Have you ever noticed how different parts of you show up at different times?

  • The part of you that simply wants peace…
  • The part of you that dreams and looks ahead…
  • The part that overthinks and goes round in circles…
  • The part that feels deeply…
  • And the part that keeps going even when things are hard.

In Chinese medicine, these aspects of ourselves are understood as the Five Spirits. They describe how the mind, emotions, and consciousness are expressed through the body and the deeper systems that sustain us. Rather than something abstract, they offer a way of understanding the different layers of our inner world and how they influence how we feel each day.

When they are in harmony, we feel more like ourselves.  When they are out of balance, we can feel unsettled, stuck, or depleted.

The Five Spirits in Everyday Life

  • Shen (Heart) — presence, connection, and inner awareness
  • Hun (Liver) — vision, direction, and the ability to move forward
  • Yi (Spleen) — thinking, processing, and integration
  • Po (Lung) — the body, breath, and emotional release
  • Zhi (Kidney) — willpower, resilience, and inner strength

You don’t need to remember the names. What matters is recognising how they show up within you.

Signs the Five Spirits Are Out of Balance

One of the most helpful ways to work with the Five Spirits is to notice how they show up in daily life.

When you feel disconnected or unsettled (Shen)

You might notice:

  • A lack of inner calm or restlessness
  • Feeling disconnected from yourself or others
  • Difficulty experiencing joy or presence

Support begins with returning to the Heart:

  • Create moments of stillness
  • Bring awareness to the centre of the chest
  • Connect with what brings warmth, meaning, or joy

When you feel stuck or frustrated (Hun)

You might notice:

  • Irritability or frustration
  • Difficulty making decisions or moving forward
  • A sense of being stuck or unclear

Support comes through gentle movement:

  • Walk, stretch, or spend time outdoors
  • Take one small step forward
  • Allow things to begin moving again

When thoughts become tangled or repetitive (Yi)

You might notice:

  • Overthinking or looping thoughts
  • Worry that goes round and round without resolution
  • A sense of feeling mentally “knotted” or heavy

Support comes through grounding and integration:

  • Eat regular, nourishing meals
  • Write your thoughts down to give them a place to settle
  • Simplify — come back to one small, manageable step

When emotions sit in the body (Po)

You might notice:

  • Shallow breathing or tightness in the chest
  • Holding onto sadness or grief
  • Feeling closed or withdrawn

Support begins with the breath:

  • Slow and lengthen the exhale
  • Allow space to feel
  • Create gentle moments of release

When energy and motivation are low (Zhi)

You might notice:

  • Fatigue or burnout
  • Fear or lack of confidence
  • Difficulty following through

Support comes through restoring your reserves:

  • Prioritise rest
  • Take small, consistent steps
  • Support your energy with sleep, warmth, and nourishment

A Simple Daily Check-In

You might like to pause and ask yourself:

  • Am I feeling present or disconnected?
  • Clear or stuck?
  • Are my thoughts settled or looping?
  • Am I breathing deeply or holding tension?
  • Do I feel steady or depleted?

You don’t need to fix everything. Simply noticing what needs support is often enough to begin shifting things.

The Five Spirits in Practice

I recently shared these ideas at a Qigong teachers’ retreat, where we explored how the Five Spirits are not just something to understand, but something to experience.

In Qigong, we work with them through movement, breath, and awareness.

  • Stillness anchors the Shen.
  • Flowing movement supports the Hun.
  • Intention engages the Yi.
  • The breath nourishes the Po.
  • Consistent practice strengthens the Zhi.

The practice itself gently brings these aspects back into harmony — without needing to analyse or figure it all out.

Bringing It Back to You

This is the beauty of Chinese medicine — it gives us a way to understand ourselves more deeply, and to respond with care rather than judgement.

It begins with simply noticing and recognising what feels out of balance, and what might need a little more support.

If you’d like to explore this further, my seasonal self-care workshops offer a practical and accessible way to explore each of the Five Spirits. In my Qigong classes, you can experience them through movement, breath, and awareness, while acupuncture supports the body more directly to help restore balance.

It’s a process of coming back into relationship with yourself and learning how to support what you find.

Your feedback and questions are always welcome – please feel free to leave a comment below.

For further information about Chinese Medicine, you can contact Tania Grasseschi, practitioner of Acupuncture, Chinese Herbs, Qigong and Wholefood counselling. Tania is an AHPRA registered practitioner of Chinese Medicine, based in Katoomba, NSW and previously lectured at the Endeavour College of Natural Health (Sydney campus) for six years.

The information provided on this site is for educational purposes only and does not substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You are responsible for your own health and wellbeing at all times.