First, let me explain. "The Well" I refer to is Hexagram 48 of the Yi Jing (I Ching), an ancient Chinese fortune telling oracle, otherwise known as the "Book of Changes". The title statement comes as Line 4 of the changing lines. For more info on the Yi Jing, visit Wikipedia's Yi Jing page or do a Google search.
Definitively speaking, the Well refers to our basic source of nourishment, the place we get water. Water is the element in Five Element Theory that governs the Kidneys, or the seat of energy (Qi) for the whole body. The Kidneys contain the body's Essence, or Jing. This is the finite source of energy that we all inherit from our parents - kind of like DNA inheritance of familial traits, strengths and weaknesses. The essence is combined from both our parents and has the inherent traits of both combined together, hopefully in the best way possible to ensure long and healthy life. As previously mentioned, our Kidney energy is finite, and when it runs out we die. For this reason, the key to much ancient Chinese Daoist alchemy was focussed on that which preserved the Kidney essence. From here developed the phenomenon of QiGong - The Way of Qi.
Following this description, it stands to reason that Kidney energy is the first place we look when assessing a person's fertility.
Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang are the two balanced sides of the Kidney energy. Kidney Yin represents the water in the body - that is, fluids, blood and the ability to contain these. Kidney Yang represents the movement within that water. Imagine a stream with rapids, moving quickly along. Kidney Yang is similar to that which drives the movement and keeps it flowing. Both are incomplete without the other. Not enough Yin will result in a stream which is dry and stagnant, not enough Yang will result in a stream which is wet and stagnant. Stagnant water is really not much good to anyone but the bugs it accumulates. The two are both best described when connected with each other, infinitely.
There are several ways by which Kidney energy can be depleted, and several pathologies which can present when either Yin, Yang or both, become out of balance.
So now we are a bit more clear about the energy that the Well distributes.
The cistern or fountain of life. The basics that we need for survival.
Line 4 of Hexagram 48 refers to the Well being "Lined" - the Well is being re-laid with the stone that keeps the water in place, fresh and clean.
This refers to a time when we must recharge, consolidate and refresh ourselves, our spirits and our sources of energy. Sometimes it comes when we don't necessarily want it to - we may be powering ahead with a project or idea and all of a sudden feel the need to retreat, go inside ourselves and discover why we are doing this in the first place. This can come at a time when we have forgotten the purpose, the true meaning of the situation we are in, our reason for being there and our place in the Universe. Or we can just have been burning the candle at both ends for a while, neglecting our food and sleep patterns, or trying to do too much.
Five ways we can preserve our Kidney - or Water energy are:
1. Get enough sleep. Our bodies resonate most with the cycles of sunrise, sunset, days and nights. In winter, especially, because the days are shorter approaching the Winter Solstice, it's important to make sure we preserve Yin by going to bed early and waking up after the dawn.
2. Eat nourishing, tonifying foods. Foods that nourish Yin and Blood include jelly/gelatin, beef bone stews, beetroot, sweet potato & other root vegetables. Avoid pungent cold foods, like mint and miso, that open the pores. When the pores are open the Cold has a chance to get in.
3. Eat mild curries and drink Chai to keep circulation of Yang going throughout the Winter and stop the Cold getting in.
4. Avoid the cold and keep the body warm. To prevent colds and flu and remain healthy throughout the winter, rug up when it's cold and try to keep out of the wind.
5. Have a warming massage to keep the blood flowing and prevent Cold stagnation in the muscles.
If you do somehow manage to come down with a cold, go and see your Chinese Medicine practitioner immediately when you start feeling the symptoms! Chinese medicine treatment can relieve the symptoms of colds and flu, and in many cases shorten the duration of the illness.
