Connecting Water and Fire
When Yin and Yang are balanced, all is well.
The two fundamental forces of Yin and Yang are reflected in the elements of Water (Yin) and Fire (Yang). Water and Fire are two of the 5 Elements of Chinese Medicine. Every Element is associated with a pair of organs, one Yin and the other Yang.
Connecting Water and Fire
The Fire Element is associated with the Heart (Yin) and the Small Intestine (Yang).
The Water Element is associated with the Kidney (Yin) and the Bladder (Yang).
Harmonize the Heart and Kidneys
One method of harmonizing Yin (Water) and Yang (Fire) within the body is to “connect” and “harmonize” the Heart and Kidneys.
To do this, I practice by literally bringing my inner awareness to my Heart and Kidneys, and I feel for a connection.
It takes time to quiet my thoughts and rest my mind on my Heart and Kidneys, but with practice, it has become possible.
When I take the time to get this quiet, and then feel these internal organs, I sometimes can sense a connection. I play around with connecting the organs with my awareness or breath. When the connection “happens,” I am often in a deep state of stillness. Afterward, I feel more energetically “evened out” – my head is less busy, my heart is lighter, and I have a sense of being steadied by my kidneys.
Trying to describe these inner experiences is strange.
As I write these words I realize how weird this can sound. For me, my inner world is more of an experience that’s not so easy to describe with words. The inner landscape is like a dream that means so much but sounds empty when expressed in the light of morning.
Regardless of the challenges to express the connection of Fire and Water within, the results of the practice are easy to experience: better sleep, less reactivity, more able to “go with the flow,” and generally happier.
The ancient texts tell us that when Yin and Yang are balanced we manifest health and happiness.
Simple practices such as connecting Fire and Water are ways that we can tend to the balance of Yin and Yang for ourselves. Try it, maybe you’ll like it!
