01/13/2026
Eight Treasures - Number 3
Plucking the Stars from Heaven – Balancing Earth Energy
Digestion, Energy and Mental Clarity.
Our third posture relates to the earth phase of the five elements: the organs are stomach and spleen. The movement is akin to reaching above to the heavens and gently plucking the stars like a ripened fruit ready to be gifted from its mother tree.
By placing the body into the correct shape and focusing on the structural movement you can access the intended benefits of this movement and improve the movement of blood and qi to the areas we are working with to nourish the physical body. If the shape and the movement of energy are wrong, the benefits will be lower.
When practising the Ba Duan Jin postures, we are, 1. Utilising the physical body to create an internal outcome. 2. Increasing activity in the areas where the organs reside. 3. Reducing physical tension through stimulation of the physical structure, and 4. To promote the movement of Qi, blood and fluids (the most important).
In the cycle of the five phases, the third Ba Daun Jin is related to Earth, blood, muscles and the initial functions of the digestive organs, Stomach and Spleen. Earth is the central pivot of the five phases, the mother and root of all changes, so many symptoms of ill health have elements that effect these organs. In contrast, many illnesses can be improved through working with the functions of these organs. A healthy digestive system is a particularly important part of the human landscape which strengthens our resilience to illness and support our mental wellness.
The two earth organs are responsible for the separation, processing and conversion of food nutrition. The stomach receives the food we eat and begins the process of converting this to energy. The spleen separates the pure from the turbid and begins the conversion of food and fluids into blood and Qi. You could say that the ‘quality’ of our blood and Qi is a direct result of the food we provide the body, so a poor diet can inevitably mean poor health, or at least a reduced quality of energy and symptoms of recurring illness that become chronic. The spleen is also responsible for transporting and transforming fluids in the body.
The stomach and spleen, like a balanced and rooted environment to feel happy. The stomach dislikes excessive damp foods like fats and sugars and the spleen dislikes excessive amounts of cold, raw foods. One of the easiest ways, noted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), to injure the spleen and cause digestive issues is by consuming too many ice-cold drinks or maintaining a diet of cold energy foods that are consumed while cold, raw and uncooked. The most immediate effect of this is fatigue and loose bowel movements. You may also feel the cold more or have a sense of feeling vulnerable.
‘Plucking the Stars’ is a great move for general energy boosting. If you feel fatigued or lethargic, then this practice will help revive a tired body and mind. The stomach is down-bearing and aids digestion, the spleen is lifting and maintains the integrity of the organs and their position. Prolapse and flaccidity in the body are signs of the spleens energy not ‘holding’ the tissues.
The transition between the energy of the seasons, when the climates change naturally, always returns to earth, a brief time of physical and emotional change and transformation. In TCM, the Spleen is responsible for the transformation and transportation of fluids in the body. Staying connected with mother earth and the food she provides at those times, helps to smooth the journey between the waxing and waning of Qi and keeps the digestion functional and calm. Naturally healing foods are presented in nature when they are often most therapeutic to our health.
Our earth organs, when unbalanced, can manifest as worry, feeling doubtful and to an extent, mild feelings of anxiety. When this organ system is out of balance, we can overthink our thoughts, we feel stuck, lose our appetite or suffer with muscle pains and fatigue. If earth cannot support metal, (the next element in the five phases) we can see the immune system low and common allergies, coughs and colds may transpire as the lungs are related to metal.
Being closely related to the blood and flesh of the body, irregular or painful me**es can be improved with regular practise of Ba Duan Jin 3. Loss of muscle tone or physical weakness are other signs the earth organs may need help. As blood nourishes the brain, poor memory and forgetfulness can become a common symptom. Many symptoms associated with menopause can be tempered and reduced by strengthening the spleen energy. Ba Duan Jin 1, 2, 3 and 6 would be my prescription.
Some conditions that arise from an imbalance in the earth organs are digestive complaints like IBS, worrying about trivial things and events, looking backwards to the past and yearning. It can also affect our memory and our ability to concentrate. Thinking can become muzzy and dull, sometimes accompanied by a feeling of heaviness in the head and body. Everything becomes oppressive and slow, like being stuck in the mud. We can often feel ‘dizzy’ or dissipated when we lose our spiritual or emotional root.
In the five phases, earth is supported by fire so listening to your heart and looking after the ‘inner you’ can help the earth energies to heal. Paint a picture, write a song or take a friend out for a walk under the trees.
The body part associated with the earth organs is the muscle tissues. Gentle exercise that provides a slight challenge keeps the muscle structures connected. In the creation cycle of the five phases, the mother of earth is fire, its yin organ is the heart, so keeping the blood moving through physical activity that nourishes the body and reducing prolonged stress, where the heart muscle and vessels can easily become fatigued, will maintain the supportive relationship between fire and earth. The child of earth is metal and the yin organ is the lungs, so take regular walks or just sit for a while in the fresh air and try not to hold onto the energy of others or retain your voice when you need to speak.
The Practise
Find a moment where you are undisturbed and able to spend some time with this practise. Allow your body and mind to connect with each change at see how you feel with each repetition. There is no rush. Start slow with four each side and work up to twelve times each side.
1. Place the hands in front of the torso at a level with the lower ribs. Left palm is facing up. Right palm is facing down.
2. Raise the left hand upward, rotating the forearm anti-clockwise as it passes the face so that the palm is facing upward and rests above the head.
3. Press the left hand upward through the heel of the palm, fingers pointing towards the right or backwards.
4. Simultaneously push downward gently with the heel of the right hand. Resting the hand at the side of the right hip. Fingers pointing forward.
5. Pause at the full extent, and then relax any tension
6. Turn the upward hand over to face down while turning the lower hand to face upward.
7. Slowly bring the hands back to centre. Right hand facing up, left hand facing down.
8. Continue on opposite side. Right hand raises up, left hand lower down. Repeat 8-12 times on each side.
9. Bring the hands back to the body, just below the navel, resting one hand on top of the other and spend a few minutes connecting to the breath.
Try to practise this movement 10-30 times per day between 7-9am and 7-9pm. You can also prepare the body with our first preparation movement, some light swings of the arms before setting your intention.
