Not everybody has a spare room to dedicate to spiritual pursuits. For most of us, a spiritual space is an area that we can assemble and take down in a short space of time. Modern life often dictates that these spaces are in the living room or bedroom during the night or early morning, when the daily chaos has been […]
5 ways to make a spiritual space
Kidneys – TCM
The Kidneys in TCM are seen as the center of yin and yang. Like all organs, the Kidneys have a yin (the organ) and yang (the organ’s function) which are mutually dependent on each other and compliment each other. The kidneys play a special part in the body because they are seen as the source of primordial yin and yang.
Liver – TCM
The Liver in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is responsible for (1) ensuring the smooth flow of Qi and (2) storing and releasing blood. If the Liver Qi is good, the blood vessels will be free flowing and the Qi of the body moves easily, our emotions are balanced, our mind harmonious and our body supple.
Justice
The card of Justice in the Tarot depicts a King or person of royalty sitting upon a stone throne, two pillars on either side of him. In his right hand he holds a sword upright, in his left are the scales. His robes are red and his cloak is pinned with a square clasp. Behind him, a veil obscures what […]
The Spleen – TCM
The Spleen in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is one of the main digestive organs in traditional chinese medicine, paired with the Stomach. A yin organ, the Spleen is responsible for taking food from the Stomach and turning it into gu qi (‘Food qi’). It is an essential organ in TCM, responsible for nourishing all the other organs via its transformation […]
Wheel of Fortune
A card heavy in symbolism, the Wheel of Fortune depicts winged animals in each of the four corners namely a human, lion, bird and bull. The Wheel of Fortune rests on a devil figure and atop sits an egyptian half man, half lion figure. Within the Wheel itself are the letters ‘TARO’ at each of the compass points and the […]
Lungs in TCM
The Lungs in TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) are the lid of the yin organs – forming a cap on top of the thoracic cavity. They have two functions, (1) the descending and liquefying (su-jiang) and (2) disseminating or circulating (xuan) functions. They take in vital substances and propel waste products downward. It is where the Lung Qi meets external Air […]
The Hermit
A solitary figure stands holding his staff in one hand, a lantern in the other. Head bowed and clothed in a hooded cloak, The Hermit stands in a barren landscape. The Hermit can at first glance appear a lonesome figure, somewhat lost and isolated. But like all things tarot, there is a deeper meaning. With his staff and lantern, the […]
Heart TCM
The Heart (xin) is one of the zang organs and is yin in nature. It rules the blood and blood vessels. When the Heart in TCM is working properly the blood flows smoothly and we can expect to see a normal complexion. A pale complexion can indicate a lack of blood, purple complexions can indicate stagnant blood.
Zang Fu Organs
The Zang Fu are a central element of TCM theory. Although they bear familiar names such as lung, liver and spleen, they do not refer to the physical organs as we understand them in the west. Rather, when we speak of Lung or Spleen, we are concerned with the function and purpose of that organ. Thus when we speak of […]