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.
Madi says
I have been waking up in between the hours of 2-3 am every morning for the past week and a bit, it started the night when my boyfriend first asked me out. I told him what was happening and he said the same thing has been happening to him every night for a few months we recorded the times we woke up and they are within 2-3 mins of each other. Is this normal?
Geovi says
Hello, My name is Geovani and now for example im in Germany since sunday and here is 3:13 am, i wocked up at exactly 3:00 am and that is the 5 time in one last 7 days, the weard part is that 2 days agoo i was in Romania and even if romanian time is with one hour in front of German time i stil got up at 3:00 am but romanian time….. Now that is wierd.
Shelly says
I have been waking up constantly between 1am to 4- 5am. I’m having a hard time sleeping with my husband as I know my marriage is bad, to the point of a divorce. I haven’t filed for a divorce due to my religion but I cannot carry on with a man who doesn’t support me in no form. I’m feeling alot allot of pain in my body as well during sleep but I was almost killed in a car wreck as well of living with cancer. I am extremely happy that I have found this site as it gives me wisdom on my sleeping problem. I know I’m stressed as well. I just do not know how I will be able to achieve my happiness as I have no family or help, I am alone. I know it’s time to file for a divorce. Thank you
Julia says
I wake up 4am for almost a month now since my LTR of 15 years blindsided me and told me to move on without him. A break up. And each time i wake up at 4am this is when i feel all the time i have wasted with this person. I am hurt beyond words. I have given up a career my life for this person and for what??? I feel so alone, broken not only my heart but also my life. I dont know if during this hour is when he feels the guilt of what he has done to destroy a life.
Amber l Altman says
I shave been waking up at about 4:42 am for rather consistently for about a year now. Any insight? I sleep 5-7 hours before this and don’t typically have too hard of a time falling asleep (anymore). I dontchabe to get up until 5:30cans the loss of an he of sleep really messes with my mind in them morning
J says
I’ve been falling asleep at around 2 and waking up at 5:15 every morning for the last few days, I don’t have to wake up until 7:15 but I just can’t sleep anymore. I have no idea what’s going on and it’s really freaking me out, I’ve always had sleeping problems but this is just weird. I’ve hadone it happen in the summer and it lasted for a few weeks where I couldn’t fall asleep until late and I would wake up at 3am every night.
Kate says
2am is very late to be going to bed! Any chance you can slowly bring this back to before midnight? xkp
Cathy says
Hi Kate. Thanks for your post. For the past 2 years ive had sleep issues. I fall asleep ok but every single night im awake between 1- 3 in the morning. Every night! Im very spirirual and my life is a mess now and have difficult decitions to make but i dont know what to do coz my decitions will hurt people. Im so lost
kumar says
fantastic post mam this happens with me every night and now i am able to understand what is actual problem with me
Shirley says
No mater what time I go to bed whether it’s 9:30 or midnight I Wake up every night between 2am & 3am for 2 years now.. Previously never had any trouble sleeping 8 hrs a night. Would it help to go to bed at the same time every night. Was born at 2:38 am on June 28, would that have something to do with this new sleep pattern