River's Chi House

This is a very dangerous time of the year for many people. The season is changing from summer to fall and the energy of that transformation affects us all in so many conscious and even more unconscious ways. The energies that are affecting us during this shift often produce many uncomfortable sensations and potentially dangerous thoughts and emotions.   Often riptides of sad/negative/angry/confused and even suicidal or murderous thoughts and emotions sweep us out into a seemingly uncaring ocean of despair. Many people this time of year leave the planet by their own hands or at the hands of people so deeply affected that they do the unthinkable. Since the season started to shift I find myself every once in a while  suddenly immersed in thoughts and emotions that have very little to do with me and how I feel about my life (I feel good about me and how I am living). At these times when I become aware of what is going on I stop and sit with as much non-judgmental awareness as I...

Maciocia Online: SHEN AND HUN: THE PSYCHE IN CHINESE MEDICINE For the rest of Maciocia's incredible and helpful  blog click on the link above. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2012 SHEN AND HUN: THE PSYCHE IN CHINESE MEDICINE This article will discuss the nature and functions of the Shen and Hun in the human psyche. This will be based on classical texts and on my own thoughts and clinical experience. There will be five parts to this discussion: 1) The nature of the Shen 2) The nature of the Hun 3) The Shen and Hun and the pre-frontal cortex 4) The Shen and Hun and mirror neurons 5) The Shen and Hun and Jungian psychology. The longer I practise, the more I think that in clinical practice we can interpret most mental-emotional problems in terms of the "five spirits" as well as of "patterns of disharmony".  The "five spirits", in Chinese called the"Five Shen" [五 神], are the Shen, Hun, Po, Yi, and Zhi residing respectively in the Heart, Liver, ...