“Cycle of Creation” Series – Lungs & Grief
Why is it that when we have an emotion such as depression or sadness that we feel discomfort in our body? In many cases, people feel that their neck hurts, their shoulders are sore and stiff, and they feel some pain or numbness in their arms and into their wrists and fingers. What is the reason behind all of these symptoms?
The organ that is responsible is the Lungs and the emotions associated with it are Grief, Sadness, Loss, and Loneliness.
The Lungs hold grief, sadness and depression. There can be a feeling of hopelessness, isolation, perhaps a feeling of weakness and not belonging. We long for joy, laughter a feeling of strength, courage and a sense of belonging to return to our life experience.
Often people who have had asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia and other chest complaints, frequently beginning in childhood, and perhaps throughout life hold grief and sadness within their lungs. This will predispose the person to depression that can remain for long periods.
Lungs and Grief and Your Posture
A person who is sad and depressed will often hold a typical posture of shoulders rolled forward, and the head is looking down.
Note that with this posture, the lungs are compressed, with no room for a full expression of openness. Holding this posture over time will often cause back, shoulder and neck pain. There is usually a feeling of a heavy weight sitting on the chest.
Lungs and Grief and The Breath
When grief, sadness, loss, loneliness are held in the lungs, the breath tends to be very shallow, and often people will breathe only in the upper chest or the throat. Often people comment: ‘it feels like the breath cannot move past my throat’.
It is staggering how many people have a very shallow breath. Again this does not offer a full expression of the lungs, and so the lungs can become grey and dehydrated. With the proper breathing practice/technique people report having a much-improved sense of calm and well being. They can begin to experience more joy, laughter and feel a renewed sense of strength and courage in their lives!
Lungs and Grief, a Breathing Practice to Release the Trapped Emotions
In the ancient practice of Qi Gong, we learn the importance of the breath, and it’s relationship to healthy organs and balanced emotions.
- Start by sitting on a chair. Have your body posture straight and feet flat on the floor.
- Have your hands on your navel. Close your eyes and imagine a blue star above the crown of your head (about 6 inches).
- Now bring yourself to the oceanside and imagine standing on the beach barefoot. Imagine an earth star beneath your feet. See it very deep down, in the centre of the earth.
- Before you take your next breath in push your tummy out (like a contraction outward)
- Now breathe in through the naval and your nose, imagine the breath travelling up to the Blue Star above your crown. It is reasonable to experience difficulty doing this at. First, the air seems to get trapped in the throat area or throat chakra. Keep going as practice will bring improvement.
- At the top of the in breath hold your breath for two counts and then breathe out slowly through your open mouth and feel the breath moving down your body, through the soles of your feet and see it move down to the earth star in the centre of the Earth (this is very grounding)
- Repeat
Deborra Cameron offers a series of Qi Gong classes. Through this ancient practice discover which emotions relate to each organ, and learn how to release these emotions bringing healing to each of the organs. Contact her to find out more; Deborra Cameron: beyondemotionalblueprint@gmail.com