Stagnation is the mother of all disease
& depression - with a blend of TCM and Metaphysics
And Circulation is the father of all health.
Rough, shallow breaths. No movement. No stretching. No feeling emotions. No having hard conversations. No making it out the beginners phase. No time in the day. Always busy. Stuffing our food down rather than tasting it. This is where our human race is headed if we don’t realize that this lifestyle creates more death than life. Stagnant action is the root of it. We as a collective seem to be choosing stagnation over circulation. And we wonder what our bodies feel sick, our businesses failing - not cooperating with the natural world, wars across the globe and disharmony within as a hallmark to emotional turmoil.
Where is the connection? Everything that is occurring in our society at large on a national, global and species level is a direct reflection of what occurs within our state of being. The macrocosm is directly correlated to the microcosm. When we point to society we are in turn pointing to ourselves. So where do we begin… with the human in the mirror.
In this blog article we’ll chat about:
Nature of Circulation
Nature of Stagnation via Traditional Chinese Medicine
Connection of Stagnation beyond the body
Physical + Metaphysical Applications
Devotion to Movement
The Nature of Proper Circulation
If there is no movement nothing is in motion. If there is no freshness things become stale. If there is no new adventures, then only familiar loops are forged. If there are no new ideas, nothing new grows. Circulation is the smooth flow of vital energy throughout an enclosed system. Our blood must circulate throughout our entire body in less than a minute. Our lymph - must circulate to ensure purification of the fluids and ligaments. Qi must make this circle in 20 minutes with acupuncture.
The Father of circulation nourishes the vitality within the system as it gently regulates the rate of movement. Through circulation we see health of the body, wealth of a people and healing of a nation. Oral traditions must circulate to keep culture alive. Even our emotions must circulate to keep our chakras open and flowing with love energy. When our energy is allowed to flow freely, there is a sense of inner strength, peace and joy that follows. From a TCM perspective, this circulation is what keeps up alive and balanced on three planes mind, body and spirit.
The Nature of Stagnation
Imagine the last time you pent up an emotion like grief, anger, annoyance or fear. It just festers. Feeding on any thoughts that feed the perspective of the scenario. You may have felt a lump in your throat. You’ve probably felt heat rising in your body, your muscles clenching your shoulders tightened to your ears - these are physical signs of temporary stagnation. If you stayed in this state for longer than a few hours, these emotions settle into the body’s physicality.
Any unresolved emotions stays with your body through it’s relationship with the nervous system. Ever wonder where your tight shoulders? Back pain? Tight calves come from? It may feel natural to point out what the body physically has been doing. Yet modern humans, in biomedical physiology, fail to link this physical response to the emotional triggers we encounter on a day to day basis. What if you handled those emotions differently? And allowed them to circulate?
There is a common thread that our body physicality and inner universe hold that mirror the world around us along with the greater universe. When circulation is no longer possible in a system, stagnation will ultimately manifest. Stagnation is defined as the lack of growth and development or state of no flow. When there is stagnation with our emotions, blood flow, body movement or qi flow - this marks the beginning stage of disease in the body. This is an ancient truth that traditional Chinese medicine witnesses in today’s world. The nuance of circulation and stagnation has many applications in our reality from
Physical + Metaphysical Applications
Incorporate more flow into your movement routine (e.g. yoga, pilates, dance, pottery, basketball)
Meditate by a flow-like moving body of water like a river or stream
Go travel to a spot where you feel freest
Allow the knowledge to flow: Share a new concept with another person with shared interest
Connect with your higher self through silence and stillness which still contains circulation in your presence
Devotion to Movement
Here is a question for you..
What is the difference between movement and motion?
Despite being closely related, they have distinct meanings highly dependent on context. Movement relates to a change in position or location with an intention and direction. While motion is the process of movement changing over time within a closed system. Similar to your circulatory, lymphatic or nervous system - even though it is stimulated by external factors.
Being devoted is showing up for the process just as much as the end product. Devotion is an energy connected to something larger than your ego, self concept while directly igniting your soul’s energy. When you are devoted to moving forward, growing, opening up, being, sharing and basking in the divine presence that is your LIFE - there is a sense of merging of your internal and external world that feels like dance.
For a deeper dive on Devotion read this article here.
While we are here on this earth to be and enjoy, there is a responsibility to create circulation in every aspect of our lives to mirror nature. Yet stagnation is a natural consequence of blockage, resistance and accumulation. Following the principles of Yin and Yang, circulation and stagnation interplay because their relationship to themselves directly depend on their relationship to the other. Flow can only exist relative to Resistance.
Paradox is what seems to be the opposite actually issue from the same center point. - Bashar
May this mark the beginning or continuation of honoring the flow in all things. From your body, even your money - wants to be in motion. As above so below.
Till the next one ~ Sai 🪬
