Small Intestine Constellation

Active Time: 1-3pm
Element: fire
Fundamental Principle: yang
Season: summer

This is the third installment on the meridians used in my Inner Constellation work. The first article was entitled Spleen Constellation and the second, Heart Constellation. Today I'll highlight Small Intestine (SI) meridian. The small intestine separates the pure from the impure in regards to food, liquids, thoughts and beliefs. When the small intestine is healthy it's said to recognize and extract goodness from even the nastiest of environments or situations. I think of the SI meridian as the alchemy stream, where one can gain insight on extracting gold from dross.

Imbalances in SI meridian show up as disorders of the ears, eyes, throat, digestive system, habits of over eating, as well as certain mental illnesses. As much as ninety-five percent of the brain's mood regulating chemical, serotonin, is contained in the small intestine. It makes sense that we tend to feel strong emotions like fear and excitement deep in our gut.

SI meridian outline from etouchforhealth.com

SI meridian is a yang meridian associated with the element of fire and most active during the hours of 1-3pm. For a quick boost during this prime time it can be tapped most easily at SI-3, located along the outside edge of your palm. Give this area a few solid thumps with the fingertips of your opposite hand. SI-3 is also referred to as the Karate Chop point. It's the meaty part of your palm where you might "hi-ya!" a board if you felt so inclined :) You can also trace the SI meridian as part of a daily routine, beginning on the outside of your pinky finger and proceeding staight up the arm to the shoulder, dropping back on the scapula, across your neck and up to the checkbone to end at the opening of the ear.

SI-3 (Karate Chop) is the point used whenever one begins a tapping algorithm and is the point tapped when stating the set-up statement which defines the target for treatment. It's a vital point for literally tapping into the gut, seat of emotions and storehouse for the "feel good" chemical. SI-3 is a wonderful emergency point when someone feels overwhelmed. I've seen this point produce an immediate tranquilizing effect.

You might be noticing a method to my meridian tracing madness: Spleen Constellation (9-11a), traces to armpit, where Heart Constellation (11a-1p) then begins and traces to the pinky finger which is where Small Intestine (1-3p) Constellation begins. Connect your beautiful dots back through the articles if you need a refresher. Also, if you wish to shoot ahead, here's a link to a wonderful example of a YouTube Meridian Trace, beginning with Spleen, proceeding to Heart and Small Intestine and tracing the remaining nine meridians. For now, however, we're half-way through the day; next, the evening hours. TTFN.

Heart Constellation

Active Time:  11am-1pm
Element: fire
Fundamental Principle: yin
Season: summer

This is the second installment on the meridians used in my Inner Constellation work. The first article was on the Spleen Meridian. The week celebrating Valentine's Day seems the perfect opportunity to highlight the Heart (HT) Meridian. Interestingly, HT meridian consists of three branches. One travels to the small intestine, another runs upward past the tongue to just under the eye and the third branch crosses the chest and travels down the arm to end at the inside nail bed of the pinky finger. The heart is called "king" of all the organs and governs blood and pulse in addition to mind and spirit. The heart contains its own intelligence, with an electromagnetic current 45-70 times the amplitude of the brain. Our heart rhythms influence the brain waves of those within 8 feet of our center. Imbalances in HT meridian can often present as heart problems and symptoms such as dry throat, heart pain, palpitations, excessive thirst, pain in chest and forearm, yellow eyes and insomnia.

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Heart meridian is a yin meridian associated with the element of fire and most active during the hours of 11am-1pm. This is an optimal time to work on HT meridian as part of a daily maintenance routine. For a quick boost it can be accessed at its end point, HT-9, located at the inside nail bed of the pinky finger. Tap on HT-9 for about seven seconds or consider tracing the Heart meridian in its entirety. The Heart constellation is a very easy path to trace--start at your armpit and follow down the medial or inner arm and off your little finger (palm facing up).

I often include HT meridian in algorithms I design targeting physical pain, speech impediments, circulation, insomnia, anger, grief or when releasing and letting go of something that no longer serves. Consider giving Heart meridian a little extra love this week for an especially happy and healthy Valentine's Day.

Spleen Constellation

Active Time:  9-11 am
Element: earth
Fundamental Principle: yin
Season: late summer

For the months of February and March, I'm making a commitment to IC blog readers to offer clear, concise articles on each of the 12 major meridians that are accessed in my Inner Constellation work. We'll be starting with Spleen  meridian. Spleen is a vital immune organ and digestive meridian. It's responsible for transforming food and drink into body fluids, blood and Qi (life force). Spleen is also believed to govern the quality of our thoughts. Some symptoms of imbalance in the Spleen meridian include digestive problems, asthma, bleeding disorders, menstrual discomfort, stiff, swollen or weak limbs, allergies, extreme pensiveness and mental confusion.

World Health Organization
Standard Acupuncture Point

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Spleen meridian is a yin meridian, associated with the nurturing element of earth and most active between the hours of 9-11am. I like accessing Spleen meridian during these morning hours as part of daily Spleen hygiene. For a quick boost, it can be accessed at its end point, SP-21, about 2 hand widths from the concave of the armpit (sixth intercostal space--shown in picture). Tap this spot with finger tips or flat of hand or pressure SP-21 for about 7 seconds. If you have a few extra seconds, consider tracing the SP meridian. Imagine the paths I'm about to describe as invisible lines connecting constellation points in the night sky. Begin at your big toes (SP-1) and move up the insides of both feet and inner ankles. Continue to climb your inside calves and thighs to the pelvis and alongside the outer part of both breasts to end at the underarms (SP-21 mentioned above). Remember the meridians are bi-lateral and are best treated on both sides of the body.

I include SP meridian whenever I construct tailored algorithms for my clients in the following areas: trauma, physical pain, digestion, shame, phobias, anxiety, depression, frustration and addictions. SP-21 is the sole IC point when addressing peak performance and installing positive beliefs.

Hope the tips for working with Spleen meridian prove helpful. Consider tapping SP-21 or tracing the Spleen constellation in its entirety during the morning hours, or contact me regarding a tailored algorithm in the event SP meridian needs some extra attention. Happy tapping!

A Brave Young Woman is Cancer Free!!!

Hello Dear I.C. peeps. I heard the best possible news today--a friend's daughter is cancer free! After many months of treatment she has been given a clean bill of health. The story of this brave young woman correlates perfectly with a notion I've been tossing around of late: the act of transforming the hard knocks life presents. How do we take a devastating situation and turn it toward the good?

My friend's daughter is the perfect example of becoming a "transformer." As part of her Gold Award for Girl Scouts she spearheaded the purchase of over 60 teddy bears for kids receiving cancer treatments at her hospital. She wrapped each one, attached a personal note and delivered them during her most recent visit. She transformed her own cancer experience by bringing joy and hope in the form of  a cool bear for others to hang onto during their treatments. She became a light to others by giving voice to what she was in the process of overcoming.

I remember a dream I experienced, one time when I was going through a particularly hard time. Wise words were spoken to me, and I woke with renewed hope:

"Everything, no matter how devastating, has the ability to be transformed."

The above notion follows two of the Inner Constellation truths:

1) Everything is energy
2) Energy constantly changes form

What in our lives needs transformation? And then, once the areas are pinpointed, how do we do it? Use the young woman above as a model, perhaps do a significant act and become a "transformer"--change the energy, shift it, write a new story: A Brave Young Woman is Cancer Free!!!