70 times 7 – Part II

7 are the requests of the Lord’s Prayer (It appears 424 times in the Bible)

7 cervical vertebrae (a ladder made up of 7 steps that lead from the body to the mind, from the physical to spirituality)

7 musical notes and keys (do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si; violin, bass, alto, soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, baritone)

7 colors of martial arts belts (white, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, black)

7 months of 31 days (January, March, May, July, August, October, December)

7 pronunciations of vowels in the Italian language (a-è-é-i-ò-o-u)

7 tarsal bones: calcaneus, astragalus, scaphoid, cuboid, 3 cuneiforms

 …then Peter came and said, “Lord, how many times must I forgive my brother if he sins against me? Up to 7 times?” And Jesus answered, “I do not say to you up to 7, but up to 70 times 7”.

Peter, under the influence of Jesus’ preaching, thought that by forgiving up to 7 times he would have done something exceptional. In those days, in fact, forgiveness of 2, 3 times, at most 4 was allowed. But Jesus, by answering “Up to 70 times 7”, emphasized that we must always forgive.

To for-give means to offer the gift of renouncing the claim of the wrong suffered. It is therefore a concession that is given to those who have committed what they should not have done.

7 Chakras – 7 Planets

Our Energy System: The Chakras

We all know that the planets are part of our Solar System, but perhaps we ignore that through their movement they develop a certain magnetism that, propagating through the ether, reaches us and influences our psyche and our behaviors.

Everything around us is made of energy and since we are all part of a single “atmosphere” we influence each other and are influenced by everything that surrounds us, whether it is close to us or far away.

In man there are centers, called chakras, which absorb the potential they receive from the Cosmos and return it to the individual as a dynamic force. The word Chakra comes from Sanskrit and means “vortex”, they are Centers of Energy and Awareness located in correspondence with the endocrine glands. They influence organic functions, circulation, hormonal activity, emotions and thoughts, thus transforming the Vital Cosmic Energy, called Prana. Prana flows in subtle energy channels, the nadis (from the Sanskrit “nad” which means to flow), and nourishes the body, soul and spirit. According to tradition, there are 72,000 nadis that produce a subtle energy network that, starting from the Navel Chakra, radiates throughout the body.

In practice, 3 nadis are particularly relevant: Ida, Pingala and Sushumna.

The path of energy goes from bottom to top and vice versa, along two main channels: Ida and Pingala which, like a spiral, wrap around a central axis called Sushumna. Every time Ida and Pingala meet in their path, one of the vortices or Chakras opens.

Pingala is the positive energy current, associated with solar energy and the male element; it starts from the base of the spine and ends in the right nostril.

Ida represents the negative energy current, associated with the Moon and the female element; the starting point is located at the bottom of the spine and ends in the left nostril. Ida and Pingala cross in the chakras, turning around the main channel Sushumna which from a physical point of view corresponds to the spinal cord and flows directly through the spine. If the Vital Energy flows freely through the nadis, the Kundalini (the Cosmic Energy that is described as a coiled serpent sleeping at the bottom of the spinal column), can ascend optimally. This results in robust health, progressive development and satisfactory realization of the individual.

The Chakras are associated with the Lotus Flower: even if it is born in stagnant water, it gives rise to a white and very beautiful flower. Thanks to this characteristic, it is considered an emblem of purity, in fact, despite being born in mud, it has nothing of it. Each “lotus” is characterized by having a specific number of petals, a particular “Yantra” or geometric shape, a mantra, is associated with an element, a planet, a divinity, an animal, a symbol, a vowel, a sense and a color.

In addition to humans, most animals and some plants would also have seven main Chakras.

Meaning and Symbolism of the 7 Chakras

Muladhara or Root Chakra
Also called First Chakra, Root Chakra, Base Center

The Muladhara Chakra traditionally represented with four petals and a square (symbol of the earth), constitutes the foundation and root of the energy system of the Chakras. Through this Chakra, energy is collected from the Earth and nature and then transformed. According to yoga doctrine, Kundalini energy resides in the Root Chakra. If the base is stable, Vital Energy can ascend through the other chakras, thus accelerating the development of the personality. The red color in which the Muladhara Chakra shines symbolizes a strong Vital Energy, strength and passion.

The Root Chakra is associated with themes such as security, stability, survival and rootedness. It nourishes the body, soul and spirit with Vital Energy and ensures survival as well as self-preservation and the preservation of the species.

Material abundance, success in the workplace, a fixed homeland and stable family relationships are the result of a Root Chakra charged with energy. The corresponding symbolic animal, the elephant, represents well- being, security, wealth and inner strength.

Importance in inner development

A possible blockage of the Muladhara Chakra compromises the serene relationship with the earth and nature.

Lack of energy and stimuli, insecurity and low confidence in existence are the consequences of a weakened Base Center. However, the struggle for survival, excessive materialism, greed, egocentrism and selfish goals are also symptoms that reveal serious disturbances to the natural base.

Those who commit to opening the First Chakra will be able to enjoy better contact with the earth that provides stability and energy. Awareness of one’s body will improve and the perception of one’s needs will become clearer.

A lack of development of this Chakra can express itself on the one hand in the form of fear and weakness, on the other hand result in aggression and egocentrism.

Importance for health

The Root Chakra, located in the perineum area, provides energy to the large intestine, bones, legs and feet. On a physical level, a healthy Muladhara Chakra is manifested by strong bones and teeth, a well- functioning large intestine and regular excretion. Generally, the quality of blood and the sciatic nerve are also influenced.

A conscious development of the First Chakra prevents intestinal diseases, constipation and diarrhea, helps to soothe and prevent kidney pain and bone diseases such as osteoporosis. In all these cases, a strong Root Chakra promotes the healing process.

Svadhisthana Chakra or Sacral Center
Also called: Second Chakra, Sacral Chakra, Sex Center

The Swadhisthana Chakra is the energy center of sexuality and joy of life. In Sanskrit, “Swadhisthana” means sweetness, a term linked to the concept of physical and sensual happiness.

This chakra is made up of six orange petals, the color of the active impulse that promotes creativity and vital energy. As the center of feminine energy, it allows reproduction and birth. A stable Sacral Chakra promotes a healthy relationship  with  one’s  sensuality:  passions  and  emotions  are  not repressed, but rather released. The body is consciously accepted and loved despite its defects and weaknesses.

The malfunction of the Swadhisthana Chakra occurs when too much or too little sexual energy flows into it, while its proper functioning prevents negative impulses, unsatisfied desires, jealousy and unfulfilling sexuality. The significance of sexuality in inner development should not be underestimated: many inner problems have a sexual origin, even the founder of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, recognized the importance of sexuality for the psyche.

Importance for health

The Swadhisthana Chakra regulates the functioning of the testicles, prostate and ovaries, and also influences body fluids such as blood, lymph, sperm, urine, etc. A strong Sexual Center prevents diseases of the reproductive organs, as well as menstrual disorders, impotence, kidney and bladder pain, as well as hip and back disorders.

A balanced Sacral Chakra gives a desire to live, an essential condition not only for inner well-being, but also for all vital processes and stable organic health.

Manipura or Solar Plexus Chakra
Also called: Third Chakra, Navel Chakra, Solar Plexus Center

In Sanskrit, the third chakra called Manipura, means “shining jewel”, it is an indispensable energy accumulator from which vital energy, prana, is distributed throughout the body. In fact, this Chakra is the origin of the 72,000 nadis.

The Navel Chakra represents aspects such as will, feelings, power and identity. A healthy Manipura Chakra allows the construction of a strong Self, essential for living with self-awareness and tenaciously pursuing one’s goals. Those who possess a strong Navel Chakra emanate self-awareness and energy. They possess the tenacity and patience necessary to overcome difficult phases of life but despite the awareness of their own power-strength they nurture deep feelings of sensitivity and compassion towards others and do not make their way in life at the expense of others. This Chakra is in fact linked to the Fire Element and therefore expresses qualities such as compassion and human warmth. It also exerts a notable influence on the transformation of food and oxygen into vital energy.

Excess energy in the Manipura Chakra can have negative effects on the character, resulting in thirst for power, excessive ambition, envy, aggression and destructive anger.

A lack of energy, on the other hand, leads to insecurity, lack of direction in life, self-pity and sentimentality. Concentrated work on the Navel Chakra will allow you to actively take charge of your life, rather than “letting yourself live” by circumstances and others.

Importance for health

The Manipura Chakra regulates digestive processes and affects the functioning of the stomach, liver and spleen. Stomach ulcers, gastritis, heartburn and heaviness in the stomach can also be traced back to disorders of this Chakra, as well as the related psychological manifestations: the feeling of “not being able to digest something”, or situations that “you can’t swallow”.

A stable Third Chakra guarantees good and rapid digestion of food as well as excellent processing of received impressions, promotes regular and deep sleep, and strong nerves. Long-term consumption of stimulants such as caffeine or alcohol could compromise the regular functioning of the Manipura Chakra.

 

Anahata Chakra or Chest Center
Also called: Fourth Chakra, Heart Chakra, Chest Center

The heart has always been the symbol of love. The Heart Chakra, called Anahata Chakra in Sanskrit which means “not affected, not damaged”, is the center of the human being and connects the three lower chakras related to instinct, with the three upper chakras related to Higher Consciousness. The twelve-petalled Chakra represents universal love. In relation to the senses, the Anahata Chakra is associated with touch through which contact and healing are possible.

In the Star of David, symbol of the Heart Chakra, the triangle pointing upwards merges with the triangle pointing downwards. The first represents Shiva, the male god, or awareness of the Self, the second represents Shakti, the divine progenitor, or Energy. The Anahata Chakra is the energetic center of love, compassion, humanity and the sense of protection, and it promotes an affectionate contact with the YOU, shifting awareness from the I to the WE. Thanks to this Chakra it is possible to establish relationships with others without selfish interests. Selfless love and compassion for all living beings are the main objectives underlying the opening of the Fourth Chakra. Each form of love allows the overcoming of boundaries.

When energy flows freely through this Chakra, the individual is able to communicate “from heart to heart”. Openness and tolerance towards other ideas and cultures are obvious consequences of a healthy relationship with the other.

A developed Fourth Chakra is the main basis for establishing a loving and trusting contact with others, as well as for accepting and loving ourselves. Only if we love and accept ourselves can we succeed with others.

Disorders of the Heart Chakra manifest themselves in the form of excessive selfishness, isolation and a disparity between giving and taking. However, a poor sense of boundaries and the annihilation of the Self in favor of others are also clear symptoms of a weak Anahata Chakra.

Importance for health

The Fourth Chakra regulates cardiac, pulmonary and respiratory activity. A stable circulation, a strong heart, a regular heartbeat, deep and free breathing are signs of a good activity of the Chest Center. Since this Chakra influences the thymus gland and the immune defenses, a poor functioning can result in a drop in energy that manifests itself, for example, in allergies, asthma, predisposition to infections and cancerous diseases. Even more evidently, disorders related to the Anahata Chakra manifest themselves mainly in the form of heart problems with a feeling of tightness in the chest accompanied by difficulty breathing.

The importance of the Heart Chakra on an internal level is reflected on a bodily level not only in the heart and breathing, but also in the skin, which constitutes the boundary of the body with the outside world.

 

Vishuddha Chakra or Throat Center
Also called: Fifth Chakra, Throat Chakra, Larynx Center

The sixteen-petalled Vishuddha Chakra is the center of sounds and words within the human body. From an experiential point of view, tones play an important role in the development of personality. One of the major techniques used in yoga practice is still the chanted repetition of mantras or primordial sounds of meditation, which allow the awakening and growth of self-awareness through the vibrations produced. The circle that symbolizes the Throat Chakra represents the place of absolute emptiness and silence that must be crossed in order to reach knowledge.

As a center of communication, the Vishuddha Chakra favors the development of individual awareness of the word. When the Throat Chakra expresses itself freely, it is possible to express oneself without difficulty and confide in others. The Fifth Chakra connects the Heart Center with the Head Chakra, acting as a link between feelings and thoughts.

Importance in inner development

The human voice expresses the information that makes verbal communication possible. Orators, authors, poets use the power of the word.

The essential prerequisite is therefore a strong Laryngeal Center, which facilitates communication and relationships based on the voice. Even the ability to learn and concentrate as well as openness to other people’s opinions can be traced back to the Vishuddha Chakra.

This Chakra also affects the timbre of the voice which always reflects feelings and the state of awareness. The Vishuddha Chakra also affects thoughts, as they are mainly composed of “thought words”.

An excessive accentuation of the Fifth Chakra manifests itself in dominance, power games and manipulation of others. On the contrary, an energetic deficiency implies shyness, inhibitions and fear of conflict. Since one does not have the courage to support one’s own opinions, the authenticity of one’s identity can also be compromised.

Importance for health

A harmonious and full voice, free breathing and relaxed muscles in the neck, jaw and shoulder area are clear signs of a free Vishuddha Chakra. Disturbances in the energy flow in the area of the Larynx Center cause the voice to rise, fall or even die.

A hoarse larynx, sore throat, tonsillitis and difficulty swallowing (the so- called lump in the throat) also indicate a weakening of the Throat Chakra. In addition to throat disorders, there are also: thyroid dysfunction and the formation of goiter, ear pain, gum disease and speech disorders.

Meaning of the name: Vishuddha = to purify

 

Ajna Chakra or Front Center
Also called: Sixth Chakra, Forehead Chakra, Third Eye

I As a spiritual center, the Ajna Chakra promotes attention and awareness. The main nadis, Ida and Pingala, converge in the Sixth Chakra, whose reunification symbolizes the overcoming of duality. When the vital energy is collected in this Chakra and obstructions are overcome, it is truly possible to achieve higher knowledge.

An important figure for the Sixth Chakra is Shakti Hakini, an androgynous god who represents the male and female component. The circle (symbol of the origin of Being) and the two winged petals (representing duality) also symbolize the overcoming of polarity.

The Ajna Chakra establishes the connection with the spiritual world, promotes intuitive knowledge and emphasizes the reality that manifests itself following the overcoming of the dualistic perception of the world and the pacification of thoughts. Telepathic abilities develop within this higher reality and phenomena such as premonitions or the intuitive understanding of others have often been found.

Another theme concerning this Chakra is self-knowledge. Experiences with the “Third Eye” are often described as experiences of light, moments in which the eyes truly open.

Importance of inner development

Through a well-developed Ajna Chakra it is possible to establish direct and free contact with the world of fantasy. An active Forehead Chakra awakens the ability to create images, to visualize words, to configure abstract objectives and therefore develop, for example, a vision of the future of one’s life.

The more this Chakra is filled with energy, the easier it will be to recognize deceptions and illusions. A traditional definition of yoga states: <<Yoga is bringing the movements of thought to calm>>. If one can achieve this calm of thoughts with the help of an Ajna Chakra bathed in energy, duality will dissolve: opposites such as male and female, Sun and Moon, left and right hemispheres of the brain, will be reconciled, intellect and intuition will find a balance. The awareness of peace will follow.

Importance for health

By influencing all endocrine functions, the Forehead Chakra is essential for maintaining general health. The disorders caused by this Chakra manifest themselves mainly on an emotional and psychological level in the form of fear, feelings of senselessness and uselessness. However, even physical manifestations such as headaches, migraines and diseases of the sense organs could hide a weakening of this Chakra.

A profoundly weakened Ajna Chakra can cause serious mental illnesses and can also be the cause of deep depression, while an overactivity of this Chakra could cause manic manifestations and schizophrenia.

Meaning of the name: Ajna = to know, to perceive

 

Sahasrara Chakra or Crown Center
Also called: Seventh Chakra, Crown Chakra, Crown Center.

The symbol of the Sahasrara Chakra is the thousand-petalled lotus. The number one thousand symbolizes completeness and perfection, and refers to the meaning of the Crown Chakra as the goal of the main nadi Sushumna. The strength of the Kundalini serpent rises in it, symbolizing the awakening of human potential.

In the Sahasrara Chakra resides Shiva, pure awareness.

Central theme

The Sahasrara Chakra is associated with spirituality and enlightenment. An open Seventh Chakra generates a feeling of deep peace and immense harmony, as the condition of duality has been overcome. The energy of the Sahasrara Chakra allows the transformation of the person into a “Mahatma”, the “great soul”.

Importance in inner development

Specialist literature often warns about the awakening of the Upper Chakra. Indeed, an activation of the Crown Chakra without the stable basis of the lower Chakras could be dangerous, although in practice it is not possible to conceive of the development of one in the absence of the others. Those who have reached this maximum stage of awareness will themselves be a source of strength and inspiration for others. However, there is also a negative aspect related to an exaggerated concentration on the Seventh Chakra: a one-sided development of the personality with consequent escape  into  drastic  isolation;  the  individual  withdraws  and  becomes progressively hostile to the world. Consequently, the path to the opening of the personality in its entirety is compromised.

Importance for health

The Seventh Chakra affects the entire organism. If the energy flow in this Chakra is too weak, chronic diseases, nervous problems and fatal diseases can result. The most frequent disorders caused by a weakening of this Chakra are, for example, headaches, concentration disorders, confusion, forgetfulness, sleep disorders. In particular, the latter are found in people with well-developed lower Chakras and who are one step away from the manifestation of their spiritual completeness. In the majority of cases, however, health problems related to the Sahasrara Chakra highlight a poor development of the other Chakras.

Meaning of the name: Sahasrara = a thousand times as much, a thousand

 

Curiosity

The Chakras of the Feet and Hands

The 7 chakras mentioned above are the main chakras. In the yoga tradition, there are approximately 88,000 secondary chakras spread throughout the body. In terms of practice, the chakras of the feet and hands are particularly important.

The Chakras of the feet, dark red in color and located in the center of the sole of the foot, are connected to the Root Chakra and establish contact with the Earth. For this reason, they convey a sense of grounding, a fundamental prerequisite for spiritual development. Wearing shoes limits the charge of the chakras of the feet. Massages in the reflex zones of the feet, walking barefoot and general foot care promote the activation of the corresponding chakras.

The Chakras of the Hands. On the inner surface of the hands are the blue-green/turquoise chakras connected to the Heart, Larynx and Forehead chakras. The chakras of the hands have an influence that is perceived by sensitive people and used by healers. If the energy of these chakras is weakened, disturbances in the balance between “giving” and “taking” may occur, up to the manifestation of contact phobias.

Through artistic activities – in which the hands are fundamental – such as playing and modeling, the hand chakras will be activated.

7 SIMPLE THOUGHTS

1. Make peace with your past, so it doesn’t ruin your present.
2. What others think of you is none of your business.
3. Time heals almost everything, give time time.
4. No one is the reason for your happiness except yourself.
5. Don’t compare your life to others, you have no idea what their journey is like.
6. Stop overthinking, it’s okay not to know all the answers.
7. SMILE, you don’t have all the problems in the world!

GODS, PLANETS AND CEREALS

The word “cereal” comes from the Latin “Ceres”, “Ceres”. Ceres for the ancient Romans was a deity linked to the earth and fertility, tutelary deity of crops but also goddess of birth. All flowers, fruit and living things were considered her gifts. It was thought that she had taught men how to cultivate the fields and for this reason she was usually represented as a severe and majestic matron, beautiful and affable, with a crown of ears of corn on her head, a torch in one hand, and a basket full of grain and fruit in the other.

What are cereals?

Cereals are all those seeds rich in starch and proteins that ripen on an ear and that generally belong to the botanical family of Graminaceae, with some exceptions: quinoa and amaranth, for example, are seeds of plants that belong to other botanical families but that have a nutritional composition similar to that of cereals.

In the world there are hundreds of different species of cereals even if the most famous and cultivated are: wheat, corn, rice, barley, spelt, oats, millet, rye.

For millennia, cereals have been the most widespread and used food resource by a large part of humanity, probably since man passed from the nomadic to the sedentary state. Their cultivation is easy to acclimatize, they are easily transportable and preservable, they are low cost and it is possible to use them for the preparation of countless foods. Cereals are the main energy suppliers, they contain proteins (13% max) and mineral salts such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, silicon, manganese, copper, iron. They also contain numerous vitamins: C, D, E, K, PP, and various vitamins of the B group. They should therefore never be missing from our table and every day they should constitute 40-50% of our daily food, but it is important that they are whole, organic, non-oxidized.

Cereal grains are made up of three fundamental parts:

1. Bran: external cuticle of the grain made up of 7 layers in which provitamins, vitamins, minerals are mostly present.
2. Endosperm: internal part richer in starch and therefore carbohydrates. It is the only part used for the preparation of refined white flours.
3. Germ: rich in vitamins B and E, enzymes and minerals.

The grain can remain vital for very long years and after thousands of years it can reproduce the plant again, it contains in some way a message of great energy and very long term, almost a message of eternity.

Cereals nourish in particular the mental life, the looseness, the flexibility of thought, the slow maturation of ideas. They slow down impulsiveness and emotional excesses to lead to reflection, organization and a sort of order that allows for better understanding.

A diet that uses cereals as a basic food will be particularly useful for those who study and for those who need good fuel for the mind.

7 CEREALS FOR 7 DAYS

Steiner philosophy believes that it is no coincidence that there are 7 main cereals. In fact, there are 7 colors that make up the rainbow, 7 tones that rise from octave to octave, 7 days of the week and 7 planets that gravitate in the sky. After having carried out research in this sense, Steinerians believe it is possible to associate each day with a corresponding cereal in order to derive their relationship with the planets. Each day of the week is in fact governed by a planet: Monday – Moon, Tuesday – Mars, Wednesday – Mercury, Thursday – Jupiter, Friday – Venus – Saturday – Saturn, Sunday – Sun. For the farmer, the position of the stars is even fundamental
in his operations of sowing, working the land and harvesting.

This has a meaning for the soul experience more than from a nutritional physiology point of view, but this will be taken as a starting point to learn about the beneficial properties of the 7 cereals, to prevent and cure small or large ailments that we often have to live with.

Sunday – Wheat – Sun

Sunday is related to the Sun. It is the Christian holiday. It wants to call man to meditatively look at his inner being. Everyone will do it in his own way: through encounters with others or with nature, in religious devotion, in art or in spiritual science.

Wheat is widespread throughout the earth and creates a harmonious balance. Even in man its action is distributed uniformly and harmoniously in all organs, without concentrating predominantly in any one. We therefore associate Sunday and the Sun with wheat. We are so used to consuming wheat daily that we no longer take into account how beneficial it is for our body. In fact, wheat is remineralizing, anti-anemic, anti-arteriosclerotic, useful in cases of thinness, constipation, colitis and essential for the growth of children.

Monday – Rice – Moon

Monday with its characteristic star, communicates a very particular interior atmosphere. The Moon lacks the radiant force of the Sun, it reflects light only in a soft silvery glow. With its phases the Moon acts rhythmically on the vital force of the plant regulating the timing of sowing and harvesting.

There is a close connection between the Moon and the movement of water, the element in which rice is born and grows. Rice is a very energetic and digestible food, it lowers blood pressure, cures colitis, kidney failure and obesity.

For the Orientals, rice has divine origins while in our country it is rather undervalued. Just think that what arrives on our tables is “polished”, that is, it has undergone countless treatments that have depleted it of proteins, mineral salts, fats and raw fiber. Rice should instead be consumed whole (“sbramato” or “paddy”), deprived only of the outermost part of the grain, inedible. After wheat, it is the most suitable cereal for everyone. During weaning, it can be the first cereal given because it is gluten-free and easily digestible.

Tuesday – Barley – Mars

The reflective Monday is followed by the active Tuesday, the day of Mars, the ancient god of war. If we raise our gaze to Mars or try to immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of Tuesday, we feel called to become active, to courageously dedicate ourselves to what we recognize as true and good, without forgetting the forces of love of the heart. If we now ask ourselves what cereal strengthens the mind and the body at the same time, we must look at the ancient Greeks. Their cereal was barley. They felt that barley was the marrow of men, a substance capable of stimulating the forces of action, but also food of philosophers because it activated the forces of the mind. It is a refreshing, energetic and easily digestible cereal. It is useful for respiratory, intestinal and urinary tract inflammation. Excellent remedy for bronchitis, enteritis, diarrhea and cystitis.

The virtues of barley are naturally found in the unrefined whole grain (pearled).

Wednesday – Millet – Mercury

Mercury, the winged god who as a messenger connects Heaven to Earth, is well identified with millet, the cereal with the smallest grain compared to the others.

Millet was once put in the shoes of brides on their wedding day to attest that they were active, quick and lively. In the past it was considered a cereal good only for feeding birds; African and Eastern peoples still make it the basic food of their diet.

Millet acts on the organs used for contact with the outside world, that is, on the skin and the sense organs.

It is particularly suitable for people who carry out intellectually tiring and demanding jobs, and for pregnant women. Highly digestible, it is excellent for feeding children, the elderly and convalescents.

Thursday – Rye – Jupiter

Jupiter, father of the gods, makes Thursday a regal and majestic day, like rye. Of high and powerful figure, it impresses with the firmness of its erection. It therefore transmits to man a strong formative energy and what is usually called “backbone”. It contributes to giving fullness and sonority to his voice, also stimulating the activity of the liver, the organ that has always been recognized as subject to the influence of the planet Jupiter. In the Middle Ages, its cultivation was much more widespread than that of wheat. With more proteins and more bran than all other cereals, it is used as flour added to wheat flour for bread or in the form of flakes.

It is indicated in cases of thinness, arteriosclerosis, hypertension and constipation. Moderate use is instead recommended for obese people and those who easily retain liquids.

Friday – Oats -Venus

Friday is dedicated to Venus. It is good that the wisdom and loftiness of Jupiter is now followed by beauty.

Venus, mother of what sprouts, of what grows in nature, is the guardian of beauty, art and play. Oats are the cereal that stays green the longest and has the closest connection with vital and life-giving forces. Always considered horse food for its energetic properties, today it is used as flour to enrich bread and homemade pasta; in the form of flakes in soups it is an excellent tonic, warming, diuretic and laxative. It stimulates the thyroid, has a hypertensive function but, being a somewhat “fiery” cereal, it is contraindicated for those who suffer too much from the heat, for nervous and very thin people. Being rich in proteins, people who suffer from uricemia and gout must use it moderately.

Saturday – Corn – Saturn

Saturn, with its serious nature, is well suited to Saturday, a day in which one should stop for a moment to reflect and laze around a bit after an intense week.Originating in Mexico, corn has been the basis of the diet of those peoples for centuries, as well as of the inhabitants of our Po Valley. For this reason, corn has been blamed for the diseases and malnutrition that afflicted these populations. Less protein-rich than wheat and oats, this cereal is mainly consumed in the form of flour to make polenta and to a lesser extent for special desserts.

It is indicated for excitable, nervous people, who suffer from hyperthyroidism as it slows down thyroid function. It is useful to remember that wholemeal corn flour oxidizes quickly and this alters its taste. Therefore, to obtain good polenta it is necessary to use freshly ground wholemeal corn flour. However, it is necessary to warn against the overzealous interpretation of this categorization: many may feel obliged to scrupulously respect this rhythm, thus making it lose its meaning of “life”.

TCM

Traditional Chinese Medicine is made up of a vast set of techniques that are based on a particular vision of life in the Universe and a singular conception of man: it observes the flow of his life according to age, seasons, considers his physiology and his psychology.

In Chinese tradition, the patient is structured on different levels, physical, mental and spiritual (subtly interconnected with each other), is considered as a whole and above all as a unique being.

Often called the medicine of the literati or even of correspondences, it highlights that to stay in shape you need to constantly work on your psychophysical balance. It is essential to prevent the onset of diseases with something that is much more than gymnastics, it is the maintenance of the movements of life both on a physical and mental level.

To avoid the disorders of passions nothing is as valuable as balance. The orderly flow of the breaths that make life is maintained with a healthy and regular diet, with the control of emotions and with a mental state that keeps you as close as possible to reality.

It is often said that Traditional Chinese Medicine is a preventive medicine not because it cannot or does not know how to cure diseases that have already occurred, but to emphasize that it scrutinizes the slightest beginnings of disharmony, waits for them when circumstances are favorable for their onset, and treats them using various techniques.

According to this perspective, disease corresponds to an alteration of the circulation of energy in the organism. The aim then becomes to search for the deep causes of the conflict that put the patient in disharmony. Through awareness it is possible to shed new light on disease especially because living beings are endowed with extraordinary healing powers. The body has within itself the potential to return to its state of balance as long as the consciousness is well illuminated.

In TCM, Universal Energy, known as Qi, occupies a central place.

Qi exists in Heaven, on Earth and in the human body. In Heaven it creates meteorological variations, moves the planets along their orbits, animates all living beings, governs the relationships between Yin and Yang and the processes of growth and decline. On Earth Qi is present wherever there is energy, it creates heat, electricity. In the body Qi is energy, movement, it is the activator of every transformation (it is like electricity that makes a light bulb work).

THE 7 QIs

“Qi” has been variously translated as “energy”, “steam”, “breath” and all these definitions imply a kind of driving force. This force is the Energy of Life which is a primary factor for the health and prosperity of all living beings.

In relation to its different functions and activities, breath is divided into:

• ANCESTRAL Qi (Yuan Qi). Every man at birth is endowed with a hereditary energetic heritage, the ancestral Qi, it is transmitted by the parents and is the source of all vitality. It is a force that cannot be changed or renewed and, once exhausted, the individual dies.
• FOOD Qi (Gu Qi). It is the energy obtained from the assimilation of the food consumed, so it is a form of energy that can be continuously replenished. To maintain health, it is therefore essential to pay attention to the quality of nutrition.
• PECTORAL Qi (Zong Qi). It is the respiratory energy assimilable from the external environment and absorbed through the oxygen present in the air. As with food Qi, it can be continuously integrated and is improved by performing breathing exercises.
• TRUE Qi (Zhen Qi). It is the result of the encounter between ancestral energies and energies acquired through nutrition and breathing. This Qi allows the activity of the organs and keeps the organism alive by allowing its movement, warming it and defending it from pathogenic attacks.
• NUTRITIVE Qi (Ying Qi). It has a central role in the energetic assimilation of ingested food and liquids. From the union between the energy of food and the energy of Heaven assimilated through breathing, the nutritive breath is formed that spreads throughout the organism and nourishes it.
• Qi DEFENSE (Wei Qi). It is the defensive breath that presides over thermoregulation and the defense of the organic surface from climatic insults.
• Qi DEFENSE (Zang Fu Qi). It is the breath of organs and viscera that keeps them active by supervising their functions.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE ORGANS

In ancient times, emotions were classified with the help of the theory of the Five Movements. According to this theory, each organ is related to an emotion, therefore:

the Heart is linked to joy,
the Liver to anger,
the Spleen to brooding,
the Lungs to sadness,
the Kidneys to fear.

This classification is not arbitrary. Emotions, being necessary for the life and balance of the organs themselves, manifest themselves in the body in a physiological way, but can manifest themselves in a pathological way, creating imbalances:

• the Heart opens in a joyful climate, but too much joy makes it palpitate and upsets it;
• anger can be a safety valve to safeguard the integrity of the Liver, but excessive anger damages it;
• fear stimulates us to act with prudence, conserving energy in the Kidneys, but if disproportionate and unreasonable it causes a loss of liquids and essential energy;
• sadness favors internalization and perceptive sensitivity useful to the Lung, but excess or lack of crying blocks the chest and clogs the airways;
• reflection is necessary for the Spleen to give shape to thoughts, but excessive worry causes disturbances in the Stomach.

There are no negative emotions in themselves, each has its function in promoting life, it is excessive or chronically retained emotions that give rise to pathologies.

Curiosity: by removing an organ, do we eliminate the emotions that are connected to it?

An organ is connected to the brain by a complex nervous system, sometimes hormonal. Brain and organ are in constant relationship. The removal of an organ does not eliminate the cerebral representation of the organ. The person who has undergone the ablation will always be able to somatize, targeting another organ. In fact, negative influences must always find a way to express themselves and free themselves.

Anger

When someone makes you angry it’s like they shot
an arrow into your heart.
But it didn’t hit you
and it falls to the ground, at your feet.
So you pick it up and you hit yourselves
again and again, repeatedly.
This is what happens with anger.
Anything in life can be a cause of argument
but the choice to get angry or not, is only ours.

FROM 7 VICES TO 5 VIRTUES

Linked to the 5 Movements we find 5 virtues which are generated in succession according to the typical dynamics of the 5 Elements.

From the challenges of life we learn to be virtuous. In this vision, emotions should not be eliminated but understood. The person should be encouraged to understand how a certain emotion can help him develop virtues.

The 1st virtue is Benevolence or Compassion. It is linked to the Wood Movement and consists in performing actions without expecting anything in return. Only when you are able to do something for others without expecting anything in return have you acquired a virtue. If you are kind because others are kind in turn, it is not a virtue. Benevolence or Compassion means that you do things simply because you want to do them, it means being at the service of others without expecting anything in return for what you do. The doctor treats someone without thinking that they can in turn treat him. It is a help that does not expect any help in return. This is why ancient doctors did not receive compensation for their services, they were supported by the community they served by keeping it healthy.

The 2nd virtue is Righteousness, Integrity, Honor and is linked to the Fire Movement.

It is the right to feel what you feel. It is the commitment to yourself and others to maintain Integrity. Righteousness is the virtue of being true to your word. When you have made a commitment and you remain faithful to your positions because you believe in them, you demonstrate Integrity.

The 3rd virtue is linked to the Earth and is Loyalty.

The sense of Integrity belongs to Fire and evolves in the Earth where Loyalty develops as Integrity towards another person. Loyalty towards others is a form of commitment that guarantees social order. Order means respect for one another, there is no society if there is no respect.

In Chinese, Respect is defined as Piety which consists in honoring others and especially parents. This is the 4th virtue and is associated with Metal.

Commitment to one’s family, treating one’s parents without expectations of return, with Compassion, having Integrity and Righteousness towards them, is the premise of a social order that generates harmony. It is essential to respect everyone because everyone must have the same rights even if not everyone has the same talents. Everyone must seek their own talent and express it to the best of their ability.

The 5th virtue linked to Water is Faith, Trust.

The commitment made, the respect shown to those who taught us in society, must translate into Trust that all this can be done alone.

Faith is the awareness of having learned from one’s teacher and of being able to do it alone while maintaining Respect.

Doctors, for example, have decided to serve humanity and for this reason they study medicine: this is Wood, Benevolence or Compassion. By studying medical books they believe that what they read is true, that that science has its own Integrity: Fire, the Sovereign, will defend this Integrity. A Loyalty towards matter develops and a community of doctors who believe in the same things is formed: the Earth. Moving towards Metal one realizes that there are people who have greater knowledge and are better at medical practice: this is the social order of Metal, but regardless of this greater skill of others, Faith and Self-Confidence in being able to do the same is developed. The fear that belongs to Water has dissipated, which fear can no longer serve as an excuse for not being a good doctor.

Transcending emotions leads to virtues. Man is born good, with a compassionate Heart. It is a natural instinct that leads him to help a stranger who is drowning. It is the impossibility of expressing one’s Benevolence that leads him to Anger. Understanding what is good and what is bad allows one to place oneself on the side of good, which constitutes Righteousness as it is able to distinguish what is morally right from what is not. One is driven to always know better what one has Respect for and knowledge produces Trust in what one has learned.

FROM THE 5 EMOTIONS TO THE 7 FEELINGS

Different from the five emotions or wills that are constitutional and therefore present since the being exists as such, feelings (from the Latin sentire = to perceive with the senses) or passions, are the result of the interaction of the individual with the Universe that surrounds him and therefore able to change at any moment of life.

The action of feelings influences the individual organs. An excess of feeling is capable of creating a situation of energetic imbalance throughout the organism and, always, a lesion of the heart. All excesses are potential causes of disharmony and therefore of disease.

Any factor defined as a cause of imbalance is in reality the factor acting on a state of disequilibrium that already exists.

TCM distinguishes:

• internal factors represented by the entire psycho-emotional structure of the individual,
• external climatic factors (heat, fire, cold, wind, humidity, dryness),
• mixed factors such as constitution, fatigue, excessive work, sexual and dietary excesses, trauma, epidemics, parasites, poisons from pollution, radiation, contaminated food, etc.

PASSIONS

Emotional states are indicated in Traditional Chinese Medicine as the 7 feelings or passions, they are very powerful factors that are located in the vital organs.

The number 7 represents orientation with the 6 spatial directions plus the center, and this means that the 7 feelings guide us in our choices, allow us to respond to external stimuli, and show us the path to follow. The 7 feelings are obviously part of man’s life and are therefore not in themselves causes of disharmony. They become so when they are excessive, if they persist for a long time or when they are unconsciously repressed. Learning to know them and being able to control them helps you live better.

Each feeling has a specific action on the QI (Vital Energy) and is connected to one or more organs:

• Anger increases the QI and affects the Liver
• Excessive joy lowers the QI and affects the Heart
• Reflection “knots” the QI and affects the Spleen
• Worry affects the Spleen and the Lung
• Sadness disperses the QI, affecting the Lung
• Fear decreases the QI and affects the Kidneys
• Shock “triggers” and affects the Kidney and Heart

RAGE

“Rage” encompasses a wide range of emotions: resentment, frustration, irritation, indignation, animosity and bitterness. If these conditions persist for a long time within the individual without being aware of it, they affect the Liver. If resentment and anger are very repressed and hidden, instead of symptoms of excess that are released upwards, we may have opposite symptoms such as pallor and chronic depression, which indicate that the anger has been directed inward rather than outward.

JOY

It seems difficult to understand how the feeling that has in itself the very essence of satisfaction can become the cause of illness, but emotional excess is in any case negative even if it is happiness and joy.

Joy is understood as the harmonious and balanced state of a spirit at peace with itself and the world, but understood as over-excitement and hyper-excitability it indicates the pathological state of excess of this feeling that damages the delicate harmony of the Heart.

Excessive joy and rage are closely linked: our Western society is very inclined to exalt the excesses of pleasant emotions (which damage the Heart) and tends to produce, but also strongly repress, anger (which harms the Liver).

SADNESS

The action of sadness initially occurs on the Lung and then follows a commitment of the Heart which with the Lung supports the Upper Heater. The loss of the joy of living leads to the weakening of the center understood as a vital nucleus, the source of life dries up and every psychological interest and every organic function is exhausted.

REFLECTION

Closing and blocking oneself expresses well the movement of obsessive thought and worry. Reflection from the center no longer moves towards action but remains closed in itself in a circular movement that does not allow the diffusion of Energy. The Spleen, the organ that supports digestion, assimilation, transformation and transport is oppressed. Thought loses elasticity and creative freedom becoming rigid, repetitive, concentrated, knotted, empty, obsessive, it is no longer aimed at understanding, researching or solving problems.

The Spleen, the organ that supports digestion, assimilation, transformation and transport is oppressed. Thought loses elasticity and creative freedom, becoming rigid, repetitive, concentrated, knotted, empty, obsessive, no longer aimed at understanding, researching or solving problems. One of the factors that favors obsession is too much mental work that tends to deprive the person of his or her rooting with the Earth. This is also a very common “pathology” in our society so centered on mental work not balanced by adequate physical activity and with very little contact with the earth.

WORRY

Apprehension, anxiety, thoughts and worries attack the Shen generating stagnation at the level of the Upper and Middle Heater, affecting the Spleen and Lungs. The Heart is immediately affected and, under the effect of fear and dread, also the Kidneys.

FEAR

Fear and dread are linked to the Kidney but also immediately destabilize the Heart. Fear causes the Qi to block in the Upper Heater which can no longer descend to the Middle Heater, the Energy no longer circulates. However, fear mainly affects the Lower Heater.

SHOCK

The entire organism remains so paralyzed that it also loses primary functions such as, for example, control of the sphincters. Panic (or terror) blocks the circulation of Qi and affects the Heart and the Kidneys (because the vital essence resides in the Kidneys). The symptoms are palpitations, insomnia, shortness of breath, sweating, dry mouth and tinnitus.

“The individual who wears a single mask in life to satisfy the expectations of his internal authorities, discovers on the stage a place where he can allow himself to transgress these norms.”
G. Gurdjieff

“Only he who fully understands the difficulty of awakening can understand that to awaken requires long and laborious work.”
G. Gurdjieff

“There are beings in the world outside who are deceived by the illusions of a life in constant motion. They flit with life and contribute to its unreality.”
Oscar Wilde

“To live is a rare thing in the world. Most people exist and nothing more.”
Oscar Wilde

“We are punished for what we deny ourselves: every impulse we try to strangle smolders in the mind and poisons us… the only way to free yourself from a temptation is to yield to it. Resist it, and your soul grows sick with longing for the things it has forbidden itself, with desire for what its monstrous laws have made monstrous and illicit. It has been said that the great events of the world take place in the mind. And it is in the mind, and there only, that the great sins of humanity are committed.”
From “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, Oscar Wilde

“Nature wants you to be healthy and fulfilled, and when you repress yourself, you repress something in yourself that comes out somewhere.”
Jodorowsky

“What you do not master ends up mastering you.”
Debbie Ford

“THE HEALING THOUGHT”

Remaining on the subject of vices, Dahlke and Dethlefsen in their book “Disease and Fate” highlight that illness is an expression of the fact that man is a sinner, guilty, in other words, sick. Illness is the microcosmic counterpart of original sin. These concepts, however, have absolutely nothing to do with the idea of punishment, but simply mean that man, as long as he participates in polarity, also participates in sin, illness and death. The moment one becomes aware of this situation, one is no longer disturbed by it. The body itself is not sick or healthy, it simply expresses the information of consciousness, of the psyche. If these are sick or lacking in something, they are induced to draw attention, producing what we call illnesses.

Illness is therefore information from the conscience that wants to point out its necessity, its need, and reveals it on the body which thus becomes its way of expression. Therefore, we must not limit ourselves to fighting it: we must understand it! To heal, we must transform the conscience, integrate what is missing, understand the deficiencies and fill them, only in this way can we arrive at true healing, which is physical, but above all psychic and spiritual. In other words, we must use the disease as a guide capable of revealing the real problems on an existential level: an ally therefore, a means to understand ourselves more deeply and promote our own evolutionary path, not an enemy.

At the center of every interpretation must be placed the language of the body and in particular that of the symptom. Since all human beings have symptoms, theirs is the most spoken language in the world. Although it is spoken perfectly by everyone, it is consciously understood by few and the more intellectual a person is, the more limited is, usually, their intuitive capacity for this type of language. Thus it happens that the so-called primitive peoples are far superior to us in this respect, just as children are superior to their parents.

The most important help of body language comes from its sincerity. It sometimes becomes unpleasant so modern man leaves no stone unturned and resorts to cosmetics, sunbathing and even surgery to give his skin a pleasant appearance. Sincere skin has therefore become the expression to designate gullible and naive people, who superficially and honestly expose every state of mind they have on their skin. A good therapist is able to “communicate through the skin, or rather through the patient’s skin resistance: all the games of disguise or hide-and-seek that its owner may have developed are foreign to it.”.[1]

Illnesses and symptoms are nothing more than messages sent by the body to a mind that refuses to understand the teachings of life.

The symbolic, psychosomatic interpretation of illnesses allows us to integrate their deep message at the level of consciousness, in this way we can eliminate the real cause of discomfort and the body can heal.

Conversely, if we eliminate only the effect of an internal imbalance, that is, the symptom, this is destined to reappear in the same organ or in another located deeper. The patient is thus personally involved, made a participant and responsible for the healing process that can only begin within him: he is in reality the only and authentic architect of his own therapy. This operation will require a lot of sincerity with himself and perhaps the renunciation of certain prejudices and acquired and therefore comfortable points of view.[2]

TAKING THE MASK OFF!

Illness is therefore not a pure accident, a casual disorder without a reason, but expresses repressed, feared and set aside aspects, the shadow, of one’s life. In order to be honest with oneself, it is essential that, once awareness has been acquired, one does not resist the message of the unconscious because everything of which one does not want to become aware, the body transforms into illness.

In 1920, the Romanian psychiatrist Jacob Levi Moreno discovered that by bringing their own internal drama (a pain, a difficult or conflictual relationship) “on stage”, as in a theater, people were able to bring out their suffering, emotions and things that were sometimes kept quiet even from themselves. This suffering was not simply transmitted with words, but with all the emotional charge truly felt in that precise moment and this had beneficial effects on the person. In Psychodrama, in fact, people can “return” to the painful episode and relive it. The fact of experiencing it again allows them to go inside themselves, shed light on their mental patterns, on their needs, on the reason for their behaviors and their pain, understand their emotions and free the negative ones that remained blocked.

Aristotle already in 350 BC he claimed that the purpose of tragedy is catharsis (purifying oneself, freeing oneself from pain) and about 50 years later Aristophanes was a precursor of Psychodrama: in the comedy “The Wasps” he tells of a son who, in order to cure his father of the obsessive mania of judging others, organizes with the help of the servants some stage fictions, sets up a court in the courtyard of the house to make the old man understand the social danger of his habit.

Jodorowsky’s psychomagic somehow takes up the therapeutic method developed by the Romanian psychiatrist.

Jododowsky has created a technique, Psychomagic or Théatre de la Guérison: with the help of the theatre, each character – actor stages his own drama. He does not see the actor as someone who plays a character, as a simple “repeater”, but a person who brings his own ‘secret’ to life, externalizes what he has inside: “You don’t go to the theatre to escape from yourself, but to re-establish contact with the mystery that we all are”. Only the theatre, used not as a means of distraction but as a tool for self- knowledge, allows us to work on the emotional suffering “to which civilization predisposes us”. The most powerful weapon of the human being is imagination. It is like a construction game, it is made up of words, emotions, desires, needs, sensations, perceptions, which we organize not only through rational consciousness but also with what is in our brain, which is what we call the unconscious. Imagination is a richer language than the limited oral language, it overcomes rational limits. Creativity goes beyond words. Imagination is creativity.

One of the problems of creativity is morality. (“Looking at oneself – in the sense of judging oneself – is dying” says Pirandello!)

To develop the imagination, it is necessary to be amoral. Morality chains the imagination. If we suffer, it is for lack of imagination, for lack of creativity.

“Without creativity – Jodorowsky emphasizes – the world works badly. I am sure that most illnesses derive from a lack of creativity and that the social problems present in the world are due to this deficiency. A creative person has no emotional limits, healing is here. Let’s start by loving things: art, people, let’s dedicate ourselves to creating and loving because the other attitude leads to doing nothing, to staying still. Creativity, on the contrary, pushes us to do what we have to do. And what you do, you project. And if you project it, you receive it. Everything you give to the world, the world gives it to you. Everything you don’t give to the world, the world doesn’t give it to you. It is necessary to free ourselves, thanks to creativity, from requests: when we are creative, we are not focused on asking for something, we build it ourselves. Creativity saved my life“.

I fully agree with Jodorowsky’s thoughts. This last statement, in particular, resonates with me enormously because it has certainly saved mine too.

In my own small way, I have been able to verify the beneficial effects of theatre on myself. I have never doubted its therapeutic value: it has helped me to have more confidence in myself, to overcome my resistance, it has strengthened my communication and relational skills. By “playing” to put myself on the line I have broken the routine, I have looked for new solutions to problems. The continuous research work has pushed me to try new paths, to see different alternatives, to try not to be obvious or banal, to change my point of view, and at the same time it has increased my self- esteem and given me the opportunity to “explore” creativity.

 WITH ONESELF

Knowing oneself means finding one’s Self, not the Ego, because the Self includes everything, while the Ego with its limitations constantly prevents knowledge of the Self, which is the whole.

 

[1] From “Disease language of the soul” by Dahlke

[2] From “Disease and destiny” by Dethlefsen and Dahlke