Course Overview

Spring becomes more visible, more audible, more tangible. It shows itself in the opening door of mao 卯, branch 4, the gate of heaven, the second month of spring that is mid spring or the opening of the day from 5 to 7 am. It is seen in the awakening of insects and hibernating animals, the singing of birds eg oriole, the swooping return of swallows and the blossoming of trees eg peach. Thunder rolls and lightning flashes, heaven stimulates earth, the light wakes up the dark. Here is the power of the liver to move, to rise, to open, to express, to release, to connect, to mate. The hexagrams show Waiting, Following and Rising, Releasing, Great Power and Enthusiasm. The receptive patience of yin transitions to the expressive power of yang. Hexagram 34 da zhuang Great Strength ䷡ shows the yang overtaking the yin as it takes the lead at the spring equinox chun fen. The host climate changes from wind to heat, jue yin to shao yin as the weather warms, with the pathology changing from liver wind to liver heat. The meridian of the large intestine is associated with mao, the 4th branch and the meridian for mid spring is also the hand yang ming large intestine, so its influence is doubled and very good to use. Metal balances excessive wood, hence the combination Liv 3 with LI 4, known as the 4 gates is a particularly effective combination at this time. The seasonal qi gong exercises activate thoracic 12 and thoracic 11 vertebrae and strengthen against illnesses at this time of year.

Course Objectives

• Learn how to use the specific energies of mid spring to improve treatments
• Be able to be in tune with the energies of mid spring and benefit from them in your health
• Be able to practise the traditional qi gong exercises for the fortnightly periods
• Be aware of the multiple aspects active at this time of year

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 minUnderstand Awakening of Insects, its meaning and applicaton

15 min - 30 minUnderstand the 6 traditional 5 day periods and their images from changes in nature

30 min - 1 hrsUnderstand the 6 traditional hexagrams and their advice for the time of year

1 hrs - 1.25 hrsUnderstand the importance of the fourth branch mao and its shift from yin to yang

1.25 hrs - 1.5 hrsUnderstand why the hand yang ming large intestine meridian is important at this time fo year

1.5 hrs - 1.75 hrsLearn combinations of Liv and LI points to help at this time of year

1.75 hrs - 2 hrsUnderstand Spring Equinox, its yin yang balance and application

2 hrs - 2.25 hrsStudy Spring Equinox traditions, customs and foods in China

2.25 hrs - 2.5 hrsUnderstand the transtion in host climate from jue yin wind to shao yin heat

2.5 hrs - 3 hrsLearn the Awakening of Insects and Spring Equinox traditional qi gong exercises and the vertebrae they activate