Spiritual Meaning Of Breast Pain

We all have times in our life when we need a little boost. A little energy to help us push through and make it to the other side. It might not just be one situation, but a series of things that pile on top of each other and make you feel like you’re drowning. You wonder if there is any way out, or if it will ever get better. There is always a bright side though. There’s always something else on the horizon. Here you can find information about Spiritual meaning breast pain . Good luck!

The spiritual meaning of breast pain is not merely restricted to its physical or health related issues. It can mean a lot more than that. Often individuals with breast pain struggle with emotional conflicts within themselves and this leads to the distress that is being felt in the breast area.

Many women experience breast pain and don’t know what it’s from or why it happens. It can be extremely frustrating to suffer in silence, without knowing whether you’re under any serious threat or if you’re just experiencing a simple ache. This article will educate you about the spiritual meaning of breast pain, as well as provide you with some helpful tips if you find yourself suffering from physical discomfort of this kind.

What Emotions Are Stored in The Breasts

The left breast is thought to be connected to the heart and emotions in many cultures. It is also believed that the left side of the body possesses feminine, intuitive, and receptive qualities. For this reason, it is thought that a woman’s emotional and intuitive elements are associated with her left breast. The left breast is important, and many spiritual practices and belief systems acknowledge its connection to our innermost selves.

Pain in the left breast and emotional instability
An emotional imbalance is among the most prevalent spiritual interpretations of left breast pain. This can be the result of suppressed feelings that need to be released or unresolved emotional problems. For instance, left breast pain may appear if you are under a lot of stress or anxiety in your life. Similarly, this could hurt this area if you are grieving or experiencing loss.

Pain in the Left Breast and Feeling
The left breast is associated with psychic and intuitive talents. If you experience pain in this area, you might need to follow your gut feeling and pay attention to your inner guidance. This could entail paying more attention to your dreams or gaining life insights through divination with instruments like pendulums or tarot cards. Gaining confidence in your intuition might help you make wiser choices and get through life more easily.

Breast problems are frequently a symbol of an unwillingness to take care of and nourish oneself. Women frequently store their emotional distress, including hurt, grief, broken hearts, remorse, and depression, in their breasts. They have a keen sense of both our internal and exterior surroundings, as well as our relationships with others and ourselves. According to Caroline Myss, “hurt, sorrow, and unresolved emotional business generally related to nurturance are the major emotions behind breast lumps and breast cancer.”

Anger toward oneself or other people for not being able to forgive themself frequently stops the breast’s activity. The heart chakra, which stands for the true self and the soul’s heart, is adjacent to the breasts. This region of the body stores emotions energetically, such as regret and the “broken heart.”

Receiving a diagnosis of any form of illness is a call to action. It’s an invitation to connect with your body, pay attention to what it’s telling you, and find out what it needs. Consider this as a chance for growth and reconciliation. Discover more about who you are. The majority of us were never instructed on how to use our intuition and provide our bodies with the nutrition they require on a physical, emotional, and spiritual level. This is your opportunity.

Herbs that aid in breast support:

Dandelion root and leaf

viola leaf

Ginger

Shatavari

Thistle of milk

docile

According to studies, a woman’s response to significant emotional losses—like divorce, the death of a loved one, or losing her job—may pave the way for cancer. The issue is not in the loss itself, but rather in the incapacity to completely express and let go of one’s grief and react to events in a way that is both healthy and adaptive. Christiane Northrup, M.D.

Every thought is captured by your body.Your immune cells are aware of your innermost emotions.

Knowing which organ a particular emotion corresponds to can help you pay closer attention to that organ when navigating it. For instance, if you’re having a lot of rage, you can take herbs that assist detoxify and cleanse the liver and apply a castor oil pack to the liver to help relieve any congestion. This will support you in managing your emotions as well as your physical wellness.

Anger is a common problem for many heavy drinkers or alcoholics. Anger frequently results from heavy alcohol drinking because it congests the liver.

What matters is how we deal with and manage our emotions. You want to experience all of your feelings, let them out, and react to the circumstances as they suit you. Post-mortem physical symptoms of illness are the sole outcome of ignoring or avoiding our emotions.

Meaning Of Breast Pain

If you have ever had breast pain, you know that it can be very uncomfortable and distracting. You might even feel like it is taking over your life. But what does the spiritual meaning of breast pain mean? One thing to keep in mind is that this type of pain often comes from a place deep within us, and it may be a way for us to work through some issues in our lives.

Some people believe that if a woman experiences pain in her breast area, she is being told to take care of herself better. If you are experiencing this kind of discomfort, then perhaps it is time for you to take some time for yourself and focus on those things that make you happy: whether that means spending more time with friends or family members, or even finding hobbies that bring joy into your life!

It can also mean that there are things going on around you that need attention. Paying attention to what others say and do will help you figure out where the problem lies so that it can be resolved quickly.

The spiritual meaning of breast pain is that you are feeling an internal shift. Your body is trying to tell you that something needs to change, and it’s time for you to listen!

When we’re feeling pain in our breasts, it’s usually because we’re holding on to something that no longer serves us. Maybe you’ve been dating someone who doesn’t treat you well, or maybe it’s a job that has become too much for you. Whatever the case may be, your body is telling you that it’s time for a change.

The best way to deal with this kind of spiritual discomfort is by facing what’s going on in your life head on. Take a step back and reflect on what’s going on around you—are there any relationships that need improving? Are there any changes at work or home? Do you have any unfinished business with people from your past?

Once you’ve identified the root cause of the problem, it’s time to make some decisions about what comes next: do you want to stay where/who/how things are right now? Or do you need a change? When faced with these kinds of questions, it can be tempting to avoid answering them because they’re so scary or difficult.

Breast pain, or mastalgia, is very common. It has many possible causes, including hormonal changes, an incorrect bra fit, and infections. In some cases, it is due to referred pain that comes from other areas of the body, such as the back or neck.

Pain in the breast affects approximately two-thirds of females during their reproductive years, and it is one of the most frequent complaints of those aged 15–40 years.

Breast pain is not commonly a symptom of breast cancer, but if a person has pain alongside other breast changes, such as a lump or discharge, they should speak with a doctor.

Keep reading to learn more about some of the possible causes of breast pain and get tips on how to manage this symptom.

Spiritual Meaning Of Tender Breasts

1. Hormonal changes

Tender or swollen breasts are usually related to the hormonal changes that take place before a period. This type of breast pain usually causes tenderness in both breasts, and it may extend to the armpit.

When breast pain is related to the menstrual cycle, it is known as cyclic breast pain. Cyclic breast pain can be part of a set of symptoms that occur before a period, known as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), or it may occur on its own.

Other symptoms of PMS include

mood swings
acne
headaches
bloating
diarrhea or constipation
tiredness
trouble sleeping

PMS is temporary, and it usually goes away several days after a period begins. In the meantime, people can treat the symptoms by taking over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, wearing a comfortable and supportive bra, and using gentle heat to soothe the pain.

Breast pain can also occur due to other hormonal changes, such as those that take place during pregnancy or in the first stage of menopause.

2. Bra fit

Bras can cause breast pain if they are too tight or they contain an underwire that digs into the skin or breast tissue. If a person gets cyclic breast pain, they may also find that at certain times in their menstrual cycle, their usual bras feel too small or are uncomfortable.

People can get a bra fitting for free at many department stores to find the right size for them. They may wish to purchase non-wired, supportive, and comfortable bras if they experience soreness before their period.

Supportive bras can also help when exercising. According to a 2021 article, 60–70% of women report less breast pain when they wear a sports bra during exercise.

3. Fibrocystic breast changes

Fibrocystic breast changes are harmless but potentially uncomfortable symptoms that cause the breasts to feel lumpy or otherwise different in texture due to hormonal fluctuations. Fibrocystic breast disease is the most common type of noncancerous breast condition.

The symptoms may include:

breasts that feel firmer or thicker than usual
tenderness
lumps or cysts
sensitive nipples
itchiness

The symptoms may get worse before a period, and they will usually stop after menopause.

The treatment or management of fibrocystic breasts may involve:

taking OTC pain medication, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil)
applying cool or warm compresses when the breasts are more painful
avoiding a large intake of salt, caffeine, or fat in the diet
starting or stopping birth control pills

If fibrocystic breast changes may be related to a new contraceptive, it is important to speak with a doctor before making any changes to the dosage.

4. Mastitis

Mastitis is the term for inflammation or swelling in the breasts. The usual cause is an infection. Although the condition most often affects those who are breastfeeding, it can occur in people who are not.

The symptoms of mastitis include:

swelling, pain, and warmth in part of the breast
fever
headaches
general flu-like symptoms

The treatment for an infection is antibiotics. A person who is breastfeeding will also need to empty the breasts of milk. If an abscess is present, doctors will drain the pus surgically or remove it with a needle.

5. Medications

Some medications can contribute to the development of breast pain. These include:

digitalis preparations, such as digoxin (Digox), which treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythm
chlorpromazine (Thorazine), a medication for mental health disorders
certain potassium-sparing diuretics, such as eplerenone (Inspra) or spironolactone (Aldactone)
oxymetholone (Anadrol), which treats low red blood cell count
methyldopa (Aldomet), which is a treatment for high blood pressure

People with breast pain should speak with a doctor to find out whether any of their medications could be causing their symptoms.

6. Scar tissue

Both surgery and radiation therapy for breast cancer can cause scar tissue formation. This can result in:

numbness or pain, if the scar tissue develops around nerves
an increase in firmness or a rounder appearance of the breast
formation of a lump if the scar forms around a surgical stitch

Treatment options include:

physical therapy, if the scar tissue causes pain, stiffness, and pressure
surgical removal of scar tissue, if it is very painful
use of creams and ointments to lessen the appearance of scars, if a person finds them bothersome

7. Back, neck, or shoulder sprains

Breast pain can originate from outside the breast, rather than within it. For example, sprains or injuries in the back, neck, or shoulder might cause pain that a person feels in the breast.

A 2020 study notes that cervical root disorders, which people sometimes refer to as a pinched nerve, can cause breast pain. These disorders involve damage to or inflammation of a nerve root in the neck.

When people perceive pain in a broader area than the site where it originates, this is known as referred pain. The treatment relies on finding the underlying problem. For example, if a person with breast pain has a pinched nerve, physical therapy or spinal surgery for the pinched nerve may improve the breast pain.

8. Costochondritis

Costochondritis is inflammation of the costal cartilage, which connects the ribs to the breastbone. The condition can cause sharp chest pain and tenderness, and it may have a gradual or sudden onset.

The following factors may worsen the pain:

pressure on the chest, such as when wearing a seat belt
physical activity
sitting or lying in particular positions
deep breathing, sneezing, or coughing

Treatment may include:

avoiding activities that worsen the pain
applying heat to the area
taking one of the following medications:
- Tylenol
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Advil
- aspirin, if older than 16 years
- corticosteroid injections, such as triamcinolone (Kenalog)
undergoing transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a procedure that applies an electric current to an area to reduce pain

9. Chest wall pain

A range of conditions can cause pain in the wall of the chest. This pain can sometimes feel as though it is coming from the breast, even though it is not.

The pain can vary in extent, ranging from one specific area to a wide area of the breast. A person may experience:

burning or sharp pain
pain that spreads down the arm
pain that occurs when someone applies pressure to the chest wall
pain that worsens upon movement

Possible causes include:

bruising
fractured ribs
gallstones
angina
autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis

The treatment will vary based on the cause, but it may involve pain management and avoiding movements that make the pain worse until the root cause has improved.

10. Breast cysts

Breast cysts are fluid-filled sacs. They are noncancerous, relatively soft, and more common in premenopausal females. Some cysts do not produce symptoms, but others may cause pain and nipple discharge.

Unless the cysts are particularly large or painful, they do not need treatment. If treatment is necessary, it involves draining the fluid out with a needle.

11. Breast cancer

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the breast mutate and begin growing uncontrollably. Pain in the breast is not usually due to cancer, but this is a possible cause. Other symptoms may include:

a lump in the breast
pain in any part of the breast
any nipple discharge — bloody, clear, or otherwise
dimpling or irritation of breast skin
pulling in at the nipple or pain in the nipple
flaky, inflamed skin in the nipple area
thickening or swelling of part of the breast
change in the shape or size of the breast

Rarely, people can develop inflammatory breast cancer, which causes different symptoms. These include:

a painful, tender, or itchy breast
pink, red, or purple discoloration that covers at least one-third of the breast
swelling of the skin, making one breast look larger than the other
pitting of the skin, similar to that of orange peel
a retracted or inverted nipple

The treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, radiation therapy, and biologic therapy. People will often receive more than one of these treatments.

Cyclic vs. noncyclic pain

Cyclic pain, which is related to the menstrual cycle, and noncyclic pain have some key differences. The following table compares and contrasts the two types of pain:

Cyclic pain	Noncyclic pain
varies with hormones in the menstrual cycle	does not vary with the menstrual cycle
common among females in their 20s, 30s, and 40s	more common after menopause
generally affects both breasts equally	tends to affect one or more localized areas of one breast
may occur alongside tenderness, swelling, or lumpiness	pain often feels sharp and burning

If a person has cyclic pain, but the pain is worse in one breast than the other, hormones may not be the only cause.

It can help to keep a symptom diary to determine whether pain is cyclic. Alternatively, people can use apps that track menstruation and its associated symptoms to see whether there is a pattern.

In a symptom diary, it can be helpful to assign a numerical value to the pain intensity every day throughout one or more menstrual cycles. If the pain occurs or increases at the same times during each cycle, it may be cyclic. People can share this information with a doctor during an appointment.

Managing breast pain

People can take various steps to relieve the pain of mastalgia. These include:

wearing a supportive bra that fits well
taking OTC pain medications
limiting the intake of chocolate, coffee, tea, and soft drinks
applying hot or cold compresses to the breasts
getting regular exercise
engaging in relaxation methods to reduce stress, anxiety, and tension

It is advisable to speak with a healthcare professional before trying self-care techniques to ensure that they are appropriate. In certain circumstances, medical intervention may be necessary.

Summary

There are multiple possible causes of breast pain, or mastalgia. This symptom may be cyclic or noncyclic. If the pain is cyclic, it is related to the fluctuating hormones of the menstrual cycle.

Noncyclic breast pain can be due to PMS, fibrocystic breast changes, injuries and sprains, or inflammation around the ribs. Sometimes, cysts or infections are responsible for this symptom.

Although breast cancer is not usually a cause of breast pain, anyone with this symptom should consult a doctor to rule out this condition.

Physical Pains And Their Metaphysical Meanings

Everything on the Physical plane is a manifestation of something on the Metaphysical plane. When we speak of abundance, what we are really talking about is an abundance of emotional, mental and spiritual energy. We fill ourselves to the brim with these energies and it is the overflow that is manifest on the physical plane.

The signs and symptoms that are apparent on the Physical plane lead us to inquire, ultimately, more deeply into ourselves as energetic and spiritual beings.

We tend not to worry too much about this sort of thing when our body is working well, we are not feeling pain, or we are not in the throes of some chronic disease. But when our body feels pain or becomes disabled by disease or accident we tend to start reaching out for answers. We want to know why. Or maybe we don’t even want to know why we just want to fix something we perceive is broken.

Realistically, when our body refuses to do what we want it to, metaphysically, it is not actually broken. It is doing its job. One of its functions is to carry messages from the higher energetic planes to us. It is then up to us to interpret these messages and take action.

Western medicine takes the position that we feel pain because we can. Western approaches to pain, as the main symptom of any disease, are pretty much limited to drugs and surgery. Treatment consists of numbing or diverting pain receptors in the body or cutting off the offending organ. While this approach does have its place in acute situations, it is at best a temporary and often harmful way to approach pain or other disharmonies we feel in our bodies. Most often, western medicine has little to offer most of us and incredibly makes us wait until our symptoms become unbearably acute before it can even acknowledge a disharmony.

The trend today, as much for economic reasons, as for reasons of spirit and human development is to encourage people to take responsibility for their own lives. This is the approach of ancient wisdom. We use our bodies to communicate with our selves and with others. We use our bodies to work out emotional, mental and spiritual questions. While we do tend to judge a diseased body negatively, there really is no right or wrong about it.

The ancient Taoists theorized that good and bad, right and wrong, yin and yang, were just different points of view that we all adopt at one time or another. Because the earth plane is dualistic in nature we all view, at one time or another from both the Yin and the Yang ends of the telescope. There does not seem to be a point in judging one good and one bad or judging one good and one evil. These just are the symptoms of being human.

Still, there is such a thing as being well, and there is such a thing as being sick. When we get sick we tend to want to do something about it.

Enter the healer.

A healer is trained in the observation and interpretation of signs and symptoms, and in methods for dealing with them.

Holistic Healing of the individual occurs at different energetic levels. These are the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual levels. For those on the path, there are a great many more levels and sublevels identified in various cultural, religious and philosophical traditions. But for our purposes we can look at the individual in these four broad realms to at least begin the process of healing.

Healing by the way occurs not only at the individual level, but also at the family, community and global level. When one heals ‘mindfully’, as the Buddhists say, these other aspects of individual healing may become apparent.

There are healers operating today at all these levels. Still, a good place to begin is in the individual body. With this in mind, the following is a list of physical symptoms and the metaphysical disharmonies they may reflect.

Louise Hay, in her book, ‘You Can Heal Your Life,’ has done some interesting work in this area. I use her book occasionally in my Reiki II work. Other references are; Traditional Chinese Medicine diagnostic principals, my own Reiki teacher, Denise Crundall, and my own experience.

Please note that these are only general observations, serving hopefully to illuminate areas that you can look at more closely in yourself or with the help of a healer. You are the one who knows you best. As you go through these observations, try to expand your awareness beyond your own life to see also how these disharmonies are reflected in your own family, community, country and in the world. Ultimately it is our own choice to heal or not to heal and it is our own innate healing ability that is activated.

Head

Headaches; Pain always indicates a separation of some sort from something. Usually we say separation from what is the Truth. The greater the pain the more important that something is. Depending on which part of the head is afflicted the meaning changes. Louise Hay suggests that Headaches indicate invalidating the Self out of Fear. In Chinese Medicine there are several different kinds of headaches according to the quality of the pain and the location on the head. Read on.

Vertex; The top of the head is associated with our connection to the Universe or God. Pain here is associated with separation from that higher power. It is also associated with the Kidneys and the emotion is Fear. Both the Gallbladder and Urinary Bladder channels traverse the top of the head. The Gallbladder is associated with Courage, and the Urinary Bladder through its associate with the Kidneys is associated with Fear. Du 20 (Baihui) located at the top of the head is used extensively to ‘calm the spirit’ in Chinese Medicine.

Forehead; The forehead is associated with the 3rd eye, both in Chakra Theory and Traditional Chinese Medical theory. The 3rd eye is associated with introspection and illumination of your own Inner Being. Pain here is associated with separation from your own Inner Being. In Chinese Medicine, Yintang, which is located midway between the inner ends of the eyebrows, Du 23 (Shangxing), Du 24 ( Shenting) which are located at the hairline directly above Yintang and Du 20 (Baihui) located at the top of the head, all have the action of ‘calming the spirit.’ Yintang is associated with the eyes; not only the eyes that look outward but the eyes that look inward and is indicated in some emotional disorders.

Temporal; The sides of the head are associated with courage, especially courage to face your world. Migraine Headaches, usually located in the front quadrants, right or left, indicates a separation from your world. The involvement of the eyes in Migraines indicate not only an unwillingness to look without, but to look within. Most Migraine sufferers report, not only severe pain behind the eye, but also acute sensitivity to light. In Chinese Medicine, a number of Meridians run through this area. The Gallbladder Channel is associated with courage. The San Jiao channel is involved with processing of water (the elixir of Life), and the Small Intestine Channel is involved with deriving nourishment from the world. Both the San Jiao Channel and the Small Intestine Channel are connected to the Heart, whose emotion is Joy and where the Mind is located. Lack of Joy (with one’s self) is strongly indicated by pain in this area. There is also Anger indicated by the Gallbladder channel’s link with the Liver.

Occipital; The back of the head represents your past. Some say also this is an area of spirituality. Pain here represents something in your past that is not complete and remains unforgiven. The back of the head is traversed by the Gallbladder Channel and the Urinary Bladder Channels indicating Anger born of Fear. The Back of the Head is thought to be the seat of Spiritual Experiences. The only way to see them is through inner sight. Pain in the back of the head represents an unwillingness to look deep within for the source of Light & Truth.

Back

Spine; The Spine Represents the support you think you have in Life and your alignment with those supportive forces. Curved spine, or Scoliosis represents a misalignment with Life. Spasms represent an unwillingness to accept the support that is there.

Shoulders; Shoulders represent burdens and responsibilities. Frozen Shoulder for example represents a complete unwillingness to shoulder your responsibilities in Life, especially your own Life. Pain and dysfunction to varying degrees represents varying degrees of unwillingness to be responsible. Moving forward in Life sometimes requires that you ‘put your shoulder to the wheel’ to overcome inertia. the Gallbladder channel traverses the shoulders and indicates Courage ( or lack of…).

The back, in Chinese Medicine, is considered to be your Yang side; the active, aggressive, lighted side. The back also represents that which is behind you. Very often we do not see clearly that which is behind us. Back problems generally represent conflict between the urge to move forward and the inertia of an unforgiven past that holds us back. This tension very often separates us from both and pain is the result. Louse Hay suggests that backs generally represent support.

Mid back; The mid back is the link between the shoulder and the lower back. It can be a weak link. As we firm up our shoulders and become willing to take on the responsibilities of Life, and we have gathered around us the financial and emotional support we need (lower back), something sneaks up and stabs us in the back. This is a blind spot. Not only can we not see it, but is very difficult to reach. The weak link crumbles. It is the saboteur or seducer that takes us off our path. Located in this area are the Tonification points (called ‘Shu’ points) for the Liver, the Stomach, and the Spleen. These organs are responsible for the transformation and transportation of Qi, and the free flow of Qi in the body. Blockages here affect the entire body and can stop you dead in your tracks. The Spleen represents Worry or Overthinking and the Liver represents Anger or base emotions. Both of these can sabotage even the best laid plans. Louse Hay suggests that the mid-back represents Guilt and stuck in the past stuff.

Lower Back; The Lower Back represents support; financial support, emotional support of family and friends, and support of God or the Universe. The Kidneys are located in this area and Kidney dysfunction results in Fear/Fright/Phobias. A sore lower back may indicate that we have taken on more than we think we can handle. This is a dysfunction, only if it is not the Truth. If we have indeed taken on too much, that would be indicated by a physical trauma to the back and all we need to do is lighten the load. Chronic low back ache, though, not associated with any trauma is the one with the Metaphysical application, and the one related to Kidney depletion. Kidneys are considered to have a central function relative to other organs since it is where Yuan Qi or our Primary Essence is stored. Yuan Qi is also known as Primary Qi or Congenital Qi. It is the Qi you are born with and determines your relative strength in the world. It is considered to be quite difficult to strengthen an already weak Yuan Qi, but it can be done. Low back pain is often diminished by strengthening the Kidneys. In short, Low back pain, generally refers to a lack of trust in the Universe to protect and support. Louise Hay suggests Fear of money is indicated.

Coccyx; The Coccyx/Sacrum is the seat of Self-pity. There is a fear of asking for help. One would rather sit and feel sorry for one’s self than get of one’s ass and do something.

Legs

Hips; Hips represent decisions in Life, especially decisions about moving forward. Pain in the hips is a sign of being ‘stuck’, unable to make a decision, or see clearly what is needed to be done next. The process of walking requires that we first thrust the hip forward and the leg etc. follows. This is actually, an act of faith on our part, since we are quite literally initiating a fall to the ground and trusting that our legs will save us. The Gallbladder Channel traverses the hip which again represents Courage and confidence to move forward. Louise Hay suggests that hip problems represent fear of going forward with major decisions. Hips represent the idea that the next step in your life is important. Pain or discomfort advises you to slow down or stop, look around, buy a map, or ask someone for directions.

Upper Thighs; Thighs are the link between the Hips & decisions, and the Knees & pride. Very often, when we have made a decision and take the next step, Pride gets in the way. “What if I look stupid? What if it’s not right? What if it doesn’t work out?” Our knees lock up or turn to jelly, and we are prevented from moving forward. The pain that begins in the Hips and shoots down the Thigh (Sciatic Nerve), is the separation from our desire and decision to move forward and our Fear of falling flat on our ass. Louse Hay suggests that Upper Thigh problems represent retaining childhood trauma.

Knees; Knees represent Pride. In spiritual practice it is suggested that one must go down before one can rise up, as Jesus did before John the Baptist, before taking up his own ministry. Pride or Ego keeps us from surrendering to the Will of God or the Universe. In practice, every time we move forward in Life or approach change, we approach the unknown. We may feel vulnerable or unsure. We may stand still, stiff kneed resisting the winds of change. It is interesting to note that stiff, sore knees are a symptom of Kidney deficiency, whose emotion is Fear. Rather than admit our fear, we resist it until it overwhelms us. While knees represent Pride, and it is said that ‘Pride goes before the fall’, knees can also represent Humility which is the wisdom to be yielding in the face of change.

Briefly, Knee problems may be said to indicate being stuck in the Ego, too proud to bend. Louise Hay also suggests that Knees represent Pride and the Ego.

Shins; The Shins represent another weak link. Although the Shins are mostly bone, the hardest substance in the body, the Shins are actually quite sensitive and brittle. A slight whack on the Shins is not only painful, it weakens the entire body and stops it cold. When we have organized ourselves to move forward, to take the next step towards the goal we have set, and are in the process of taking it, something comes along and sends you tumbling. It is something we trip over because we don’t see it, even though it is right there in front of us. In ancient times the shin pads that worriers wore were called greaves. Very often what trips us up is something, the loss of which we haven’t properly grieved. Moving forward always means something gets left behind. Interesting to note is that the three Yin channels of the foot all criss cross at Spleen 6 (Sanyinjiao), representing a confluence of Worry, Anger, and Fear. Moving forward is often marked by a jumble of emotional responses which need to be sorted out, especially if we are resisting it. Louise Hay suggests that problems are fear of the future; not wanting to move ahead.

Ankles; Ankles represent flexibility, which is important as one navigates the twists and turns of Life. Stiff, painful ankles means that change is difficult for you. Maybe you are one who digs in your heels and resists moving forward. The more Life forces change upon you, the deeper you dig in. A broken ankle is a good sign to develop some flexibility in your Life. Louise Hay suggests that ankles represent mobility and direction.

Feet; Our feet represent our connection with Mother Earth. Sore, swollen, numb or painful feet represent the state of our relation with our Mother. Mother Earth, and our base energies. While it is legs that carry us forward into Life, it is the feet that actually make contact with the ground and can stop any advance, or at least make it difficult. In modern society with its asphalt, concrete and High Rises, we lose touch with the Earth and its energies. This may be reflected in our relationship to the one who gave birth to us. Separation can cause real pain.

All the Leg Yin & Yang channels meet and flow into each other in the toes. This is an area of high energy and strong effect on the body. This is an area where strong energies are in transition, so our contact with Mothers, Mother Earth and our base energies is always ambivalent. We want to draw closer to that love, but at the same time move away on our own course.

In my experience, the feet often store toxic energies (as often to do with grief or resentments as not), as far away from the Heart as possible. This means, in the feet. Often, these are issues that go all the way back to childhood. Lacking the tools to effectively release grief or resentment the body stores it, like it stores fat. Over time, more and more toxic energies are stored here and fill up the receptacle. In many cases, the entire leg can become involved and the waste starts leaking back into the system. This is a very serious situation indeed, that can lead to amputations, blood disorders and even death, as the body struggles to protect the Heart. Metaphysically, it becomes clear that the space you are standing in is painful. The key is to move on. Stop dwelling on the past, release or transform whatever it is that keeps you emotionally standing still. Louise Hay suggests that feet represent our understanding of ourselves, of Life, and others, and toes represent minor details of the future.

Throat; The Throat represents our Will, and our ability to communicate, both with others and with ourselves. Sore throats, lumps in the throat, tumours all represent difficulties in saying what we want to say. Lumps, both physical tumours and those that are non-manifest (Hystericus Globus) are our willful attempts to block free expression of emotion and of our identity. The Throat is another one of those weak links that can seduce or sabotage you from your path. The Throat is the channel between the Head and the Heart. In Chinese Medicine it is said the Heart houses the Mind, especially in its connection with the emotion of Joy and the expression of Love for ourselves and for others. Have you ever had a great idea, gotten your body motivated, put your Heart into it, only to say something completely stupid which makes a mess of things? Have you ever felt the urge to say something complimentary and suppressed it? Have you ever just blurted out something that just seemed to by-pass the brain? How often does a careless or ill chosen word create havoc in your Life? Where this comes from is all the things you have not said over the years that get stuck in the throat, needing to get out, and out they come, one way or the other.

All emotions are designed to be expressed, even the ones we judge to be negative and especially the ones we judge to be positive. Louise Hay calls the the Throat an avenue of expression and a channel of creativity. Problems indicate an inability to speak up for one’s self, swallowed anger , stifled creativity and refusal to change. Thyroid problems indicate difficulty in analyzing, digesting and assimilating the communication between the Head and the Heart.

Chest/Breasts; The chest area represents the Feminine principal of nurturing and nourishing the connection with the ‘breath of Life’ as it flows through the Lungs. In men, pain or discomfort, not associated with any organ or vessel represents a disconnection from the Feminine principal. Breast envy, may exist in men; the desire to connect with the feminine side, the same way penis envy is said to exist in women; the desire to connect with the masculine side. In Chinese Medicine, the front is considered Yin. The chest is the confluence of the three most important kinds of Qi, that nourish the body; Zhong Qi, from the Lungs, Jing Qi, from the Spleen, and Yuan Qi from the Kidneys. Breast problems represents a denial of the Mother/feminine principal to nourish the self and to nourish others. Louise Hay suggest also that the breasts represent mothering and nurturing. Cysts, lumps etc. represents over mothering.

Solar Plexus; Is said to the be the seat of the Ego and Individuation. Some call this the Negative Ego. In general this area represents the conflicts in your life. Pain or discomfort in the Diaphragm area represents unresolved conflicts. In Chinese Medicine, pain in this area indicates Liver Qi Stagnation, usually associated with Anger.

Stomach; The stomach represents digestion, not only of food and physical nutrients, but of new ideas, new ways of doing things, and accepting change of any kind. The Stomach is nothing more than a big flexible bag of muscle whose job it is to ripen and rot whatever is put into it. That is, its job is to break down what is put into it into a form that the body can deal with. This it does by adding Hydrochloric Acid, Hormones, Enzymes and Bile which reduces every sold morsel into an undifferentiated mass called Chyme. Simultaneously it rocks back and forth swishing and swilling this mess until it is liquefied and able to pass through the small Pyloric Valve into the Small Intestine where the actual absorption of nutrients mostly takes place. Metaphysically, when we come upon a new idea or a new way of doing things, the process is similar. First we must swallow the idea, either whole or in handy bite sized morsels, break it down into a form we can handle and finally absorb that which we need to nourish ourselves. In the same way that a bad diet poisons the body, toxic ideas, suppressed emotions and resistance to change can have a poisoning effect. In traditional Chinese Medicine, long standing emotional disharmony is seen as a primary cause of disease. Strengthening the Spleen/Stomach which between them are responsible for transforming food and water into Qi, and transporting it throughout the body, is seen as a key strategy to deal with almost any disease. Metaphysically we need to nourish ourselves every day, just as we need to eat nourishing foods. Just as the physical body needs nourishment to grow and carry on its day to day activities, so do the Emotional, Mental, and Spiritual bodies. Metaphysically, ‘wellness’ is not accomplished by a change in diet alone. Louise Hay suggests that the stomach holds nourishment, digests ideas. Problems indicate dread, fear of the new, and an inability to assimilate the new.