Hi Kaci -

 

In 1996, I had an opportunity to listen to Stan Grof speak on the four stages of the birthing process. It was a remarkable experience and I came away from it correlating the four nuclear vessels of the ren, dai , chong and du with his perinatal stages correspondingly of an oceanic stage, contracting stage, thrusting stage and an independent stage.

 

The oceanic experience in the womb which is deeply connected to the ren. One patient who suffered in the womb due to the mother's heightened and nontrivial distress during pregnancy. This individual had what can be considered a constitutional ren pulse in that it was always a ren shape during examination. 

 

The contracting phase fits perfectly with the function of the dai mai during labor. Traumatic events occurring at this stage can cause the individual to feel blocked and obstructed in life according to Groff's theorem. The dai mai is an effective vessel in terms of suppression of unwanted feelings.

 

The thrusting stage shares the same name of the chong. Pelvic thrusts can bring on volcanic eruptive pushing in order for the child to exit the birth canal, there may be merconium, blood an intensity is peaking. The chong shares the blood component in that may be considered as the abdominal aorta.

 

The du channel runs right up the spine and the child exiting the birth canal has an autonomy that is consistent with sea of yang which is the du. Life issues may include separation anxiety.

 

Each individual cycles in and out of these stages during the course of development, the connection to the four nuclear vessels have provided meaningful treatment episodes in my practice, let us know if they do so in yours.

 

Will

 

PS: Hammer's book goes into some specific qualities and positions.