Fate whispers to the warrior “You cannot withstand the storm” and the warrior whispers back “I am the storm”
– Author Unknown
In Chinese Medicine Theory, every season/channel/element is connected with a spirit. The spirit of the Kidney channel is called the zhi. As outlined in the Huang di Nei Jing, “The Spirit of the Kidneys, the zhi, rules the will, desire, ambition, and survival instinct.”
As with everything, there is a yin and yang aspect to our zhi. The yang component is the more active side, representing effort, determination, and willpower. It is the motivational facet of our ambition – the putting forth of effort to bring us to our goals. When our kidney yang is weak, it leaves us passive and unassertive. When it is overactive or forced, we easily burn out or deplete ourselves.
The yin aspect to our zhi represents something deeper inside of us. It is a persistent, unconscious drive that guides our choices on a more spiritual level, aligned with our higher purpose or fate. It is that little voice inside coaxing us gently in the right direction as it advocates for our inner truth. This more intangible part of our will is best accessed during self-reflection and meditation – activities encouraged during the winter season. When our kidney yin is weak, it causes a disturbance in this aspect of our spirit, inducing agitation, discontent, fear, and the inability to act.
When we can connect the yin and yang, focusing our efforts on answering to our true calling, our spirit is at peace. This requires the discipline to discover who we are at our core and the bravery to act congruently. By letting our instincts guide us, we can begin to align our actions with our inner awareness, bringing us closer to achieving our highest potential and living a more purposeful, fulfilling life.
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