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 […]
The Hermit
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 […]
Strength
The Tarot card of Strength shows woman dressed in a white flowing gown tames or pats a lion on the head, the other hand on its jaw. Around her head and waste are garlands of leaves with the sign of infinity over her head. The background is a golden sky with forest and mountains in the distance.
Ginger
I’m slow to use the term ‘wonder food’ for any single item. Our bodies aren’t designed to overdose on any particular food but as a means of combating infection and illness, ginger (and garlic, and lemons!) really tempt me to use the moniker.
Six Pernicious Influences
In TCM, there are six pernicious (hurtful) influences that can cause disharmony within us. Long before the concepts of bacteria or viruses were understood, it is these six influences that the Chinese used to categorise the effects they observed when a patient was in a disharmonious state.
Chariot
In the Chariot, we see a man standing in his chariot, holding a wand in his right hand. A crown with a star adorns his head, his shoulder armour is in the shape of the crescent moon. His chest plate has a white square upon in. His belt and clothes are engraved with magical symbols and his chariot has a […]
The Lovers
The sixth card of the major arcana, The Lovers is a colourful and busy card. A man and woman are depicted naked in a landscape. Behind the woman is an apple tree with a snake or serpent coiled around it. Behind the man is a tree of flames, the total flames being 12. In the distance is a mountain. The […]
The Hierophant
The Hierophant sits upon his throne, giant pillars to either side of him. His crown is that of gold, his robe of red with crosses down along the front. In his left hand is a staff with three crossbars. His right hand makes the sign of blessing or benediction. At his feet are two keys, crossed in an X pattern. […]
Jin Ye – TCM
Jin Ye (or Jin Je) are the body fluids that flow within us and are important for the correct functioning of our organs, muscles and joints. Some examples of these fluids are sweat, mucus, saliva and semen but any fluids excreted by the body can fall within this category.