The Cosmological Cycle
By Sonia Moriceau
The Cosmological Cycle offers an interpretation of the 5 elements and
their relationship to one another whilst placing the Earth at the centre.
The Cosmological Cycle emphasises the importance of the vertical axis Fire-Earth-Water
with the Pre-Heaven Qi (Water) as the foundation and the Post-Heaven Qi
(Earth) as the centre.
The vertical axis can be seen as the symbol of Essence-Qi-Mind.
The Earth occupying the central place has a very specific significance
and also application in Shiatsu.
The Earth receives, transforms and integrates according to the functions
of Stomach and Spleen and the wider role of the Earth on the psychological
and emotional level.
Being at the centre of the Earth acts as a pivot enabling the smooth exchange
between Fire and Water, i.e. Water rises to cool the Fire and Fire descends
to warm the Water.
From the stability of the Earth energy depends all other relationships
within the Fire-Water axis and also within the horizontal axis Wood-Metal.
The Earth represents the relationship to oneself, ‘Me with Me’.
This in turn influences how ‘me’ relates to my environment,
how I receive and give along the Wood-Metal axis and how I am in touch
with my deep aspiration along the Fire-Water axis. By placing the Earth
at the centre I am asked to look first at “How comfortable and good
do I feel about myself?” Am I friend with myself? Do I have a stable
and caring relationship with myself?” The feelings of low self-esteem,
lack of wholesome nourishment, confidence and security, failing to acknowledge
one’s roots and the connectedness to one’s mother, are all
the signs of the Earth being undervalued and neglected. By recognising
the important and crucial role of the Earth I am asked to balance the ‘hub
of the wheel’ first before attempting to correct the ‘spokes
of the wheel’.
How well do I nourish my being so that my deep aspiration can be fulfilled
and my relationship and expression in the world can bring about well-being
and growth? That is what placing the Earth at the centre means.
The Earth acts as a mediator and regulator enabling ‘me’ to
strike a balance between an attitude of self-protection, to an extreme
cutting myself off from the world and an attitude of constant exchange,
opening myself to the world along the horizontal axis.
If the Earth is too rigid then “I will not be able to receive or
distribute the information appropriately”. If the Earth is too soft “I
receive everything and distribute badly”.
The Earth can also be out of centre and so comes close to another element,
i.e. Fire, Water, Wood, Metal, striking a distorted relationship with them.
The ideal balance within the Earth element is a state of alertness and
relaxation showing in a natural state of ‘availability and receptivity’.
The Earth occupying the Centre has therefore a central role in supporting
all the other Elements.
The Stomach and Spleen are the Root of Post-Heaven Qi and the origin of
Qi and Blood: they therefore nourish all the other organs and naturally
occupy a central place in human physiology. Tonifying Stomach and Spleen
indirectly tonifies all the other organs.
Stomach and Spleen are also anatomically at the centre as they lie in the
Middle Heater and the correct functioning of Stomach and Spleen in relation
to the direction of movement of Qi is therefore crucial for a proper physiological
activity.
Earth is in between Water and Fire and is the support of Fire. Thus, Stomach
and Spleen are the main support for the heart. The Spleen also produces
blood on which the Heart depends.
In the Cosmological Cycle the Earth is the neutral pivot along which the
seasonal cycle unfolds. At the end of each season, the energy goes back
to the Earth for regeneration. Thus, the Stomach and Spleen could be tonified
at the end of each season, particularly at the end of the winter to replenish
energy.
The vertical axis as symbol of Essence-Qi-Mind.
In the Cosmological Cycle, Water is the foundation of the other Elements.
This corresponds to the importance of the Kidneys as the source of Water
and Fire, also called the Original Yin and Original Yang. The Kidneys
store the Essence which is the fundamental biological substance of life,
they contain the Fire of the Gate of Vitality which is the motive force
that transforms and sets things in motion.
Kidneys and Heart are directly related along the vertical axis. Rather
than being a relationship of control or over-action, their relationship
is one of mutual nourishment and assistance. The Kidneys govern Water and
this has to flow upwards to nourish the Heart, the Heart governs Fire and
this has to flow downwards to the Kidneys.
A healthy and stable Earth energy will therefore enable ‘me’ to
make good use of my resources and essence and be in touch with my deep
aspiration.
The Liver and Lung as the horizontal axis.
The Liver is on the left (in the 5 Element scheme) and its Qi ascends,
while the Lungs are on the right and its Qi descends. The Liver is in
the Lower Heater and sends Qi upwards, the Lungs are in the Upper Heater
and send Qi downwards. The two together ensure the smooth flow of Qi
between Upper and Lower Heater and among the internal organs.
It enables ‘me’ to exchange and express myself in the world.
Not very much is written in Shiatsu books about the Cosmological Cycle
and its application. Yet I find it the most appropriate and immediate model
to use in understanding my clients and their patterns of disease, also
in Hara evaluation.
The Earth is what sustains us; it is such a fundamental energy in all of
us and in nature. It is also a very accessible energy to work with enabling
the client to regain some self-esteem and confidence; it is interestingly
an energy that clients can connect with most easily at least on the intellectual
and emotional level. Working with the Cosmological Model has given me permission
to start at the ‘beginning’, that is with the Earth, where
we come from and where we will all return.
In a follow-up article I will describe the patterns of imbalance when the
Earth, ‘the Hub’ is out of centre, undernourished or too rigid.
References
H. Beinfield & Korngold: ‘Between Heaven and Earth’ (Ballantine
Books, 1991)
A. Faubert: ‘Les Monographies d’Acupuncture Traditionelle’ (G.
Tredaniel)
Giovanni Maciocia: ‘The Foundations of Chinese Medicine’ (Churchill
Livingstone, 1989)
Articles by Sonia
Basic Healing-Shiatsu Touch principles
Mindfulness Meditation in Shiatsu
“The
Breath of Awareness”
The Cosmological Cycle
The Cosmological Cycle : yin and yang
Motherhand
Mutterhand (in German)
Sonia Moriceau interviewed by Pat O'Grady
Sonia Moriceau
Im Gespräch mit Pat O’Grady
