Appendix 2
THE TEN LUNAR MONTHS OF PREGNANCY
Below is a brief discussion of the developmental stages involved in the ten lunar months of pregnancy. We have included this information because pregnancy is something that obviously affects the majority of women at some stage in their life. Each lunar month is divided into the inner and outer processes. The inner processes are the various interplays of the congenital energy body that take place during each lunar month of foetal development. The outer processes are the foundations of different aspects of a child’s health which are established during each lunar month. Note that the sequence for the development of an unborn child is very different in Daoist theory to the Western model. Remember that this is because the ancient Chinese model is focused almost entirely upon the energetic health at each stage of development rather than the growth of the physical body. An example of this would be that during the seventh lunar month the energy around the child’s bones is established. Although an unborn child has obviously developed the physical structure of the bones prior to this time, it is only during the seventh lunar month that the potential of their health is consolidated.
The following table summarises the inner and outer processes during each lunar month of a woman’s pregnancy. These months are then discussed in more detail below.
The ancient Daoists placed great importance on the process of being pregnant and so developed a list of guidelines in order to promote the health of the unborn child. Although they could never fully guarantee the absence of congenital defects, they did develop a set of guidelines which would help a mother to give her child the healthiest start in life. These are discussed below by lunar month.
Prior to Conceiving
Many pregnancies are not planned and, of course, in these cases there can be little in the way of planning for a healthy conception. However, in the case of planned conceptions there are several pieces of guidance that potential parents can follow in order to ensure they prepare for the arrival of a new child.
First, both parents should recognise that there has to be a healthy level of energetic resonance in order to help establish a healthy emotional foundation for their child. Both partners must feel a strong energetic and emotional connection to one another in order for resonance to develop. Essentially, this is the energetic basis for love. According to Daoist thought, resonance takes time to develop, and so even if a couple fell in love at first sight, it will take some time for their energetic frequencies to begin vibrating at the same state. For this reason it was classically advised that the couple should have been together long enough for this resonance to have taken place. It is impossible to give exact timescales for this to take place, but you can be sure that it does not happen within the space of a few weeks.
The potential parents should also ensure that they have a healthy emotional relationship with each other. If there are numerous arguments between the couple or one of the couple holds deep resentment for the other, then this is going to have a strong effect on the child’s emotional health. The balance of both parents’ emotional states helps to develop the foundation of Yin and Yang within the unborn child’s spirit. The degree to which the parents relate healthily to each other determines how well Yin and Yang will relate to each other. For this reason it is wise to try to resolve any past issues prior to conception. The healthier the relationship between two people, the better the emotional foundation that is being established for their child.
Both potential parents should spend some time ensuring that their physical and energetic health is as good as it can be. The health of both parents is passed on to their child via the transference of their Jing. The information patterns contained within this energetic substance will go on to form the baseline of their child’s health. Although, of course, there will always be weaknesses in both parents, because nobody’s health is perfect, you can do your best to get your health to as good a state as possible. Consider taking time to visit a Chinese medicine practitioner in order to help regulate your internal energy prior to trying for a child. The great injustice of Jing, though, is that it is said to pass on family information for three generations. This means that although your health may be good, your parents or grandparents may pass on weaknesses to your unborn child through the lineage of your Jing. This also places responsibility on you to regulate your own health as your Jing will also affect the next couple of generations of your family.
Both parents should adopt a healthy diet for several months prior to trying to conceive. They should also cut out all toxins of any sort including any drugs or alcoholic beverages. In particular, the mother should also try to stay away from any environments where there are toxins around. Smoke-filled rooms should be avoided in order to prevent any damage to your lungs.
Try to avoid stressful situations. Although there are always going to be unavoidable stresses in anybody’s life, it is never wise to conceive a child during a particularly difficult period of your life. Consider waiting until your life is a little more settled and there are fewer stresses affecting you. Do not try to conceive if you are working overly hard. This is particularly important for the mother. She should try to establish a healthy balance in her life whereby she is not being overly stressed or overworked. This will all contribute to the baseline of health of the child.
First Lunar Month
During the first lunar month of pregnancy it is particularly important for a woman to avoid eating raw or cold foods. Salads should be avoided along with ice in drinks or any kind of frozen food. Warm, cooked food should be eaten along with warm drinks. Warm water is better than coffee or tea for the first lunar month; coffee should also be avoided throughout the whole of a woman’s pregnancy as it runs the risk of damaging the Qi of the unborn child’s Heart.
The mother should eat foods that promote the health of the Liver, while at the same time avoiding foods that strengthen the Lungs, as this will restrict the growth of the Liver’s energy. There are many books written on Chinese medical food therapy, so it may be wise to invest in one or two of them during your pregnancy.
During this early stage of pregnancy it is of particular importance that a woman avoids feelings of stress, sadness or anger. All of these emotions will negatively affect the balance of the Wood and Metal elemental energy. In particular, feelings of anger will easily transfer to the unborn child at this stage of pregnancy.
Second Lunar Month
During the second lunar month it was classically advised that all sexual stimulation be avoided for the pregnant woman. This is because the Qi of the child is being developed as well as the establishment of the lower Dan Tien. If the mother is overly sexually stimulated during this lunar month, then an excess of base desires will develop within the lower aspects of the child’s psyche. These run the risk of developing into sexual deviances or addictions, issues that will hinder a child in the course of spiritual development later in its life.
With regard to food, the same guidelines are given for the second lunar month as for the first. Refer back to the lists of positive and negative foods given in the first lunar month. In addition, avoid fried food, as this runs the risk of developing internal Heat during this lunar month.
Third Lunar Month
Because the basis of the child’s emotional standpoint is being developed during this lunar month, it is wise to remain as calm as possible. The mother should avoid any stresses and stay away from anything that may result in a negative emotional state. Quiet breathing exercises are useful during this month in order to help the unborn child to develop as centred a mind as possible. Do not watch unpleasant or emotionally disturbing images on the television such as thrillers or horror films, and try not to read or expose yourself to anything that might be upsetting, as these feelings will be rooted into the child’s psyche. It is impossible to look at violent or horror-type images without them leaving an imprint on the mind. Many people think watching violent movies is not affecting them, but of course it is. Everything is a source of information, and this information attaches itself to the energy body via the emotions. During this third lunar month it is particularly important that such images are avoided.
Healthy amounts of cooked vegetables and grains are advised during this lunar month in order to help build the unborn child’s health. There are less strict guidelines on food at this time but you should still eat as healthy and balanced a diet as possible.
Fourth Lunar Month
During the fourth lunar month the health of the child’s body fluids is established along with the seven Po, the spirits that give a tangible connection to the outside world. It is advised that lots of warm grains are eaten during this month. It can also be useful to eat soups and broths, and in particular chicken soup. These will all help the child develop in as healthy a way as possible.
Emotionally, the most damaging thing at this time is going to be feelings of grief. Any acute senses of loss at this time can negatively affect the health of the child’s psyche. The unfortunate thing about this is that you rarely get to choose when you are going to experience feelings of loss or grief. You cannot help when a family member will pass away, a pet will die or a friend will walk out on you. These are all aspects of life that are beyond your control. All you can do is be aware of how these feelings affect you during this time and so try to maintain as calm a state of mind as possible.
Fifth Lunar Month
During the fifth lunar month the unborn child’s level of physical strength is being determined. In particular, the strength of the limbs is emphasised. For this reason it is advised that a woman eats very well during this month and ensures that she eats enough to give her child the vitality it needs. The Chinese classical guidance is lots of grain and meat at this time. The energy taken from the meat is necessary for the child’s development at this stage. Of course, there are often ethical issues for vegetarians or vegans. We cannot advise you on this as you need to weigh up the strength and importance of your ethical convictions against the classical advice given. If you are a meat eater, then make sure that the meat you are eating at this time is healthy and organic. Do not eat processed meats or cheap, low-quality meat. Look for meat that has been reared in an ethical manner. It may be wise to go to farm shops or specialist food outlets in order to make sure that the meat you eat is healthy and clean.
It is also advised that a pregnant woman does not get up too early during this month and the next. Rest lots, stay in bed late and try to ensure that you preserve your energy; the more you can preserve, the more vitality you will transfer to your unborn child.
Sixth Lunar Month
During this month try to follow the advice from the previous lunar month. This is another month of establishing physical vitality for your child. Eat according to the guidance above and do not get out of bed too early. The only difference is that during this month you should also be engaging in light exercise as well. Brisk exercise that is not too tiring is the best. This can be anything from swimming to brisk walks in the hills. You are trying to develop a balance between resting to store energy and engaging in light exercise to stimulate the body’s Qi into a Yang state. The better you can find a balance between these two states, rest and activity, the better a foundation in physical vitality you will build for your child.
Seventh Lunar Month
During the seventh lunar month it is important for a woman to stay in a healthy environment. She should avoid cold, draughty or damp places as all of these energies will be transferred into her body at this time. In addition, she should eat warm foods for the whole month. No uncooked foods should be consumed, and the healthier a woman’s diet at this time the better. Avoid sugars and processed foods which will lead to a weakening of the potential of your child’s bone health.
A sensible, but slightly unpleasant, food to eat during this month is bone marrow broth. Not the most appetising of dishes for many people, it is very good for helping to develop bone strength.
Eighth Lunar Month
The various formations of internal Qi are stabilising within the child’s body at this time as the child is preparing to be born. With only a couple of lunar cycles left prior to entering the world, it is the skin of the child that is soaked in Qi at this time. For this reason it is wise to eat food from the ‘five flavours’. This means that a woman should eat a healthy balance of food from each of the elemental categories. For more information on these categories, please refer to any book on Chinese medical food theory. There are many books on the market with lists of food according to these five categories. During the eighth lunar month it is particularly important to try to equalise the food from each of these categories to give the unborn child as varied and balanced a source of energy as possible.
Ninth and Tenth Lunar Months
The spirit of the unborn child is entering its final formative stages at this time. For this reason it is vitally important for the woman to stay away from any external stresses or emotional difficulties. She should rest, try to remain calm and aim to establish as calm a mind for her child as possible. It is almost time for the child to be born and this should be her only focus. It is very important at this stage that she receives as much support as possible from her partner who should be prioritising everything towards maintaining the mother’s energetic and emotional health. The woman should not be undertaking any unnecessary work as this will take potential vitality away from the unborn child. This should be maintained up until the birth of the child.
The Partner
These guidelines are to help establish as solid a foundation as possible for a mother’s unborn child. You will see that all of the rules are for the mother with regard to what she eats and so on. There was classically little in the way of guidance for the partner of the pregnant woman. Despite this lack of guidance, it should be remembered that we each have an energy field which carries with it vibratory information. This means that if the partner of the pregnant woman does not maintain their health during the pregnancy, this will also have a detrimental effect upon the unborn child. A couple will constantly be transferring Qi from one to another, and this Qi transference wants to be as positive as possible.
Although it is not always possible to follow these guidelines completely for the full ten lunar months, it is important to understand that bringing new life into the world brings with it the responsibility to give that child as healthy a start as possible.