I Ain't Afraid of No Ghost!

The impact of ghosts on physical, emotional, and psycho-spiritual well being source back thousands of years ago to the shamanistic roots of Chinese medicine. From the shamanistic perspective, disease can be caused by one of three things. Wind refers to external factors that we cannot control, such as weather patterns and environmental conditions. Qi refers to internal factors that we can control, such as thought patterns and emotional conditioning. The third category, Gui refers to ghosts, which in modern scientific parlance is called parasitism— a non-mutual relationship between species, where one species— the parasite— benefits at the expense of the other— the host. Ghost possession translates to sharing your body with anything that derives power and life force from your body, leaving you drained, sick, weak, or not feeling like yourself.

In everyday life, we experience so many things that hold us back from freedom, joy, and unity. A “ghost” is a wandering spirit that is fixated on a past memory or a longing for a desired outcome in the imagined future. This ghost is the part of us that is unable to live within the present moment and haunts us through its unwillingness to let go. Ghost possession is a psycho-spiritual state that obscures the authentic self. It is the state of losing touch with ourselves when our beings are temporarily ruled inhabited by visiting pain-bodies manifesting as addiction, obsession, doubt, anxiety, worry, rage, or fear.

In Chinese Medicine, we always approach the body, mind, and spirit as inseparable, integral parts of a whole being. In the physical realm, parasites are a broad category of invasive creatures that take the form of insects, worms, viruses, bacteria, spirochetes, and “bad” gut flora.  In the psycho-emotional realm, parasites can be seen as a formless version of invasive creatures, such as repetitive thoughts, conditioned emotional reactions, habituated behaviors, pain-bodies, and distorted belief structures. Whether these parasites have physical form or are formless, they all prey upon their host, draining their life force and stifling their potential as a mechanism to make themselves stronger, bigger, and more powerful.

Tonight is the night to honor Samhain— to welcome in the harvest and usher in the dark half of the year. As the barriers between the material world and the spirit world become more permeable, it is the best night of the year to acknowledge the ghosts around you and within you, see what is possessing you, and set yourself free from all the things that haunt you. The underlying philosophy of shamanistic medicine is intentionality— the practice of directing consciousness into psycho-spiritual development through the use of intuition and plant medicines. Rituals are an integral part of the medicine itself, as healing relates to performing an invocation designed to illuminate consciousness. Channel your inner shaman and send your ghosts off in a compassionate farewell ritual— burn incense, light a candle, take an epsom salt bath with lots of essential oils and settle down with your true self for a nice, warm affirming cup of tea. Happy Halloween!!

Seek Clarity

“We see what we believe, and not just the contrary; to change what we see, it is sometimes necessary to change what we believe.”

— Jeremy Narby, The Cosmic Serpent

At the very heart of Chinese medicine’s Daoist roots is a desire for clarity. The organ system of the body is organized hierarchically with the Heart at the top.  It is an empty chamber where the empress of all the other organs sits on her throne. The virtue of the Heart is propriety- being in the right place at the right time for the right reason.

In Daoist traditions, the way this virtue is cultivated is by observing and living in accordance with the seasons- moving as nature moves when nature moves. In order for the Heart to do its job efficiently, it requires a certain level of clarity. This is the job of its paired Fire organ, the Small Intestine. The Small Intestine channel ends at the ears, and is in charge of receiving information from the outside world and accurately conveying it to the Heart.

When the Small Intestine is out of balance, perception of environmental cues and subsequent interpretation may be distorted. By harmonizing the Heart and Small Intestine with acupuncture needles, the ability to receive feedback and critique can be transformed. Feeling belittled and yelled at becomes a sense of appreciation for an opportunity to develop more clarity.

Although positive thinking may feel good as the world is painted in rosy colors, it is based on a desire to avoid discomfort. Paradoxically, the more we resist our own discomfort, the more uncomfortable we feel. The dichotomy created as we push in one direction to avoid the other direction represents the mechanism for how deep rooted disharmonies in our minds, bodies, and organ systems are created. No matter how tempting and healthy the mechanism may sound, there truly is no spiritual by-pass that will successfully and sustainably enable us to avoid our own pain.

As one of my favorite teachers, Kiran Trace, says, "We all know what obsessive mind feels like. And it’s not a great feeling. Essentially, it’s a whole bunch of thoughts colliding with aggressive, loud, busy chaos... if you are invested in turning all those thoughts into positive, life-affirming thoughts, you are giving it juice! Let’s not give it juice. Let’s find a much easier way out!”

Positivity glasses distort our perceptions and prevent the Heart from doing its job. At best, they keep you on the upswing of the roller coaster for a good while, until that roller coaster inevitably brings you back down. A much more balanced and sustainable approach is to seek clarity. Sometimes things are great, and sometimes they aren’t so great. That’s okay. By giving yourself permission to feel the full range of feelings through clear and fearless perception, and accepting that being alive means experiencing both comfort and discomfort- both pleasure and pain- freedom from that positivity-negativity roller coaster finally becomes possible.

Check out Kiran's teachings and meditations for more insight on how to achieve clarity and freedom.

Year of the Fire Rooster-Phoenix: She Who Rises From the Ashes in Flames

“Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is known consciously, the blacker and denser it is... Beneath the surface we are suffering from a deadly boredom that makes everything seem meaningless and empty... to find renewal means to descend into one’s darkness.”

— Carl Jung

Photography by Amelia Merrick

The theme of the shadow self has been surfacing more and more in the collective consciousness. As human consciousness evolves beyond the New Age / Burning Man wishful thinking that being blissed out in a yoga class or at an Ayahuasca ceremony is synonymous with transcendence, we begin to understand that there is no spiritual bypass- real transformation requires a certain, sometimes excruciating, amount of facing our own pain, trauma, and ugliness. With increasing frequency my badass lady light warrior friends (@radical_reiki, @drewlinden, @alxmrchenergy) bravely and consistently call our attention to what most of us don't want to hear.

As Carl Jung spells out for us, "People will do anything, no matter how absurd, in order to avoid facing their own soul. One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making darkness conscious." 

For most of us, the year of the Fire Monkey has been an intense, at times tragic, wild ride. It seems that the whole world is going crazy and we are hanging on for dear life as unthinkable things turn into a dystopic reality right before our eyes. The Year of the Fire Rooster means it is time to stop worrying and start acting. Roosters are daring, outspoken, and ambitious. They are also courageous, trustworthy, and loyal. While they are abundantly practical, they are also big dreamers and will do anything in their power to keep those who share their roost happy and safe. Just days after the political parody that took place on J20, the Year of the Rooster invites us to show up and fight for each other, to be true to the part of ourselves that others admire and intuitively rely on.

On the other hand, untamed Roosters might also be arrogant, self-aggrandizing, persuasive, demanding. They are prone to blind admiration and seeking truth in attractive people and shiny things. As cocky as we may become as we manifest our inner Rooster to save the world and everyone in it, the Buddha tells us: "No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path." This wisdom brings our focus back from the external to the internal, and is imperative for staying balanced this year. The only way to help others is to help ourselves.

Image: Phoenix rising from the ashes in Book of Mythological Creatures by Friedrich Johann Justin Bertuch (1747-1822)

Interestingly, an alternative and more auspicious translation of the Chinese character for Rooster could be Phoenix. The Phoenix is a mythological bird that recycles its own life. When it perceives its impending death, It builds its own funeral pyre in its nest and ignites it with a single clap of its wings. In time, it rises from its own ashes - reborn, renewed, and very much alive. In this sense, the Phoenix never truly dies; rather, it is an immortal creature that is reborn again and again as it continually reemerges from the ashes of its own being. When the Phoenix presents itself, it is sending us strong messages of hopeand rebirth in the midst of despair.

In Chinese mythology, the Phoenix was sent to Earth to assist in the evolution of humanity. Typically, the phoenix is depicted as coming in twos, one male and one female, representing Yin and Yang energy. In this regard, it signifies the inherent necessity for balance in the world. Two phoenixes together are an emblem of perfect harmony of yin and yang despite, and because of, their inherent duality and mutual interdependence. The female phoenix symbolizes yin energy and is representative of the internal aspects of oneself- intuition, stillness, darkness.  The male phoenix symbolizes yang energy and is iconic of the external aspects of oneself- assertion, action, light. As a whole, a dynamic phoenix duo is an emblem of divine, immortal partnership (with oneself).

As Carl Jung tells us, "To find renewal means to descend into one’s darkness." Without light there is no shadow, but without shadow there is no path towards the light. The Yin-Yang symbol teaches us that although light and shadow are opposites, they are also two halves of a whole that are rooted in each other and depend on each other to thrive. As night turns to day and day turns to night, we rarely experience life situations that are pure Yin or pure Yang. Imbalance results when one overtakes and extinguishes the other, manifesting in spiritual, emotional, and physical disease.  Separation of yin and yang- the moment when these two great opposing forces cease to be intertwined- is synonymous with death.

And so, we exist in the middle of the dual forces of light and shadow. For each aspect of our souls to fully manifest, light needs shadow, as shadow needs light. This ceaseless interplay represents the spiritual evolution of humanity, collectively and individually. Both halves of the whole are needed for progress and transformation, as the dance of light and shadow makes us into who we can become. Delving deeply into our own darkness pushes us to emerge afresh with renewed energy for the things we are most deeply committed to. Like the mythical Phoenix, we carry light and hope within us and with strength, turn inward to illuminate the darkness and generate renewal. We can – and do – arise from the ashes of our own ego-dismantling to become even more than we were. What appears to be destruction, decay, and even death, is but a moment in an ever-evolving process of spiritual evolution.

This year, the Year of the Rooster-Phoenix, is our season to arise. This year symbolizes the imminent realization of our potential for rebirth, as individuals and communities and interconnected souls scattered throughout this Earth. As Tolstoy reminds us, "Remember then: there is only one time that is important - Now!... It is the only time when we have any power." 

This is the year to harness that power, embrace your inner Phoenix, and take flight.
The possibilities are endless.

Daoist Inner Alchemy: the JinJing Gong

The sacred mountains in Sichuan Province in China offer a unique opportunity for synchronicity with the wisdom embedded within ancient consciousness.  The roots of classical Chinese medical theory, interwoven with ancient philosophies, esoteric spiritual practices, and the secrets of Daoist inner alchemy originated here.

Every thought pattern that has been created on Mount Emei has left behind an energetic matrix that permeates the location where it was originally emitted. Thus, the transmission of ancient wisdom to currently living beings is enhanced by the lingering energetic imprints that have accumulated here over time.

In this way, Mount Emei provides us with the unique potential to directly connect with the consciousness of the many hundreds of generations of thinkers have lived, prayed, and practiced medicine in this sacred space for thousands of years.

One of the most sacred transmissions to be received on Mount Emei is the Jinjing Gong practice of Nourishing Life, a cultivational path of Qi Gong that was created deep inside a sacred cave right on this very mountain. It has been a great honor to receive this transmission directly from Prof. Qingyu Wang, the current lineage holder of the Jinjing School of Qigong and Professor of Nourishing Life and Martial Arts at the Sichuan Academy of Cultural History.

Prof. Qingyu Wang

This retreat on Mount Emei has provided the unique opportunity to train alongside both Prof. Wang and his only disciple, Dr. Heiner Fruehauf. Each morning, we convene at sunrise at the nearby Fuhu Si Crouching Tiger Temple to practice a combination of movement practices and quiet practices that are designed to stretch the tendons, release stagnant energy, and cultivate spiritual vitality.

Morning practice, led by Dr. Heiner Fruehauf

The intention of this practice is to release the muscles and tendons as a way to open the acupuncture meridians. This enables the free flow of Qi throughout the internal organ systems and within all the cells in the body to prevent stagnation, the root of all disease. The ultimate goal of JinJing Gong practice is to achieve a level of self-cultivation where we become capable of refining our thoughts and actions so profoundly that we come to embody pure love, true compassion, and deep wisdom within our own lifetimes.

Prof. Qingyu Wang

According to Professor Wang, the sense of entitlement and narcissism that currently dominate modern culture convinces us that longevity is a commodity we can buy. Advertisements convince us that by surrounding ourselves with material objects and expensive modern medicines we will retain control over our own health and mortality. He points out the fallacy with this misguided belief system, as the cornerstone of holistic medicine is cultivation of mental and spiritual hygiene. Such practice allows us to live in unison with natural processes, as a means to prevent ourselves from getting physically, emotionally, and spiritually sick in the first place. This is the true essence of preventive medicine.

From this perspective, longevity is directly related to the level to which you cultivate virtue within yourself. Within this cultivation is where the Daoist secrets of immortality begin to work their alchemical magic- even after your body dies, the energetic imprint of the virtues you have cultivated, the thoughts you have created, and their effects on the world will endure forever.

Mount Emei

​I am currently on Mount Emei (峨眉山), one of the four holy mountains of Chinese Buddhism, located in Sichuan Province, China. Emei Shan is regarded as the domain of Samantabhadra, the Bodhisattva of Universal Benevolence who is associated with practice and meditation. According to legend, this mountain was where Samantabhadra gave lectures on Buddhism. Known as Pǔxián in Chinese, he is depicted with both masculine and feminine characteristics, riding a white elephant with six tusks and carrying a lotus leaf parasol, which represents the potential for transformation.

​In Chinese medicine, mountains, rocks, and minerals belong to the Metal element, the element that governs purity and radiance. Metal is the realm where we are given the opportunity to let go of ego and pride, suspending judgments and attachments as a means to create space for the virtues of selflessness, justice, and clarity of Spirit. As such, secluded mountain monasteries and rock caves have historically represented the ultimate places to manifest a true intention for cultivation of the Self.

​In ancient times, the reasons why certain mountains were designated as sacred was not because of their beauty, majesty, or size. They were chosen because the mineralization in their water provided specific biochemical reactions that enhance the potential for development of higher consciousness. These minerals, also part of the Metal element, interact with human physiology to create a metallic network that enables the inner conduction of light, radiance, and consciousness within the human body.

This capacity for conductivity is what is lacking in the modern world, as modern food production relies heavily upon demineralization agents such as Round Up, that are found in fertilizers and in GMO foods. As modern food is increasingly derived from chemicals, and modern culture is increasingly defined by vapid materialism, we are faced with the reality that our environment is losing the ability to provide us with the nutrients we need to thrive, both physically and spiritually. Like the lotus, each human being has the potential to emerge from the mud of ignorance, to grow through the waters of experience, and to blossom into the sunshine of illumination. But it requires proper nourishment.

The focus of this retreat is to restore my own capacity to conduct the light of consciousness throughout my mind, body, and soul. I will be learning personal cultivation practices and techniques handed down over hundreds of generations, while drinking the same mineral water and bathing in the same mineral hot springs that Samantabhadra and his white elephant drank and bathed in many years ago.