The heart meridians are lovers. They are kind, warm-hearted, accepting, and chivalrous. One of the four physical types, their passion and sincerity are immediately obvious. They have a great capacity for love, and unique imagination, and are enchanting and persuasive. Their archetype is the politician.
When not being themselves, heart meridians are passive and “out of it.” They appear lazy and forgetful without any internal drive.
The Politician: A Heart Meridian Archetype
The theme of the heart is unity. It connects yin and yang, which are two states of being with the same life force. If our spirit is not congruent, our heart meridian cannot process thoughts and feelings properly. Congruence comes when the mind and heart are working together. Together the heart and mind control the will. Without congruence, the will is subject to the influence of an outside force.
The Artist: A Small Intestine Meridian Archetype
We know that extreme emotions can negatively affect our digestion, causing poor absorption and slow movement through the digestive tract. This is why we refuse food in the face of grief or lose our appetite when our fight-or-flight response is triggered. Unfortunately, poor digestion can also aggravate our stress response. They feed off of each other in a symbiotic relationship. Therefore, to have a healthy digestive system, we need to take care of both our minds and our bodies.