lung qi and the voice
By Amanda Briody
every sound you make is a vibration. every vibration has the capacity to shake something loose, to move something through, to reveal something that was previously locked away. making noise is a form of release. a way to take out the trash and energetically get out something that no longer needs to be inside of you. no longer needs to be a part of you. keeping your emotions tidily tucked inside will, overtime, make you sick. causing literal or emotional constipation and discomfort. expression is form of self care. letting your emotions flow is like cleaning your house. your tears mop the floor. your scream knocks the dust off the fan. your sigh opens the window. your temper tantrum wipes the baseboards. your groan cleans the toilet.
the power of speech and the strength of your voice is governed by the metal element. the movement of metal is that of autumn. everything letting go. shedding our leaves to show ourselves bare. creating enough space and clarity to find and see the precious moments happening right now. getting rid of all that baggage and distraction so there’s space to see what matters. space to breathe. and space to be.
autumn is natures great exhale. while we associate the lungs w the whole cycle of breathing, the spirit of the Lung is the exhale. the release. the letting go. the leaves dropping. in order to receive inspiration and grow anew, we must let go, expire, make space. Lung qi disperses and descends to power all of our releases - breath, bowel movements, menses, orgasms, labor, sweat, tears, and sounds. releasing a sigh, a cry, a scream, a wail, an eek, a blugh, a squeal, an ugh. it all requires Lung qi because each one is a release.
allow yourself space to process and release. to dig deep and clear it out through your breath, sweat, sounds and tears. what’s left will be diamonds. the purest, truest parts of yourself.
breath work is a great way to strengthen the lungs, empower the voice, and move stagnant emotions. practicing a counted breath with emphasis on the exhale can help sync your body up with the resonance of autumn. consider breathing in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 6 or 8. notice the space that is created when you intentionally clear the lungs.