The Flow of Yin and Yang through the Body

The larger cycle of five transformations extends beyond the body into the world around, so the question arose if it brings anything into the body in those connections? I think the answer lies in the layout and organization of the meridians of the body:

The elemental meridians are divided according to locations. Metal and Fire channels connect to the hands. Earth, Water, and Wood channels connect to the feet. Fire is the highest point of the cycle, metal draws energy downward. Water is the lowest point of the cycle while wood raises energy in the body. Earth is the weave the body, and is mostly comprised of Yin.

Yang channels begin at the fingertips and end at the head, or begin at the head and move downward to the feet. Yin channels begin at the feet and move upwards to the torso or go from the torso to the fingertips.

According to the Chinese anatomical position, these make perfect sense for upward movement of Yin and downward movement of Yang through the body. (Traditional Chinese Anatomical position is with a person standing upright, arms laterally extended at a 90 degree angle to the body with the arms bent, so the hands are raised beside the head.)

The Yang meridians on the hand go from the hands to the head then connect to the leg yang meridian to draw exterior Yang Qi down through the entire body to the feet.

The Yin Meridians of the feet draw yin from the feet up into the torso where they connect with the hand Yin meridians to raise external Yin Qi to the fingertips.

In the flow, the body balances itself. Yin Qi tends to sink slightly or not move at all and Yang qi rises, but the body rises Yin and descends Yang. A friend points out that Yang does all the movement because Yin tends to silence. So a paradox in the body is that Yang qi raises Yin.

In this way, Yin and Yang are circulated throughout the entire body and can nourish everywhere, and in this way, the body can draw what it needs from the outside world.

Photo courtesy of JustinCaze