake. It means to defile, deficiency, vacancy and broken. Here is a place where the energy is concentrated and gathered together to be clarified and divided. Here is the real place of separation where that which we need can be recognized and that which we no longer need is let go.

Explanation of Point Name: The name of this point may be understood in terms of the path of the lung channel. At LU-7 the path splits to join the large intestine channel at LI-14. This splitting can be seen as a break in the sequence of points on the lung channel. This argument may also be understood as a break in the general sequence of the channel system. In most cases, qi is transferred from the last point of one channel to the first point of the following channel. Here LU-7, and not the last lung channel point LU-11, is the issue point of the lung channel.


The Noble Eightfold Path
1. Right View
2. Right Thought
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration

October 22, One Hundred Meetings

One Hundred Meetings, (băi huì), XIV-20 

  

     Everything is part of the whole and this is the meeting place of the unity. It is the point of balance between the posterior and anterior, the yin and the yang and the light and the dark. It is where everything can be directed from the whole and the one. Here is where all the rivers and seas can be directed and guided from the original source of all life. The grand unity for the Chinese was the number one hundred called Băi and drawn as the number one over the sun. Huì is a meeting of words brought together and is drawn as words under a roof meaning to meet or assemble.

Explanation of Point Name: According to the Classic of Difficult Issues, yang converges at the head. GV-20 is the intersection-jiaohui point of the six yang channels and the Governing Vessel. In Chinese the number 100 stands for many; thus the meeting of many channels is called “Hundred Convergences.” Further, the numerous bones of the skull all meet at this point.

 
The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion which stands at the cradle of true art and true science.
- Albert Einstein

Practices

     It’s called a “practice” because it’s something you’re a beginner at, maybe a beginner with experience but a beginner nevertheless. And as a beginner, you’ve got to cut yourself some slack because you’re not complete yet in that experience. Same applies to new behaviors, new practices you wish to implement. Whether it’s “being non-judgmental” or “realizing it’s your own story about a person” or “pointing to myself”, it’s good to remember that we’re beginners and getting it somewhat right takes some time.
     Be patient.



A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.
- Lao Tzu