Yin Yoga and the Five Spirits

06/18/2023

As part of my assignment I painted a representation of the five spirits, but although I’m showing each of the spirits, the main character of this story is the Yi.

The story behind

In the spring of 2022 when I went back to my Acupuncturist, I wasn't feeling “in my body”, but feeling discomfort here and there after the hysterectomy. But more than being there to relieve the discomfort, I have decided to commit to go at least once a month as a self care practice.

Back then she told me, they removed your uterus, but the energy is still here and it is also affecting your spleen.

Later that year, I had a couple sessions in two other healing modalities. I had the feeling that my solar plexus chakra was out of balance, I felt like my personal power had been taken away; one of the practitioners mentioned my throat and the other the spleen, again. 

The word spleen became a clue, but I didn't know what to make of it. I place it on the back of my mind, and decide to allow my intuition to hold my hand into the journey. And it was while integrating this course that I realized, yes, it’s all about the spleen. 

It's been the Yi, the bridge, my missing link for so many years.

Years ago, Meditation became the most enjoyable and helpful practice for me, after a while I realize it was necessary for me to come down and work with the lower chakras, trauma, emotions and a more physical plane, so I basically went from the top of the mountain to the bottom, but I somehow skip the Yi. No wonder why it was so hard to find the connection. 

From our first journey to the temples, the Yi showed up for me every time, on color, shape or feeling, and of course learning about it, I could relate with everything on the list. But I could also relate with all of the spirits at different stages, or experiences in my life so far, so I decided to keep myself open to receive the information, and integrate before jumping to any conclusion. But I did start paying attention to all my unfinished to do lists, and celebrate my accomplishments no matter how little.  

The assignment

When I started thinking of my assignment, I knew art would be part of it, and thought I could maybe put together a workshop including yoga, meditation and art. 

Then one day I was at the table with a small white paper in front of me and I started painting. When finished, I looked at it, and thought, this is the Shen; what if I paint each of the spirits. 

I grabbed a bigger paper and started “working” just to realize that it wasn't coming together the same way, my mind had come in, and that big paper felt so daunting, that I stopped.

A couple days later I came again with the intention to allow my heart and intuition to guide me, without expectations or judgment, and with a small paper again. And it became all about the process and not the result; not about the perfect representation of the spirits but my own expression, my heart's song.

Last month, as I realized how songs have been showing up to be downloaded for the past couple years, (and I say songs and not poems because I just started singing them, in the shower, of course), I thought, I would share one with you, as part of this assignment. I'm not a singer, but I know in my heart that I need to sing.

So it has been connecting with the Yi, that I'm finding possible to manifest in the physical world, allowing my ideas, creativity and expression to come down with intention, slowly and steadily. 

Still a long way to go, but I’m excited to revisit each spirit and continue this journey.

They come down from the mountain
With wind and passion
With colored rivers in their mantles
They carry in their belly fire and creation
Holding in their hands the earth and the sorrow

All of them, walking in a spiral
That wraps around life and returns at the end.
All of them, walking in a spiral
That wraps around life and returns at the end.

Bajan del monte 
Con viento y pasiones
Llevando en sus mantos ríos de colores
Cargan en su vientre el fuego y creación 
Sostienen sus manos la tierra y dolor

Son todas, caminan en una espiral
Que envuelve la vida y regresa al final
Son todas, caminan en una espiral
Que envuelve la vida y regresa al final