A Reflection on Calm Waters: Balancing the Heart and the Kidneys

"Calm waters reflect the sky."

Chinese: 静水映天 (jìng shuǐ yìng tiān)

After participating in a breathwork class last week, I noticed stillness in a new way.

I joined a breath work class last week, which helped me to notice stillness in a new, or at least different, way. The body holds so much, whether it's tension or trauma, which we don't always see. Being able to work with the breath can help the body to soften, release what it needs to, and allow us to be in the moment. 

This class made me reflect on the delicate dance between our hearts and our kidneys. In Chinese Medicine, this is the vertical axis, which is the Shao Yin channels, which is so much about balancing the fire and water within us. The heart holds our shen, relating to our spirit and clarity, while the kidneys store essence, providing grounding. When fire and water meet in harmony, yin and yang can flow in balance. We can find grounding while seeing the world in a beautiful way.

It's our created axis, how we stand in the world, and it gives us the ability to stand with a tall back as we take on whatever the world throws at us. It's a power connection for so many patients, whether it's recurrent illnesses or fertility-related concerns, the Shao Yin axis is one I think about and treat a lot.

In Daoist thought, I love the image of a still lake reflecting the stars of the night sky. The trigram 坎 (Kǎn) represents water, and teaches us the importance of stillness. Just as calm water mirrors the sun and sky, inner stillness allows the heart to see clearly and the kidneys to anchor our essence. Turbulent water clouds the reflection, whilst still water reveals the light. The tri rams remind us that rest is not passive. It is a living, dynamic process of reflection, renewal, and alignment with the natural cycles of life.

Breathing, pausing, and honouring this inner calm, the connection between heart and kidney, Fire and Water, this is where actual nourishment lives.