Daily Activities and Organs, part 2
As the sun sets and we go into the evening hours, it is good to wind down with peaceful, quiet time. The hours from 7 pm to 9 pm are the time of the pericardium (the sack of fascia around the heart). This is a time to protect the heart, eat a light meal, and prepare for bed with room in the stomach. Simple meditation practices are best for this hour, preferably lying down, like the Six Healing Sounds and Tao Yin.
From the time of the pericardium, the diurnal cycle moves to the Triple Burner hours, from 9 pm to 11 pm. During this time, we find ourselves getting sleepy and the body will balance the endocrine and metabolic systems. The triple warmer distributes energy evenly between the upper, middle, and lower organs and cavities of the abdomen. As we lay down to rest, the extremes of energy balance between the regions of the head/heart and the area of the kidneys/sexual organs.
Next, the wood element governs most of our sleeping hours. From 11 pm to 1 am, the Gall Bladder releases bile, conducts cellular repair, and builds blood cells. From 1 am to 3 am, the Liver energy takes over and blood is detoxed during deep sleep. Rest and recovery are at their peak from 11 pm to 3 am. I have a Taoist teacher that insists if you aren’t asleep by 11 pm, the cycle of rest and reset won’t get started and your body won’t really rest that night.
From here, the Metal element of the lungs and large intestine will take us into sunrise. From 3 am to 5 am, the lungs are breathing deeply and detoxing as they inhale fresh air. Dreams and memory can come alive in the subconscious as the body continues to enjoy deep sleep. This can be a big time of letting go and releasing attachments to the everyday world. At 5 am, we begin to wake up and start the cycle again. Upon awakening, the large intestine becomes active. We start our day by drinking a glass of water and releasing our bowels. We can meditate on that which we let go in the night but want to pick up again for the coming day.
Learn 81 exercises for nourishing the organs in the book:
The Alchemist’s Tao Te Ching:
Transforming Your Lead Into Gold