The Lower Dan Tien

The lower dan tien is a part of your body which relates to fire, to the Earth and to the energy which your parents gave you. It concerns the bottom three chakras primarily, and is often used in Tai Chi as a means of treating certain bodily ailments. One thing which you have to remember with the lower dan tien, however, is that it must be kept in balance with the upper dan tien, or you will become too Earthbound. While this is a very practical state, it is to be avoided when you can, as it can lead to a lot of unnecessary limitations in your life. Of course, your lower dan tien should never be ignored, for the same reason.

Keeping your lower dan tien healthy nourishes your bodily systems such as your liver, kidneys and intestines. While it is not polite to talk about your “inner flow” as it were, these less photogenic processes are essential to keeping you alive and healthy. All the meditation in the world will not stave off the pain, if your health is truly suffering. And as well, being grounded to the Earth (as only the lower dan tien can) and your family’s heritage will also keep you humble, and allow you to grow outward from the roots which your parents have so generously supplied you with.

But at the same time, it is always necessary to keep balance in mind. We will talk about the upper dan tien in another article, but for now let it be known that one can not live a life properly if one is only grounded. While it has been said that he who has imagination but not learning has wings but not feet, wings are just as necessary if you wish to see above the tiny rocks which trip up the foolish. You must have both the ability to stand firm and to soar above, to be your very best.