Lung Energy: Tending Unf*ckwithable Boundaries
The Fall season is ruled by the energy of ether or metal, and correlates to the Lung organ channel.
In the Northern Hemisphere, we are currently at the final stages of Fall as the season of Winter begins to take hold with the lengthening of the shadows and the thinning of the veil between the worlds. While the prime time to discuss Lung energy is quickly fading, it remains a vital topic to delve into even as we move into the Winter. Working with Lung energy addresses questions about how to best prepare ourselves for hibernation, and ensure we have follow through while staying deeply grounded in ourselves so as not to overextend our boundaries and leave ourselves vulnerable to invasion from the cold.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda acknowledge different names for the elements, however their characteristics remain largely the same, regardless of how they are called. Within TCM the season of Fall is correlated to the element metal, whereas in Ayurveda Fall is represented by the element ether. Both metal and ether have many overlapping qualities and functions, for instance both are attributed with cold, dry, light, sense of smell, hollowness or empty space, and spirit. Both metal and ether embody poignant characteristics of Lung energy, as metal conjures imagery of a sword, scythe, or metal box containing treasures, while ether signifies hollowness and relates to breathe or spirit. Lung energy works tirelessly to keep us alive and thriving by upholding the protective barrier between the body and the external world, supporting the respiratory and immune systems, and providing a foundational rhythm which fuels all other physical and energetic processes. In short, it’s time we sing praises for our Lungs.
‘Unf*ckwithable Boundaries’
Lung energy in TCM is strongly associated with the wei qi layer of energy which protects the surface of the body at the skin level. This defensive role that Lung energy plays functions on more than just the physical level. Lindsay Mack of Tarot For the Wild Soul (2019) offers an in-depth description of what she deems ‘unfuckwithable boundaries’ which I feel perfectly emulates what Lung energy does so well for the physical, energetic, mental, emotional and spiritual bodies when it is in balance:
Put really simply, boundaries are sacred lines of protection around our mental, physical, spiritual, emotional and energetic bodies. Not protection like we’re repelling something, but boundaries help us to clarify where the property is posted on the land of our being… Property lines [boundaries] are not only appropriate, but extraordinary measures of self care that require no explanation and no apology.
While for some, boundaries are easily enforced when tested, for constitutions that are Lung qi deficient or predominantly water and earth, boundaries are often a sore subject. As Mack (2019) notes in Tarot For the Wild Soul, “Some people feel like boundaries are unkind”, however these are often the people who need to enforce them the most. It may be much easier said than done to have unf*ckwithable boundaries for Water, Earth dominant constitutions, because these individuals can tend to be natural caregivers whose instincts are to put others needs above their own. The reasons that an individual might find it troubling to draw their physical, energetic, mental or spiritual property lines and enforce the ‘no trespassing’ signs may vary depending on their constitution, experiences, conditioning, beliefs or customs, however there exists a simple yet powerful remedy to strengthening your inner- and outer-boundary lines. To tonify your ‘unf*ckwithable boundaries’ focus on your breathing; with each inhale call in whatever it is that makes you feel confident, happy or at ease, and with every exhale release complaints, frustrations, sore subjects, feelings of loss, stress or rage and imagine watching them burn in a fire, floating away with running water, or being carried away with a howling wind that sends negative thoughts forever away from you. Take every opportunity to practice this simple breathing technique, even if it only last for two breaths. For more information on breathing techniques and how the Lung energy regulations emotions, see my post How Breathing Regulates Our Emotions.
Call Your Inner-Guard Dogs
Lung energy works in tandem namely with Spleen and Kidney energy to fuel every function of the body. Perhaps the most important role, though, of Lung energy is as head of security for the body. Responsible for opening and closing the pores, during the Fall season when dry, cold winds run rampant, the Lungs close the pores and contract fluids of the body to nourish the vital organs at the core. Lung doesn’t agree with cold, wind, air pollution, smoke, excessive exercise or over-exertion during the Fall, and especially dislikes dryness. That said, it is important that we carve out time in our daily routine during the Fall to lubricate our whole body, concentrating on our limbs which become dry due to the Lung energy pooling precious fluids inward towards our core to ensure our wells don’t go dry. It’s role in containing and defending our body’s borders reminds us that while it is important to have boundaries to ensure your well doesn’t go dry, there are times when you must put up your boundaries so that something toxic doesn’t trespass your sacred property lines.
It’s true, maintaining boundaries is most often about prioritizing self care, as we don’t always find ourselves in war zones where we must be vigilant against dangerous outside forces invading our boundaries. Perhaps we may never find ourselves literally feeling watchful against trespassers, or those who we may perceive as a threat; but rather, it may simply be that your Lung energy focuses on keeping harmful bacteria, viruses and pathogens at bay. However in the ‘real world’ out there, it’s likely that we will find ourselves crossing paths with people who, for whatever known or unknown reason, cause our inner-guard dogs to raise their hackles, so to speak. Perhaps we hear our intuition give a warning growl when someone walking past us on the street casts an unkind glance in our direction, or perhaps we sound the whistle for backup when a stranger we perceive may be a threat knocks on our door.
There is a reason people refer to the hair on the back of their neck standing straight up when they sense danger. Remember that Lung energy is responsible for protecting the surface of the body at the skin level, and regulates opening and closing the pores to keep foreign invaders out. It’s no coincidence that when we are in danger we may feel our skin get chills or feel as though our hair is standing straight up as if to alert us to trouble. I liken how Lung energy functions in this way to a protection dog, as they are highly trained to perceive and alert us to threats, and respond to danger when needed to keep us safe. Much like a dog who has been bred and trained for protection work, our bodies have intelligently evolved to alert us when we are in imminent danger and respond with a surge of hormones that boost mental acuity for fast response and immediate energy made available to our muscles to fight or flight. In this way, Lung energy can be our greatest ally, just like a protection dog who will work tirelessly to keep us safe. We can harness this energy to respond more effectively to situations where we feel at risk, or even regulate it if we discover that our Lung energy is depleted or overactive, leading us to either struggle perpetually with upholding boundaries, or overextend them when no real threat exists. I’ll speak more to regulating depleted or overactive Lung energy in an upcoming post, stay tuned.
Regardless of what may show up at your threshold, maintaining healthy (unf*ckwithable) boundaries means you can relax knowing that nothing is allowed to cross your borders without explicit permission and assurance that it will do you no harm. You may trust your Lung energy to know the difference between those who arrive to aid you, and those who swoop in to exploit you, because as TCM explains, the Lung energy supports the mission of the Heart and the Spirit which dwells therein. The Lung energy is your trustworthy shepherd when you need to tell something or someone that they are not welcome in your spirit’s kingdom, and it is your courageous warrior when you need not apologize for protecting and taking care of yourself first.
Don’t Drag Me Down
Lung energy balances the upward movement of qi, but it does not intend to drag you down, despite its inherent downward rhythm of movement. Kidney and Lung have a special relationship as they correlate to work together in part to descend and disperse fluids, however Lung is chiefly in charge of the downward flow of energy and fluids, which also correlates to the emotion of grief. While sorrow or grief is a healthy emotion when we feel shock or loss, the prolonged expression of grief or depression gravely depletes Lung energy and may cause respiratory issues. Ever wondered why you have no appetite when you’re grieving? The strong downward pull grief causes can make you feel as though you don’t even need to eat (though you do, at least, you need proper daily nutrition, not comfort foods that may be the only thing that sounds good!), as rather than feeling faint from a lack of nutrition, you may feel as though you’re steadily sinking into the ground. That’s how powerful the exertion of Lung energy can be - uplifting when we’re inspired, and a force heavier than gravity when we’re depressed.
Like I mentioned, it is perfectly normal to feel exhausted, bogged down, like you can’t speak or get a full deep breath, or simply have no appetite when we’re grieving. While it may sound strange, take respite in the fact that your Lung energy is doing it’s job even when you may feel sad, confused and in shock. What isn’t normal or healthy Lung energy is when our grieving process bogs us down with so much force or for so long that we feel life may not be worth living, or that no matter how good our circumstances, we find ourselves increasingly depressed no matter what we do to try to make ourselves feel good again. In these severe cases, talk to your doctor, family members, friends, or a mental health professional who can do something to help get you out of this vicious cycle - it’s not your fault that you feel depressed, but please know that something can be done to help you feel better.
If you find yourself in a dire situation where your grief become so severe that you don’t see a way of ever feeling better, you can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-9255. And please know that talking to someone about your feelings, as impossible as it may feel, is the first very hopeful step towards feeling better.
We should also discuss smoking which is often unintentionally used as a breathing technique to ‘expand horizons’ and directly influences Lung energy to relieve depression. While there are therapeutic aspects to smoking, most often smoking is habitually done in ways that harm the physical Lungs and deplete Lung energy rather than strengthen it. Those who chain smoke to alter their emotions would be better served by doing steam inhalations to help alleviate the dryness of the lungs and expectorate congestion, along with heavy emotions like grief.
While there is so much more to talk about on the subject of Lung energy (a book could be devoted to this organ alone), I will conclude this article on energetic and emotional aspects of Lung energy with the reminder that Lung dislikes dryness most of all, so to get through the Fall without losing a drop of vitality, arm yourself with essential fatty acids, self massage and hydration which are of the greatest importance during Lung season. Winter is it’s own animal, and we will go into that topic later on. For now, I hope you stay grounded, nourished, and rest easy at night knowing that when your Lung energy is balanced it has got your back - physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally - and there isn’t a shadow in the world that will dare breach your walls if you maintain self-loving boundaries that take no prisoners.
Resources
Mack, Lindsay, 2019. Tarot For the Wild Soul (Feb. 21, 2019). Episode 65. Unf*ckwithable Boundaries: Two of Swords and Queen of Swords. Information available at: https://www.tarotforthewildsoul.com/about-the-podcast.
Thompson, Diana, 2020. (Acupressure For Horses Education). Available at: https://dianathompson.com/.
