The spirit of the Water Element is zhi (pronounced zhur). This is one’s will, ambition, purpose, and destiny – a force that moves a person towards their destiny without much conscious thought or effort. In this blog, learn more about zhi and ways in which you can cultivate this powerful energy. Additionally, zhi is thought to be the innate power of life itself – life that wants to live and survive.

Zhi is housed in The Kidneys. Therefore, a person with strong Kidney strength has strong zhi, i.e. a drive to be alive; a person with less Kidney strength may have a lack of drive and overcompensate by pushing themselves.

Anything that injures the kidneys will also injure the zhi. Chronic fearfulness, trauma, ongoing stress, penetrating cold, addictions, overwork and insufficient sleep will all contribute to draining Kidney Qi and zhi.

When zhi is imbalanced, the result can be one of two extremes – either lack of drive or overdrive. Therefore, a person can experience listlessness and passivity, weakness, withdrawal and despair. Or conversely, a person may become restless and unrelentingly active and hyper-determined. Other possible outcomes of zhi imbalance are forgetfulness and memory lapses, the overuse of stimulants to provide false fuel for activity, addictive patterns, insomnia, and nervous breakdown.

When zhi is balanced, a person moves forward without much effort, as if propelled by some invisible force. A kind of “going with the flow,” with ease and effortlessness.

Ultimately the highest form of zhi arises when one’s personal will is in alignment with the will of heaven. The will of heaven is stored in our essence (jing), existing as a blueprint for our highest development. Aligning our personal will with this blueprint enables us to manifest our true destiny. The more balanced our zhi, the more we will experience an inner knowing of how this alignment can occur.

Bladder 52

A point that deeply supports zhi is Bladder 52 – Zhishi – Ambition Room or Residence of the Will.

Physically, this point treats lumbar pain, incontinence, impotence and infertility. More deeply, it strengthens the will/zhi, allowing access to courage, determination and perseverance. It also supports a person who is experiencing chronic fear and anxiety, which are detrimental to The Kidneys and Kidney Qi.

This fascinating spirit point may be used by your acupuncturist for support and nourishment during your birthday, at the start of a New Year, or anytime it’s suspected your water element/zhi is out of balance.

How to Nourish Zhi and The Kidneys.

  • Get acupuncture.
  • Practice grounding Kidney/Root Chakra Yoga by Adriene.
  • Practice winter-focused qigong exercises such as Mimi Kuo-Deemer’s Qigong for the Water Element.
  • Add in seafood, seaweed, and kelp in your diet. Be aware that too much will cause water retention.
  • Drink plenty of water.
  • Eat hydrating and nourishing food such as soups and stews.
  • Moxibustion, a deep heat therapy using mugwort herb, is especially beneficial for Kidney Yang deficiency.
  • Try ginger foot soaks to activate the Kidney meridian on the foot, which helps build the Kidney’s energetic function.

Cultivate Zhi in Your Daily Life.

  • Do a practice every day for a month.
  • Do something you’ve never done before.
  • Do something for five minutes longer when you’d rather stop.
  • Do something very slowly.
  • Do something no one would expect you to do.
  • Postpone an action you want to do.
  • Do something now that you’d prefer to postpone.

Sources:

The Spirit of Water by Five Element Acupressure
The Element of Water by Thomson’s Chinese Medicine’s