therefore turning into causes of disease. This regulatory function of the Ethereal Soul is closely
related to the balance between Liver-Blood (the Yin part of the Liver) and Liver-Qi (the Yang
part of the Liver). Liver-Blood and Liver-Qi need to be harmonized and Liver-Blood must root
Liver-Qi to prevent it from becoming stagnant or rebelling upwards. On a mental-emotional
level, Liver-Blood needs to root the Ethereal Soul thus allowing a balanced and happy emotional
life. This is one of the meanings, on a mental level, of the Liver being a "regulating and
harmonizing" organ. Chapter 9 of the "Simple Questions" says: "The Liver has a regulating
function [lit. is the root of stopping extremes], it houses the Ethereal Soul ...".27(191) If
Liver-Blood is deficient there will be fear and anxiety; if Liver-Yang is in excess there will be
anger. The "Spiritual Axis" in chapter 8 says: "If the Liver is deficient there will be fear; if it is in
excess there will be anger".28(192) Tang Zong Hai in the "Discussion on Blood Diseases" says:
"If Liver-Blood is deficient Fire agitates the Ethereal Soul resulting in nocturnal emissions with
dreams".29(193)
Eyes and Sight
The Ethereal Soul is in relation with the eyes and sight. Tang Zong Hai says: "When the Ethereal
Soul wanders to the eyes, they can see".30(194) This connection with the eyes can be easily
related to the rooting of the Ethereal Soul in Liver-Blood. On a mental level, the Ethereal Soul
gives us "vision" and insight.
Courage
The Ethereal Soul is related to courage or cowardice and for this reason the Liver is sometimes
called the "resolute organ". Tang Zong Hai says: "When the Ethereal Soul is not strong, the
person is timid".31(195) The "strength" of the Ethereal Soul in this connection derives mainly
from Liver-Blood. If Liver-Blood is abundant, the person is fearless and is able to face up to
life's difficulties with an indomitable spirit. Just as in disease Liver-Yang easily flares upwards
causing anger, in health the same type of mental energy deriving from Liver-Blood can give a
person great creative drive and resoluteness. If Liver-Blood is deficient and the Ethereal Soul is
dithering, the person lacks courage and resolve, cannot face up to difficulties or making
decisions, and is easily discouraged. A vague feeling of fear at night before falling asleep is also
due to a lack of rooting of the Ethereal Soul.
Planning
The Ethereal Soul influences our capacity for planning our life and giving it a sense of direction.
A lack of direction in life and a sense of spiritual confusion may be compared to the wandering
of the Ethereal Soul alone in space and time. If the Liver is flourishing the Ethereal Soul is
firmly rooted and can help us to plan our life with vision, wisdom and creativity. If Liver-Blood
(or Liver-Yin) is deficient, the Ethereal Soul is not rooted and we lack a sense of direction and
vision in life. If Liver-Yin is very depleted, at times the Ethereal Soul may even leave the body