Zu Lin Qi - Foot Above Tears

Gallbladder 41 is one of my absolute favourite Points for the Wood Element, as the Wooden Point on a Wood Channel brings doubled spring power. The point’s name “Foot Above Tears” hints us towards its location on the back leg of animals, but also shows its connection to tears. Tears, that may come up because of suppressed anger or to help let go of old emotions, blocking the flow of Qi.

Zu Lin Qi and the animal body

Your animal or one of your animal clients has difficulties to breath? He or she suffers from a painful hip or pain in the lower back? Maybe a dog or cat doesn’t like to be touched on their sides or a horse hates to have its girth tightened?

All those symptoms and behaviours can hint towards a blocked Qi Flow in Liver and Gallbladder. TCM links those two Organs and Meridians to the Wood Element. They are responsible for an harmonious flow of Qi through the animal’s body. If this flow is disrupted, we in Chinese Medicine speak of “ blocked Qi”, which can lead to many different symptoms, like the ones mentioned above.

Gallbladder 41 is a great point to dissolve the blocked Energy of a constrained Wood Element. You can also see if this points helps with red, swollen or dry eyes - remember the point’s name that directly connects to the eye and eye liquids (amongst which tears are one).

As mentioned, “ Foot Above Tears” can also help to shift diaphragmatic holding patterns, which are possibly the reason, why an animal has difficulties to breath.

Zu Lin Qi and the Emotions

The releasing effects on the diaphragm mainly result from it’s impact on the animal’s Emotional Body. In Chinese Teachings, emotions that cannot be taken in and transformed by the heart are stored in the area of the Solar Plexus. In exactly the area, where we find the diaphragm on a physical level. As you might imagine, such emotions are mostly not positive ones like love or happiness, but rather fear, anger or frustration.

You can kind of think of the diaphragm as a storage for emotions. If they are not released and transformed, this storage is going to be full, eventually. Which can than effect the diaphragm as a physical muscle, effecting an animal’s ability to breath deep and relaxing. Next to shortness of breath, a blocked diaphragm can also show itself as an unwillingness towards being touched at its sides. This is why it makes sense to look into diaphragmatic holding patterns, if a dog doesn't like to wear a harness or a horse doesn’t like to be saddled, in my experience.

“Foot Above Tears” can be a great point, to help dissolve, calm and release stuck emotions. Especially, when you deal with typical woody emotions like anger, frustration, aggressiveness, wrath or depression. You might also apply acupressure or acupuncture on those points when the animal shows one of those emotions excessively, seems to be stuck in them.

Zu Lin Qi and the Mind

Letting go of old patterns and blocking emotions is crucial for the core quality of the Wood Element: opening up and growing towards new beginnings. While the Liver is said to make plans and to creatively bring new ideas to life, the Gallbladder judges and evaluates those plans - and than makes the decision which of them will be brought forward, including the when and how.

This is why a blocked Live and Gallbladder Qi can be the reason why an animal is fearful towards new situations or has trouble to open up towards them. Or simply shows a bad timing, when it tries to move on.

Let’s take a horse as an example that moves into a new herd. He or she will likely be overwhelmed by all the new impressions, maybe still suffering from the goodbye, it needed to say to old friends and its former barn. In order to be happy in the new home, acceptance by the new herd is crucial. The way how the horse is going to approach the New buddies is as crucial as its timing and attitude. Approaching the herd’s leader hesitatingly, while he eats or scratches the neck of his favourite mare, will most likely not lead to a great success. Especially not, if the horse’s energy reflects a “ I wish I could…” or a “ I should, but I’m scared…” energy. However, if the same horse approaches the leading horse in a friendly and self-confident way, as soon as he/she is open for the new contact, it will more likely lead to success.

And this is exactly where Gallbladder 41 can help with on a mental level: to act courageously at the right time with the right attitude, so that new possibilities can successfully arise.

Connecting animals with the energy of Early Spring

“Foot Above Tears” can support with that, as it reflects the joyful energy of early spring, when you start hoping for warmer weather after a long and cold winter. Close your eyes for a moment and imagine seeing the first crocuses or snowdrops of the season: How do you feel?

This is exactly the energy, Gallbladder 41 can help you awaken in your animal.