by Michelle Ayn Tessensohn

‘The Tao that can be explained is no longer the Tao’ (Lao Tzu)

How do you explain something that cannot be explained?

Well, let’s try. The Tao roughly translated means the way. It is used to describe the implicate order of nature. Ancient Taoist sages understood we are a part of nature and that by aligning with The Tao we could achieve harmony and health. They developed their theories into a healing system now known as Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is based on the concepts of The Tao and Yin/Yang.

Yin and Yang are relative concepts that describe the forces of expansion and contraction. Warm water for example is more Yang than ice but more Yin compared to steam Yin/Yang can also be seen
as the two sides of everything. Light and Dark, Action and Rest, Hot and Cold, Outwards and Inwards. They cannot exist without the other.

The Chinese symbol for Yin/Yang clearly illustrates that Yin and Yang interpenetrate each other and contain an aspect of each other. Yin is always moving towards Yang and Yang is always moving towards Yin. We unconsciously seek balancing of our internal Yin/Yang forces. One way in which we can balance the Yin/Yang forces within us is in the food we eat. Foods on one extreme often create cravings for foods on the other extreme. For instance after a savoury protein-rich meal (Yang) we eat a sugary dessert (Yin). Some of you may be thinking, ‘I don’t eat desserts’. Well then you may be balancing your meal with other factors in your life, such as your daily activity. Someone who is very active (Yang) may crave sweet foods (Yin) or someone who is very inactive may prefer saltier and more Yang foods like meat, eggs or seafood. Body constitution and the climate you live in should be taken into consideration as well. Many people lead lives of extreme Yang; filling their days with activity (Yang), meat (Yang), fighting for their opinions to be heard (Yang); but desperately lacking a Yin feminine energy to balance them. So they crave alcohol (Yin), can’t wait to go to the spa for their relaxing massage (Yin) or watch too much television (Yin).

Taoist wisdom recognised that nature was able to achieve equilibrium by responding with flexibility to situations. They sought to maintain balance by reacting to situations in an organic way. This they called Wu Wei, which can be translated as non-action- the natural flow that comes from a centred place; The still and calm mind with which you make decisions, and then act on. This is akin to the Yin within the Yang. This is mirrored in the body by the flow of chi in energy channels known as meridians. However, living as we do, it’s difficult to maintain a correspondence of Yin/Yang in our lives.

Too much Yin or Yang manifests itself as imbalance. It is ideal to live more in balance between Yin and Yang. Most people are born with an evenness of vital Yin and Yang principles that combine to become our basic life force energy or chi. Where there is no movement or blocked chi there is stagnation and imbalance.

Chi flows in our bodies in 14 major meridians that run throughout the whole body and correspond to a vital organ, colour, taste, season, smell, sense, element and emotional state. For instance the Liver meridian is associated with the Wood Element and the emotion of anger. So for example somebody with a tendency to get angry all the time most likely has a Liver meridian imbalance. Now this does not mean that this person has a serious physical problem with their liver, it may just be an energetic balance on an emotional or psychological level. The Liver meridian is also associated with creativity. Frustrated creativity causes stagnation and a tendency to suffer sudden bursts of emotion. People with this imbalance may then be seen as tactless and inappropriate in their remarks.

Many of us struggle to keep healthy and whole on a daily basis. We don’t know how to orient ourselves and feel an emptiness or lack of inspiration. We’ve forgotten our innate connection to a natural equilibrium. By understanding the principles of The Tao and Yin/Yang we can restore balance and healing into our lives.

Integrating the concepts of The Tao reawakens your connection to an infinite power. This has an immense effect on your well-being, and fuels an inner momentum toward self-realisation.

Michelle Ayn Tessensohn©

Michelle Ayn Tessensohn works as a healer and facilitator at Sanctum in Singapore. www.sanctumsg.com.