Awaken Your Energetic Pathways A Morning Meditation
This is an active meditation, aiming to gently stimulate the 12 Meridians and the two major vessels from the Classical Chinese Medicine tradition, which happily also includes a marvelous spiritual awareness and integration.
This waking meditation may be done still sitting in bed, or a nearby chair, or even on the bathroom throne. While it is intended to start your day, it can in fact be used to reset your energy any time of the day. The focus and intention is to softly energize and clear all the bodies: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
Placing the thumb and index fingertips of your right hand alongside the base of the nail bed of your left thumb, gently massage by moving your fingers in a circular motion for a ten count. You may feel as if you are gently pinching the nail from either side, but your fingertips are not actually on the nail but along the side. Literally count to 10 in your head. Take gentle full breaths while you count. Move on to your index finger, and then the middle, ring and pinky. Starting to think? Brain kicking in? Thank it for sharing, and return your focus to your fingers. The six arm meridians of Classical Chinese Medicine all have a point on the finger tips. As you massage, you may notice energetic shifts throughout the body.
Once you complete the left hand, switch to the right. Again, place the fingertips of your thumb and index finger on either side of the base of the nail bed on your right thumb. Using a gentle, circular motion, massage 10 times, and then move on to the index, middle, ring and pinky finger. Some of these places may be a little sore. It is okay, in fact good, to give them a gentle rubbing massage, so keep going.
Next, bend your arms so you can place each thumb at the outside edge of your collar bone, then slide to just beneath it. Slide your thumb gently along, tracing the collar bone up to the place where it meets the top fo the Y of the chest bone. Place your pinky fingertip there, and then gently place each finger all along the bottom of the collar bone, ending with thumb resting at the end of the bone, just before the shoulder. Again, some place may be sore, so don’t press really hard. Your fingers will be slightly, gently separated and your hand relaxed and cupped naturally. Massage in that same gentle, 10 circles, BUT circle towards the left and then do another 10 count towards the right. Remember to keep breathing while you count!
Now the jaw. Place your pinky under your ear, against the flap and the jaw, then gently cup your finger tips along the bottom of jaw. Your thumb typically ends up resting just after the bend of the jaw bone, if you are using a relaxed hand position. Move your whole hand in a small circular motion in order to massage with all 10 fingertips. Massage just ten times, counting in your head. Thinking again? forgive and move on.
Moving onto the scalp, place your index fingers on the crown of your head, just inside the little dip at the back, with the backs of your index fingers to the outer knuckle touching. Array your other fingers gently along the top of the head, also touching the opposite finger only up to the outer knuckle. The fingers are gently separated, and will not cover the whole scalp, and your thumbs will be naturally raised up off your head. Allow your palms to rest on the side of your head, and then move your fingertips in the circular 10 count, first massaging towards the left and then massaging towards the right. Sometimes its easier to remember to breath, if you pace your breathing with your counting; inhale, 2, 3, exhale, 5, 6, inhale, 8, 9, exhale, move to next form.
Move your pinky fingers to the back of your head, just inside the arch at the base of the skull. The outsides of the pinky fingers touch each other. Now, place your other fingers and the thumb along the base of the skull, tracing the hollow at the base of the skull. The fingers touch each other on the sides, and the thumb generally ends up just around the corner from the other fingers. Massage for your 10 count, first towards the left, and then towards the right. Often, people find very sore spots here, and it is okay to press a little harder (not to hurt) if you find more relief.
Next, move your cupped hands to either side of the breast bone, the sternum. The breast bone has a Y at the top as we discovered when we massaged under the collar bone (3.). Slide your fingers just below that Y, and then splay your fingers wide enough apart to massage the length of the sternum, to just above the taper. Position your fingertips on either side of the bone, not actually on it and massage in any direction, just 10 circles, but allow the movement to be slightly larger. Move your fingers onto the edge of the bone, and massage again. Slide your fingers together, touching to the first knuckle, and massage another 10 gentle circles. The center of the breast bone is often very sensitive, especially on women. If stronger pressure there gives some relief, it is okay to sneak in a second set of 10. Be mindful of the amount of pressure, and be sure avoid causing pain.
It on to the feet! It is fine to massage your toes through your socks. Bring one calf to rest on top of the opposite thigh. Just like the fingers, place your thumb and index finger on either side of the nail starting at the base of the nail bed. Be sure to keep your fingertips off of the nail itself. Massage each toe, gently at the base of the nail bed, 10 times. Be sure to keep breathing! Repeat with the other leg.
Stand up, shake out. You have just massaged all 12 Meridians and the two major vessels. All your energetic pathways are Awake.









