Harmony vs. Balance

Have you ever heard the word balance and felt like it feels unattainable?

Or thought, how can I possibly have “balance” in my life?

What does that even look like?

I have found myself thinking about this word balance, and the unrealistic nature it implies. And I have found myself resonating with a whole new word instead- harmony.

When I think of balance I imagine a scale, perflectly aligned.

If I imagine this process of “balancing” life I see myself placing activities, habits or behaviors of different “sizes” onto each side of the scale, playing this tedious game in hopes of seeing that scale perfectly kiltered.

But the truth is, while this idea of seeking balance is rooted in mindfulness, it seems to ignore the obvious and inevitable.

The fact that life is a series of various things that are out of our control, and many of which are beyond balancing.

Yes, there are the things we can do to “seek balance” in our life. But this concept of being BALANCED altogether isn’t exactly rational.

Now when I think of harmony I feel differently. Harmony feels like a beautiful way to describe this mindful dance. A way to call the power back into our own bodies and hands and say “I am restoring harmony.”

To me, harmony acknowledges the inevitable and brings a gentle and loving hand to the things that are beyond our control.

Harmony says we have a choice in small acts that helps us to restore a more even keel.

So, I have been leaning into this idea. Harmony vs. balance- and acknowledging which one brings me more peace.

So when things are feeling off kilter- what helps you to find harmony?

What small acts bring you peace, so that you may harmonize a situation that needs restoration?

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We use herbs in this same way in herbalism- to harmonize an “imbalanced” tissue state. We look at tissue states and use the wisdom of herbal energetics to begin bringing harmony to an inflamed, irritated or under/over active state.

We soothe a hot tissue state with cooling herbs. We support a dry tissue state with moistening herbs. We soften tense tissues with relaxing herbs.

In this way we seek to bring harmony, and rather than simply treating a symptom- we span out and view a bigger picture with this one question.

What would bring harmony to this imbalance?

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Let’s look at a real example of harmonizing with herbal energetics.

Imbalance: Virus causing DRY COUGH

In this example a virus is causing a very dry, spasmodic cough. In this cough there is not much movement of mucus, the cough is not dispersive and is stuck in the chest.

So how would we go about treating this tissue state?

First we ask:

1. What is the temperature, moisture and tone of this imbalance?

2. What direction do I need this imbalance to go?

And then we answer:

• moisture- the moisture of this dry cough is DRY

• temperature-

  • because this cough is very spasmodic and constricted the temperature is COLD

  • but because this cough is not dispersive and is very dry the tissues are also HOT (EXCITATION)

• tone- the tone of this dry cough is TENSE

In this example because the cough is very stuck in the chest we know that we need this imbalance to go UP and OUT. We need the mucus to disperse so that it can come out and so this virus can move through the body, without an infection getting pushed down further.

And now we bring harmony with herbs:

• moisture: to restore moisture we bring in moistening and demulcent herbs

  • this can be herbs that are cooling and warming in nature

    • marshmallow root

    • linden

    • licorice root

    • wild cherry bark

    • mullein

    • slippery elm

• temperature: to cool-

  • we bring in herbs that are cooling in their herbal energetics

    • marshmallow root

    • mint

    • lemon balm

    • lemongrass

      • being careful not to invite too many cooling herbs in since the cough is very spastic and contracted

      • and rather bringing in more moving herbs that are warming to disperse the mucus and soothe inflammed tissues

  • we bring in herbs that are warming to help break up mucus and disperse it so that it may move UP and OUT

    • cinnamon

    • ginger

    • chamomile

    • elderberry

• tone: to relax-

  • we bring in relaxant herbs that soothe spasmodic conditions and relax irritated tissue states

    • skull cap

    • passion flower

    • chamomile

    • tulsi

Want to see more example like this in how we can harmonize imbalances with herbal energetics?

Head over to the contact page to join the newsletter! Or send me a message with a tissue state you are curious about and lets work through an example together!

Disclaimer: These articles are for educational purposes only, they are not a substitution for professional medical advice, and as the reader you are responsible for your own health decisions.