The Art and Skill of the Heart

Within Classical Chinese Medicine,the radiant and luminous nature of consciousness is described as Shen. Sometimes translated as "spirit" or "spirits" Heart/Mind, guiding all activities of the body and consciousness. In the nei Jing Su Wen ( one of the most influential classics of Chinese Medicine) this is decribed as "The Heart holds the office of lord and sovereign. the radiance of the Shen stems from it. " because of this Chinese Medicine is concerned, at its most profound level, with developing clarity within the Heart as a method of maintaining health and fulfilling natural potential. This is described as " The Art & Skill of the Heart".

Health within Classical Chinese Medicine is described as a dynamic balance of opposites. Yin and Yang must be in harmony as manifested by a balance of Qi and blood, Jing ( essence,potential, and external, Excess and Deficient, Moist and Dry, and so on... This is vibrant state that expresses the harmony of mind, body, emotion and spirit with the Dao(Tao). When internal harmony is joined with the external harmony of universe the Shen becomes radiant and virtue shines out from within the individual.
When there is sickness or lack of health it is difficult to live in a full filling mannet. According to Classical theory most health problems result from internal reaction to environmental, emotional or " conduct of life" factors.

" It is a fact that the ten Thousands Beings ( or things) provoke in a person an indefinite series of reactions. The incapacity to master the attractions and repulsions that are born in contact with a Being ( or thing) produce the transformations and alterations that the beings bring about a person.
a person transformed by a beings (or things) loses this celestial disposition and he is filled with human lusts. The rebellious Heart, false and deceitful, revolts: the disturbed conduct and becomes dissolute and generates a disorder".

This internal reaction or " indefinite series of reactions" creates a pattern of imbalance within the body that eventually results in a specific health problems. A traditional metaphor used to describe this is that of a weed. the initial internal reactions are seen as the seeds of a weed that will send down roots, developing a pattern of imbalance. If this continues then the weed will push through the surface, sending out the leaves of unhappiness and poor health.
In order to help people reach the goal of feeling healthy and fulfilled, Classical Oriental Medicine addresses each stage of this process. herbal formulas, homeopathic, acupuncture, massage, and awareness-based approaches to nutrition, exercise, work and recreation are used to balance the patterns that are underlying the main health problems and directly address the presenting health issues.
However, the most important stage is that of the internal reaction. Patterns of imbalance and specific symptoms can only rise in dependence of reactions. if a reaction is transformed then there is no seed that can grow into a weed.
There are many misconceptions about the reaction as a stage of health. one idea is that as these reactions are within us it must be our fault that there is a health issue. This is clearly not the case, as the reactions are below our normal level of consciousness and active within all of us. Furthermore, they are rooted in a physical and energetic response- such as the body's response to pollen with allergies.
However it is possible to gradually become aware of when this process is taking place, and use practices to transform the energy of that reaction into clarity, skill and vitality. this is in essence the Art and Skill of the Heart: to develop clarity of the Heart in upper body that is rooted in the vitality and energy of the Ming Men and Dan Tien of the lower body. this is the deepest level of health care and the core of Classical Chinese Medicine.

Dr. Catherine Coudray Lic AP Dipl. AC
www.catherinecoudray.com
321-303-5240