The 5 Spirits: Supporting The Soul in Chinese Medicine

Unveiling the quintessence of Chinese Medicine, we delve into the realm of the 'Five Spirits'. A journey that explores how these ethereal entities bolster the soul, offering a unique perspective on health and wellness.

What’s in a Spirit

Spirit or Shen is considered a vital substance in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as it completes the fabric of our physiological makeup and human life.

• Fundamentally, Spirit is the unique animation humans possess which allows a person to: express their authenticity, dedicate themselves to a hobby or vocation, feel connected to mundane everyday wonders, and to be the conscious co-creator of their destiny.

Your spirits await…

Cultivating clear and intact spirit-minds helps us to adopt and express the virtues of wisdom, justice, loyalty/faithfulness, propriety, and human kindness, rather than be consumed by fear, anger, reactivity/impulsiveness, complacency/boredom, or disconnectedness.

• Acupuncture, a blend of physical and energy medicine, clears the blockages while creating the space for you to fully inhabit and express most vibrant and authentic self.

The Five “Facetes”

In TCM, there are five types of “spirit-minds” that branch-off from someone’s central Spirit

• Each embodies your capacity to show up in the world as the best version of yourself
• They each have unique roles and characteristics that assert themselves when content or disturbed
• Assessing the state of their Spirit is always included in the observation & diagnostic process since the spirit is vital to one’s overall well-being
• When we see spirit disharmonies they are often paired with physical symptoms, but sometimes not

The Hun ~ The Ethereal Soul

The Hun is its own level of consciousness whose vitality depends on its ability to connect and disengage with the Mind-to “come and go” as it pleases

• When the Liver is healthy, the Liver Blood is abundant, and circulation of Liver Qi is smooth, the Hun is content-it can come and go freely: there will be a healthy flow of ideas and creativity for the Mind to receive and integrate

The Shen is the spirit of “The Mind” and represents our consciousness

It is the basis for our humanity and source from which all other spirits emerge from.

• In the body, the Shen is ruled by the Heart which, in Chinese Medicine, is the “the origin of mental life,” and therefore the “monarch” of all other organs: the only one capable of recognizing, assessing, and truly feeling the spectrum of one’s emotional experiences.
• The Shen determines our identity and capacity for self-awareness, but also, how we view and interact with others: how we orient ourselves in the world around us.

The Zhi ~ The Will

Zhi is our willpower

• The spirit-mind is stored in the Kidneys, which are associated with our deepest “essence,” our inherited traits, our reproductive potential, and our deepest stores of energy
• When the Kidney Qi is weakened, there can be a lack of willpower and drive which is an important aspect of chronic depression
• An imbalance between the Zhi and the Yang Will may look like restlessness, a desire to run away from your life, a vague or existential fear
• A healthy Zhi invites us to faithfully wade into the unknown, take the reins of destiny, and realize you’ve had the power to be the co-creator of your life all along

Behind the Blog

Hannah Guyon is a Licensed Acupuncturist who has owned and operated her own private practice Thrive Acupuncture + Herbal Medicine for three years.

The Po is the spirit-mind stored by the Lungs

It integrates with us at our first breath and disintegrates at the end of life when breathing ceases.

• When balanced, it supports our ability to stay connected to the present moment through our breath, and is associated with assertiveness and fairness.
• When there is weakness of the Po, we might see lingering or unresolved grief, lifeless voice, lethargy, depression, or constant feelings of loss.

The Yi ~ Thought

The Yi is the spirit-mind stored by the Spleen. It has to do with thought, intellect, and comprehension, as well as intention and creativity.

• Having a strong and clear intention helps us to create smart, structured plans and goals, which takes our energy there (aka manifests that reality).
• A strong Yi promotes the virtues of faithfulness and loyalty.

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