In Part 1 I discussed the basic concept of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) ‘Meridian Clock’ and how it can give you insight into why you are waking up at the same time each night. As I mentioned before, the 12 meridians that sit within the clock have many responsibilities, pathways of energy and connections to different aspects of being: your mind, emotions, body and spirit. When we are in balance, each meridian is flowing and not expressing dis-ease. Let’s now look further into this incredibly useful wisdom.
Is it an aspect of your life that wakes you up at night?
Maybe you’re a bit stuck and you don’t know what to do next? Or you’re waking up early and are caught in a mental loop of guilt over some kind of loss – a relationship, lack of happiness, a job. Often we don’t even realise our feelings or behaviours until they’re pointed out to us. The key responsibilities (aspects of life) connected to each meridian is another useful avenue to self-understanding.
Following on from the basic emotions of the elements (Why You Wake Up At The Same Time Every Night Part 1) are the key responsibilities to each meridian. When I’m working with clients I find a pattern of blockages between particular meridians. From this, I can see a picture of behaviour or areas of their life that are not working so well. Remember we’re talking about sleep and when you’re waking up, so use Part 1 to help you find which meridian you need to focus on for self-reflection.
Meridians and their key responsibilities
The following table describes the basic responsibilities for each of the 12 meridians.
- Stomach – Nourishment of others; nourishment from outside
- Spleen – Nourishment of self in every way
- Heart – Connection to your spirit; circulation of Qi (energy); heart and mind working as one
- Small Intestine – Communication (speaking, listening); perception; truth
- Bladder – When to use our resources; being controlling
- Kidney – Reproduction and creating things in life; our resources
- Pericardium (aka Sex/Circulation) – Intimate relationships; protecting your heart; healthy boundaries
- Triple Heater – Non-intimate relationships; social aspects
- Gall Bladder – Determination and decision making; action
- Liver – Internal plans; the vision for life
- Lung – Barrier (skin) to the outside world; understanding what is of true value
- Large Intestine – Letting go of impurities (of emotions and beliefs, past experiences) ; holding on to what is of value
Of course, some sleeping problems stem from the inability to even fall asleep at night; dreaded insomnia. Do you find yourself helplessly awake watching the bedside clock tick loudly over to midnight with your mind ticking away even louder? Midnight places you in Gall Bladder meridian energy (11pm – 1am) and the Wood element. Ask yourself “am I stuck and not making a decision about something or acting upon it?”, “have I lost perspective?”
Extending the use of the clock beyond sleep
There are many patterns and signs in our lives; you just need to have your eyes open to see them. For example: anxiety around 4pm, headaches late at night, or a sore lower back before dinner time.
Your body is speaking to you in the only way it can by turning your attention away from the external world and inwards toward you. With the transferable knowledge of TCM you can use the clock for any time of day, not just sleeping problems.
If you would like to know more about the key responsibilities of each meridian (as there are many more than those mentioned in Part 1 and 2) check out Acupuncture.com.au.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep at night, have a look at my article in the Sanctuary of Sleep series Part One Stress & Sleep – why you have trouble falling asleep.
I have received hundreds of comments for this series and I endeavour to answer them. Please go back to the clock and through the articles and your answer is most likely there.
As always my friend — you don’t have to do it alone.
Kate
Why You Wake Up by Kate Pamphilon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Kate says
Hi Ana – you are waking up during the Stomach meridian time – this is knows as the ‘mother’ meridian as it is all about giving to others. You’re getting very close to being a mother 5th time around and already very busy being a mother! Stomach needs to be balanced with the partner Earth element meridian of Spleen which is about receiving and mothering ourselves. Take care and all the best for the birth x Kate
Kate says
Hi Susan – to read more about the meridians and without getting too technical, you could try Ted Kaptchuk ‘The Web That Has No Weaver’, Kate
KitT says
This has been one of the most helpful things I’ve read, thank you for providing this knowledge. I’ve been waking up at 3:11am for about 6 months, which has been marked by a marriage separation and ultimately divorce. I’d like to learn more about this belief or branch of health/wellness, if you could please share resources I should look into? Thank you for this fascinating insight.
Minnie Verma says
Hi Kate,Thanks for wonderful information.I have been waking up every night around 2 am mostly and sometimes i wake up at 12 and can’t go back to sleep its like I get stuck on one recurrent thought.as if my energy is spiraling.
My son who has Autism also gets stuck on a single thought that is disturbing him and I can not help him make peace with that. he has trouble falling asleep, and sometimes wakes up at 12, 1,2 , 3-4 am anytime in the night and goes back to sleep at 5 only.
If you could suggest something it would be really helpful. Thanks.Mini
Kit says
Hi Kate,
Thank you so much for your useful article and it is a great help to me and lots of people out there with such problem.
Michael says
Ok so I wake up between 430 and 5am then between 4-6pm my stomach hurts what might be my issue
Saad Hassan says
Thank you very much. This article is very helpful for me to understand different symptoms.
Cat says
I have woken up at 3:31 for the past few days and looking at the meridian it says bladder and water.. I guess I don’t understand what that could mean.., it says when to use our resources and controlling… Ive never thought if myself as controlling… I don’t notice any issues with my bladder… I guess I don’t know if I’m looking into it correctly..
Nancy says
GREAT INFO — I was at a mtg today and happened to mention how for the past few weeks I keep waking up at 2AM (or around 2AM) and someone shared this info with me. I can’t think of anything that I am personally angry or frustrated about but for liver (Internal plans; the vision for life) I was thinking maybe it has to do with my son and his future. He’s a senior in high school and we are going the through the college application process and it seems to be all I think and worry about.
Katrina says
Hi Kate. Great information. –
I was just curious for what does it mean, I got small intestine and Fire. From what I read it’s about love, hate, and joy for communication. I am also going through a recent break up for 3 years. I was living with him and his family. How can I figure out the underlying information that I need. Or am I searching for the actual truth of why it ended how it did?