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.
Karen says
I wake up around 630 am every morning and then again around 8 or 9 but that varies.the 6am happens without a fail every day. What mederian would it fall under? What does it mean?
Maureen says
Hi,
I’ve always woken at 4am every night, no insomnia or anything, all I do is get up, go to the loo, then straight back to bed, so I got Lungs and Metal, but that’s all fine.
Jasmin says
I’m 17 and I’ve been waking up at 4am to use the restroom or just plain waking up and I can never go back to sleep. I have lung and metal but I don’t hold any grief or loss.
Lynne Bailey says
To those above
Saying there is nothing wrong, you’re just waking at that time, then why have you lookednfor a reason? I have the same time.period and sometimes same actions. But I noticed the exact same timings night after night after night. Yes, I’ve experienced some.grief and loss recently as well as longer ago, but not dealt with it and as for the.lungs meaning I need to find the true value of something that rings true too as I feel I’m looking about evaluating lots atm.
Hilary White says
For those of you confused as to the meanings of the meridians, I’d suggest looking metaphorically. If you are suffering grief and loss (lungs) after the death of a loved one, that’s straightforward to understand, but the body-mind doesn’t distinguish between the causes of emotions – you could be struggling with the loss of a period of your life, carefree from studenthood to the demand of work for example. Or maybe your kids are now the same age as you were when some form of loss in your life took place, and subconscious memories are being triggered. Bodily reactions are messages that something’s out of balance – and it can take some detective work to suss out the causes.
Adriana says
It is been almost a year since I suffer insomnia. I wake up every day around 4am and can get back to sleep. Now with the pregnancy is getting worst that no medicine can even help.
Jennie Brar says
I wake up at 4am also… Wouldn’t that be considered the morning? (AM). Maybe everyone is confused because it’s not just bladder or loss & grief, it’s fear and anxiety. Which I feel connected to so I don’t know, it makes sense to me… You guys tell me what you think (never heard of this stuff before)
Chelsea says
I watched a video and apparently waking up at 3 am every night for a couple of weeks means you have a dark spirit present (not always true). 3am symbolises the witches hour in olden time
Jo says
Chelsea – I know. I learned that watching paranormal shows. Lol. My bf is up then and doesn’t notice anything but I have thought about this too.
Eulie says
I am so grateful for this chart. I have it bookmarked! About a year ago I kept waking up around 2:00-3:00, unable to fall back to sleep until 5. I would sob uncontrollably and I had no clue why. After reading your chart I decided to see a counselor and it turns out I was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder from a childhood trauma. Now when I can’t sleep for 5 days or more, I come straight here.