Guest guest Posted February 23, 2001 Report Share Posted February 23, 2001 >Dagmar Riley <dagmar-riley >dagmar-riley >Letter-from-China >Letter from China [01/2] >Fri, 23 Feb 2001 03:37:23 -0800 > >_____ > >LETTER FROM CHINA >February '01 >A newsletter on and modern China > >by Dagmar Riley >______ > >In this issue: > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >...(A) Short Revision >...(B) Balancing Lung Disharmonies - 1 > >DISCLAIMER >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE information >______ > >Please feel free to FORWARD this newsletter to friends. >______ > >THE 5 ELEMENTS >A) SHORT REVISION: > >The 5 Elements are a symbol for the 5 basic energies of >the Universe. >The 5 Elements are: Wood - Fire - Earth - Metal - Water. > >The Element METAL is associated with: >Autumn - withdrawal - sadness/grief - dryness - lung >- large intestine - nose - pungent. > >For BACK ISSUES of this series, please visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China/read > >B) BALANCING LUNG DISHARMONIES - 1 > >Remember some of the main personality traits of the Metal- >type (December '00 issue): > >* In order to focus on the essential and make the best >decision that corresponds to reality, the Metal type >prefers to stick to the facts rather than letting himself >be influenced by subjective feelings. His strength is to be >able to make clear decisions of right and wrong, much >like a good judge, or a fireman during a rescue. > >* Discipline is another strong point of the metal-type: In >comparison to the wood-type he does not need a competitor but >constantly competes against himself, fighting the weaknesses >inside him. He constantly strives for perfection in the >Japanese sense: Simple, symmetrical, useful, nothing more >than the essential, beautiful. > >* A clear mind, discipline and drive for perfection also make him >a good organizer: When the wood-type has the vision, drive and >enthusiasm to start a project and motivate a whole team, the >metal-type will see that the organization is perfect so that >the project will be realized in the most effective manner. > >And here is the big challenge for the Metal type: To remain >flexible and not to become stiff: >The weakness of the Metal type is to let his organization, >discipline and strive for perfection become self-righteousness, >arrogance, sarcasm, and a need to control everything in his >life. He is now over-critical towards others and himself. >He becomes hard, strict, dogmatic, stiff and rigid in his >attitudes, a perfectionist that knows everything better >than others. > >If the Metal-type is aware of the danger to lose his mental >flexibility and slip into rigidity whenever he is imbalanced, >half the battle is won. His ability to distance himself from >the situation and be a good judge will help him to observe >himself and detect these tendencies whenever they appear. > >The Metal-type has to learn to give in to emotions when it >is the time to do so, and to trust the flow of life in >situations that cannot be controlled or planned for. He also >has to take care to not distance himself too much from others. > >The Metal type is happy with partners that can understand >his need for clarity, reliability, structure, trust, >faithfulness and subtlety. The Metal type loves and lets >the partner be, gives the partner breathing space and room >to grow. His/her partner needs to understand that subtlety, >and not misunderstand it for lack of love. > >It is beneficial for the Metal-type to think about the >following questions from time to time in order to stay >flexible: > >*Does my partner understand my need for breathing space, >structure and reliability? > >* Am I afraid of spontaneity? How can I learn to cope with >situations that are unanticipated? What are activities through >which I could learn spontaneity without feeling threatened? > >*Am I working in a job that appreciates my talent for >precision, correctness, good organization? > >*How can I balance my need for solitude and distance with >my need for true relationships and friendships? > >*How can I keep my integrity without expecting everybody >to agree with me? > >*How can I balance my strive for perfection without being >overcritical with myself and others? > >*How can I keep order in my life without trying to control >everything? In which situations should I learn to just let >go and trust the flow of life? > >People with a Wood constitution prefer competitive sports >like tennis or squash, whereas the Earth type hates competitive >sports and prefers calm exercises like Yoga, or walking in the >mountains. For the fire type the social aspect is important: >He enjoys meeting people through sports and wants to have fun, >thus team-sports like volleyball or football are ideal. >The metal type prefers sports that are demanding and that he >can also do on his own if he doesn't want company, such as >cycling, swimming, or cross-country skiing. > >Proper breathing: >In the last issue we discussed the functions of the Chinese >definition of the lung. One of the functions was to govern Qi >(vital energy) and perform the function of respiration. Lung >imbalances disturb proper respiration, and when the Metal >type is imbalanced, he tends to breathe shallow. Proper >respiration is a great way to balance the lungs. This can be >done through sports that encourage rhythmic breathing, like >jogging, hiking, swimming, or exercises that harmonize breathing >with movement like Yoga or Tai Chi (Taijiquan). > >Breathing exercises as they are practiced in Qigong, Yoga or >Meditation are especially suitable for the Metal type, like >the following exercise of " watching the breath " : >Sit on a chair or cushion with your spine erect and your head >balanced on your spine so that the neck is not tensed in any >way. Simply breathe in and out calmly without influencing the >way you breathe. >Close you eyes and concentrate on any part of the passage the >air takes into your body: Focus just on the nostrils, or the >way your lungs expand and contract with each breath. >If this is difficult, another method is to simply count the >number of breaths on the outward breath. Count from one to ten, >and back from ten to one. Whenever you get distracted, start >again from one. Don't try to " make it to ten and back " , that's >not important. The important thing is just to count, stay >focused and watch your breath flow naturally. If in the >beginning you just get to 3 and have to start all over again, >don't despair: There have been many times I got to 1 and had >to start again! All that counts is that you watch the natural >rhythm of your breath that you can rely on, in and out, >without any need for control. > >There are many good breathing exercises practiced by many >disciplines, and there are many good books about the subject. >I will just introduce another basic exercise that has wonderful >calming effects, especially if you tend to be a shallow breather. >To practice abdominal breathing, lie down on a comfortable >surface, such as a soft carpet or your bed. Watch your breath >for a little while like in the first exercise, then slowly shift >your concentration to your abdomen. Put one hand on your abdomen >and try to lift the abdominal wall with your hand on it by >breathing in. Feel how your abdomen expands on the inward breath >and contracts on the outward breath. Don't try to force anything, >breathe deep but softly, without forcing. > >It is usually advisable to pay more attention to exhaling >than inhaling while practicing breathing techniques. When we >exhale properly, the inward breath will be deep without us >having to force anything. > >Our internal organs have their own rhythm, their clock. >Every Element's energy is strongest during a certain time >of the day or night. Metal energy is strongest between >3:00 A.M. and 7:00 A.M. If you are a Metal personality >and your Metal energy is strong, this is " your " time to be >creative, think, write, practice breathing... > >Next time: Balancing metal disharmonies with nutrition. >____ > > >**************** **************************** >Looking for Chinese herbs? >Go to www.1stchineseherbs.com/ for a wide selection of >Chinese herbs. >*****************END ************************ > >_____ >DISCLAIMER >The material in this newsletter is intended for >informational purposes only. I do not prescribe and I >do not diagnose. If you use the information in this >newsletter without the approval of a health professional, >you prescribe for yourself, which remains your constitutional >right, but the author assumes no responsibility. >_______ > >SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBSCRIBE > >The Letter from China is published every last Friday >of the month. >New rs will be forwarded the current issue. > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > > >by sending a BLANK email to: >Letter-from-China- > >for back issues visit >http://www.topica.com/lists/Letter-from-China/read >_______ > 2001 by Dagmar Riley. All rights reserved >worldwide. > > >__________ >T O P I C A -- Learn More. Surf Less. >Newsletters, Tips and Discussions on Topics You Choose. >http://www.topica.com/partner/tag01 > _______________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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