Journaling Prompts:

• Listen to this short clip of Krista Tippet from ‘On Being’ or read below and create your own ‘living question’ to cross this threshold with.

  “This is another notion, really a way of thinking, that becomes a way of seeing and moving through the world. And this one is inspired by the German poet Rainer Maria Rilke, and it is anchored in a passage from his Letters to a Young Poet in the early 20th century. He wrote, ‘Be patient towards all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.’

  Point Palette:

• KD 3 Greater Mountain Stream. Earth point on the Kidney meridian. Source Point.

  Brings replenishing earthly nourishment, strength, and endurance to our spirit and physical bodies. Settles agitation to bring ease. “From the greater mountain stream, water flows from the source, rising up from the ground in a gushing torrent of life force that quenches, nourishes, and awakens us at the level of body, soul and spirit.”

  HT 7 *Shen Men (*Spirit Gate). Earth point on a Fire channel. Settles a scattered spirit and calms the mind, bringing us back to our authentic nature . Alleviating stress and worry to help restore us to presence.

  Du24 Spirit Courtyard Calms the spirit. Descends and clears pathogenic heat. The DU channel, also referred to as the Governing vessel, links the brain with the Heart.

  St 41 Stream Ravine. Fire point on an Earth channel. Helps to clear pathogens/stagnation that divert our energy (imagine a collection of rocks and twigs in the center of a stream) allowing for unity and clarity of direction and movement forward. Also, brightens the eyes, clears the mind, and soothes the shen.

Flower Essence:

California Poppy

Rebirth • Tender Healing • Heart of Gold

California Poppy is a helpful ally in “rebirthing" your life, including new ideas, actions, or ways of being. It helps relieve feelings of powerlessness, hopelessness, anger, or depression that may accompany physical or emotional birth trauma.

This essence is related to the root, sacral, heart, and 3rd eye chakras and encourages the soul to feel at home in the body and resonate with the sweet song of belonging on Earth. When birthing a new life for yourself, California Poppy rebalances the tendency to feel powerless, uncentered, highly emotional, overwhelmed, or unable to move forward with the actions that you want to take. Experiencing any or all of these may lead to anger toward yourself or someone else. California Poppy helps to restore balance and perspective with your process and encourages your ability to fully engage in life.

Acupoint for Flower Essence Application:

• PC8 'Ghost Cave' Helps the outward reaching and connecting nature of the passionate, creative, and vulnerable fire of the heart.

  Ghost Point wisdom “...help a person retrieve their own resources that are hidden in the cave of unconsciousness..to help them clear away the fog of misconception and fear so that they can see their own light and feel their own authentic passion." -Laurie Dechar ‘Kigo’

Acupoint for Essential Oil Application:

• KD1 ‘Bubbling Spring’ wood point on water channel  ‘Combines the directedness and hopefulness of Spring with the gestational power and resourcefulness of Winter.' - Laurie Dechar. Grounding for the spirit while also replenishing and restorative.

  Essential Oil: Ginger

Ginger Functions:

• Warms the interior, dispels cold, reduces accumulation, relieves pain, descends Stomach Qi

• Warms the Kidney Qi and tonifies Yang - treats lower back pain & chronic fatigue

• Represents vital force, virility, will power, restores determination, boosts confidence and morale

• Good for self doubters, procrastinators, people disconnected from their bodies

• Action on the Spirit of the Kidney - the Will/Zhi - activates initiative and determination, vitality, boosts morale, good for those with plans and intentions but lacking in personal drive. Helps procrastinators and self doubters to increase willpower, clarity, and inner strength. According to Holmes, ginger “promotes soul strength” to helps us find long term goals, and assess a situation clearly

Ginger Cautions/contraindications:

• Avoid with heat conditions and headaches

• Avoid topical application over low back and abdomen in pregnancy (avoid all essential oils in 1st trimester)