Digesting Life: Post-natal Qi and the Middle Jiao

This 6-hour course takes a look at how the organs of the middle jiao (the Spleen & Fu organs) not only digest food but also help us digest every experience we have in life. These organs help us to find nourishment even in the face of adversity and they eliminate that which is not nourishing.

The primary channel system maintains organ function and it relies on the middle jiao to provide the raw materials for that purpose. The ability to maintain the ascending and descending of qi is also governed by this system and this supports the circulation needed for digesting life.

The course will explore impediments to digestion including: diet, emotions which pervert the flow of qi, lifestyle choices, Yin Fire, Gu syndrome and possession by Gui. We will look at how the spirit of the Spleen, the Yi, can be supported so that we can create context for challenging experiences. A healthy Spleen/Yi can create a more stable and grounded environment for facing life’s challenges.

Our investigation will also look at the importance of the Fu organs in their ability to recognize the difference between healthy and toxic input. These are the organs that decide what is acceptable to internalize and they also remove, through elimination, that which is not useful.