The Wisdom of Trees for Qigong

In the Five Phase Theory—one of the foundations of Qigong, Chinese Medicine and Daoist cosmology—wood is the verb of becoming. It is a symbol of the vigorous upward thrust of spring, expanding our branches above, and of being strongly rooted below. The wood element represents the relationship between earth and sky.  

This springtime wood phase concerns the liver and focuses on growth, flexibility, and the determination to move forward. The wood character “木” shows the vertical stroke as the trunk (the connection between worlds), the lower strokes are roots gripping the earth, the upper are branches catching light.

Xylem and Phloem

Wood in the form of trees creates and sustains life through two channels: xylem draws water and minerals upward from the dark depths of the earth to the crown of the tree while phloem sends nourishment from the sun downward from leaves to roots. Trees are always in an ongoing conversation with earth and the sky to maintain the free flow of xylem and phloem. 

In humans, the liver governs the free flowing movement of qi and blood. Like xylem carrying water toward the light, liver qi ascends to support our eyes and vision along with tendon flexibility. As in trees, when the movement of qi is constrained in the body then stagnation occurs. This can manifest as stiffness in tendons and/or frustration and anger.

Trees Mirror Liver Qi

The vertical movement of xylem and phloem mirrors the internal cultivation of liver qi. Many qigong systems include practices such as standing like a tree and gazing at or visualizing trees. Qigong masters in parks are not looking at trees—they are reading them as living textbooks of the liver meridian. 

Observe a tree on a blustery day, it does not resist, it is flexible; it bends and returns to balance. In qigong, we can mimic trees through spiral movements, loosening up the ribs and torso and by cultivating flexible bodies and minds.

Take 3 Minutes to Root and Expand Like a Tree

• Begin by standing with feet shoulder width apart, relax your shoulders and your knees, tailbone slightly forward. 
• Root your feet into earth by gently sinking your whole body down. Visualize your feet like roots penetrating into the earth. 
• At the same time lift the crown of your head gently up into the blue sky expanding your body, mind and heart.
• Inhale (like the xylem moving up) and visualize the liver qi rising up, through your legs, torso to your head reaching towards the sun. 
• Exhale (like the phloem moving down) and let qi cascade down your shoulders and whole body, melting any tension back into the earth.
• If it is comfortable for you, hold your arms as if embracing a tree trunk, feel the flow below the bark. Or find a real tree to embrace!
• Relax, breathe, repeat gently for as long as you like. Start with 5 minutes and work up to 20 minutes for the most benefits.

Trees, a Wondrous Symbol

When we feel challenged by life, remember to incorporate the wisdom of trees into your practice; stay grounded, root deeply while reaching for the deep blue sky and the warm sun. 

Recognizing that the same vascular intelligence—the same irrepressible urge to rise up while rooted in the earth—runs through our meridians. The xylem and phloem of a tree can be a wondrous symbol of how to increase our own capacity to gather from below and express above.