Posture #1 Details

[Anonymous]

The first posture has a ton of details to it. I have to revert to old, bad habits that Bruce calls the “struggle session” because it is new. I have to exert a lot of strength and can’t explore the relaxation that is possible when directing these details from the CSF.

In the posture the organs are counter-balancing the movement. Bruce is using the breath and diaphragm initially as he goes out from the tan tien. The liver engages early in the movement. This corresponds to and counter-balances the shoulders’ nest. The upper back is rounding, the shoulders’ nest is going inward in proportion, and simultaneously the liver is getting blood flow. The liver is filling more on the front at this point about in-line with the side channel. Think counter-balance to the top and the bottom: the shoulders’ nest has a correspondence in the legs. This is another example of the top and the bottom opening the middle. You could also think of it like the fire trigram. The two outer lines opposing the inner line.

As the hands rise, you begin emphasizing the lift. The heart has an upward motion which counter-balances the flow down toward the elbow. The correspondence in the legs lifts the entire spine.

As the hands continue to go out to the sides, the spleen is engaged. The two sides of the hand are supposed to feel an outward pressure. At first I struggled with trying to get the spleen to fill but the real magic seemed to happen when the spleen began to absorb. The liver and spleen are counter-balancing each other so there is an outward pressure, but the spleen also opposes the outward side pressure by absorbing. Yes, it is weird. The absorption may make sense considering the earth element is supposed absorb.

[Anonymous]

Although Bruce didn’t mention the kidneys or the lungs, I’d guess that they follow the five element flow.

So, as soon as you start moving the diaphragm, the kidneys (water) are counter-balancing its movement. Then the liver kicks in (wood), then the heart (fire), then the spleen (earth), and finally the lungs (metal) when the breath is complete and the blood is moving to the lungs to expel CO2 and get O2.

I’d also note that the absorption in the spleen is like entering the Tai Chi Space. Yang starts to flip to yin at that movement and you find how to keep both balanced and online at the same time.

[Anonymous]

James,

You have me consulting my Thieme “Atlas of Anatomy; Head and Neuroanatomy,” 2010.

Indeed, different parts of the ventricles “communicate” with corresponding parts of the brain and body.

For example,
the anterior (front) horns of the lateral ventricles are “assigned” to the frontal lobes of the cerebrum.

The frontal lobes are associated with higher levels of conscious thinking.
The first bagua energy posture of holding up Heaven then could very well be associated with the anterior horns of the lateral ventricles.

Of course, Tai Chi does not focus on external movement, rather its unique character is internal relaxation and proprioception, what could be more relaxing than a bath of fresh, warm cerebrospinal fluid?

There are some visceral afferent and viseral efferent fibers that coordinate the functions of the internal organs.

Hmmmm

[Anonymous]

Right. So, the flow is from the lower tan tien to the height of the spine where the major nerve feeds and senses the kidneys, to the height of the liver and spleen, to the height of the heart.

My theory was that the Hsing-I fists followed this exact pattern – the five elements. I thought the earth element was a return to the lower tan tien where it all integrated. That’s true but now I know it is integrating through the CSF on a deeper level. You return to the beginning (metal) and the spine becomes like steel (metaphoric metal element) through the use and mastery of CSF. You can argue the Pi Chuan began with metal (breathing). It all ends with breath which implies a subtle missing piece that comes from Bend the Bow at the top of the “C”.

I don’t know how the glands are worked, but the general principle is bring more blood to and from them and they’ll work better. First you have to have access and then you can play.

Does anyone have the Gods Qigong Edition Membership? If so, is there any material on the glands? Not just a general comment that they exist but “actionable” information on how to access them and train them. Let me know. I spend the $400 if it contains this material. I don’t know of any place in any of the mastery programs that has this material.
When I go back and explain the missing beginning material this will make even more sense and you’ll get why the breath is conflated with chi and how the whole progression should be learned.

[Anonymous]

You can even look at this as a series of tricks. Someone with mastery could chose to tell you them one at a time over a long period of time. Sort of throwing you a bone here and there to keep you interested. This material is the basis for all of Bruce’s comments and instruction about the internal organs.

[Author]

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