Daily Activities and Organs
Taoist Medical Theory views the times of the day with organs and organ activities. Just as nature responds to the cycles of sun and moon, the organs of the body will as well. As the sun comes up, birds chirp, squirrels begin to move, and flowers turn toward the rising sun. In the human body, the large intestine moves fecal matter out as energy floods the body in the morning around 5-7:00 am.
As dawn turns to daylight, we are up and moving around the house and neighborhood. The material world of food is appealing as a warm breakfast can nourish the body during the hours of the stomach between 7 am and 9:00 am. The next stop in the cycle of the organs (known as the diurnal cycle) is the Spleen between 9 and 11:00 am. This is a time of work, dealing with earthly matters, pursuing a grounded mission related to earthly plans.
High noon, or maximum yang, is straddled by the time of the Heart, 11 am to 1:00 pm. Creativity and excitement culminate as the body, mind, and spirit look for activities that bring joy. Blood circulation is at an all time high and a healthy lunch can spread nutrients around the body. From 1 pm to 3:00 pm, the small intestine absorbs food and can be a great time for a short power nap, a siesta, or just a yin time with meditation and reading.
At the end of the work day, the time of the bladder is 3 pm to 5:00 pm. Energy is restored and liquid waste is released. This part of the day is good for mundane activities requiring less mind power. After the work day, between 5 pm and 7:00 pm, the hour of the kidneys is a great time for store nutrients in the body and building the bone marrow. Rejuvenation exercises, such as visiting with family, a small dinner, or stretching can be helpful. We’ll discuss the other half of the Chi Clock in another post..
Exercises for nourishing the organs are available in the book:
The Alchemist’s Tao Te Ching:
Transforming Your Lead Into Gold