Yi is the spiritual aspect of the Earth Element. The chinese Character consists of two components – “verbally expressed thoughts” and “heart and mind”. Accordingly, Yi puts heart and mind into our verbally expressed thoughts.

The common translation is “ideas” or “intellect”. However, our intellect must serve the “purpose” of our heart and mind to assume spiritual quality. In this way, our human potential can fully unfold.

Where Yi goes, that is where Ki goes and only if Yi works well the spiritual qualities (souls) of the other elements – Shen (Heart/Fire) – Po (Lungs/Metal) and Hun (Liver/Wood) – fulfill their tasks.

In the Ko-Cycle (control cycle) of the Elements, the Ki of the Gallbladder keeps the Ki of the Earth in check; means e.g. that through its dynamics, after a few days of pondering, it finally allows a decision to be made.

In return, thinking (Earth Element) is able to overcome fear (Water Element) because it enables us to grasp a situation and restore the connection between Fire and Water through the knowledge of the Heart (Fire Element).

Thinking is good when it leads to reflection. Otherwise, blood of the Heart and body and spirits of the Heart will be consumed. The task of the Heart is to deal responsibly and appropriately, but also flexibly and freely with all things in life and not to lose all one’s strength and vitality through pondering over a thought. In any case, the Ki follows the Yi and gives us the possibility for transformation and manifestation.

For the translation of Si, the emotion assigned to the Earth Element, there are very different possibilities, such as compassion, empathy, sympathy or mental overactivity (obsessive thinking, brooding).

The symbol Si is represented by a heart under the brain in the skull. The character for the emotion Si contains the two word stems “heart” and “brain”. So it’s a combination of emotion and reason. “Pensiveness”. However, the translation “Pensiveness” does not convey that in this case the intellect is compassionate and motivated by the heart.

Another aspect results from the ability of the Earth Element to both absorb and release. This gives us the ability to have compassion, empathy and sympathy for others and vice versa.

If our Earth Element gets out of balance, we lose the ability to move fluently from one feeling to another and we will either not be able to accept compassion/empathy or demand constant sympathy or go to submissiveness in our sympathy. Or being so needy that we have no resources for giving to others.

A balanced Earth Element in the human psyche gives us the ability to receive and give in equal measure.

The Earth holds a special position among all elements; it is the source (“source of life”) from which the other elements unfold. The Earth Energy is responsible for the ingestion, digestion, absorption, transformation and to a certain extent also for the excretion of food and thoughts. The Ki of the Spleen ensures that we are nourished at all levels.

In TCM, the Stomach is considered one of the most important Yang organs and is classically referred to as the “King of Yang Meridians”. Together with the Spleen it forms the basis for our postnatal Ki – it nourishes all organ systems of the body with the Ki obtained from breathing and food. According to his function he also carries the title “Sea of Nourishment”.

The integrity of the Stomach determines the function of all organs and thus also our state of health. The Stomach function includes all forms of appetite and hunger at all levels (including hunger for security, for knowledge or for love).

Whenever a basic need remains unsatisfied, the Stomach Meridian will seek a balance – its goal is fulfillment. For this reason, the Stomach Meridian is located on the front of the body. Thus, “food sources” can be spotted, embraced and absorbed. Frustrations often lead to an attempt to compensate for them with substitute satisfaction. Together with the Spleen, the Stomach is responsible for logical thought processes of the Yi or intellect.  A healthy Stomach-Energy gives us curiosity and the ability to absorb new information.

In case of imbalances of the Earth’s Energy, the information intake can get out of balance. Either we then take in more information than we can meaningfully process and demand ever new mental input, or we are opposed to new ideas and prefer to “chew the cud” instead of old memories.

It is also possible that we constantly worry and turn thoughts in our heads without being able to accept or reject them. A helpful balance can be achieved by physical exercise. The Stomach also embodies our ability to accept on all levels. This can be help or recognition from others or mental openness to new ideas and thought concepts. On a spiritual level, it is about opening up to the possibility of “nourishment” through the environment/universe.

In relation to the female reproductive system, the ability of the woman to receive the sperm of the man and then to hold the growing embryo within herself illustrates this ability of acceptance. So on the physical level, the Stomach dominates the channels and organs of the digestive system, on the psychological level, the Stomach stands for the fact that we take all steps to satisfy our needs and our ability to accept the result.

Organ
Stomach, spleen and pancreas

Sense Organ
Mouth

Orifices
Mouth

External, Physical Expression
Flesh

Body Fluid
Saliva

Ability
to be persistent

Releated Chakras

Chakra 2 – Spleen Meridian

Chakra 3 – Spleen- and Stomach Meridian

Upset stomach; indigestion

Bloating, flatulence, nausea, vomiting

Belching, hiccup

Constipation

Excessive appetite

Dry mouth; Cold sores; mouth ulcers

Bleeding, swollen, aching gums; halitosis

Discomfort in the jaw, throat, breasts, groins, knees …

Irregular menstruation; Problems with conception

Insomnia

Tiredness, especially in the morning

et al

Sorrow

Loops of thoughts

Irregular meals

Multi-tasking

Chaotic schedule

Excessive consumption of cold food (e. g. fruit, salads. . . ) and cold drinks

Too much candy

and others