Now that we’ve touched on some of the concepts and flows that are foundational to the Art of Jin Shin, it’s time to get a little bit more specific. In this section you will find flows tailored to more particular needs. Within the Jin Shin system, these flows pertain to energy and projects that are more “manifested” than those involved in the earlier work of the book.
What do we mean by “manifested”? As you may recall from our discussion of the Organ Flows, energy within the body is thought to “dense down” into cellular matter and organs. These concepts touch on the differences between ki-eki, or source energy, and tai-eki, a liquid form that is our individual energy. The “First Three” Flows described in chapter 6 are ki-eki and our closest connection to source energy. The Organ Flows described in chapter 7 are tai-eki, a liquid form of energy that eventually becomes solid, creating the organs as it continues to manifest.
Just as the energy manifests into matter, it can also manifest into dis-ease—and eventually disease. Jin Shin and other alternative or complementary healing traditions diverge from traditional Western allopathic medicine in their attention to the slight, unseen deviations in energetic patterns that may indicate or cause a problem down the line. Tending to symptoms and projects that have already begun to manifest, the flows in this chapter are designed to help the denser forms of energy—relieving an existing condition or preventing a project from developing into a more serious medical issue.
The following four little flows revitalize energy when applied in the morning. When held in the evening, they dissipate daily tension and stress. You can practice all the flows or choose one, depending on what you feel you need in the moment. Reverse the flows as desired depending on your energetic needs.
Place right thumb over right ring fingernail, left hand over right shoulder (SEL 11), and place knees together (SEL 1).
WHAT IT HELPS: A quickie for the Mediator Flow, this flow can be used for general fatigue of the body and mind. When imbalance and fatigue arise, you can use this flow to bring balance to left and right sides of the body. Balancing the sides of the body, this flow also harmonizes our emotions, including worry, fear, anger, sadness, and pretense or “trying to.”
1
Place right hand on left sit bone (SEL 25), right foot on inside of left knee (SEL 1), and left thumb over left ring fingernail.
2
Move right hand to left lower back (SEL 2).
WHAT IT HELPS: This flow helps to pull the energy up out of the legs. Good for restless, tired legs.
1
Place right hand on left middle of back (SEL 23), left hand on left sit bone (SEL 25).
2
Move left hand to top of left shoulder blade (SEL 3).
Move right hand to left middle of neck (SEL 12).
WHAT IT HELPS: This little flow works along the line of the Bladder Flow, allowing energy to descend freely so that it can move up the back again with each inhale—bolstering the proper movement of energy, up the back and down the front, as it helps with back pain and general stress and anxiety.
1
Place right hand on left neck area (SELs 11 and 12), left hand on top of left thigh at groin (SEL 15).
3
Move left hand to right lower back (SEL 2).
WHAT IT HELPS: Related to the Supervisor Flow, this mini flow helps to harmonize all of the SELs on each side of the body. As shown, the left flow helps gas and diarrhea. The reverse flow aids with constipation.
The following flows can be used as a form of daily self-help in order to assist ascending and descending energy needs. Common ailments associated with these flows include pain or discomfort in the head, ears, arms, teeth, chest, ribs, joints, hips, legs, throat, and abdomen.
1
Place right hand on top of right chest (between SELs 22 and 13), left hand on right middle of neck (SEL 12), where it will remain for the entirety of the flow.
3
Move right hand to right upper thigh at groin area (SEL 15).
5
Move right hand to right heel.
WHAT IT HELPS: Descending energy helps the exhale, assisting all energy in moving down the front of the body and pertaining to all projects above the waist—headache, heart, lung, and digestive projects, along with emotional issues such as anxiety and depression. Clearing the energy from head to toe, the flow allows us to begin the inhale at the toes, ready to receive the abundance of the breath and priming us to receive abundance in our lives.
1
Place right hand on left middle of neck (SEL 12), where it will remain for the duration of the flow, left hand on right middle of neck (SEL 12).
2
Move left hand to right middle of back (SEL 23).
4
Move left hand below outer right anklebone (SEL 16).
WHAT IT HELPS: Ascending energy helps the inhale, allowing the energy to move up the back of the body and assisting with all projects below the waist—feet, legs, intestinal, and reproductive projects, for instance, as well as anxiety. When we inhale, the energy will move up from the toes to the head.
The following are “quickies,” simple flows for special needs. They’re similar to the types of highly specific holds and flows you’ll find in the Symptom Encyclopedia on page 119, and they were handed down to me by the founder of Jin Shin Institute, Pamela Markarian Smith, who learned them from Mary Burmeister. Flows are illustrated on the left side unless otherwise noted.
Place right thumb over right ring fingernail, left hand on top of right shoulder blade (SEL 3), left heel on right inside of knee (SEL 1) or place both knees together to help the same location.
WHAT IT HELPS: This quickie helps to balance the left and right sides of the body, with the energy moving from upper left to lower right, back and forth. Along with correcting any disharmony that occurs when the right and left sides are not in balance, this flow is particularly helpful in balancing our emotional attitudes—especially anxiety and fear, or, as Mary Burmeister put it, “false evidence appearing real.”
1
Place right hand on right shoulder (SEL 11), where it remains for the duration of the flow, left hand on right sit bone (SEL 25).
2
Move left hand to left lower back (SEL 2).
WHAT IT HELPS: The shoulder location (SEL 11) helps with hipline projects, while the sit bone (SEL 25) assists with the inhale, helping the body build or create. The lower back point (SEL 2) helps with letting go, a process that is concentrated on the exhale, so reverse the flow for constipation—a condition that’s associated with not being able to let go on a spiritual, emotional, or physical level.
1
Place right fingertips at left base of head (SEL 4), left fingertips on right cheekbone (SEL 21).
2
Move left fingertips above right eyebrow (SEL 20).
4
Move left fingertips to right elbow (SEL 19).
WHAT IT HELPS: all eye projects, including near- and farsightedness, eye strain, vision issues, tired eyes, and glaucoma.
Fatigue in the body is the slow-moving drag that can accumulate from overuse and overextension of the body. Energy can then stagnate in the chest-, waist-, or hipline. Following are simple holds to relieve stagnation of the fatigue flow in these specific areas.
UPPER CHEST AND ARMS: treats both sides of the body
Place right hand on left upper arm (SEL High 19), left hand on right upper arm (SEL High 19).
Place right hand on left upper arm (SEL High 19), left hand on right inner thigh (SEL High 1).
SHOULDER AND ARM: right flow illustrated
Place right hand on top of right shoulder blade (SEL 3), left hand in right elbow crease (SEL 19).
SOLAR PLEXUS: treats both sides of the body
Place right hand on left elbow (SEL 19), left hand on right elbow (SEL 19).
BACK
1
Place right hand on right upper thigh (SEL High 1), left hand on left lower back (SEL 2).
Move left hand to left middle of back (SEL 23).
WHAT IT HELPS: Bodily fatigue resulting from overuse and overextension of the body.
Place right hand on left upper arm (SEL High 19), left hand on left neck area, where you feel tension (SEL 12).
WHAT IT HELPS: This flow will help to release neck tension, whether due to stress or to trauma or accidents involving whiplash. Also helpful for headaches caused by tight muscles in the neck.
1
Place right hand on top of left shoulder blade (SEL 3), left hand below right collarbone (SEL 22). The right hand will remain on SEL 3 for the duration of the flow.
2
Move left hand to right middle of chest (SEL 13).
4
Move left hand to left knee (SEL 1).
WHAT IT HELPS: This flow is excellent for preventing and recovering from flu and viruses, and the location on the shoulder blade (SEL 3) is particularly key for immune system projects. As you become more attuned to your body, you may feel this location asking for help when you have a flu or virus, or an achy pain that will devolve into a cold or flu if not attended to. So give that side of the flow some extra love!
Place right hand on left calf and left hand on right calf, with fingers pointing down and palming the calves.
WHAT IT HELPS: Skin conditions from rashes and acne to burns. The position of the hands enables you to cover the entire surface of the calf, reaching a different energy line with each finger. To reverse flow, uncross your hands, placing right hand on right calf and left hand on left calf.
Body Thermostat and Muscle Function: treats both sides of the body
Move right hand to right outside of knee (SEL 8) and left hand to left outside of knee (SEL 8).
WHAT IT HELPS: Regulates body temperature and bolsters muscular function. The location on the outside of the left knee cools the body, while the right SEL has a warming quality; harmonize them simultaneously to help with regulation, or apply to an individual side as desired. When you are seated with crossed legs, observe which side of the SEL you naturally support with your other knee—it’s always interesting to note our bodies’ natural harmonizing instincts at work.
Carpal Tunnel and Joint Fatigue: right flow illustrated
1
Place right hand on top of left shoulder blade (SEL 3) and left hand on right elbow (SEL 19).
2
Move left hand to right wrist area.
3
Move right hand to left inner thigh (SEL High 1), left hand to right inside shoulder blade (SEL 26).
WHAT IT HELPS: This three-step sequence on the shoulder joints is excellent for harmonizing arm, shoulder, elbow, and wrist projects, with the location on the inner thigh giving slow-moving (congested) energy an escape route. Feel for congestion in the SELs and hold until you feel a release.
Headaches: right flow illustrated
1
Place right hand on tailbone and left hand on right middle of neck (SEL 12).
2
Move right hand to right sit bone (SEL 25).
Move right hand to area beneath outer right anklebone (SEL 16).
WHAT IT HELPS: This quickie for the Bladder Flow helps energy that is stuck above the waist descend out of the head and down to the little toe. For frontal headaches, you can also hold the middle finger; to treat headaches centered at the back of the head, hold the thumb. For stress-related headaches, hold the little finger and/or SEL 17, at the outside of the wrist.
