Women develop through the cycles of seven. Men through the rhythms of eight. Women, more resonate with Blood. Men, with qi. Being human, there is a lot we share in common. Looking at our classic books on medicine, from the point of view of physiology and health, there are differences. And from the perspective of development, going from child to adult, and from adult to elder, we walk paths that orbit around one another.
Damo MItchell recently commented on social media about his concern that men, younger men in particular, are not thriving. They are depleted in Jing and Kidney qi. Which is a curious and unusual condition given their relative youth. I too have had concerns about younger men and so invited Damo to this conversation.
Listen into this discussion on how men and women process emotion differently, why men need to feel useful, the importance of manners and why man who does not take risks will deplete his Kidneys for sure.
In This Conversation We Discuss:
- What makes a male flourish
- Inherent qualities of women and men
- How the sexes process emotions differently
- The Chinese medicine perspective on the differences between men and women
- The purpose of manners is to remind men of their physical advantage
- Women have more somatic empathy, men are more like bricks
- Don’t confuse strength with domination
- The vital importance of men cultivating their Zhi, Jing and Marrow
- What men and women need to live meaningful lives
- How the Liver can lead to emotional dysregulation as the Kidney and gets stronger
- The problem for men with too much safety
- How men are injuring their Jing in their formative years
- Considering Jing from a Nei Dan alchemical perspective and how it is different in women and men
- Men need to feel useful
- The difference ways men and women store jing
- The importance of competition, striving and why bravery and not feeling safe are important to the development of men
- Sympathetic joy and appreciation for excellence in others is essential for strong and flowing Liver qi
Sympathetic joy and appreciation for excellence in others is essential for strong and flowing Liver qi
Damo Mitchell
I started out in the martial arts which I began at the age of four; it was through these studies that I first encountered Chinese medicine which I began to learn at age 14 with Tuina. Fast forward 28 years or so and I find myself having completed a UK degree in Chinese medicine as well as having been apprenticed to a number of Chinese medical doctors in China and South East Asia. Never really finding myself comfortable in a conventional ‘clinical;’ setting, I always leaned more towards study with esoteric and Daoist practitioners of medicine who worked in smaller communities or out of their own home. To me, the separation of personal cultivation from Chinese medical study shouldn’t really exist and they both form an equal part of my lifepath.
These days, I am the head of the Xian Tian College of Chinese Medicine as well as the director of the Lotus Nei Gong School of Internal Arts which keeps me more than busy!
Links and Resources
There is a wealth of videos that will give you a taste of Damo's work on YouTube.
Ready for a deeper dive? Visit The Internal Arts Academy for a wealth of video instruction on Nei Gong, Tai Chi, Ba Gua and various assorted lectures. And for live events and trainings head on over to Lotus Nei Gong.
He's on Instagram too.
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