The pain in the left wrist has become an issue for many people today. According to some, it can be very painful or just a little bit of discomfort. However, when you have a serious problem with your left wrist and are in extreme pain, then this is not tolerable. Find out hand pain spiritual meaning in this. post.
The spiritual meaning of pain in left wrist is that you are in need of attention from your higher self. You may be feeling lonely and isolated, or you might be feeling like you’re not good enough. Whatever it is that you’re dealing with, the message from your higher self is to reach out to others for support. This can be a difficult thing for those who are used to doing everything on their own, but there’s no shame in reaching out for help!
The left wrist is a symbol of one’s spirit and soul. The left side represents your intuition, self-acceptance, and your ability to be vulnerable. When you experience pain on the left side of the wrist, it can indicate that you are holding back from being who you truly are or that someone is trying to control you.
You may also feel like your inner voice is not being heard. You may feel like someone else has taken over your spiritual journey and is leading you down a path that does not resonate with your true self.
If this is happening to you, it’s important to listen to what your heart tells you. You have the ability to make decisions for yourself and no one else can do that for you!
Take the time to visit our catalog for adequate information on spiritual meaning of right wrist pain, right wrist symbolism, what does the left wrist symbolize, and so much more. You don’t want to miss this!
Spiritual Meaning of Pain in Left Wrist
Wrist pain is a sign of your desire to bring about change in your life.
The way you use your hands is the way you express yourself. Your hands are the tools for creating, and wrist pain can be an indication that you’re not using these tools to create the life you want.
If your wrist hurts, this could mean that there is something in your life that needs to change, and you are trying to force it with physical means instead of changing it through your own creative abilities.
Wrist pain can also be a sign of fear or doubt in yourself—a fear that if things change, they will never be the same again.
Wrist pain is a common ailment that many people experience at some point in their lives. While it can be caused by physical factors such as repetitive strain or injury, some believe that there may be deeper spiritual meanings behind this discomfort. Here are six spiritual meanings that are relevant to the topic:
1. Resistance to Change
Wrist pain could be a sign that you are resisting change in your life. Just as your hands are the tools for creating, your wrists are the instruments that allow you to take action and make things happen. If you are experiencing pain in this area, it may be a signal that there is something in your life that needs to change, but you are unwilling to let go of the old ways.
2. Lack of Self-Expression
The way you use your hands is a reflection of how you express yourself in the world. If you are experiencing wrist pain, it could be a sign that you are not fully expressing your true self. Perhaps you are holding back your thoughts or emotions, and this lack of self-expression is manifesting as physical discomfort in your wrists.
3. Fear and Doubt
Wrist pain can also be a manifestation of fear and doubt in yourself. You may be afraid of the unknown, of what will happen if you make a change in your life. This fear can cause tension and tightness in your wrists, as your body tries to protect you from moving forward into uncharted territory.
4. Blocked Creativity
Your hands are the tools for creating, and when you experience wrist pain, it may be a sign that your creative energy is being blocked. Perhaps there are ideas or projects that you are not allowing yourself to pursue, and this blockage is showing up as physical pain in your wrists.
5. Lack of Trust in the Divine Plan
In times of struggle, it can be easy to lose faith in the divine plan for your life. Wrist pain may be a reminder to trust in the higher power and surrender to the path that is unfolding before you. Remember the words of Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Let’s consider the story of Moses to illustrate this point further. When called by God to lead the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses expressed doubt in his abilities. He asked, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” (Exodus 3:11). Despite his fears, Moses trusted in the plan that God had for him, and he was able to accomplish great things with the help of divine guidance.
In conclusion, wrist pain can be a powerful indicator of deeper spiritual issues that may need to be addressed. By recognizing the symbolic meanings behind this discomfort, you can begin to explore the areas of your life that may be in need of change or healing. Remember to listen to your body and trust in the divine plan for your life, knowing that through faith and self-expression, you can overcome any obstacles that come your way.
Left Wrist Pain Meaning
The spiritual meaning of pain in left wrist is that you are trying to do too much. You want to be everywhere at once, and you’re stretching yourself too thin. You need to slow down and focus on what’s important, and let go of the things that aren’t.
The left wrist is associated with creativity, so when it hurts, it means you need to take a break from all the creative projects you’ve been working on. It also represents your sense of self-worth, so if it hurts, it could mean that you’ve been putting yourself down or not taking care of yourself properly.
The spiritual meaning of pain in left wrist comes from the fact that your body is telling you that there’s something wrong with how you’re living your life right now—and if there isn’t anything wrong with how you’re living your life right now, then there probably will be soon!
The left wrist is associated with the heart chakra, which governs our ability to love and be loved. The heart chakra is located on the left side of the chest, so a pain in this area may be related to issues with self-love or showing love for others.
The pain could also be a sign that you are carrying too much emotional baggage from your past. If you were not properly loved as a child, it’s possible that you’ve internalized an unhealthy sense of self-worth. This can lead to feelings of worthlessness and fear that you’ll never be able to give yourself what you deserve—which will only make it harder for you to open up to others and receive their love in return.
To break this pattern, try journaling about your experiences with love as a child and how those experiences have affected your ability to love yourself now. It’s important to understand where these beliefs came from so that you can stop repeating them!
Spiritual Meaning of Broken Left Wrist
The spiritual meaning of broken wrist is what is worth exploring into when you consider touching the inner soul of somebody. Below, we discuss about spiritual meaning of right wrist and spiritual meaning of breaking a bone. This is important because it seeks to attune the person with his inner soul and the universal connection he has with the source.
Studying spiritual meanings of broken wrist is worth it – if you want to comprehend a person’s real nature, then this study gives you an insight about his cosmic connection and therefore his realities. The wrist carries a lot of different meanings. I mean, there are the literal meanings; broken bones, sprained ligaments, carpal tunnel syndrome, etc.
But you also have less scientific meanings: that day you were feeling soulless, as if your life had come to an end. There was no point to get up or even live anymore. It was dark and light seemed impossible. Or when you feel lonely (even thought you have someone by your side) and wish that things could be different The spiritual meaning of a broken wrist is that you need to be more open-minded. You may feel like you have all the answers, but there are always more questions. When you are in pain, it’s hard to be open to new things. When you’re hurting physically, the last thing you want to do is try something new.
But when your mind hurts, there’s no better time to learn new things than when your body is in pain. You should see this as an opportunity to learn something new and open yourself up to new experiences. A broken wrist is a sign that you need to expand your horizons and make some changes! The spiritual meaning of a broken wrist is that you are emotionally withdrawn, which can be a sign that you’re in need of counseling. If you have been recently diagnosed with a broken wrist, it’s best to wait to see how the injury heals before making any decisions about treatment. You may need surgery to repair your bones, but at this point, it’s too early to tell. If possible, try to stay positive and optimistic—this will help your body heal faster!
Emotional Pain In Wrists
Wrist pain can be classified as any discomfort felt in the wrist. It can be caused by a variety of issues, including
- acute injury
- arthritis
- gout
- carpal tunnel syndrome
Even though the wrist is a small part of the body, it’s comprised of eight bones, as well as ligaments and tendons, making it a somewhat delicate area.
What are the Causes of wrist pain?
The following conditions are common causes of wrist pain.
Carpal tunnel syndrome
The median nerve is one of the three major nerves in the forearm. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed, or pinched. It’s located on the palm side of your hand, providing sensation to the following parts of the hand:
- thumb
- index finger
- middle finger
- part of the ring finger
The median nerve also provides the electrical impulse to the muscle leading to the thumb. Carpal tunnel syndrome can occur in one or both of your hands.
Aside from causing wrist pain, carpal tunnel syndrome can lead to:
- numbness
- weakness
- tingling on the side of your hand near the thumb
Risk factors for carpal tunnel syndrome include:
- performing repetitive tasks with your hands, such as typing, drawing, or sewing
- pregnancy
- having certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, or an underactive thyroid
- having a family history of carpal tunnel, as anatomic differences can run in families
Wrist injury
An injury to your wrist can also cause pain. Falling and catching yourself with your hands is a common way to injure the area.
Swelling, bruising, or disfigured joints near the wrist may be symptoms of a fracture, tendonitis, tendon, or ligament tear. It’s also possible that the nerves or the tissue around the wrist can become injured, even if the bone is unharmed.
Gout
Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis that is typically caused by a buildup of uric acid. Uric acid is a chemical produced when your body breaks down foods that contain organic compounds called purines.
Most uric acid is dissolved in the blood and removed from the body through urination. However, in some cases, the body produces too much uric acid, and in other cases, the body does not excrete uric acid sufficiently.
This excess uric acid can be deposited in the joints, resulting in pain and swelling. Gout pain frequently occurs in the knees, ankles, wrists, and feet.
Common risk factors for gout include:
- overconsuming alcohol
- overconsuming foods and drinks high in fructose
- eating a diet high in purine-rich foods, like red meat and certain types of seafood
- living with obesity
- certain medications, such as diuretics
- other conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney disease
Arthritis
Arthritis is an inflammation of the joints. The condition can cause swelling and stiffness in the affected body part. Arthritis has many causes, including normal wear and tear, aging, and overworking the hands.
There are many forms of arthritis, but the most common types that can affect the wrist include:
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease that can affect both wrists. It develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks the lining of your joints, including your wrists. This can cause painful swelling, which may eventually result in bone erosion.
- Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that’s common among older adults. It is caused by a breakdown of the cartilage that covers the joints. The protective tissue is damaged [during the aging process or over time] and repeated motion. This increases the friction as the bones of the joint rub against each other, resulting in swelling and pain.
While arthritis can happen to anyone, especially as we age, there are some risk factors that can increase your chances of developing it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, these factors include:
- living with obesity
- living with untreated infections
- smoking
- untreated joint injuries due to overuse (such as knee bending)
Ganglion cysts
These benign, noncancerous, and usually harmless lumps occur most often in the hand, usually on the back of the wrist.
It’s not known what causes ganglion cysts, but, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, they tend to appear most often in:
- individuals ages 15 to 40 years
- gymnasts (because of the repeated stress to their wrists)
- individuals assigned female at birth
Many times, ganglion cysts are painless, but if they’re putting pressure on a joint or nerve, they can cause pain in the wrist area. Treatment for ganglion cysts varies from waiting to see if it will go away on its own, to wearing a splint, to draining it.
Kienbock’s disease
A rare disease that causes the lunate bone in the wrist to slowly break down due to low blood supply, Kienbock’s disease can cause:
- wrist pain
- swelling
- decreased grip strength
It’s not known what causes Kienbock’s disease, and symptoms can range from mild to more severe. The condition can be treated with:
- medication
- splinting (the area)
- surgery to increase blood flow to the area
Symptoms of wrist pain
Depending on what’s causing your wrist pain, it may be accompanied by the following symptoms:
- swollen fingers
- difficulty making a fist or gripping objects
- numbness or tingling sensation in the hands
- pain, numbness, or tingling that gets worse at night
- sudden, sharp pain in the hand
- swelling or redness around the wrist
- warmth in a wrist joint
Call your doctor immediately if your wrist is warm and red and if you have a temperature over 100.4°F (38°C). These symptoms could signal infectious (septic) arthritis, which is a serious illness.
You should also contact your doctor right away if you can’t move your wrist or if your hand looks abnormal. You may have broken a bone.
Your doctor should also evaluate wrist pain that becomes worse or interferes with your ability to do daily tasks.
Treatments for wrist pain
Treatment options for wrist pain can vary depending on the cause.
Treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome may include:
- wearing a wrist brace or splint to reduce swelling and ease wrist pain
- applying hot or cold compresses for 10 to 20 minutes at a time
- taking anti-inflammatory or pain relieving medications, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- steroid injections
- physical therapy
- having surgery to repair the median nerve, in severe cases
Treatment for gout may consist of:
- taking an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen or naproxen
- drinking lots of water to reduce the concentration of uric acid
- cutting back on high fat foods and alcohol
- taking medication your doctor prescribes to decrease the uric acid in your body
Treatment for ganglion cysts can include:
- wearing a splint to keep the wrist from moving
- aspiration (draining the cyst)
- surgically removing the cyst
Kienbock’s disease is typically treated by:
- keeping the wrist immobile
- taking pain medication
- surgery to restore blood flow to the wrist
- surgery to even out the length of arm bones
If you have sustained a wrist injury, you can help promote healing by:
- wearing a wrist splint
- resting your wrist and keeping it elevated
- taking a mild pain reliever, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen
- placing an ice pack on the affected area for several minutes at a time to reduce the swelling and pain
If you have arthritis, consider visiting a physical therapist. A physical therapist can show you how to do strengthening and stretching exercises that can help your wrist.
Diagnosing the cause of wrist pain
Your doctor will perform a physical examination and order certain tests to diagnose the cause of your wrist pain. Your doctor may do the following:
- bend your wrist forward for 60 seconds to see if numbness or tingling develops
- tap the area over the median nerve to see if pain occurs
- test the strength of your wrist and fingers
- order X-rays of your wrist to evaluate the bones and joints
- order an electromyography to assess the health of your muscles and nerves
- request a nerve conduction velocity test to check for nerve damage
- order urine and blood tests to detect any underlying medical conditions
- request a small sample of fluid be taken from your joints to check for crystals or calcium
How to prevent wrist pain
Not all wrist pain can be prevented, especially when it comes to arthritis or the development of cysts.
However, you can lessen the possibility of developing carpal tunnel syndrome by practicing some of the following strategies:
- using an ergonomic keyboard to keep your wrists from bending upward
- resting your hands often while typing or doing similar activities
- working with an occupational therapist to stretch and strengthen your wrists
To help prevent future episodes of gout, consider:
- drinking more water and less alcohol
- limiting the amount of liver, anchovies, and smoked or pickled fish you eat
- eating only moderate amounts of protein
- taking medication as your doctor prescribed
While it may not be possible to completely prevent arthritis, you can lessen the severity of its symptoms by:
- reducing stress, when possible
- staying physically active
- working with your doctor on the best way to minimize your pain
- keeping your weight at a moderate level
- protecting your joints by choosing activities that will not overstress them
Exercises to help aching wrists
If your wrists feel sore and achy simply from overworking them (such as working for too long on your computer in one position), you can also do some simple wrist exercises at home to help ease the stiffness and tension.
If you’ve been diagnosed with carpal tunnel or another condition that affects your wrists, talk with your doctor before trying any wrist exercises.
Wrist flexes and extensions
This exercise involves placing your forearm on a table, with a cloth padding under your wrist. Turn your arm so your hand is facedown. Move your hand up until you feel a gentle stretch. Return it to its original position and repeat.
Wrist supination and pronation
Stand with your arm out to the side and your elbow bent at 90 degrees. Rotate your forearm so your hand faces up and then turn it the other way, so your hand is facing down.
Wrist deviation
Place your forearm on a table, with your hand hanging off and padding under your wrist. Have your thumb facing up. Move your hand up and down, as if you’re waving.
Spiritual Meaning of Pain in Body Parts
We all know that pain can be a sign that something is wrong with our body, but what if it’s a sign of something else?
The spiritual meaning of pain in body parts is often a message from a higher power. Pain can be a warning to us that we need to pay attention to what is going on around us or within us. When you experience pain, take some time to reflect and ask yourself what it means. Is there something you need to fix in your life? Are you ignoring someone or something important? The answers are there—you just need to look for them.
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.