The Lecture That Came to Life by Darlene Carswell

I sometimes go to a local Massage school during the Oriental Medicine portion of the course and speak for a half day. During the massage course, the students receive a Chinese medicine Five Element chart which they must learn for their State Board Exam. The chart is on an 8½ by 11 sheet of paper full of words, which when well digested, can help identify a client’s imbalances. My mission is to make this chart come alive for their understanding.

This particular day, I talk for three hours, and the students still don’t get the importance of the conscious states that the organs truly have over the health of our Body/Mind. But THIS day was different.

I had wrapped up the lecture and one of the young women there raised her hand and asked if I had time for one more question. Her question was this: “Can you tell me why, for just over a year, I have been CRAVING Chinese food and (and the class joined in) mashed potatoes.” Thinking quickly, as I knew no Five Element commonality between the two foods, I asked her what she put on her mashed potatoes. “Gravy, salt, and sometimes sour cream” was her reply.

“I do not believe that it is the Chinese food and mashed potatoes that you are actually craving. I believe that these foods are ones that you really enjoy putting salt on. This gives me an insight to the Water Element, which leads me to your kidneys, and the probability that you are battling some major fear in your life. If you fail to harness this fear, it can eventually break down the function of the kidneys.”

She burst into tears and said, “Don’t say that! I’m giving one of my kidneys to my father.” I asked how long ago she had made this decision. “One year, two weeks ago, on my eighteenth birthday” was her answer.

I went back to the board and brought to life the conscious energy of this situation.

• Made decision to give father kidney 1 year, two weeks ago
• Craving salty Chinese food and mashed potatoes with salt
• Water element- Kidneys, emotion~ fear, taste~ salty

“You have two kidneys. They have lived inside of you for nineteen years, two weeks, and were meant to be there for the duration of your life. They have a consciousness of fear. “Which one of us has to go?” They are going to miss each other. And the one left behind will have its workload doubled. “Can I do it alone??? How will I function without you???”

It was as if the entire class had an epiphany! Every student sat straight up in their chairs, and even the girl who wore sunglasses during the entire class, removed them as she also sat up with her mouth hanging wide open. They got it! I assured the young lady who is about to separate her kidneys that this is not said for her to doubt her decision to help give her father a better quality of life. It is said for her to be more conscious of any doubts regarding the procedures and outcome and to acknowledge the kidneys natural consciousness by being more aware of their existence. “Love them, prepare them, soothe them. When you are craving salt, breathe, take a conscious moment for these living, breathing organs.”

Copyright 2007 Darlene Carswell. Balancing Body Mind Spirit, for Optimal Living with Acupuncture, BodyTalk, Hypnosis, and Shiatsu massage. www.BalanceForAll.com