Energy in the Internal Arts

We just released our fourth book – Wild Goose System, Volume IV – Healing Methods.

Wild Goose System Volume IV - Healing Methods

I had the opportunity to respond to several questions about the book – one of those was related to understanding how Traditional Chinese Medicine principles are embedded in the movements of the Wild Goose forms. I wanted to give this a bit more attention in the blog. The information here is a reflection of topics covered in our Wild Goose books, Volume III (Martial) and Volume IV (Healing). It’s too much to cover fully in the blog, but here’s an abbreviated version.

If you are doing either a healing (qigong) form or you are doing a martial form as a part of any internal system, then you should expect to find energetic alignments in those forms. If these are not evident (i.e. no one is teaching them in your system), then your system is not an “internal” one. “Internal” systems are inclusive of qi energy and by that definition, must engage the qi transport system.

Energetic engagements are created in multiple ways.

1. Aligning and/or joining acupuncture points on the feet and hands with other body points – example: Laogong [Pericardium 8] in the palm facing inward toward Qihu [Stomach 13] on the chest.
2. Creating structural alignments by using the relative positions of points that are located at or near the body’s joints – example: elbow joint held above the knee joint.

 Enhancements to energy flow will also be present.

1.  Feet will break / make contact with the earth, resulting in energy surges through the body
2. Rotational movement about the body’s central axis will raise and lower energy – Clockwise rotation lowers energy and Counterclockwise rotation raises energy
3.  Rubbing, clapping, touching, projection – i.e. massage and acupressure techniques
4. Specific structural alignments of the hands (commonly called mudras) will enhance / alter energy flow

 And, mental intent and awareness will also play a role in energy engagement.

These methods of energetic alignment and enhancement are present in both internal healing and internal martial forms and applications. In healing applications they are use to promote balance in both the healer and the patient. In the martial applications they promote imbalance in the opponent (create a disability). A short hand for this engagement is that we engage our own energy system first to heal ourselves. We can then engage the energy systems of others to either heal or hurt.

If you are practicing what should be an internal system and do not have access to the energetic methods of your forms, it is certainly possible for you to begin to unravel what’s going on for yourself. This is not an easy task, but there is substantial supportive information available via TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine). On the martial side, the TCM offshoots of Dim Mak (kyusho-jitsu [Japanese]) also offer supporting information. TCM principles have formed the basis of the internal arts for thousands of years – you can tap into that resource to enhance your understanding of your own forms. When you enhance your understanding of how the forms work, you also enhance your experience and the benefits you receive from the forms.

Here is an example of an energetic connection that is used in the Wild Goose system’s 1^st 64 action form. The movement is called “Hand circles of the foot” and is number 18 in the sequence of 64 actions. The images are of Wild Goose system, 28^th Generation Lineage Holder, Grand Master Chen Chuan Gang.

First, here’s the move as it is being set up. Note the toes are raised on the right foot and also note that the fingers of the right hand are held together in a Plum Claw formation (four fingers surrounding the thumb) at Quepen (Stomach 12) point.

Next as the movement is fully formed, the left hand grasps the big toe. Note that it is the thumb and first finger that do the grasping. The toe is then rotated counterclockwise. 

 

This is an interesting movement because there is a lot going on here. Here is an explanation of what’s happening energetically.

1. Beginning at the ground, the toes of the right foot are raised. This breaks the connection to the earth, primarily at the Yongquan (Kidney 1) point. This causes a brief surge of energy up the anterior portion of the right leg.
2. The rotation of the big toe moves energy through the joint. A simultaneous body rotation at the hips and shoulders moves energy through the mid and upper body.
3. The toe is grasped with the thumb and first finger. This creates a wood-element mudra. The specific grasping point is at Yinbai (Spleen 1), which is the origin of the Spleen Meridian (yin). A connection across the top of the foot runs to the Stomach Meridian (yang). The wood-mudra grasp at Spleen 1 effectively connects the left hand to both the Spleen(yin) and Stomach (yang) meridians, which are Earth element. In five-phase theory the Wood element (the hand mudra) is controlling the Earth element meridians Spleen and Stomach.
4. The right hand is formed in the Plum Claw which is a five-element mudra, bringing all five energetic phases (Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth)  to the Quepen (Stomach 12) point. This completes the connection, forming a circuit of the yin-yang Spleen-Stomach meridian pair. Because of the inter meridian connections provided by the Quepen point, the Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Triple Warmer and Gallbladder meridians are also activated.

In summary we have the energy surging up the front of the leg from the raised foot, along with the controlling action of the Wood mudra and the Five-phase energy input of the Plum Claw mudra which are accessing the yin-yang circuit of the Spleen and Stomach meridians. The inner connectivity of the Stomach 12 point provides a bonus of accessing four additional meridians / organ sets.

Overall, this movement results in a clearing and recharging of the Spleen and Stomach meridians as well as activation of the Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Triple Warmer and Gallbladder meridians. The primary effect of this action is on the Spleen and Stomach organs, which results in improved digestion and immune function with secondary effects on Large Intestine, Small Intestine, Triple Warmer and Gallbladder. A more in depth view of the effects can be seen by referring to an acupuncture text (or the book :) and examining the range of physical and energetic responsibilities of the organ systems that receive primary and secondary benefit from this action.

Having some understanding of the impact of the energetic engagement methods is empowering. Knowing that your hand configurations have elemental properties and that a single point on you body can connect to multiple organ sets gives new perspective to your practice. It might seem to an outside observer that simply touching a hand to the body would be insignificant. However a skilled internal arts practitioner who understands energetics, knows that a simple touch has the potential to heal a patient or disable an opponent.

For more about the Wild Goose system and books, DVDs and instruction please visit www.DayanArts.com.