Alchemizing Destiny with the 8 Extraordinary Vessels

The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are the pathways of our Original Qi, also known as Yuan Qi. This is the energy that brings us into physical form, the energy that fuels conception and fetal development, bringing each and every one of us down from the cosmos for a chance to live out our true purpose and evolve the soul, spirit, and species. We are spirit enmeshed in matter for the sole purpose of transformation and evolution.

The “Eight Extras” are not “extras” at all – they are our primary source of creation, the foundation from which everything else is built. These vessels begin their journey of individuation at the moment of conception and continue their evolution until we take our last breath. They are our original nature, our connection to source. They hold the potential for us to awaken to who we are and why we came, and to learn to exchange the protective mechanisms that separate us for the wholeness that delivered us here. The Eight Extraordinary Vessels are our keys to an illuminated path, the spaces between non-duality, polarity, and the ten thousand things, where spirit can flow unimpeded by fear and resistance, where we begin to remember and connect with all that is.

The journey of reconnection and remembering is like peeling an onion – layer by layer, we get closer to the core, the essence. In any one session we may call upon one or several of the Eight Extraordinary Vessels to bring us closer to truth, authenticity, and our original nature based in love and compassion. As we continue working with these 8x Vessels, with the intention of remaining open to their transformative energies, you will begin to see shifts in your life, your perceptions, your receptivity, the people and opportunities that you attract, and the choices that become available to you.

So who are these Eight Extraordinary Vessels? Let’s introduce you.

1. The Chong Vessel – This is the One from which all is created. At the moment of conception, the primordial Chong takes form, harnessing the power of the Original Yuan Qi to create life. The Chong Vessel houses our ancestry, our karma, and our connection to wholeness. Its main channel runs through the center of the body, connecting sky and earth; a space that, if kept clear of clutter and unnecessary baggage, allows spirit / higher consciousness to guide and inform our life path. From the Chong Vessel, the Ren and the Du are formed.

2. The Ren Vessel – This is the Sea of Yin, the Mother Archetype, the primal drive we all have for bonding and connection when we are forced to leave the womb and become separate from our mother. The Ren is the vessel of Conception and reproduction, and directs how we remain open or closed to the world, our sense of trust, and our ability to express or suppress our emotions and drives. The Ren Vessel runs up the midline of the front of the body, from the perineum to the chin.

3. The Du Vessel – This is the Sea of Yang, the vessel of Individuation and how we utilize the energy of the spine, marrow, and brain to move swiftly through the world. The Du, paired with the Yang Qiao, is the means by which we know and trust ourselves to take right action, despite external influences that have their own agenda, and holds us responsible for our independence and autonomy. It is our source of electricity that needs to be grounded in order to travel up and out to do its work in the world. The Du Vessel runs up the midline of the back of the body from the coccyx to the top of the head.

4. The Dai Vessel – This is the Belt Channel, the only vessel (primary included) that runs horizontally across the naval and pelvis like a belt. Its orientation allows it to both consolidate the Original Qi of the Kidneys and act as a storage container for unprocessed traumas and emotions that have been shunted away by the protective officials of the Heart. By working with the Dai Vessel we invite our physical and energetic bodies to let go of emotional phlegm and baggage that is no longer needed so that we may be more available, clear, and open to receive in the present moment.

5. The Yin Wei Vessel – This is the story that shapes our identity based on our memories, our emotional attachments to them, and how we view ourselves over time based on our relationship to the experiences we have lived through. We are not our experiences, though they have helped us become who we are; and over-attachment to anything in the past impedes our inner growth and ability to evolve. This includes acceptance of aging and the physical changes that arise with the gift of living into advanced age.

6. The Yang Wei Vessel – This is the partner to the Yin Wei, recording the events of our lives in the brain marrow and using what we learned to make better decisions in the future. By making sense of the past and walking away with hard-earned lessons, we can let go of the minutia and move forward with more purpose, clarity, and vision. Failing to learn from and take accountability for our past may lead to stuck-ness and fear, living life from the sidelines instead of getting in the ring.

7. The Yin Qiao Vessel – This is related to the Mother archetype of the Ren Vessel and governs how we see ourselves in the here and now. Self-love, self-esteem, and self-worth are all expressed by the Yin Qiao. The pathway of the Yin Qiao from the inside of the heel, up the front of the body, and ending at the inner canthus of the eye reinforces the upright posture of the body, creating alignment between our inner sight and the relaxed but confident stance we take in support of who we are in the present moment. Fear, self-loathing, insecurities, and self-doubt can be treated through the Yin Qiao.

8. The Yang Qiao Vessel – This is how we see the world, stand up to the world, and move through the world with upright integrity, fierce devotion, right action, mindfulness, and acceptance of all that is. Yang Qiao directs our relationship to the outer world based on the quality of the inner work we have done; it is only possible to maintain a healthy Yang Qiao Vessel through the cultivation of deep inner work and a healthy Yin Qiao. In order to see and hold the light, you must confront the darkness, bringing all of your self into the work, into the world.

To explore how the Eight Extraordinary Vessels can support you, schedule a free consult or book a session here.

Source: "Alchemy of the Extraordinary: A Journey into the Heart of the Meridian Matrix" by Peter Shea, L.Ac.

photo by tanrica_art.