http://www.compassionatedragon.com/metaphysics.html Metaphysics means anything that is beyond the physical frame of reference. That is anything that is beyond the range of the 5 physical senses. Anything that cannot be touched, tasted, heard, seen, or smelled can be placed in the Metaphysical Realm. If you think about it, we encounter the Metaphysical world every day, in a myriad different ways. Our thoughts, our dreams, our emotions, our intuition are all aspects of the Metaphysical world. We speak of having a '6th sense', of having 'feelings', or 'luck', or of things being 'coincidences.' For many, experiences with the Metaphysical world seem like miracles. We hear of a full recovery of someone who should have died, according to all the physical evidence. We hear of unlikely coincidences that bring good fortune or misfortune. We have feelings of deja vu. We have dreams that seem too real. There are chance meetings that set us off on life changing paths. There are illnesses that cannot be detected in the body and so on. In healing, we speak of the 'Mind/Body' connection, or of wholistic healing which encompasses the Body, Emotions, Mind and Spirit. On a personal level we may think of Life's experiences of the Metaphysical realms as getting to know our own Spirit Self. In healing, my experiences of the Metaphysical take the form of physical manifestations of mainly Emotional and Mental disharmonies. These pages deal with the Metaphysical meanings of Physical symptoms we usually describe as illness. Ultimately we all experience the Physical and Metaphysical worlds in our own ways. The following is a partial list of body parts and symptoms manifest in the body and suggested emotional and metaphysical meanings. Links to the page upon which an explanation occurs is provided. Hopefully this will make things a bit easier for those who are dealing with specific symptoms. Abdomen Accident Adrenal Glands Anemia Ankles Arms Arthritis Back Brain Tumour Breast Breast Cancer Cancer Cervix Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Chest Diabetes Enlarged Heart Fibromyalgia Fingers Foot Gallbladder Hands Headaches Heart Heart Disease Hiatus Hernia Impotence Insomnia Intestines Kidneys Legs Lungs Lymph Glands Multiple Sclerosis Nausea Osteoporosis Palpitations Pituitary Gland Pineal Gland Repetitive Strain Injury Sexual Organs Skin Solar Plexus Stomach Stroke Throat Thymus Thyroid Toes (feet) Viral Infection Everything on the Physical plane is a manifestation of something on the Metaphysical plane. When we speak of abundance, what we are really talking about is an abundance of emotional, mental and spiritual energy. We fill ourselves to the brim with these energies and it is the overflow that is manifest on the physical plane. The signs and symptoms that are apparent on the Physical plane lead us to inquire, ultimately, more deeply into ourselves as energetic and spiritual beings. We tend not to worry too much about this sort of thing when our body is working well, we are not feeling pain, or we are not in the throes of some chronic disease. But when our body feels pain or becomes disabled by disease or accident we tend to start reaching out for answers. We want to know why. Or maybe we don't even want to know why we just want to fix something we perceive is broken. Realistically, when our body refuses to do what we want it to, metaphysically, it is not actually broken. It is doing its job. One of its functions is to carry messages from the higher energetic planes to us. It is then up to us to interpret these messages and take action. Western medicine takes the position that we feel pain because we can. Western approaches to pain, as the main symptom of any disease, are pretty much limited to drugs and surgery. Treatment consists of numbing or diverting pain receptors in the body or cutting off the offending organ. While this approach does have its place in acute situations, it is at best a temporary and often harmful way to approach pain or other disharmonies we feel in our bodies. Most often, western medicine has little to offer most of us and incredibly makes us wait until our symptoms become unbearably acute before it can even acknowledge a disharmony. The trend today, as much for economic reasons, as for reasons of spirit and human development is to encourage people to take responsibility for their own lives. This is the approach of ancient wisdom. We use our bodies to communicate with our selves and with others. We use our bodies to work out emotional, mental and spiritual questions. While we do tend to judge a diseased body negatively, there really is no right or wrong about it. The ancient Taoists theorized that good and bad, right and wrong, yin and yang, were just different points of view that we all adopt at one time or another. Because the earth plane is dualistic in nature we all view, at one time or another from both the Yin and the Yang ends of the telescope. There does not seem to be a point in judging one good and one bad or judging one good and one evil. These just are the symptoms of being human. Still, there is such a thing as being well, and there is such a thing as being sick. When we get sick we tend to want to do something about it. Enter the healer. A healer is trained in the observation and interpretation of signs and symptoms, and in methods for dealing with them. Wholistic Healing of the individual occurs at different energetic levels. These are the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. For those on the path, there are a great many more levels and sublevels identified in various cultural, religious and philosophical traditions. But for our purposes we can look at the individual in these four broad realms to at least begin the process of healing. Healing by the way occurs not only at the individual level, but also at the family, community and global level. When one heals 'mindfully', as the Buddhists say, these other aspects of individual healing may become apparent. There are healers operating today at all these levels. Still, a good place to begin is in the individual body. With this in mind, the following is a list of physical symptoms and the metaphysical disharmonies they may reflect. Louise Hay, in her book, 'You Can Heal Your Life,' has done some interesting work in this area. I use her book occasionally in my Reiki II work. Other references are; Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic principals, my own Reiki teacher, Denise Crundall, and my own experience. Please note that these are only general observations, serving hopefully to illuminate areas that you can look at more closely in yourself or with the help of a healer. You are the one who knows you best. As you go through these observations try to expand your awareness beyond your own life to see also how these disharmonies are reflected in your own family, community, country and in the world. Ultimately it is our own choice to heal or not to heal and it is our own innate healing ability that is activated. Head Headaches; Pain always indicates a separation of some sort from something. Usually we say separation from what is the Truth. The greater the pain the more important that something is. Depending on which part of the head is afflicted the meaning changes. Louise Hay suggests that Headaches indicate invalidating the Self out of Fear. In Chinese Medicine there are several different kinds of headaches according to the quality of the pain and the location on the head. Read on. Vertex; The top of the head is associated with our connection to the Universe or God. Pain here is associated with separation from that higher power. It is also associated with the Kidneys and the emotion is Fear. Both the Gallbladder and Urinary Bladder channels traverse the top of the head. The Gallbladder is associated with Courage, and the Urinary Bladder through its associate with the Kidneys is associated with Fear. Du 20 (Baihui) located at the top of the head is used extensively to 'calm the spirit' in Chinese Medicine. Forehead; The forehead is associated with the 3rd eye, both in Chakra Theory and Traditional Chinese Medical theory. The 3rd eye is associated with introspection and illumination of your own Inner Being. Pain here is associated with separation from your own Inner Being. In Chinese Medicine, Yintang, which is located midway between the inner ends of the eyebrows, Du 23 (Shangxing), Du 24 ( Shenting) which are located at the hairline directly above Yintang and Du 20 (Baihui) located at the top of the head, all have the action of 'calming the spirit.' Yintang is associated with the eyes; not only the eyes that look outward but the eyes that look inward and is indicated in some emotional disorders. Temporal; The sides of the head are associated with courage, especially courage to face your world. Migraine Headaches, usually located in the front quadrants, right or left, indicates a separation from your world. The involvement of the eyes in Migraines indicate not only an unwillingness to look without, but to look within. Most Migraine sufferers report, not only severe pain behind the eye, but also acute sensitivity to light. In Chinese Medicine, a number of Meridians run through this area. The Gallbladder Channel is associated with courage. The San Jiao channel is involved with processing of water (the elixir of Life), and the Small Intestine Channel is involved with deriving nourishment from the world. Both the San Jiao Channel and the Small Intestine Channel are connected to the Heart, whose emotion is Joy and where the Mind is located. Lack of Joy (with one's self) is strongly indicated by pain in this area. There is also Anger indicated by the Gallbladder channel's link with the Liver. Occipital; The back of the head represents your past. Some say also this is an area of spirituality. Pain here represents something in your past that is not complete and remains unforgiven. The back of the head is traversed by the Gallbladder Channel and the Urinary Bladder Channels indicating Anger born of Fear. The Back of the Head is thought to be the seat of Spiritual Experiences. The only way to see them is through inner sight. Pain in the back of the head represents an unwillingness to look deep within for the source of Light & Truth. Back Spine; The Spine Represents the support you think you have in Life and your alignment with those supportive forces. Curved spine, or Scoliosis represents a misalignment with Life. Spasms represent an unwillingness to accept the support that is there. Shoulders; Shoulders represent burdens and responsibilities. Frozen Shoulder for example represents a complete unwillingness to shoulder your responsibilities in Life, especially your own Life. Pain and dysfunction to varying degrees represents varying degrees of unwillingness to be responsible. Moving forward in Life sometimes requires that you 'put your shoulder to the wheel' to overcome inertia. the Gallbladder channel traverses the shoulders and indicates Courage ( or lack of...). The back, in Chinese Medicine, is considered to be your Yang side; the active, aggressive, lighted side. The back also represents that which is behind you. Very often we do not see clearly that which is behind us. Back problems generally represent conflict between the urge to move forward and the inertia of an unforgiven past that holds us back. This tension very often separates us from both and pain is the result. Louse Hay suggests that backs generally represent support. Mid back; The mid back is the link between the shoulder and the lower back. It can be a weak link. As we firm up our shoulders and become willing to take on the responsibilities of Life, and we have gathered around us the financial and emotional support we need (lower back), something sneaks up and stabs us in the back. This is a blind spot. Not only can we not see it, but is very difficult to reach. The weak link crumbles. It is the saboteur or seducer that takes us off our path. Located in this area are the Tonification points (called 'Shu' points) for the Liver, the Stomach, and the Spleen. These organs are responsible for the transformation and transportation of Qi, and the free flow of Qi in the body. Blockages here affect the entire body and can stop you dead in your tracks. The Spleen represents Worry or Overthinking and the Liver represents Anger or base emotions. Both of these can sabotage even the best laid plans. Louse Hay suggests that the mid-back represents Guilt and stuck in the past stuff. Lower Back; The Lower Back represents support; financial support, emotional support of family and friends, and support of God or the Universe. The Kidneys are located in this area and Kidney dysfunction results in Fear/Fright/Phobias. A sore lower back may indicate that we have taken on more than we think we can handle. This is a dysfunction, only if it is not the Truth. If we have indeed taken on too much, that would be indicated by a physical trauma to the back and all we need to do is lighten the load. Chronic low back ache, though, not associated with any trauma is the one with the Metaphysical application, and the one related to Kidney depletion. Kidneys are considered to have a central function relative to other organs since it is where Yuan Qi or our Primary Essence is stored. Yuan Qi is also known as Primary Qi or Congenital Qi. It is the Qi you are born with and determines your relative strength in the world. It is considered to be quite difficult to strengthen an already weak Yuan Qi, but it can be done. Low back pain is often diminished by strengthening the Kidneys. In short, Low back pain, generally refers to a lack of trust in the Universe to protect and support. Louise Hay suggests Fear of money is indicated. Coccyx; The Coccyx/Sacrum is the seat of Self-pity. There is a fear of asking for help. One would rather sit and feel sorry for one's self than get of one's ass and do something. Legs Hips; Hips represent decisions in Life, especially decisions about moving forward. Pain in the hips is a sign of being 'stuck', unable to make a decision, or see clearly what is needed to be done next. The process of walking requires that we first thrust the hip forward and the leg etc. follows. This is actually, an act of faith on our part, since we are quite literally initiating a fall to the ground and trusting that our legs will save us. The Gallbladder Channel traverses the hip which again represents Courage and confidence to move forward. Louise Hay suggests that hip problems represent fear of going forward with major decisions. Hips represent the idea that the next step in your life is important. Pain or discomfort advises you to slow down or stop, look around, buy a map, or ask someone for directions. Upper Thighs; Thighs are the link between the Hips & decisions, and the Knees & pride. Very often, when we have made a decision and take the next step, Pride gets in the way. "What if I look stupid? What if it's not right? What if it doesn't work out?" Our knees lock up or turn to jelly, and we are prevented from moving forward. The pain that begins in the Hips and shoots down the Thigh (Sciatic Nerve), is the separation from our desire and decision to move forward and our Fear of falling flat on our ass. Louse Hay suggests that Upper Thigh problems represent retaining childhood trauma. Knees; Knees represent Pride. In spiritual practice it is suggested that one must go down before one can rise up, as Jesus did before John the Baptist, before taking up his own ministry. Pride or Ego keeps us from surrendering to the Will of God or the Universe. In practice, every time we move forward in Life or approach change, we approach the unknown. We may feel vulnerable or unsure. We may stand still, stiff kneed resisting the winds of change. It is interesting to note that stiff, sore knees are a symptom of Kidney deficiency, whose emotion is Fear. Rather than admit our fear, we resist it until it overwhelms us. While knees represent Pride, and it is said that 'Pride goes before the fall', knees can also represent Humility which is the wisdom to be yielding in the face of change. Briefly, Knee problems may be said to indicate being stuck in the Ego, too proud to bend. Louise Hay also suggests that Knees represent Pride and the Ego. Shins; The Shins represent another weak link. Although the Shins are mostly bone, the hardest substance in the body, the Shins are actually quite sensitive and brittle. A slight whack on the Shins is not only painful, it weakens the entire body and stops it cold. When we have organized ourselves to move forward, to take the next step towards the goal we have set, and are in the process of taking it, something comes along and sends you tumbling. It is something we trip over because we don't see it, even though it is right there in front of us. In ancient times the shin pads that worriers wore were called greaves. Very often what trips us up is something, the loss of which we haven't properly grieved. Moving forward always means something gets left behind. Interesting to note is that the three Yin channels of the foot all criss cross at Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao), representing a confluence of Worry, Anger, and Fear. Moving forward is often marked by a jumble of emotional responses which need to be sorted out, especially if we are resisting it. Louise Hay suggests that problems are fear of the future; not wanting to move ahead. Ankles; Ankles represent flexibility, which is important as one navigates the twists and turns of Life. Stiff, painful ankles means that change is difficult for you. Maybe you are one who digs in your heels and resists moving forward. The more Life forces change upon you, the deeper you dig in. A broken ankle is a good sign to develop some flexibility in your Life. Louise Hay suggests that ankles represent mobility and direction. Feet; Our feet represent our connection with Mother Earth. Sore, swollen, numb or painful feet represent the state of our relation with our Mother. Mother Earth, and our base energies. While it is legs that carry us forward into Life, it is the feet that actually make contact with the ground and can stop any advance, or at least make it difficult. In modern society with its asphalt, concrete and High Rises, we lose touch with the Earth and its energies. This may be reflected in our relationship to the one who gave birth to us. Separation can cause real pain. All the Leg Yin & Yang channels meet and flow into each other in the toes. This is an area of high energy and strong effect on the body. This is an area where strong energies are in transition, so our contact with Mothers, Mother Earth and our base energies is always ambivalent. We want to draw closer to that love, but at the same time move away on our own course. In my experience, the feet often store toxic energies (as often to do with grief or resentments as not), as far away from the Heart as possible. This means, in the feet. Often, these are issues that go all the way back to childhood. Lacking the tools to effectively release grief or resentment the body stores it, like it stores fat. Over time, more and more toxic energies are stored here and fill up the receptacle. In many cases, the entire leg can become involved and the waste starts leaking back into the system. This is a very serious situation indeed, that can lead to amputations, blood disorders and even death, as the body struggles to protect the Heart. Metaphysically, it becomes clear that the space you are standing in is painful. The key is to move on. Stop dwelling on the past, release or transform whatever it is that keeps you emotionally standing still. Louise Hay suggests that feet represent our understanding of ourselves, of Life, and others, and toes represent minor details of the future. Throat; The Throat represents our Will, and our ability to communicate, both with others and with ourselves. Sore throats, lumps in the throat, tumours all represent difficulties in saying what we want to say. Lumps, both physical tumours and those that are non-manifest (Hystericus Globus) are our willful attempts to block free expression of emotion and of our identity. The Throat is another one of those weak links that can seduce or sabotage you from your path. The Throat is the channel between the Head and the Heart. In Chinese Medicine it is said the Heart houses the Mind, especially in its connection with the emotion of Joy and the expression of Love for ourselves and for others. Have you ever had a great idea, gotten your body motivated, put your Heart into it, only to say something completely stupid which makes a mess of things? Have you ever felt the urge to say something complimentary and suppressed it? Have you ever just blurted out something that just seemed to by-pass the brain? How often does a careless or ill chosen word create havoc in your Life? Where this comes from is all the things you have not said over the years that get stuck in the throat, needing to get out, and out they come, one way or the other. All emotions are designed to be expressed, even the ones we judge to be negative and especially the ones we judge to be positive. Louise Hay calls the the Throat an avenue of expression and a channel of creativity. Problems indicate an inability to speak up for one's self, swallowed anger , stifled creativity and refusal to change. Thyroid problems indicate difficulty in analyzing, digesting and assimilating the communication between the Head and the Heart. Chest/Breasts; The chest area represents the Feminine principal of nurturing and nourishing the connection with the 'breath of Life' as it flows through the Lungs. In men, pain or discomfort, not associated with any organ or vessel represents a disconnection from the Feminine principal. Breast envy, may exist in men; the desire to connect with the feminine side, the same way penis envy is said to exist in women; the desire to connect with the masculine side. In Chinese Medicine, the front is considered Yin. The chest is the confluence of the three most important kinds of Qi, that nourish the body; Zhong Qi, from the Lungs, Jing Qi, from the Spleen, and Yuan Qi from the Kidneys. Breast problems represents a denial of the Mother/feminine principal to nourish the self and to nourish others. Louise Hay suggest also that the breasts represent mothering and nurturing. Cysts, lumps etc. represents over mothering. Solar Plexus; Is said to the be the seat of the Ego and Individuation. Some call this the Negative Ego. In general this area represents the conflicts in your life. Pain or discomfort in the Diaphragm area represents unresolved conflicts. In Chinese Medicine, pain in this area indicates Liver Qi Stagnation, usually associated with Anger. Stomach; The stomach represents digestion, not only of food and physical nutrients, but of new ideas, new ways of doing things, and accepting change of any kind. The Stomach is nothing more than a big flexible bag of muscle whose job it is to ripen and rot whatever is put into it. That is, its job is to break down what is put into it into a form that the body can deal with. This it does by adding Hydrochloric Acid, Hormones, Enzymes and Bile which reduces every sold morsel into an undifferentiated mass called Chyme. Simultaneously it rocks back and forth swishing and swilling this mess until it is liquefied and able to pass through the small Pyloric Valve into the Small Intestine where the actual absorption of nutrients mostly takes place. Metaphysically, when we come upon a new idea or a new way of doing things, the process is similar. First we must swallow the idea, either whole or in handy bite sized morsels, break it down into a form we can handle and finally absorb that which we need to nourish ourselves. In the same way that a bad diet poisons the body, toxic ideas, suppressed emotions and resistance to change can have a poisoning effect. In traditional Chinese Medicine, long standing emotional disharmony is seen as a primary cause of disease. Strengthening the Spleen/Stomach which between them are responsible for transforming food and water into Qi, and transporting it throughout the body, is seen as a key strategy to deal with almost any disease. Metaphysically we need to nourish ourselves every day, just as we need to eat nourishing foods. Just as the physical body needs nourishment to grow and carry on its day to day activities, so do the Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual bodies. Metaphysically, 'wellness' is not accomplished by a change in diet alone. Louise Hay suggests that the stomach holds nourishment, digests ideas. Problems indicate dread, fear of the new, and an inability to assimilate the new. Abdomen; The abdomen is the seat of Adolescence. The Small Intestine absorbs vital nutrients and the Large Intestine mainly absorbs water as the liquefied food, called chyme, the stomach makes works its way through. Abdominal problems, cramps, diarrhea, constipation etc. indicate difficulty absorbing nutrients and Life sustaining water. Blockages occur on the walls of the Intestines when they become encrusted with retained fecal matter. In the realm of ideas and consciousness, we become stuck in adolescence, which I describe as the 'me, me, me,' time of Life. 'Me, me, me,' was more or less appropriate at the time as we strove to create our own identities and separate from our parents. In our culture, adolescence is a significantly long period of time. Previous to the last half of the Twentieth Century, it almost didn't even exist as a significant life space. The passage from childhood to adulthood was a specific event like the first kill, a Bar Mitzvah, or similar ceremony, a first menstruation, leaving the parental home. Today, adolescence just seems to go on forever. Its beginning and its end are indeterminate. For this reason it is a time of great confusion, emotional turmoil as we strive to act like an adult (without really knowing the rules) and are treated like a kid, or act like a kid (while being told to grow up). In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys, the Stomach, the Spleen, Chong and Ren channels all flow through and converge below the Navel. Ren 6 (Qi Hai or 'Sea of Qi), the Second Chakra, and the Lower Dantian are all names for this point of power located just below the Navel. Fear, Anger, Worry, are all concentrated here, as well as the Female principals of giving birth and creativity as represented by the Ren and Chong channels. The energy here, just like Adolescence is very strong, very dense, and difficult to control. Yet it is an extremely important centre of energy in the human body and a great deal of time and energy is devoted to cultivation and mastery of this energy centre in eastern medical and meditative practices. Metaphysically, letting go is a very important process to good health. Retaining waste materials in the Large Intestine or retaining toxic ideas from our adolescence have the same toxic effect on the body. Old ideas that should have been discarded long ago, stick like barnacles and prevent new ideas from being absorbed. Often we are unaware of the toxicity residing in our intestines, hidden beliefs, which we come to accept as unassailable truths, slowly poison us. This area is also traversed by the Chong channel, which in TCM governs the Uterus. For women, retention of adolescent beliefs has a profound effect on conception and childbirth. Louise Hay suggest the abdominal cramps come from Fear; stopping the process of Life. Sexual Organs; The sexual organs represent the Masculine and Feminine Active principals. Real health relies on and is expressed by how well we accept the opposite gender. Spiritual wellness depends to a large degree on how well we connect with the opposite gender in ourselves. We each have within us the actual and the potential to be both. Sex change operations prove that. On the Metaphysical level, the Male principal is active, aggressive, above, light, Yang. The Feminine principal is passive, submissive, below, dark, Yin. We may speak of 'Father in Heaven' and Mother Earth. Creation occurs when the Male Principal or Light, penetrates the Female Principal or Dark and illuminates the Truth. The sex act to produce orgasm and children reflects this metaphysical principal. Sexuality and Spirituality are a paradox; two apparent opposites that are simultaneously true (at least at the point of orgasm). What is created is neither yet both. We need both principals for the creation process to occur at both the physical and metaphysical levels. Sexual energy has great healing and creative properties if that energy is harnessed and guided upwards. There are two kinds of sexual dysfunction. One is depletion from overindulgence and the other is stagnation from inactivity. The latter seems more prevalent in North American society. Examples of stagnation include Cancer of the Cervix, Prostrate, & Uterus, menstrual dysfunction, Migraine Headaches and even Acne. Symptoms of the former include chronic backache, phobias, weak and painful knees, hair loss and premature aging. And yes, there is some evidence that vision can be affected. These dysfunctions are quite apart from those that result from sexual guilt, abuse and confusion. Failure to understand and accept the Male and Female principals means that we will always feel incomplete and most often looking in the external world for Mr. or Ms. Right, who will complete us. Metaphysically that is something to look for deep within. Arms; Arms generally represent the ability and capacity to embrace Life. Dysfunction at the different parts of the arms represent different aspects of this principal. Dysfunction comes mainly from Fear. Upper Arms; Upper Arms represent the strength or lack of strength to fully embrace Life. Pain or discomfort represents resistance to and separation from your surroundings. If you lack the strength to fully embrace Life you will find yourself more and more isolated. Elbows; Elbows represent Jealousy. Pain or discomfort represents our inclination to elbow others out of the way rather than draw them in. There is a fear that someone else will get there first and you will miss out. Elbow problems are sign of competitiveness that is unwarranted and unfulfilling. Who or what are you competing with? What is the effect on you or others of winning or of losing? Elbow creases represent Life's priorities. Problems mean either priorities need to change or to be embraced. Wrists; Wrists represent flexibility in grasping and holding onto things in Life. Problems like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome represent resistance to grasping onto those things that are important or a feeling that the important things are slipping away. Like breathing, Life is a process of drawing in and letting go. Metaphysically, we need to understand this rhythmical and cyclical process. The more we try to hold onto things that ought to be let go, the less flexible we become and problems arise. The more we let go of things we ought to be embracing the more we lose strength and life slips away. Hands/Fingers; Hands and Fingers are similar to wrists but are more concerned with the details. It is said, that the palm itself represents our attitude toward success. For the Palm Reader, the lines in your palm tell your life story, both actual and potential. Fingers represent our ability to grasp and hold onto the important things in Life and also to let them go. Many things have a habit of 'slipping through our fingers'. Perhaps this is because these are things that do not serve or no longer serve. Painful and stiff fingers mean that we are holding on to things too tightly for fear they will escape. Maybe it is time to let go. Life is constantly changing. Healthy hands are constantly opening and closing to take things in, to let things go. Painful, stiff or numb fingers (Raynaud's Syndrome) represent great difficulty connecting with your world. The first or index finger points the way; tells people what to do; problems represents loss of direction; time to stop and consider alternatives. An infection means you've taken the wrong path (for you) or have been seduced. The second finger, sometimes called the 'bird' finger or 'swear' finger, or the New York 'hi, how are you?' finger, represents the sentiment 'I don't need you... I can do it myself.' If you have a problem it means 'I do need you... I can't do it myself.' The third finger, is the finger of commitment (engagement/marriage). It takes some doing to injure this finger without damaging the ones around it. The process of commitment involves a lot more than than saying 'I do.' Injuring this finger represents a fear to take the next step. The Fourth finger represents sexuality/spirituality. These cannot be separated. To embrace the Divine, all Chakras must be open. Sexuality is the anchor and provides the base energy to propel one up through to the crown and into the realm of Spirit. Problems represent a separation or a break in the flow or insufficient appreciation of the Life one has. Metaphysically it is necessary to appreciate the Life one has in order to appreciate the Life one could have. Adrenal Glands; The Adrenals are the glands that sit on top of the Kidneys and mainly associated with handling stress. Specifically they regulate sugar and salt in the body by means of two hormones; Cortisone and Fludrocortisone. Problems with the Adrenals represent succumbing to the stress in your Life. Stress comes from resistance and has nothing to do with how hard you work or how many problems you have. Adrenal problems mean that the path you are on is not for you. Of course, since you are fighting it every inch. Burn out comes from pursuing a goal that is not for you. If Life is a struggle you are probably not where you would like to be. The steps to Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison's Disease) are; 1) Irritability, anxiety, panic attacks. 2) Anorexia, Bulimia, weight loss, 3) Seizures & 4) death. In Chinese Medicine the Adrenal Glands are associated with the function of the Kidney organ system. Ears; are designed to hear everything. There are no secrets. Everybody knows everything all the time. Deafness, Tinnitus, infections are all attempts to filter out things you do not want to hear. What is it you do not want to hear? Gallbladder; Gallbladder problems represent a fear of inappropriate expression. In Chinese Medicine, the Gallbladder is the seat of Courage. Heart; The Heart houses the Mind. Traditionally it is the symbol for Love or Truth. Speaking from the Heart reveals your true essence. The emotion of the Heart is Joy. A Heart by-pass asks whose Love or Truth are you by passing? Kidneys; At the physical level, Kidneys filter out the 'anti' in our Life. It is better to be for something than to be against something. Kidneys house the emotion of Fear. In Chinese Medicine, the Kidneys are considered to be at the root of all the other organ systems. This is reflected in the idea that Fear is at the root of all the other emotions we consider negative or life limiting. Lungs; The emotion of the Lungs is Grief. There is also general agreement on this association. Breathing problems like Asthma indicate retained Grief. Frequent sighing or breathlessness can often be a sign of suppressed Anger. Lymph Glands; Lymph Glands are one method the body has for eliminating toxins. If you have problems here, check you priorities. Are you retaining toxic thoughts or beliefs for no apparent reason? Pituitary Gland; The Pituitary Gland is known as the Master Gland of the Endocrine System. Its secretions regulate all the other Endocrine Glands. This gland represents one's ability to coordinate the different aspects of one's Life. Problems represent difficulty doing this. The Pituitary Gland is linked to the Hypothalamus, also located in the brain, whose function is to maintain Homeostasis in the body. That is the body's tendency to return automatically to its level of highest functioning. Metaphysically, this means aligning the frequencies of the physical and energetic bodies to homeostatically return to one's highest spiritual functioning. Pineal Gland; The Pineal Gland is sensitive to light, both the outer and inner light. The Pineal represents one's ability to tell the difference between the Light and the Dark; Truth from Illusion. Pancreas; The Pancreas is both an Exocrine Gland, in that it secretes digestive juices through a duct into the stomach and an Endocrine Gland via the Islets of Langerhans located on its surface that secrete sugar regulating hormones directly into the bloodstream. The Pancreas is most often associated with Diabetes Mellitus, the body's inability to process sugar, which is the result of an Autoimmune destruction of the Islets of Langerhans. Diabetes may be said to represent a denial of the sweetness of Life. It may also represent a misplaced faith in one's own ability to control the physical world. Given that the Pancreas has a dual function, reflecting the essential duality of the physical Universe, it has both the ability to digest ideas and to extract that which is not only sweet, but Life sustaining. A type I diabetic does not live long without Insulin injections. Skin; The Skin is your outer covering, that holds things in and helps define your physical presence. The Skin is the first line of defense against invading organisms. Skin problems represent difficulties with boundaries... keeping things in and keeping things out. A lack of balance between the inner you and the outer you results in things coming out such as rashes, boils, and pustules and things coming in such as colds, flu and infections. In Chinese Medicine, Wei Qi which resides on the surface of the body is responsible for protecting against such things. Skin eruptions indicate long standing resentments not being expressed appropriately. Rashes represent the Heat of Anger. Itching represents dissatisfaction with the way things are going and/or dissatisfaction with yourself. Invading organisms such as the Flu, colds, or parasites represent a lack of ability to protect yourself or put another way, a lack of descrimination about who and what you let into your life. Spleen; The physical organ represents a belief in Hereditary. In Chinese Medicine the Spleen system is responsible for nourishing the body at the Qi or energetic level. Modern medicine theorizes that the Spleen has no useful function and routinely removes it without apparent harm to the patient. This comes from a Mechanistic attitude that theorizes it is our DNA that determines who we are rather than our Spirit. Hence the belief that if one's DNA were better one would be a better person. Metaphysically, the Spleen has the function of 'transforming' physical nutrients into Metaphysical ones and nourishing at both levels. Recent evidence suggests that the Spleen organ is important to the immune system, although it is not clear how that might be. Thyroid; The Thyroid represents the communication between the Head and the Heart. Thyroid problems most often represent a lack of or miscommunication between what one thinks and one's Truth. Problems may also represent a lack of ability to speak up for one's self. Thymus Gland; The Thymus gland is located below the Sternum and is connected to the Immune System. The Thymus gland is the most active gland in the body before Puberty, but virtually ceases functioning in adulthood shrinking to a fraction of the size. Like the Spleen, Modern Medicine sees no useful purpose for this gland and at one time routinely removed it. The Thymus represents, according to one of my teachers, 'the courage to stand in the love of what you believe in rather than in defense of it. That the Thymus is active in childhood and protects the body, much as a parent would protect a child until that child is able to take on that responsibility him/herself, suggests that the function of the Thymus after puberty becomes less a physical one and more a metaphysical one. Self protection is an act of Self-Love as much as it is a function of T-Lymphocyte cells. Cervix; Problems with the Cervix represents punishing the Self at a deep level. As mentioned above, this is only a partial list. In Metaphysics there is always the danger of getting bogged down in the details and missing the Wholistic picture. Metaphysical diagnosis takes into account a great many signs and symptoms, existing in the four energetic levels which are then interpreted according to Life details that only you can provide. This is more an exercise for you, the client, than it is for me the practitioner. All I can do is help you to identify the areas of your Life that you might want to look at and suggest various therapies. If you have any questions or comments, or if you don't see your symptoms in this list, e-mail or call me and I will answer as soon as possible. In the West we tend to think of illness as being only in the body. Even so-called mental illnesses we treat by drugging the body. Looked at Wholistically, when an illness manifests itself in the physical body, we are actually seeing the last stage of a dysfunction that began in the Spirit. A poverty of Spirit will work its way down through the energetic bodies of Mind and Emotions to finally take up residence in the body. At first, at the Mental Level we have a vague awareness that something is wrong. As this happens mostly in childhood, not knowing really what to do with it, we ignore these signs and get on with the business of being a kid. After all, who has the time to sit and meditate on a vague awareness. As a matter of fact, those who engage in Esoteric practices to link up with aspects of Spirit are most often recruited around the ages of 3-5 and spend a lifetime learning the practical processes for connecting with spirit. The next level down is the Emotions. As we grow and especially in adolescence, the emotions take over. The emotions are mainly the language of the Ego. Serious spiritual practitioners spend a lot of time learning how to control their emotions. If we do not learn to express our emotions in a healthy manner, they do begin to become toxic. It is, of course, difficult to learn to express our emotions in a healthy manner if we are already dysfunctional at the levels of Mind and Spirit. By the time we are well along to adulthood, the emotions of Anger, Fear, Worry and Grief begin to overwhelm us. Given the state of health of young people today, one does not have to wait very long for these toxic emotions to begin manifesting in the physical body. The unhealthy diet that is standard fare for millions of teenagers today, reflects the toxicity that exists at the emotional and mental levels of their beings. With this in mind, the following is a partial list of diseases, and conditions and their general Metaphysical meanings. Again, my sources are Louise Hay, my Reiki teacher, Denise Crundall, Traditional Chinese Medical theory, and my own experiences in the area. To be kept in mind, as you look up your specific dysfunction is that the purpose diagnosing a dysfunction is to design a treatment. In a Wholistic practice, specific conditions and body parts are subordinate to the healing of the whole. While western medical designations, generally speaking have minimal value in an wholistic approach, they do provide more information to help it along. If you have a symptom or disease that doesn't appear on this list, or if you have any questions, do not hesitate to e-mail or call. Diseases and Conditions Heart Disease; The physical approach to heart disease suggests that it is caused by a diet loaded up with processed food, complex carbohydrates, so-called 'bad' fatty acids and 'bad' cholesterol. Your basic North American diet, in other words which causes plaque to build up in the arteries restricting and even cutting off blood flow to the heart. This is commonly called 'Hardening of the Arteries.' At the metaphysical level we may paraphrase and call it 'Hardening of the Attitudes.' Knowing the self requires that we speak through the Heart. Self mastery is the first step in any healing journey. Ancient wisdom suggests that the Truth resides in the heart. The natural tendency of the Truth is to come out. The more we resist the truth about ourselves, the more effort is required to keep the truth from showing itself. Eventually, the effort required is so great the blockage manifests on the physical plane. In short, heart disease suggests a conscious separation from the authentic self, and certainly from one's own Joy, which is the emotion of the heart. What is the joy in life that you are missing. Heart by-pass surgery is a way of by passing the love that is right there for you. Alzheimer's; Alzheimer's is rooted in fear. Fear of what is here and fear of what is next. Alzheimer's is a way of dying without actually going through the process. the brain shuts down over a long period of time. People who do Alzheimer's are doing a rather intense drama not only for themselves but for those around them. It is a way of being the centre of attention in doing the drama of death. In a manner of speaking, Alzheimer's is a way of staying on the planet long after the DNA programming says we should leave. Alzheimer's may be seen as one of the down sides of modern medicine. It is one response to lengthening the life span by man-made means. Not the only response of course, and not necessarily a response we need to judge badly. Living on borrowed time, as it were, gives us second chances to learn the lessons we have come here to learn. Life makes less and less sense. Brain diseases represent that which does not compute in our lives. So, life does not compute, and one retreats further and further from it until there is nowhere left to go but onto the next step. Alzheimer's is another one of those diseases of the 20th century that appeared only rarely on the planet before. As more and more people choose this particularly dramatic way of exiting this life, I believe, we have more and more opportunity to grasp the role of spirit and the implications of overcoming DNA programming. In other cultures in other times, such people were looked on with reverence. They were seen to be in direct contact with the spirit world. They were sacred and holy in a way, even if it made them crazy in this world. Arthritis; represents 'oozing resentments'. You are so angry your joints become inflamed. Who or what is it that you resent so much? Louise Hay suggests this comes from feeling unloved. Anemia; is a belief in sacrifice, especially self-sacrifice. The idea behind sacrifice is to give back to the Gods or Nature some of what you have received. It is an act of gratitude and in many cases celebration. In Christian tradition, we seem to have associated sacrifice with suffering. We do the 'Jesus thing' and hang ourselves up on a metaphysical cross, not realizing that Jesus did it so we wouldn't have to. Without the connection to Spirit, sacrifice is nothing more than unnecessary suffering. When sacrifice comes from the Ego, it is an attempt to create a debt. You may have noticed that others tend not to notice your sacrifice. When done from Spirit, sacrifice creates gratitude. Accidents; Automobile accidents are a clumsy attempt to connect with your world and those in it. Other kinds of accidents are attempts to draw attention, either of anger of sympathy, or they represent rebellion in a passive aggressive style. These all come from feeling disconnected, which in turn comes from self-absorption. You are refusing to take responsibility for your self and/or your actions. Cancer; According to one researcher we all have cancer or potential cancer cells in our body. Cancer is another one of the diseases that was pretty much unknown a hundred years ago. On a rudimentary level, cancer cells are mistakes. Our body generates new cells according to our own unique DNA template every few days or weeks. Much like an assembly line, every so often mistakes are made. Our immune system normally takes care of these mistakes much like Quality Control removes mistakes from an assembly line. A well nourished Immune System tends to be quite ruthless, not only in removing mistakes as they occur but also in flushing them out of the body. However, if an immune system is compromised quality control is compromised and the mistakes start to pile up. Eventually a tumour is formed around the site where these mistakes are stored, further compromising the immune system and as often as not poisoning the system. Cancer is not actually a foreign body that invades the system. It is a part of the system itself and one may argue that it has as much right to be in the body as anything else. This fact is probably why conventional treatments are only marginally effective and tend to be as harsh on the patient as the cancer itself. Metaphysically, Cancer represents Father issues. This refers not only one's earthly parent, but also to one's Heavenly Father. Since Cancer is likely to show up in almost any part of the body, diagnosing metaphysically consists of looking at Father issues related to whatever part of the body in which the cancer occurs. For example, Lung Cancer would be unresolved grief as it relates to the father on earth and/or unresolved grief over the separation from the Father in Heaven. One's relationship with the Father in Heaven is ultimately all pervasive and mirrors the progress of the Cancer in the body. Eventually, regardless where the cancer began it involves the entire organism. Diabetes; is a dysfunction of the Pancreas Gland or more precisely the Islets of Langerhans located on the Pancreas that secrete Insulin which the body needs to process sugar. The secretion of Insulin is regulated by Cortisone secreted from the Adrenal Glands. The Adrenal glands regulate both sugar and salt in the body. Metaphysically then diabetes represents a difficulty in processing the sweetness of life. One may be bitter at the world. Things are not the way they should be. Diabetes manifests in two types. Type I, which is also referred to as Juvenile Diabetes because it strikes mostly children, is the complete shutdown of the Insulin producing cells. This means these children have already come through with sufficient karmic bitterness to be blinded to the sweetness of this life. Type II, which is also referred to as Adult Onset Diabetes means that one has accumulated bitterness over the course of this lifetime. Noted also is that obesity is almost always an accompanying symptom. Excess weight, metaphysically, is a way of putting distance between ourselves and others; a way of emphasizing our separation and isolation from others. Enlarged Heart; is a belief in not enough Love to go around. A tendency to hoard Love and block the flow. There is no way the physical heart will get big enough to encompass the Love of Spirit. The Metaphysical Heart, on the other hand is adequate to handle the Love of the Universe. Hiatus Hernia; is a belief in freeloading. In Chinese Medicine, Hernias are known as a Shan disorder. According to the theory it is the Spleen's job to keep things in their proper place. The emotion of the Spleen is Worry. While one has belief in 'freeloading' at another level the truth is nothing is free. Impotence; Gonads represent the power to create the future. Impotence reflects an inability or unwillingness to sow the seeds of the future. The Gonads are connected to the Kidneys in Chinese Medicine. The Kidneys house Yuan Qi or one's physical essence. Impotence suggests an unwillingness to create a legacy, or a fear that one's essence would be wasted. Insomnia; Insomnia is a fear of death. There seems to be general agreement on this one. In many cultures, sleep is thought of as the 'little death.' Each day we die to the day before and awaken reborn. In Chinese Theory the constantly changing Universe means that each day we awake to a brand new Universe. Some believe that our Ethereal Soul awakens in sleep and travels the Metaphysical world unfettered in our dreams. In the Hebrew tradition, sleep and dream prophecies are intricately linked. God may speak to us in our dreams. Fear of Death may also represent Fear of God, Fear of Karma, or Fear of Accountability. Multiple Sclerosis; Multiple Sclerosis indicates a lack of awareness that one has the freedom to choose one's Life. There is a lack of control over the essentials for operating in the physical world. Nausea; Nausea represents undigested ideas, especially new ones. Osteoporosis; is the eating away of our firm foundation. Bones are the hardest substance in the body. They support and give strength to the body. They are also the most brittle of substances that make up the body. If we see ourselves as having little or no support in the world of a physical or of a metaphysical nature our own foundation is weakened and the structure collapses in upon itself. Prostate; The Prostate is the organ that projects the Semen out of the body. Cancer of the Prostate indicates denial of the Father or fatherhood or at least one's ability to project into the world. Enlargement indicates the desire to retain one's seed, or an unwillingness to share it with the world. On a purely physical level, enlarged prostate is simply due to lack of use for its intended purpose. That Western medical authorities are predicting that as many as 60% to 80% of all men will experience prostate problems in later life is really something to think about. There is also indicated an underlying fear of creativity especially in its association with sexuality. Probably more like a fear of getting caught. Repetitive Strain Injury; RSI is the result of resistance. Any kind of pain is the result of disassociation from one's Authentic self. RSI is most likely to afflict those who do not love what they are doing. It comes from holding back and not giving it your all. Perhaps you are in a job or relationship that does not serve your highest good. The question is what are you resisting or resenting? Stroke; Having a stroke represents a giving up on Life. Life is too much of a struggle and one would rather die or become an invalid than carry on. Perhaps one sees service as a burden and decides it is now time to be served. The key to life is giving and receiving. Both are equally important. If you have difficulty being served you may experience a stroke to help you learn the art of receiving. Viral Infections; Viruses need a host and can end up killing the host. Infections represent a willingness to host other life forms harmful to us. Who have you invited into your Life that drains your energy or contaminates your space? Becoming a host to a virus may be carrying the idea of service just a little too far. Breast Cancer; Breast Cancer represents a preference for the symbols of Love, rather than the Love itself. Cancer, generally represents Father issues, or more specifically that one is not the centre of the father's world. This may mean a rejection of one's femininity by the Father or at least the perception of that. Or, since Breasts project out into the world, and therefore have that Yang aspect, a rejection of projecting one's Feminine Principal. Breasts represent the Feminine Principal and any kind of deformity suggests difficulty in accepting that in one's self Brain Tumour; A part of the brain is cut off. This represents an inability to compute; a dysfunction of logic and intuition. In Chinese Medicine, while the Heart houses the Mind, the Brain is seen as an Extraordinary Fu organ. In other words an empty sack, like the Stomach and Intestines for receiving raw materials from the outside world. The Brain is incapable of transforming raw data into anything useable without the connection and participation of the Heart. The data then just builds up and stagnates eventually resulting in a tumour. A lack of intimate connection between head and heart is indicated. Palpitations; Palpitations represent the Fear that Love is fleeting. There is a lack of confidence, provoking Fear about one's ability to love. Fear that one's Love will be rebuffed. Table of Symptoms of Fibromyalgia /Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom Emotion Message Fatigue Worry Resistance to your current existence Insomnia Joy (deficiency) Fear of Death Muscle spasm/pain Worry/Overthinking Fear of moving forward Numbness/tingling in extremities Worry Difficulty connecting with your world Stiffness of muscles Worry Resistance to carrying current responsibilities/not being nourished Chest pain/ not related to cardiac or Lung problem Grief/Anger Lots of stuff to get off your chest. Mental Fogginess Joy (lack of) Life does not compute (not logical)/Cutting the self off. Poor Memory Joy (lack of) Judging Life badly Phobias Fear Distrust of the World/Helplessness. Food sensitivities/allergies Worry Rejection of new ideas/nourishment Depression Joy (lack of) Withdrawal from Life Shortness of breath/Asthma Grief Grief not resolved Abdominal cramps/bloating Worry/Fear Retained Adolescence Sensitive eyes/blurriness Anger Blinded by Anger Dry Mouth Worry/Fear Denying water/the elixir of life Feeling hot Anger Residual anger/still angry about? Feeling cold Grief Who or what are you freezing out? Diarrhea Worry Lack of discrimination/esp.what nourishes. Constipation Worry Unwilling to let go/of what? Diarrhea/Constipation (alternating) Worry Indecisiveness/what to hold onto, what to let go Frequent illness/poor immune response Grief Inability to protect the self. Loss of strength/endurance Worry In the process of surrendering.