YOUR BODY IS TALKING TO YOU. DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT’S SAYING?
From time to time, we all experience physical symptoms. They can cause discomfort, pain, and distress.
When something feels out of the ordinary, we might ignore it. We hope it will go away on its own. Or we might self-diagnose online. That can provoke fear and worry.
We could also seek diagnosis and treatment from health professionals. Yet there is another tool we often overlook. It is the wisdom of our own body.
Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, said: “Natural forces within us are the true healers of disease.”
Edward Bach, founder of Bach Flower Remedies, said: “Disease is the result of conflict between Soul and Mind.”
He also said it needs spiritual and mental effort.
If we communicate with our bodies early, we rely less on external feedback. When we interpret the messages, we become experts in ourselves.
In Michael Brown’s Alchemy of the Heart, he offers a poetic reminder.
“We are trying to feel better.”
“We are being asked to get better at feeling.”
I have long followed the teachings of Louise Hay. She healed herself from cancer.
She later wrote the bestseller You Can Heal Your Life.
In her work, Louise explores thoughts, beliefs, and emotional health. She describes how inner patterns can show up in the physical body. She also shares affirmations as possible antidotes.
Her lists introduced me to mind-body maps. They also taught me how to read symbolic messages.
This guide does not dismiss physical causes. Nor does not replace medical or complementary care. It does however offer a holistic lens alongside the physical one.
It includes metaphysical aspects of symptoms that can include psychological, emotional, and energetic components.
If your symptoms do persist, you’re encouraged to seek professional advice.
Mind Body Maps
When a symptom appears in your body, start with its location. Location can help you discern your body’s message.
Different body areas carry symbolic meaning. That symbolism can act as a guide. It can help you explore emotional, psychological, and energetic influences. These influences may have contributed to the physical condition you’re experiencing. This awareness can help you make adjustments and restore balance.
This guide is not intended to be prescriptive. I encourage you to keep an open mind and notice what resonates. Pay attention to what “lands” for you personally. Disregard anything that does not fit.
These mind-body maps have supported my healing over time. They have helped me resolve a range of symptoms. These included benign nodules, joint pain, and eczema. They also supported digestive healing and vision changes.
I share these insights as signposts. They are offered to guide you toward your innate healing intelligence.
THE RIGHT SIDE
The right side of the body represents your yang energy, or doing energy. It is your animus, your animating force, and your masculine side. It also reflects your giving energy and your relationships with males. Your right side reflects how you interact with the world and how your environment affects you. It symbolises your conscious mind and often relates to the future.
When a symptom appears on the right side, you may feel hindered in moving forward in some area of life. You may be holding yourself back through internal fear linked to the future, or to something in your present environment. It may also reflect challenges in relationships involving males. If your symptom is on the right, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE LEFT SIDE
The left side of the body represents your yin energy, or non-doing energy. It is your anima, your feminine side, and your intuition. It relates to receiving and surrendering, and it also reflects your relationships with females. Your left side speaks to the subconscious mind and the parts of yourself you may prefer to keep hidden. It is also strongly linked to the past.
When a symptom appears on the left side, it may reflect past experiences and deep, unacknowledged emotions. It can also point to your ability and willingness to receive and surrender. It may also reflect challenges in relationships involving females. If your symptom is on the left, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE FRONT
The front of the body represents what you show to the world. It reflects your public persona and the way you present yourself outwardly. The front can also relate to the future and what you are moving toward. It speaks to the conscious mind, and to what you are aware of or can “see” ahead.
When a symptom appears on the front of your body, it may reflect an imbalance between your public self and your private self. It may also point to an unwillingness, or a quiet trepidation, about moving forward into the future. If your symptom is affecting the front, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE BACK
The back of the body represents what is private and less visible to others. It often reflects the past and what you are moving away from. The back can relate to the subconscious mind and aspects of self that are ignored, hidden, or not yet discovered.
When a symptom appears on the back of your body, it may reflect something in your hidden self that you would rather not acknowledge or deal with. It may also suggest feeling held back by unresolved emotions, experiences, or memories from the past that have been carried in the body. If your symptom is affecting the back, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE LEGS
The legs take you forward in life. They also represent standing in your own strength. They can reflect both your past and your future.
When symptoms appear in the legs, it can indicate feeling stuck in the past or fearful of moving forward. It can also reflect a sense that it’s hard to stand in your own strength. If your symptom is affecting your legs, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE ARMS AND HANDS
The arms represent what you are holding, what you have a grip on, and what you feel you can control. The arms and hands also represent giving and receiving.
When symptoms appear in the arms or hands, it may reflect an inability or unwillingness to let go. It can also reflect an inability, or fear, about taking hold of something in your life. It may point to difficulty giving, or difficulty receiving. It can also suggest areas where you feel called to take control, or where you are invited to surrender. If your symptom is affecting your arms or hands, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE EYES
The eyes represent what you understand and what you can foresee. They reflect what you perceive within yourself and in the world around you. The eyes shape your perspective and your focus in the present and the future.
When symptoms affect the eyes, there may be something you do not want to see or acknowledge. You may also be pained by what you do see, or have seen. It can also reflect being overly focused on the future or stuck in a narrow perspective. If your symptom is affecting your eyes, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE EARS
The ears represent what you hear within yourself and in your environment. They can also reflect what you know, or what you do not want to know.
When symptoms affect the ears, it may reflect something you don’t want to hear. It may also reflect an inability, or unwillingness, to truly listen. If your symptom is affecting your ears, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE THROAT
The throat represents what you need to express, literally or creatively. It symbolises soul expression and reflects your power to speak your truth. It also reflects how you communicate with the world around you. Because the throat takes in food and air, it can also symbolise what we “take in” or swallow emotionally.
When symptoms affect the throat, it may reflect what is not being expressed or said. It may also point to a lack of confidence in speaking your truth. It can also reflect misuse of words, including gossiping or lying. If your symptom is affecting your throat, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE LUNGS
The lungs represent your ability to take in life and be inspired. They reflect your openness to new ideas and clarity of thought. They also relate to receiving energy in all its forms.
When symptoms affect the lungs, it can reflect grief, sadness, or depression. It may reflect holding onto pain, like holding the breath, rather than letting go. It can also reflect fear or trepidation. If your symptom is affecting your lungs, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE HEART
The heart is like a knot that binds your energy systems together. It represents the centre of love, security, and connection. It also relates to passion for life and connection to the world around you. The heart can also link to purpose, meaning, and what you give through your contribution.
When symptoms affect the heart, it may reflect reduced joy or fear of being alone. It can reflect disconnection and a lack of purpose or meaning. It may also reflect difficulty loving yourself, which can project as resentment or self-pity. If your symptom is affecting your heart, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
(Stomach, small intestine, and large intestine)
The digestive system helps you “digest” and assimilate your experiences. It supports drawing nourishment from life, so your whole system can be fed.
When symptoms affect digestion, it may reflect difficulty processing what you’ve experienced. It may also reflect fear or a deep gut sense that something is out of balance. If your symptom is affecting your digestion, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE URINARY SYSTEM
The urinary system represents your ability to eliminate toxicity. It reflects releasing what you have processed and no longer need. It can relate to clearing what does not belong.
When symptoms affect the urinary system, it may reflect difficulty processing negative emotions or trauma. It may also reflect inefficiency in releasing what has been held. If your symptom is affecting your urinary system, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE LIVER
The liver represents the storehouse of life force energy. It also reflects restoration and replenishment.
When symptoms affect the liver, it may reflect stored negative emotions that deplete energy. This energetic “fermentation” can create anger, resentment, and irritability. If your symptom is affecting your liver, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE SPLEEN
The spleen represents joy of living and passion for life. It also relates to absorbing nourishment from emotional experiences. It can reflect how you digest information and thoughts.
When symptoms affect the spleen, it can reflect obsessiveness and mental overactivity. It may also be linked with instability, low mood, or depression. It can reflect difficulty processing thoughts and emotions. It may also reflect reduced capacity to receive emotional nourishment. If your symptom is affecting your spleen, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
THE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
The reproductive system represents self-identity, creativity, and pleasure. It can reflect how you relate to yourself in relation to others. It also reflects security, survival, and vulnerability.
When symptoms affect the reproductive system, it may reflect insecurity or fear. It can also indicate a perceived threat to your sense of survival. It may reflect distortions in self-identity that block creativity. It may also highlight difficulty receiving pleasure. That can sometimes show up as self-punishment or guilt. If your symptom is affecting your reproductive system, ask yourself: Does anything here specifically resonate with me?
WHAT’S THE ANTIDOTE
After identifying the location of your symptom and its possible metaphysical themes, awareness alone can sometimes create change. At other times, it can help to unpack your insights with a qualified therapist, especially when there is an emotional component. Further support may still be needed, including guidance from a health practitioner. That may involve supplements or medication, if required. It may also involve dietary changes or a new physical regimen.
Sometimes the antidote is reducing stress or leaving a negative relationship. Sometimes it’s learning new ways to express what you’re holding inside. It can be building in relaxation or meditation, reducing screen time, or spending more time in nature. Emotional tools can also be part of the antidote, especially when trauma is involved. Learning how to release fear, anger, grief, or shame can restore emotional balance. From that balance, natural states of healing, love, peace, and joy can emerge.
All the best with your health and wellness
Chrissy Diamond