Written by Dorte Balle (Article originally from 2009)
> Righteous anger is healthier to express ~ than feeling victimized again and again AND there is a time and place to release that build up (often) righteous anger for good <
There is no need to be ashamed of "angry feelings" or for
that sake naturally expressing anger, but if frustration and/or anger are carried in us for a long
time (either expressed OR repressed, which is often worse), this isn't good news for our overall health. If the Wood Element (* TCM term relating to the Liver and Gall Bladder functions) in us is blocked, it mostly leads to wandering pain and stiffness all over the body, and this can weaken the Liver and Gall Bladder,
since the two body functions are
directly connected to this emotion but there is more to it. Also self-reproaches, fear
scenarios and
depressed states carried over a longer time, usually weaken the Liver
significantly, but before that happens, it mostly courses heaviness
and tension in the neck and behind the shoulder blades first (as warning signs).
A healthy liver function eliminates toxins, breaks them down
and removes
excess hormones - important is a balanced hormone household which
usually ensures a smooth flow of energy in the body as well. Ever heard about the saying: "it's all about the hormones?" Other words to
describe this circulating energy which is used in many ancient texts also - is Vital Force, Ki - Qi - Prana or Life Force.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Wood element and the
color green is related to the spring season - all organ functions have a
season and specific elements and qualities relating to them - spring time is therefore extra beneficial to receive shiatsu treatments, since it sets the "body tone" for the rest of the year (or longer).
Typical symptoms of imbalances are: terrible neck
pain often leading upwards into the back of the head, irritated
eye, cold hands and feet, a general weak feeling in the body, uneasy legs, headache / migraine,
tight pain behind the shoulder blades, tense upper body, itching
scalp, allergies, hip inflexibility or problems, tendon and ligament inflammation - and there are different degrees of course.
It isn't quite enough
"staying in the head" analyzing and believing we can sort it
all out on that level. We mostly cannot. True transformation involves
the whole: body, mind and spirit! Thankfully this is generally making more sense nowadays.
Shiatsu sessions with me may involve becoming aware of old repetitive patterns and habits and simultaneously working on these alongside with
receiving treatments, which is the ideal approach, so that the body and mind can get used to a new mind-set and
body awareness on a permanent basis.
In my practice, one of the prominent themes over the years has indeed been coming to terms with and transmuting anger and repressed frustration - and again, one needs to physically release the blockage/s, otherwise it cannot result in genuine integration - related aspects are:
Liver and Gall Bladder themes;
having an objective or goals, planning AND courageously orchestrating these. In other words, when this process runs smoothly, all
is well, but when it doesn't, we feel blocked, undecided, life is tough, exhaustion lingers, nothing
works - you get the picture. As a result we are likely to get even more frustrated and caught in a vicious circle.
NB! When I speak about WILL power - we need to differentiate between a pushy will power, which mostly stems from negative ego energies, and a what I would call sovereign will power, guided by grace which supports us in every way.
Anger or frustration are not just "negative emotions", but
very much also a stimulating and activating force in us, and if set free, it has a
lot of powerful potential and will provide support to the Heart and Kidneys as well. This
free flow will make us feel SO alive!
Many people are still afraid of the
unknown
and real outer and inner changes, because they think .. what will
come instead, will people in my life distance themselves
from me, if I engage in real and honest change - start speaking up for
myself, begin telling others what is true for me -- will everything be
different (there is a deep fear of that), but let me
tell you; what we resist, persists (or we attract more of what we don't want), so then, why not act before life forces us to make changes or makes them for us..?
One can transmute emotional troubles and physical pain with Shiatsu and Soul Talks in combination, if feeling stuck and haunted by uncomfortable pain on whatever level (it may also be a mental block). What we deal with today, we need not deal with tomorrow when it may be
much more challenging.
I believe we all have this deep inner longing to reach our full potential and true
purpose in this life. It takes courage without doubt, which
again reflects a free flowing Life Force and healthy Liver and Gall
Bladder
functions and they are essential to overall good health.
"Liberated courage" isn't the absence of fear, but the conquering of it!
*(TCM)= Traditional Chinese Medicine