Keys4Healing Essence

  Eating for Summer: Staying Cool Without Weakening Digestion In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), summer is the season of  Fire —associated with the  Heart , the  Small Intestine , and the outward expression of joy. It’s a time of growth, movement, and social activity. But the same fire that brings vitality can also overheat the system, especially if we’re not mindful of what we eat and drink. TCM encourages seasonal eating not through hard rules, but through balance. In summer, this means cooling the body without damaging the digestion. One of the first instincts in hot weather is to reach for cold drinks and raw foods. And while that can feel satisfying in the moment, TCM offers a more nuanced view. Cold foods and drinks may temporarily reduce body temperature, but they also inhibit the  Spleen and Stomach Qi —the very organs responsible for transforming food into energy. If these become weakened, we may experience bloating, fatigue, loose stools, or even p...

Ground Your Emotions with Summer Energy Summer is the season of the Heart—full of warmth, joy, and expansive energy. But when that energy becomes too scattered, it can lead to restlessness, anxiety, or even burnout. Here’s a simple self-healing Qigong technique to help ground your emotions and bring your energy back to center:  Interlace your fingers and gently massage your stomach around the navel in a clockwise, circular motion. Start from the right side (near the liver) and move across and down—just like the natural flow of your digestive energy. This practice helps:  Calm the mind and heart  Aid digestion after big meals  Anchor your Qi and emotional energy in the lower Dan Tian Make it part of your summer routine to stay grounded, centered, and in harmony with the season’s fire. Many Blessings, Chunyi Lin

It’s been called the monkey mind — the endless chattering in your head as you jump from thought to thought while you daydream, analyze your relationships, or worry over the future. Eventually, you start to feel like your thoughts are spinning in circles, and you’re left totally confused. One way to tame this wild creature in your head is through meditation. Although the paradox is that when you clear your mind for meditation, you actually invite the monkey in your mind to play. This is when you are given the opportunity to tame this mental beast by moving beyond thought — to become aware of a thought rather than thinking a thought. The difference is subtle but significant. When you are aware of your thoughts, you can let your thoughts rise and float away without letting them pull you in different directions. Being able to concentrate is one of the tools that allows you to slow down your thought process and focus on observing your thoughts. To develop your concentration, you may want t...

  The Winter Solstice December 21, 2024 Tomorrow, December 21st, marks one of the most powerful and transformative days of the year. It’s the perfect time to align your heart and mind, and connect deeply with the energy of the season.   To truly understand the significance of the solstice, we must first recognize the balance of Yin and Yang—the two fundamental energies that shape everything in the universe. These energies are in a constant dance, always shifting, growing, and transforming. Twice a year, we experience their peak and deepest shift—tomorrow is one of those days!   In the Northern Hemisphere, we celebrate the Winter Solstice , when Yin energy is at its peak. It's a time for stillness, reflection, and nurturing the deep wisdom that comes with this quiet energy. Embrace the calm, protect your energy, and connect with the quiet power of Yin.   In the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the Summer Solstice , when Yang energy is strongest. It's a time for active celebr...

                                                                           MASTER ZHONGXIAN WU YaoGong  藥功 Qigong Practice : Your body is like a musical instrument that is made of the Five Qi-strings. Practicing a Qigong form is like playing a song with your body-instrument. In my tradition, we always start our practice by tuning the Five Qi-strings – our  body’s “tuning keys” – our Five Qi-needles. The Practice Stand with your feet together and imagine you are a new sprout, springing forth from the ground. Relax your eyelids to bring your eyesight within. Look within. Listen within. Tuning the Fire Qi-string :  Straighten your neck and head as though you are being pulled up towards heaven by the hair...

Balance Liver Energy by Strengthening Lung Energy in Springtime Master Chunyi Lin As April unfolds, the dominance of spring energy heralds a period of renewal and vitality. Following the hibernation of winter, plants and trees awaken, bursting with life and energy. This season exudes happiness and excitement, offering us an opportunity to embrace new beginnings. Spending time in Nature To fully harness the rejuvenating energy of this season, immerse yourself in nature. Step outside and breathe in the fresh, invigorating air released from the awakening ground. Spending time outdoors with loved ones amplifies the benefits, fostering connections and shared experiences amidst the vibrant backdrop of spring's renewal. Moreover, as trees and plants awaken, they emit an abundance of pure, positive healing energy. It's essential to immerse ourselves in this spring energy to absorb its healing essence fully, fostering harmo...

  4 POINTS FOR DETOXIFYING THE BODY   Bladder Energy Points   There are 4 Key Energy Points for Detoxifying the Body’s energy Two focus on the Bladder Channel which begins just off the bridge of the nose. The 2 Points you want to stimulate to activate the Bladder Channel’s energy are located higher up - where the Eyebrows Begin just off the bridge of the nose.   This channel, the Bladder Channel, goes back to the back of the head, running down the outside along the spine, then out through the leg all the way down and out through the little toe. Press on these points with your thumbs or fingers. You can press and massage in a circular way. Or you can press deep.   When you massage deep you will feel a little depression there – when you press on it don’t do it too long. 5 seconds and then release and wait like 2 or 3 seconds and do it again. But, don’t press it too long. This energy channel has the most acupuncture points or energy points or any energy channel in ...

A Pear a Day...   There is an old saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But this time of year, pears are the thing. Pears are very good for fall. Eat them raw or steamed. Pears help with the lungs and throat. They help with your tongue, help with thirst and help with any toxins in the lung and skin. If you eat 1 or 2 pears a day they can be very beneficial for your health this time of year.   For those who have lots of coughing, steamed pear with brown sugar to your taste can help even better to clear your coughing. Steamed pears are also good for relieving anxiety or frustration, and they can help with red eye or puffy eye. And they can be helpful in relieving constipation.   If you enjoy apples you may want to cut back on them in autumn. Apples are especially good for you in summer but in autumn you should cut back on apples eating maybe just one small apple a day.   Spinach is always good. This time of year carrots and white carrots are very good for you...

  The Transition Energy of August By Master Chunyi Lin    In life, as in nature, we have many peaks and valleys, bright days and dark ones. Life, like nature, it is always in the process of Transition and Transformation. Some happen very quickly and some very slowly. Some are predictable and others come on suddenly. Whether we always recognize it or not, transition is always going on. August is a transition month though we might not think of it as such. August is a month that can see some of the hottest days of summer while each day moves us closer to the start of autumn. The signature of summer energy is fire, yang energy, always going outward wanting to expand and grow. But in August the energy signature begins to turn inward. You still see things growing in nature but the earth is already sending more energy to the roots, storing it up for the fall and winter to come. August 8th is a special day because that’s when fall energy starts coming in and the transition is ful...

  For thousands of years the I Ching has provided guidance for decisions about our health, relationships, finances, work, and play. Predictions from the I Ching follow the lunar year and are based on multiple, overlapping cycles that govern the heavens and earth. A variety of stems, branches, directions, and phases also have their say, each creating a trail of portents, probabilities, and possibilities, so let us begin ... In the Chinese horoscope, December is the eleventh lunar month in a heavenly phase called Tze. It is a time of very strong yang Water Element energy and in Chinese tradition, yang Water beckons us toward spirituality, transformation, and self- awakening. Yang Water is a huge moving force—it is deep and powerful and cannot be ignored. December’s Water energy will bring a flood of emotions that can either stimulate and elevate our mood or completely overwhelm us. The Water Element also represents nature and nurture—it channels its powerful energy in...

  FALL 2021 Prediction from Master Zhongxian Wu The official beginning of Autumn 2021 was August 7. I have seen the disharmony between Fire and Water growing stronger and stronger. For instance, we had an irregularly dry and very hot summer, therefore, I predict that we will likely have irregular weather this autumn, with high humidity and lots of rain. If instead you had unbalanced rainstorms in your area over the summer, I would guess that you might experience unbalanced heat over the next couple of months.    Excess Dry Metal   This autumn energy may trigger some difficulties in those with weak blood/Qi circulation during the coming season. Clinically, practitioners may see an influx of people suffering from muscle/joint pain and/or ischemic events. From late September to mid-November, excess Dry Metal energy will likely dominate most of the northern hemisphere. This suggests health challenges for...

Today, I want to share with you why placing plants in your workspace can be of great benefit to you. If you work near your computer, placing one or two plants in a good place for getting sun, is also good. so that you can look at it once in awhile. Better yet get two plants and put one in place for a week or two while the second plant is in a good place for getting the sun. Then exchange places for the plants every week or two. Also, the plant can absorb the energy from the computer. So the plant helps protect you, which is important anytime, especially in the spring because that is liver time – and your liver needs the energy.

  Please enjoy this wonderful video from Taoist Master Gu. If you want more of his wisdom, sign up for his free newsletter. There is also an opportunity to study with him virtually if you wish! What is Qigong?

Meditation can change your life.  Here are some steps to help you get started : Make time to meditate   Find or create a quiet, relaxing environment Sit on level ground or a chair without arms Relax everything, and keep searching for things that aren’t relaxed Let your attention rest on the flow of your breath Silence your mind You need an alert mind to make the most of meditation, so you need to be free of alcohol or non prescribed drugs for at least 24 hours. Find or create a quiet, relaxing environment Wait 2 hours after a large meal or an hour after a snack or a caffeine drink before meditating If you smoke it is best to wait for roughly thirty minutes before meditating. You need to make sure you have some peace and quiet around you when you first begin learning to meditate. Make sure all phones are turned off/disconnected or turned to silent. A scented candle, a bouquet of flowers, a incense or something else pleasing to you can be great little touches to enhance your fir...