About the organ clock. About Ramadan. Avoiding violent movies.

October 18, 2024.

It’s 8:05 AM. I dreamt of something similar to Poco Loco. There, I was cuddling outside with an older, attractive woman. She had gray hair, partly dyed pink. (Apparently, I was inspired by Robert Franz in my dream.) I felt so attracted to her that I took her hands and led her inside, into the bedroom. It was somewhere in the attic where, in the dream, I normally sleep with Julia. But before we could start cuddling, we were discovered by others. They looked at us in shock, seeing us lying in bed together. Her colleague, in particular, harshly criticized her. I, on the other hand, said, "Of course, if a woman is involved with other men, she’s immediately labeled a slut, but if a man sleeps with other women, he’s a hero." After this commotion in the dream, I woke up.

Before getting up, I listened to a podcast from radioWissen to fully wake up, specifically about Ramadan. Until then, I only knew that Muslims fast during this month.

It is a full month in the Islamic lunar calendar and shifts annually. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, abstaining from eating, drinking, smoking, consuming alcohol, or having sex. It is a month of spiritual reflection on one’s life and a time to strengthen the connection to God. During Ramadan, people also donate to those in need and perform good deeds. Ramadan embodies much of what should be done daily: not polluting one’s body with harmful substances like alcohol and cigarettes, learning to control one’s impulses, reflecting on life, and doing good deeds from the heart—regardless of the month.

The hemp underwear that I washed yesterday morning is unfortunately still not completely dry. What a shame. I thought hemp would dry faster than merino wool, which would be especially advantageous in winter. Unfortunately, that’s not the case – both dry at about the same rate, though faster than cotton.

The back of my head, where I've been spraying Minoxidil for the last few days, has developed quite a few large flakes of dandruff.

The four table knives I own have been up for sale for ages, so today, I’m just giving them away. Otherwise, they’d just continue to sit unused in the drawer.

Just a few steps outside the house, and an older man calls out from an open window, asking if I’m not cold walking barefoot. "No, it’s actually particularly warm today," I reply and continue on my way.

I sat down in the city library and started reading the book „The Organ Clock“ by Dagmar Hemm and Andreas Noll, from the alternative medicine section.

The organ clock comes from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and describes the activity of individual organs throughout the day. Here are some points I took from the book:

• Nowadays, many people feel like slaves to the clock. (Fortunately, I've freed myself from this a bit by not setting an alarm).
• Before central heating existed, the seasonal differences in people's lives were more noticeable. The body adapted to this.
• We turn night into day: we eat even when we're not hungry, and we're constantly reachable. The modern lifestyle creates a kind of permanent jet lag, with enormous health consequences!
• Sunlight is not only important for vitamin D production. In the winter and autumn months, it also helps produce serotonin, the mood-boosting hormone. So, it’s worth soaking in the sauna even in cold months despite the lack of UV-B radiation.
• In the past, the season dictated what was available to eat. Nowadays, we can eat strawberries in winter. We no longer pay attention to what our body needs and what nature offers in each season. This is very important because nature provides exactly what the body needs during each season.
• Yin and Yang play a role in the organs and the natural rhythm. Each organ has a Yin (rest) and a Yang (activity) phase. To be healthy, both must be in balance. (This reminds me of Feng Shui, where Yin and Yang must also be balanced).
• Since each organ is assigned to a specific time of the day, complaints at certain times can be linked to the corresponding organ.
• The activity times of organs are:
  3 to 5 a.m. – Lungs,
  5 to 7 a.m. – Large intestine,
  7 to 9 a.m. – Stomach,
  9 to 11 a.m. – Spleen,
  11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Heart (currently active for me as I write this),
  1 to 3 p.m. – Small intestine,
  3 to 5 p.m. – Bladder,
  5 to 7 p.m. – Kidneys,
  7 to 9 p.m. – Pericardium (heart sac),
  9 to 11 p.m. – Sanjiao,
  11 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Gallbladder,
  1 to 3 a.m. – Liver. (I've been waking up frequently at this time lately. According to TCM, I may have liver problems. Should I give it more time to detox? Fasting?)
• During the active periods, the corresponding organ is working at full capacity, and 12 hours later it is in its resting phase. During this phase, it regenerates.

Here’s one point I’ve noted for my own life: Eating strawberries in December doesn’t make sense. Buying seasonal and local foods not only helps the environment but also ensures you are eating in harmony with nature. Before shopping, ask: What foods are seasonal and local? Only buy those.

Unfortunately, I didn't get through the whole book because around 1 p.m., I started feeling dizzy (the transition between heart activity time and small intestine activity time). I believe it's due to the Minoxidil, as it lowers blood pressure. My vision almost went black. I drank some water and got some fresh air. It also wasn't a good idea to take the B-vitamin complex, omega-3, magnesium, zinc, selenium, iodine, and vitamin D in combination with chlorella and protein powder. On top of that, I ate even though I wasn't hungry, just so I wouldn't have to throw away the tomato and salad. By the time it was the small intestine's active time (1 to 3 p.m.), the nausea had disappeared.

While reading about the organ clock on various websites, I somehow stumbled upon the question: Why do people enjoy watching violent movies? Last year, I already decided to stop watching horror films. That has worked for the most part, with some exceptions. But I don't mind action films or crime series where people get killed or suffer in some other way through physical violence. I remember two years ago, I would watch "Criminal Minds," "The Mentalist," or "Squid Game" daily with my ex-girlfriend. Why would I want to watch such films? Doesn’t it taint my heart?

After researching, I found out that violent films are often perceived as unpleasant but are still watched frequently. The enjoyment doesn't stem from the violent scenes themselves but from how they enhance the meaning of the film or amplify the emotional content of other scenes. More and more films with violence are being produced. The formula for entertainment is: sex + violence.

For myself, I've decided today: If I go to the cinema and need to choose a film, I'll go for ones rated 12 and up. These are usually violence-free or contain significantly less violence.

Before going to sleep, I listened to Eckhart Tolle. See you tomorrow!

Today, I am grateful for:

• That the nausea passed relatively quickly.
• Becoming aware that I should avoid consuming violent films.
• Cooking a delicious carrot soup today and not drinking coffee.
• Having a phone conversation with Julia.