One of the eight extraordinary vessels is the source of our ancestral qi
or life force that develops in the prenatal stage and later gives rise
to two others which are the main conduits of qi distribution. It is said
that whatever ancestral qi we are born with, it is the quota for our
whole life, and we can enhance or diminish it through the choices we
make in our life-style. The health of our prenatal qi is also affected
by the environment and our relationship to it.
Four branches of
the eight extraordinary vessels are responsible for how we respond to
our environment as we mature. How well we are nurtured or exposed to
childhood trauma will determine the health of these meridians. Two are
responsible for whether we can take a stand for ourselves and the other
two determine how we view the world.