{"id":1488,"date":"2011-03-16T12:58:13","date_gmt":"2011-03-16T17:58:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1488"},"modified":"2011-03-21T16:02:24","modified_gmt":"2011-03-21T21:02:24","slug":"1488","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yang-sheng.com\/?p=1488","title":{"rendered":"Scientific Qi Exploration. Sun and Moon Energy"},"content":{"rendered":"

Part 4 of the series
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Heaven Energy of the Sun and Moon <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

Martin Eisen, Ph.D.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Sunset at the North pole with the Moon on top<\/p><\/div>\n

<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Introduction<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Outer Forces of Heaven are manifested through the Three Treasures: the combined energy field of the sun, moon, and stars.\u00a0 The sun and moon are the primary Heavenly manifestations of Yin and Yang Qi.\u00a0 The sun is Yang and is considered the Spirit Soul (Hun) of Heaven, while the moon is Yin and is considered the Corporeal Soul of Earth.\u00a0 The sun and moon cyclically change their relative degrees of Yin to Yang at different times of the day, month and year.\u00a0 These changes affect the Earthly Yin and Yang energies as well as the Qi in the body.\u00a0 The most easily observed changes in the stars\u2019 energy, which affect life on Earth, are from the North Star, the Big Dipper, and the 28 constellations.\u00a0 Stars\u2019 energy will be discussed in Part 5.<\/p>\n

Some of the Five Elements\u2019 correspondences between Heaven\u2019s Treasures and the environment of Earth appear in Table1.<\/p>\n

Table 1.\u00a0 Some Heavenly Five Element Relations <\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Ele ment<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nYin Organ<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nYang Organ<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nTime<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nSeason<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nDirec tion<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nPlanet<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Wood<\/td>\nLiver<\/td>\nGall Bladder<\/td>\nEarly Dawn<\/td>\nSpring<\/td>\nEast<\/td>\nJupiter<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fire<\/td>\nHeart<\/td>\nSmall Intestine<\/td>\nNoon<\/td>\nSummer<\/td>\nSouth<\/td>\nMars<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Earth<\/td>\nSpleen<\/td>\nStomach<\/td>\nMid- aftnoon<\/td>\nLate summer<\/td>\nCenter<\/td>\nSaturn<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Metal<\/td>\nLungs<\/td>\nColon<\/td>\nLate Dusk<\/td>\nFall<\/td>\nWest<\/td>\nVenus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Water<\/td>\nKidneys<\/td>\nBladder<\/td>\nNight<\/td>\nWinter<\/td>\nNorth<\/td>\nMercury<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

The body\u2019s biorhythms are influenced by the cyclic energy changes of the sun, moon, and stars.\u00a0 For example, certain hormones, temperature, blood pressure, blood amino acids, etc. exhibit a cyclical variation during the day; women\u2019s emotional and menstrual cycles, usually 28 days, follow the changing phases of the moon.\u00a0 The Physical Cycle is 23 days long.\u00a0 The first 11 \u00bd days produce an increasing feeling of good strength and endurance, while the second 11 \u00bd days produces a decreasing feeling of strength and endurance.\u00a0 The Intellectual Cycle of 33 days has similar properties with the positive half being the first 16 \u00bd days.\u00a0 The body\u2019s clocks can be altered by food, drink, drugs, and abnormal sleep.<\/p>\n

Biorhythms also influence the time and severity of illnesses and the effects of drugs.\u00a0\u00a0 Therefore, herbal, qigong and acupuncture therapy can be prescribed at specific times to enhance their effect.\u00a0 Familiarity with the cycles of Heaven\u2019s Qi enables the Qigong doctor to utilize it to regulate and balance the patient\u2019s Qi.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 The Sun\u2019s Cycles<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Earth\u2019s revolution about the sun causes seasonal energy changes in the organs and meridians of the body.\u00a0 In each of the 5 seasons a pair of organs reaches an energetic peak, as shown in Table1.\u00a0 The Earth\u2019s revolution on its axis causes similar daily energetic maxima in the time period also shown in Table 1.<\/p>\n

The daily cycle of Heat, Blood, and Qi flow along the body\u2019s twelve Meridians, Organs, and Skin Zones according to two hour time periods appears in Table 2.\u00a0 For example, from 3 \u2013 5a.m. maximum energy flows along the Lung meridian, making the Lungs more responsive to treatment.<\/p>\n

The fluctuations of Qi in Heaven and Man during the hours and months can be described by the Twelve Pi Hexagrams shown in Table 2.\u00a0 A hexagram consists of a horizontal stack of 6 Yao, a solid or broken line.\u00a0 A solid line represents Yang and also exhalation.\u00a0 A broken line represents Yin and inhalation.<\/p>\n

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The Yin Yao Cycles<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hexagrams from Gou to Kun indicate the gradual increasing of Yin Qi and decreasing of Yang Qi.\u00a0 This time period is called the \u201ctime of dead breath\u201d.\u00a0 This is the best time for nurturing and restoring the Kidneys\u2019 Yin Essence for people with deficient Yin Qi. <\/strong><\/p>\n

The Yang Yao Cycle<\/strong><\/p>\n

The hexagrams from Fu to Qian represent the gradual increase of Yang Qi and the decrease in Yin Qi.\u00a0 This time period is called the \u201ctime of living breath\u201d.\u00a0 This is the best time for emitting external Qi and training for treating insufficiency of Yang Qi. <\/strong><\/p>\n

A Qigong doctor can use the Yin and Yang Yao Cycles to prescribe for a patient by adjusting his breathing according to the applicable hexagram.\u00a0 For instance, when practicing during the period of the Fu hexagram, there is more Yin than Yang, so to nourish Yang requires longer inhalations (Yin) and shorter exhalations (Yang).\u00a0\u00a0 The Gou hexagram shows that there is more Yang than Yin at this stage.\u00a0 To balance Yin and Yang, the practitioner should use shorter inhalations and longer exhalations during this time period.<\/p>\n

Practicing Qigong during the four following time periods aids increasing internal energy in harmony with the energy changes in nature.<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 The Fu Time Period (Midnight) <\/strong>is related to the beginning of the Yang cycle and is ideal for gathering Yuan (Prenatal) Qi<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 The Dazhuang Period (Sunrise) <\/strong>is when natural Yang Qi increases due to the rising sun and so does the Yang Qi of the body.\u00a0 Practice during this period promotes the vigorous growth of Yang.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 The Gou Period (High Noon) <\/strong>is when the Heart meridian exhibits its energetic peak.\u00a0\u00a0 Since the Yang energy Yaos decrease, practicing during this period helps the growth of Yin energy and suppresses the hyperactivity of Yin energy.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 The Guan Period (Sunset) <\/strong>is when the environmental energy changes from clear to dark.\u00a0 Practicing during this period encourages increasing primordial Yin Qi and the conservation and nourishment of Yang energy.<\/p>\n

The four seasonal peak transitions of energy, in the northern hemisphere, corresponding to the four time periods, appear in Table 3.<\/p>\n

Table 3.\u00a0 The Four Seasonal Peak Energy Changes<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Name<\/strong><\/td>\nDate<\/strong><\/td>\nSun\u2019s Position<\/strong><\/td>\nDescription<\/strong><\/td>\nTime Period<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palace\u00a0 of Eternal Frost<\/td>\nWinter Solstice December 33 – 25<\/td>\nFurthest south from equator<\/td>\nMaximum Yin or darkness, shortest days; longest time of cold<\/td>\nMidnight<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Golden Gate<\/td>\nSpring Equinox March 21<\/td>\nCrosses heavenly equator<\/td>\nLight & darkness, Yin & Yang balanced.\u00a0 Yang Qi is growing.<\/td>\nSunrise<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Palace of Universal Yang<\/td>\nSummer Solstice June 21 – 23<\/td>\nFurthest north from equator<\/td>\nMaximum Yang or brightness; longest days & times of light & warmth<\/td>\nNoon<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Gate of the Moon<\/td>\nAutumn Equinox September 22<\/td>\nCrosses equator<\/td>\nLight & darkness, Yin & Yang balanced.\u00a0 Yin Qi is increasing.<\/td>\nSunset<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Further seasonal transitions periods appear in (1).<\/p>\n

Ancient Qigong masters practiced Gathering the Sun\u2019s Essence Meditation to gather pure Yang Qi and to strengthen Zheng (Gathering) Qi.\u00a0\u00a0 This helped to eliminate pathogenic factors and prevent premature aging.\u00a0 Details can be found in (1).<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0 The Moon\u2019s Cycles<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

According to ancient Qigong masters, the sun has a Yang nature radiating hot, thermal energy, while the moon is Yin and emits a much cooler energy by reflecting the energy of the sun.\u00a0 The amount of energy reflected depends on the phase of the moon in its lunar cycle as it revolves around the earth.\u00a0 The lunar month begins with the new moon, when the moon is between the sun and earth.\u00a0 Sunlight strikes the half of the moon which is not visible from the earth and so no light is reflected towards the earth.\u00a0 When the moon travels about 1\/8th of its orbit around the earth, the sun begins to illuminate part of the moon which reflects some light to the earth and the moon is called a waxing crescent\u00a0\u00a0 After traveling \u00bc of the way around its orbit the moon appears as a half illuminated circle.\u00a0\u00a0 Some phases are shown in Table 4.<\/p>\n

The body\u2019s Qi and Blood varies with the amount of reflected light and also with the gravitational pull of the sun and moon, just as the tides.\u00a0 Thus, the ancient Qigong masters specified times for tonifying and purging.\u00a0 For example don\u2019t tonify when the moon is full since Blood and Qi are turning excessive due to the amount of reflected light and also because the sun\u2019s and moon\u2019s gravitational pulls are acting together in concert.\u00a0 Table 4 helps in designing the proper Qigong treatment during certain phases of the moon.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Table 4.\u00a0 Qigong Treatment According to Phases of Moon<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Phase of Moon<\/strong><\/td>\nReason<\/strong><\/td>\nTide<\/strong><\/td>\nQi & Blood<\/strong><\/td>\nRegulation<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
New<\/td>\nMoon between sun; earth.\u00a0 Start of orbit<\/td>\nSpring.\u00a0 Max. Sun; moon pull together<\/td>\nDeficient<\/td>\nNo Purging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waxing Crescent<\/td>\nMoon between sun; earth & 1\/8th\u00a0around orbit<\/td>\nSpring.\u00a0 Max. Sun; moon pull together<\/td>\nTurning excessive<\/td>\nNo Tonifying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
First Quarter<\/td>\nMoon is 90 deg. to sun & 1\/4 around orbit<\/td>\nNeap.\u00a0Min. Sun; moon work against each other<\/td>\nDeficient<\/td>\nNo Purging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Full<\/td>\nMoon opposite sun & 1\/2 around orbit<\/td>\nSpring.\u00a0 Max. Sun & moon pull together<\/td>\nExcessive<\/td>\nNo Tonifying<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Last Quarter<\/td>\nMoon is 90 deg. to sun & 3\/4 around orbit<\/td>\nNeap.\u00a0 Min.\u00a0 Sun & moon work against each other<\/td>\nTurning Deficient<\/td>\nNo Purging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Waning Crescent<\/td>\nMoon between sun & earth & 7\/8th\u00a0 around orbit<\/td>\nSpring.\u00a0 Max. Sun & moon pull together<\/td>\nDeficient<\/td>\nNo Purging<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

During a full moon, the body\u2019s Blood and Qi fill the Baihui point at the top of the head.\u00a0 At the new moon, the body\u2019s Blood and Qi gather at the Huiyin in the perineum.\u00a0 Following the moon\u2019s\u00a0 cycle, the body\u2019s Qi completes a full revolution, flowing up the Governing Vessel to the Baihui, and down the Conception Vessel to the Huiyin.<\/p>\n

Since the top and bottom o the Taiji Pole are activated at the full and new moon, these times are considered the most productive times for Taiji Pole Qi practice.<\/p>\n

Ancient Qigong masters also practiced Gathering the Moon\u2019s Cream Meditation.\u00a0 The vital essence of the moon is called \u201cCream\u201d or \u201ccool light\u201d.\u00a0 It is used to nourish the Kidneys, Jing, Marrow, and Brain, while contributing to longevity.\u00a0 This meditation is practiced only three days before, during, and after the full moon, a total of nine days.\u00a0 These days are the brightest days of the month.\u00a0 It is not practiced other days because there is insufficient vital moon essence to gather.\u00a0 This meditation is described in (1).<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0 Proper Directions for Practicing Qigong<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

The proper directions for practicing Qigong have been emphasized since ancient times (see Table 1).\u00a0 For instance, the practitioner faces the sun and moon when practicing sun and moon meditations.\u00a0 Patients with a Yang deficiency should face east or south.\u00a0 Those with Yin deficiencies should face north or west.\u00a0 Those with a Kidney, Liver, Heart, or Lung deficiency should face north, east, south, west, respectively.\u00a0 Patients with a spleen deficiency should focus their attention on the center (Earth).\u00a0 Note that although these directions are effective, a Qigong master chooses the place and direction using their intuition.\u00a0 They slowly turn until they feel their body filling with Qi in a specific direction.\u00a0 They cannot stand or sit comfortably unless they are facing that direction.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

References<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Johnson, J.A.\u00a0 Chinese Medical Qigong Therapy.\u00a0 Int. Institute of Medical Qigong, Pacific Grove, Ca, 2000.<\/p>\n

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