Unlike the foot Yang channels, each of whom has its own distinct passages, the three Foot Yin channels overlap each other in many areas. On the legs, for instance, the Liver channel is found near the skin level; it is more superficial than the Spleen channel, and the Kidney channel is found closer to the bones; it is deeper than the Spleen channel.
Liver Wood is the most dynamic, active and aggressive phase. It likes to move around, overact on other energies and it does not like to be blocked; when it is blocked, it would simply go somewhere else or create a lot of stagnation (it sounds like how our emotions function, doesn’t it?). It makes sense that the Liver governs our emotional center, which includes 七情 the seven emotions. Each emotion affects a corresponding organ system.
Emotions are our reactions to our environments. They are our reflections of the world. Reflections, not the world itself.
As Zhuang Zi put it, different objects react to the wind differently, they make all kinds of different sounds and noises, depending on their specific textures, shapes and qualities.
In the Inner Passage Grand Master of Zhuang Zi, he pointed out that “the ancient true human does not feel pleased about living, does not detest death……whatever happens to them they accept it joyously, then they forget about the past and continue accepting them. Therefore they do not feel they represent justice of nature, and they do not assist the heaven with their humanly perspectives. Their heart is grounded, and their facial expression is tranquil, their facial gestures change with natural events in the environment and do not have fixed patterns.”
古之真人，不知說生，不知惡死；其出不訢，其入不距；翛然而往，翛然而來而已矣。不忘其所始，不求其所終；受而喜之，忘而復之。是之謂不以心捐道，不以人助天。是之謂真人。若然者，其心志，其容寂，其顙頯，淒然似秋，煖然似春，喜怒通四時，與物有宜，而莫知其極。
When we respond to the world with a lot of emotions, it indicates that there are certain internal structures within ourselves that disturb the smooth flows of our Liver Qi. We may think it is the world that disturbs us, but in fact it is our internal structures that cause such sadness, pain, mania, confusion, worrying thoughts, fears, etc. Emotions are mirrors for us to reflect on ourselves, not convenient tools for emotional blackmailing, finger pointing, victimhood and projections.
One’s ability to reflect on oneself is a sign of maturity and ultimate health at all levels. Emotions and pain teach us more than anything else and they guide us deeper into our existence.
Back to the main topic. When Liver Qi is stagnant, it loses its flexibility, becomes heavier, and often sinks into the Spleen layer and obstructs its Qi flow. This can be found on the right Guan position, which often has a wiry quality. In the long run, our prenatal Kidney Qi and Jing may also be affected, causing more serious conditions.
At this time of late autumn and beginning of winter, it is a perfect time for humans naked creatures 裸蟲 (since we don’t have heavy fur as other mammals do), to return to our inner center and inspect our internal structures for the best of our future.