The Winter Solstice of the Body

Thursday, June 25th 2009 @ 11:24 PM (not yet rated)    post viewed 1431 times

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Excerpt from a Winter Solstice Talk.

 

 

 

 

 

Good evening everybody, my name is Henri-noel Venturini and I am a Director of Balanced Energy Ltd. With my partner, Catherine Opie, I create and produce vibrational medicines, DNA activating mandala, facilitate workshops on holistic healing and have recently co-founded The Monshah College of Vibrational Medicine. We have founded Balanced Energy Ltd and Monshah College with the intent to further the understanding of vibrational medicine and holistic healing.

Today I have been invited to give a small talk at this winter solstice gathering, for Good Company Pacific, regarding our relationship & understanding of the Winter Solstice, and what part in our life it plays.

So what is the winter solstice and how can we relate to it, in this moment, on a physical level?

For many aeons beautiful lyrics have been song and wonderful stories have been told about the winter solstice, completing the picture in our minds of the importance of this moment in time. However, how does one embody this picture- how can we experience this event through the body, and not in the mind? In other words, can we be aware of our physical change as we move through the winter solstice?

The age old Celtic stories and songs talk about the meaning of the winter solstice. The festivities sing and dance around the celebration of the birth of the sun and the renewal of hope, the triumph of the life force. Trees were decorated with evergreens like the Holly and Ivy. The solstice ends the period of the dark, and heralds the first spark of the light.

In a more mundane sense (mundane meaning of the Earth), the Earth’s axis is tilted at the maximum level (approx 26 deg) and the Sun is on the lowest point on the horizon, the days are no longer getting shorter, from this point on the days are getting longer as the Earths’ axis begins to straighten and the Sun begins to lift off the horizon.

Having said that, let’s look at how eastern philosophies view this moment on a more physical level, by observing physical processes of the body. They use movement, breath & visualization to experience the passing of the solstice through Taiji, Qigong, meditation and healing sounds.



To start I will briefly bring you up to speed with the process of Five Element Theory which is the core of the T.C.M. theory.
The Five Elements divide the human experience into five groups. These elements act as maps that reflect levels of human function, including the anatomic and physical functioning of the organ systems. The levels of function range through behavior, psychological states, emotions and spiritual states.
The Five Elements include Wood (liver and gall bladder), Fire (heart, small intestine, pericardium and triple heater), Earth (spleen, stomach), Metal (lungs, colon), Water (kidneys, bladder).
To understand what these elements represent in man it is helpful to see each Element in relation to its seasonal correspondence.
The Wood element corresponds to spring; Fire corresponds to summer, Earth to late summer, and Metal to autumn and Water to winter.

The process that I am going to explain is called the nurturing cycle. This cycle’s primary function is to nurture and feed, each element supporting and nurturing the next.
To keep everything relative to the Winter Solstice I will talk about the relationship between the seasons and the Five Elements of Change. In particular I will focus on autumn, winter and spring.

1.    Autumn is represented by the element of Metal, the lungs, the white tiger and the spiritual position on the body is on the left side of the “dantien” (point just below navel).

2.    The winter is represented by the element of Water, the black turtle, and its spiritual position is supporting the dantien form below.

3.    Spring is represented by the element of Wood, the green dragon, and its spiritual position is on the right side of the dantien.

Here is the beginning of a picture that shows where the seasons live in the body and the nurturing cycle tells us that the Metal (autumn, lungs) feeds the Water (winter, kidneys), and that the Water feeds the Wood (spring, liver).

To translate this even further the lungs feed the kidneys and the kidneys the liver.

So where between the lungs, kidney, liver does the winter solstice live? (Remembering that the solstice is the point where the yin phase changes into the yang phase).

When we look at the body energetically, the kidneys are divided into a yin expression and a yang expression, hence the left kidney is related to the yin and the right related to the yang.

To further that, the left kidney is attributed the Original life force and the right kidney is attributed the Source life force.

The Original life force represents the sacred part of self just prior to birth, and synonymous with Original Nature. Since the body and the mind are undivided, it represents the nature of self as pure potential.

The Source life force is the manifestation outward circulation of pure potential.

Together they form kidney chi- the ability to convert potential (sacred spirit) to actual (one’s manifestation into daily life).

The point where this conversion takes place (or the winter solstice) is called the Ming-men. It is often called gate of life or to be accurate “The Proclamation Gate”. The Ming–men creates the alignment between mind and spirit so that spirit guides matter in life and not the other way around.

It is here, in the area of quiescence and non activity, that, the Original spiritual message encoded in our DNA. The message calls a person forth to be what they are, “a child of the heaven”.

After birth this message is transformed into a conscious acknowledgment and awareness of what that message is.

At winter solstice, the first spark of yang chi is born, and in keeping with the nurturing cycle (which tells us that Water feeds the Wood) the liver chi is replenished from the Water.
 
So what do we do next, now that we have this spark of yang energy in the middle of our kidneys?

What does this mean?
How can we apply this knowledge in our life here and now?

The Ming–men psycho-spiritual aspects are primarily concerned with holding a non active place for the Original chi to birth in.

Once the spark of yang manifests it rises into the heart where we can have knowledge and awareness of this moment, which is sometimes called shen (spirit of the heart). And this sparks the fire energy in the body as winter turns toward spring.

Photo: The first rays of the sun on winter solstice at Te Hapu, New Zealand.

Henri-noel Venturini and Catherine Opie run their B.E. healing clinics on Waiheke Island and in Downtown Auckland and can be contacted on 09 372 8751 or by email: info@balancedenergy.co.nz.
For more information about Balanced Energy Products and the Monshah College courses go to www.balancedenergy.co.nz

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The next step, Balanced Energy goes downtown.....

Tuesday, June 16th 2009 @ 9:21 PM (not yet rated)    post viewed 942 times

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We are absolutely thrilled to be announcing that Balanced Energy will now be offering our unique fusion of east-west well being therapies to Aucklanders with the opening of our downtown Auckland clinic;

"Level 4, Scene 1 Building, 2 Beach Road", Britomart, Auckland City.

We have been looking for about a year for somewhere which felt like the right place and now we have found it.

A modern, warm, sunny space in the heart of the city which is quiet and private. Easy for parking or for arriving by any type of public transport (ferry, bus or train) our clinic space is on the same floor as a fitness centre with swimming pool, gym and tennis court and a Day Spa. Everything you need to stay healthy and well this winter.

This is in addition to our gorgeous Waiheke Healing Studio which is open for sessions as usual.

As a gift to celebrate this momentous event we are offering all clients mentioning this blog, who book and pay for a full Balanced Energy healing session in the months of June and July, a complementary 30ml bottle of Balanced Energy essences (rrp$44.00).

Contact us now to take advantage of this opportunity on 09 372 8751 or email info@balancedenergy.co.nz.

Also watch this space for information on our clinic opening celebration at the beginning of July- juicy drinks, delicious nibbles and a short presentation on Five Ways to Fire Your Energy This Winter.

If you would like to be sent a personal invitation to our opening please contact us on 09 372 8751 or email info@balancedenergy.co.nz

"With life as short as a half taken breath, don't plant anything but love." Rumi

We look forward to seeing you downtown.

Blessings

Catherine and Henri

Henri Venturini and Catherine Opie
Have 20 years experience in natural health both here in New Zealand and internationally.

They each create the perfect session for you as an individual by combining gentle postural alignment and their knowledge in Tai Chi, Qigong, Yoga, Dance and Martial Arts to bring the body into balance, with Vibrational Medicines, energy healing techniques, sound and colour healing for your mind and energy.

Henri is a Martial Arts, Tai Chi and Qigong teacher a Tai Chi weapons master and a coach to Olympic level. He is also an accomplished energy healer and auric balancer. Henri set up Balanced Energy Studios in the Blue Mountains in Australia for some years before moving to New Zealand.

Catherine has a Diploma in Vibrational Medicine and is a registered Gaia healing teacher. She trained in London and has run clinics for over 13 years in the UK and NZ. She is also an experienced dancer, trapeze artist and yoga practitioner.

Their Waiheke based company, Balanced Energy Ltd, produces natural products and training for the international Spa and wellbeing market.

Contact:

09 372 8751/ 027 305 6534
info@balancedenergy.co.nz
www.balancedenergy.co.nz

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From Thaihape to Thailand by Henri Venturini

Monday, June 1st 2009 @ 10:19 PM (not yet rated)    post viewed 726 times

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Learning to live is learning to let go- Sogyal Rinpoche

My journey through Thailand was a beautiful eye opener.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What struck me about the Thai people is that they focus very much on what they have rather than what they don't have.
The place is very populated (around 60 million) and the air seems quite smoggy. Probably mostly from open fires and dust.
However I was stunned at the abundant plant, bird and animal life that I saw around me in Phuket and Hua Hin.
Spirituality is very much still a major part of life in Thailand and being there reminded me that there is a great need to give thanks for everything we have.

The western culture that I come from really has forgotten this to a certain extent because we are taught to look for waht is not right or what we don't have.
Forgetting to see what we do have.
This is the key, looking for the beauty in life.

I had a very busy time, Catherine had booked me a tight itinerary and both Jocelyn Pederson from Six Senses and Dr. Buathon Thienarrom from Sukkasart Institute of Healing Arts made sure that my time was used to the best of my ability.

First stop was the Evason Six Senses Phuket for training on Balanced Energy products with Therapists and Spa Directors from 10 of the Six Senses Spas.

From the moment I arrived and checked into my room the feeling I had was one of leisure and beauty. My spacious room and the general atmosphere of the place was very relaxing after 3 long flights.
The Evason Six Senses Phuket is on the site of one of the oldest resorts at Phuket and emphasis is on sustainability through the use of local produce, labour and materials in a stylish way without compromising the luxury aspect of the resort.

It was my absolute joy to be training therapists of such a high calibre and the four days went very quickly.
I learnt to listen very closely to what they wanted from us in terms of information and the types of products we need to provide them with, and let go of the planned agenda a little to pursue exciting avenues presented to me by the trainees.

I had a small amount of time to explore and some of the trainees took me out to a traditional Thai restaurant where locals go to eat and to Wat Chalong, Phuket's most important Buddhist temple revered for its healing powers.
The central monk in the photo Luang Por Chaen was involved with mediation for peace during the rebellion of Chinese tin miners in 1876 .
He was also a healer and herbalist and looked after the casualties from the rebellion setting bones and healing wounds, he is considered to be a very important presence in the temple.

Next stop: Hua Hin via Bangkok to stay at the My Way Hua Hin,a popular hotel with Thai holiday makers- clean, cute with good service.
Hua Hin is the residence of the Royal Family and there is also a large kickboxing stadium there. It is very tourist oriented and is very clean and tidy.
I had a seminar in the evening on the day I arrived at the Sukkasart Institute of Healing Arts.

Even though it had been very short notice advertising this, Dr. Buathon Thienarrom, the founder, had rustled up 25 people for the evening and I had a great time in the balmy heat of Hua Hin presenting Balanced Energy products and Philosophy. There were many therapists and doctors in the audience and many interesting questions were posed.
Which led me into a discussion on what is most important in the doctor/therapist and patient exchange....patient or practitioner?

This is a very interesting subject; currently in the exchange between the client and the practitioner the the practitioner dictates what remedies are to be taken, what type of client he/she sees and what the outcome is, so it is really more about the practitioner's needs and not the clients'. I posed a question on how can the practitioner remove themselves from the picture enough to make the clients needs the main focus?

The next four days Dr Buathon kept me very busy seeing clients for healing sessions and showing me around the locality, I felt very well looked after indeed.
I had a bout of uncomfortable digestion which slowed me down a bit but didn't stop me from enjoying my time there.

I saw the monkey temple south of Hua Hin which has an interesting deity with many heads and arms which guards the area from the ocean.

The Big Buddha Temple- Wat Huay Mongkol with a very impressive statue.

And Buathon took me to see the place where a Bhuddist priest teaches from and out into the surrounding countryside which was very lush, very green especially in the mountains.

After my very whirlwind tour I flew out from Bangkok back to New Zealand feeling enchanted by the whole place and eager to return to see more.
The deeply Buddhist atmosphere of Thailand had saturated my being and I felt recharged even though I was tired from my busy schedule.

It had been a very successful trip for both me and Balanced Energy and I learnt a huge amount about the Spa industry in Thailand.
Primarily that Spas are not necessarily about total health and wellbeing but really based around our need to be pampered and how we can speak to this need to bring people around to picking up things which do focus on wellbeing at a deeper level-
this is the next step for these places.

Next: from Thailand to Thaihape the lessons continue......

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