Ming-men
Excerpt from Healthy Food House
We are warm blooded beings and the presence of warmth in us indicates the presence of life. The physical body itself belongs to the element of earth and its quality is dry and cold (yin), while life energy belongs to the element of fire (yang). Have you ever wondered where is the spark of life in us?
Traditional Chinese medicine says that kidneys are the center of life energy (Qi). They are the base of Yin and Yang, to be more precise the kidneys are Yin, and in between lies Ming Men or “The Gate of Life,” also called the “ministerial flame,” which is by nature Yang. Life ends when the ministerial fire goes out. - Healthy Food House
Ming-Men: An acupressure point with power-full implications
Excerpt from Tai Chi Basics
The Ming-men refers to an energy center located in the lower torso that is so power-full that it is associated with three acupuncture points Governing Vessel 4 (Gv4), Conception Vessel 4 (Cv4) and Conception Vessel 5 (Cv5). The Chinese admiration for the Ming-men is captured in the disagreement on how to describe it. It has been called the Gate of Power, Proclamation Gate, Gate of Destiny, and Gate of Life. No matter how you define it, the healing ability and energy properties of the Mingmen abound....
Where is the Ming-Men?
For locating Gv4 you need to feel your lower back right in the center or most shallow point of the curve. It is located in the lower abdomen approximately two inches below the navel, and between the skin and the ventral surface of the spine.
That sounds like the DanTien!
Both the Ming Men and the Dan Tien come into existence at birth. They are both near the navel. The region can be accessed collectively to build energy or collect energy from other areas of the body....
Why is the Ming Men Point Important?
I am going to dive into three rabbit holes here so bear with me. It will all be clear in a second.
Rabbit Hole #1: Physiology
The Ming Men is found (read- accessed, remember the gate thing?) at acupuncture point B23 smack dab between both kidneys. The kidneys are designed to filter and reprocess the blood. Blood is the transit system for toxins and minerals so anything good or bad that you do affects the blood. The kidneys effectively cleanse and rebalance the blood by staging toxins for waste elimination and sending the good stuff back into the veins.
Rabbit Hole #2: Chinese Medical Theory
In Chinese medical theory balance equals health. Each kidney is said to develop an opposing energy and it is between the two kidneys that these energies are blended. Not just any energy but the essence of energy. Think of it in terms of clay. The kidneys develop a pure, recently cleansed, pure source of energy that can be molded into any form of energy. The type of chi/energy that it becomes depends on your intention.
Rabbit Hole #3: Metaphysics
Every good rabbit hole/metaphysics reference necessitates an Alice In Wonderland pun but I am going to completely let you down here. When we get far out on the metaphysical ledge it is too easy to give up, think that we are not _______ (fill in the blank spiritual/connected/adept) enough to make tangible progress and just quit. However, you can reap tangible benefits from knowing about the ming-men and here is how. When we begin meditating or trying to concentrate we are plagued by a restless mind (Is it trash night?, my shoes are tight, I want coffee…). Placing one’s attention on the lower back stops extraneous thoughts – false yang. Metaphysically, the ming-men is the gate by which we enter no-thought and heighten our concentration. - Tai Chi Basics
Excerpt from Healthy Food House
We are warm blooded beings and the presence of warmth in us indicates the presence of life. The physical body itself belongs to the element of earth and its quality is dry and cold (yin), while life energy belongs to the element of fire (yang). Have you ever wondered where is the spark of life in us?
Traditional Chinese medicine says that kidneys are the center of life energy (Qi). They are the base of Yin and Yang, to be more precise the kidneys are Yin, and in between lies Ming Men or “The Gate of Life,” also called the “ministerial flame,” which is by nature Yang. Life ends when the ministerial fire goes out. - Healthy Food House
Ming-Men: An acupressure point with power-full implications
Excerpt from Tai Chi Basics
The Ming-men refers to an energy center located in the lower torso that is so power-full that it is associated with three acupuncture points Governing Vessel 4 (Gv4), Conception Vessel 4 (Cv4) and Conception Vessel 5 (Cv5). The Chinese admiration for the Ming-men is captured in the disagreement on how to describe it. It has been called the Gate of Power, Proclamation Gate, Gate of Destiny, and Gate of Life. No matter how you define it, the healing ability and energy properties of the Mingmen abound....
Where is the Ming-Men?
For locating Gv4 you need to feel your lower back right in the center or most shallow point of the curve. It is located in the lower abdomen approximately two inches below the navel, and between the skin and the ventral surface of the spine.
That sounds like the DanTien!
Both the Ming Men and the Dan Tien come into existence at birth. They are both near the navel. The region can be accessed collectively to build energy or collect energy from other areas of the body....
Why is the Ming Men Point Important?
I am going to dive into three rabbit holes here so bear with me. It will all be clear in a second.
Rabbit Hole #1: Physiology
The Ming Men is found (read- accessed, remember the gate thing?) at acupuncture point B23 smack dab between both kidneys. The kidneys are designed to filter and reprocess the blood. Blood is the transit system for toxins and minerals so anything good or bad that you do affects the blood. The kidneys effectively cleanse and rebalance the blood by staging toxins for waste elimination and sending the good stuff back into the veins.
Rabbit Hole #2: Chinese Medical Theory
In Chinese medical theory balance equals health. Each kidney is said to develop an opposing energy and it is between the two kidneys that these energies are blended. Not just any energy but the essence of energy. Think of it in terms of clay. The kidneys develop a pure, recently cleansed, pure source of energy that can be molded into any form of energy. The type of chi/energy that it becomes depends on your intention.
Rabbit Hole #3: Metaphysics
Every good rabbit hole/metaphysics reference necessitates an Alice In Wonderland pun but I am going to completely let you down here. When we get far out on the metaphysical ledge it is too easy to give up, think that we are not _______ (fill in the blank spiritual/connected/adept) enough to make tangible progress and just quit. However, you can reap tangible benefits from knowing about the ming-men and here is how. When we begin meditating or trying to concentrate we are plagued by a restless mind (Is it trash night?, my shoes are tight, I want coffee…). Placing one’s attention on the lower back stops extraneous thoughts – false yang. Metaphysically, the ming-men is the gate by which we enter no-thought and heighten our concentration. - Tai Chi Basics