Every communication – from the first cry of a baby to the first declaration of love to the final realization of a “I believe” – is mediated by the energy of the phase of Fire.

In the Fire-Element we take care of our development. The Fire-Energy conducts the entire symphony, in which the positive, creative being is expressed in all its exuberance.

With the help of our creativity we can bring something new into being and thus can lead to change and transformation

Fire is the only element represented by two pairs of meridians: Heart/Small Intestine and Pericardium/Triple Heater Meridian.

Here the Heart, in which the Shen is at home, takes over the central function of the Fire.

In medical texts from the East, various organs are compared with functionaries in a state. The Heart takes the place of the Emperor, who in ancient China corresponded to the Son of Heaven and embodied divine authority on earth.

By harboring the Shen (spirit/mind) in the Heart, it gives the divine part of our being a physical home.

Through its central position in our Body-Mind-System, all other Meridians of the Fire Element are protectors of the Heart in very different ways or even its messengers, which help to increase its influence. The boundaries of the Meridians therefore overlap and to some extent all Fire-Meridians are extensions of the Heart-Energy.

More about the functions and relationships is described in the explanations of the individual Meridians

By giving the Shen, the “divine spark” of consciousness, a home in the body, the heart unites heaven and earth in the human being.

In Chinese medicine, the so-called “five Shen” represent different aspects of consciousness; the Shen of the heart is the purest form of consciousness.

The best way to translate Shen is with “mind”. The presence of Shen is the prerequisite for health and a long life. The shine in our eyes is a reflection of the state of our Shen.

The concept of the Shen seems to correspond to the Buddhist idea of ​​mind as pure consciousness in a detached state. According to the Buddhist teachings, enlightenment comes through knowledge and identification with this pure consciousness within ourselves.

However, the heart-Shen must remain anchored in reality and react to the demands of all physical conditions.

Correct and appropriate behavior is the result when pure awareness consciousness is committed to the concerns of physical existence

In Nei Jing Su Wen it says: “Excessive Shen manifests itself in unceasing laughter, empty Shen in sadness. ” Sometimes a “lack of joy” indicates a problem in the Fire Element.

In the event of a disturbance in the Fire, one will be infected by the cheerfulness of others, but then fall back into a lack of joy.

But also, according to Chinese medicine, excessive joy/elation is considered to be a cause for illness

Organ
Heart and small intestine

Sense Organ
Tongue

Orifices
Ears

Body Structures
Tendons and muscles

Body Parts
Blood vessel

External, Physical Expression
Complexion

Body Fluid
Sweat

Ability in Times of Change and Excitement
Ability to mourning and sorrow

Releated Chakras

Chakra 3 – Small Intestine Meridian

Chakra 4 – Heart- and Pericardium Meridian

In the “evolution of being”, the natural function of fire energy is conscious awareness, the intelligent, concrete realization of creative visions and concepts.

Any kind of interpersonal communication, in its various forms of expression (e. g. verbal, musical, visual, etc. ), belongs to the functions of the Fire Element.

The function “Circulation/Sex ” (Pericardium) has no organ structure, but is associated with the pericardium. As protector, it protects the functions of the Heart.

The Pericardium Meridian not only protects the Heart physically, its Ki also protects the Heart energetically from damage and disturbances caused by excessive emotions from other organs and external sources.

It takes over the bumps, bruises and traumas. The Pericardium Meridian forms a kind of energetic “buffer zone” that takes the hard blows, so that the integrity of the unity of body, mind and soul is completely preserved. It acts extraordinarily powerful and balancing.

The energies of the Pericardium Meridian are responsible for the successful development of interpersonal relationships, for the quality and quantity of contact with the outside world.

It stands for the ability to react to and communicate emotions – joy, grief, suffering and fear

Protects the Heart; supports the Heart in its functions

Ambassador and protector of the Heart keeps emotions in balance

Protects the Shen

Protects the vitality and nutrition of the blood

Circulation

Controls the circulation

Fends off heat attacks from the environment; disperses heat

Controls sexual secretions

Building interpersonal relations; quality and quantity of contact with the outside world

Prevents breakdowns, grief and suffering

Chest pain; tightness in the chest; heart pain and palpitations; angina pectoris; circulatory problems

Blockages in the thoracic spine

Tension in the diaphragm area

Difficulty in breathing

Disease of the sexual organs; myomas

Nausea and vomiting; also morning sickness (pregnancy); heartburn

Insufficient lactation

Red eyes

Sexual disorders; impotence

Menstrual pain and excessive bleeding

Increased irritability; restlessness; nervousness

Anxiety; panic attacks

Depression

Emotional stress

Sleep disorders – for people with an imbalance in the fire element it is important if they get tired in the evening hours to go to bed (before 23. 00 hrs), since they usually wake up again afterwards

and others

Sexuality: the energy of the Pericardium unites spiritual, mental, emotional (heart) and genital (liver/kidney) love through the free open passage of the Middle Warmer, making an adult sexuality possible

Principle
Joy

Relationship problems

Emotional injuries

Suppressed or unexpressed emotions

Drugs – especially Extasy, cocaine, fungi, etc.

Usually a person with an imbalance in the Pericardium is not aware that his behaviour is based on vulnerability and contact anxiety.

It is helpful to deal with one’s own emotional life, especially to re-perceive ones own feelings and to move a lot.

All holistic natural healing methods, such as Acupuncture, Homeopathy or similar

Holistic body therapies such as Shiatsu, Chakra-Balance, Bioenergetics, Feldenkrais-Method and others

Makko Ho Exercises

Yoga, Qi-Gong,

Pilates

Expressive dance

Breathing- and Meditation-Techniques e.g. Chakra-Meditation

Amateur theater play and others