Perhaps you’ve read some of Louise Hay’s work or you are well aware that ‘the Body keeps the score’, as M.D. Bessel van der Kolk explains in his book of the same title. 

The knees for me personally have been an on and off issue that manifested in my childhood, so of course the more I delved into my spiritual work, as well as the connection between the mind and body, somatic practices and trauma healing the more I chose to look at the knees. 

In fact lately, my right knee in particular – always the one that’s worse – has been playing up again and it made me look at the knees once more. Forcing me to delve deeper into why this is coming up now again.

The body is such an amazing tool to help us to recognise what may be out of alignment in our lives.

Symptoms are signals to change something, as we say in MindBody Reconnect Therapy. 

Understanding the connection between our knees and our emotional body can help us to not only alleviate the physical pain but also address the underlying emotional and spiritual issues that may be contributing to it.

If we look at the knee on a physical level, then we have to address the fact that it is a weight-bearing joint, responsible for supporting our entire body – a very important role! So, when our knees are not functioning well, it is no wonder it can make us feel unstable and insecure and be a big issue. This can manifest from us feeling unsupported in our daily lives, whether it’s emotionally, mentally or spiritually. Perhaps in our relationships, at work, or even feeling like we don’t have good foundations or practices to support us. It can also be a reminder to focus on self-care, and to make sure we’re taking care of ourselves on all levels. 

We’ve all been there, feeling unsupported in our lives, whether it’s in our personal relationships, at work, or in our community. It can make us feel isolated, like we’re carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, and that can take a toll on our physical and emotional well-being.

Let me give you an example of how this might manifest in knee pain:

Imagine Jane, a young mother of two who’s been struggling to balance work and family life. She’s been feeling overwhelmed and unsupported by her partner, who’s been working long hours and is not available to help out with the kids or the household tasks. Jane has been carrying the weight of the household on her shoulders and has been feeling stressed and emotionally drained.

As a result of the emotional stress and physical strain, Jane starts experiencing knee pain. Her knees feel weak and unstable, making it difficult for her to walk or climb stairs. The pain is especially bad when she’s feeling stressed or unsupported. The knee pain is a reminder of the emotional and physical strain she’s been under, and how she’s been feeling unsupported in her life.

In this scenario, the knee pain is a metaphor for the emotional and physical strain Jane is going through, and the feeling of being unsupported. It serves as a reminder that she needs to take care of herself and that she needs to address the underlying emotional and spiritual issues that may be contributing to it.

On an emotional level, we know trauma, whether it’s from a specific event or from years of accumulated stress, can manifest in various ways, one of them being knee pain. Trauma can make us feel powerless, like we can’t stand up for ourselves and that can affect the way we move and the way we carry ourselves.

Knee pain can be a reminder that we need to face our trauma and process it in order to heal and move forward.

This is particularly important if the trauma is related to childhood experiences as it can be buried deep in the subconscious and manifest in physical ways.

Gabor Maté, physician, author and trauma specialist, emphasizes that childhood experiences can have a significant impact on our physical and emotional well-being as adults. He states that unresolved traumas from childhood can lead to chronic pain and other health problems, including knee pain. In my work as an MBR therapist I see this often, especially with those who experience prolonged chronic physical symptoms.  

Additionally, Louise Hay, author and motivational speaker, also emphasizes that knee pain can be related to unresolved emotional issues, such as feeling unsupported, lacking self-worth, or feeling unable to move forward in life. 

We all have experienced difficult events in our lives that can leave an emotional impact on us, and sometimes we may not even realize how much it is affecting us. When I suffered from physical symptoms including post viral fatigue for 2 years I had to heal a lot of my past traumas and reconnect with my emotional self in a new way – during this time I too suffered with knee pain.

Here is an example of how past trauma might manifest in knee pain:

Imagine Jack, a young man who’s been struggling with unresolved trauma from his childhood. He had a difficult upbringing and has never really processed the trauma he experienced. As a result, he’s been feeling emotionally blocked and disconnected from himself.

Jack starts experiencing knee pain, especially when he’s feeling emotionally triggered. His knees feel weak and unstable, making it difficult for him to walk or climb stairs. The pain is especially bad when he’s feeling emotionally blocked or disconnected from himself.

In this scenario, the knee pain is a metaphor for the emotional and spiritual instability Jack is going through, and the feeling of being blocked and disconnected from himself. It serves as a reminder that he needs to address the unresolved trauma and blocked emotions that may be contributing to it.

Knee pain can also be a reminder of the emotional instability and the lack of passion or joy in our lives.

The knee is connected to the root and sacral chakras, which are associated with grounding, stability, and a sense of belonging and with creativity, sexuality, and our emotions. When these chakras are blocked or imbalanced, it can manifest as knee pain. It’s a reminder to address any emotional issues, to let go of old patterns and to embrace change.

On a spiritual level, the knees are often seen as a symbol of humility, submission, and surrender. Kneeling is a physical posture that is often associated with prayer, devotion, and submission to a higher power. Therefore, knee problems can be seen as a reminder to let go of control and to surrender to a higher power or inner wisdom in order to heal and move through difficult times. 

If you’re experiencing knee pain, it could be a reminder to take a step back, to reassess your life, to focus on self-care, and to address any emotional and spiritual issues that may be present.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• Are you feeling unsupported in your life?
• Are you carrying around old traumas that you haven’t processed?
• Are you feeling emotionally unstable or blocked?
• Are you feeling a lack of passion and purpose in your life?
• Are there any childhood experiences that could be affecting you now?
• Have your foundations been rocked recently? 
• Are you suppressing any emotions around moving forwards? 

Your knee pain could be a sign that it’s time to address these issues and to make changes in your life. Remember that healing is a journey, and it’s important to be kind to yourself during this process. 

Understanding the Connection between the Knees, the Elements and the Chakras

In traditional Chinese medicine and astrology, the elements are believed to play a role in our physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. It is said that each element corresponds to a specific season, direction, organ system, and emotional state.

The elements  in astrology are associated with the four zodiac signs: Fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Earth (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn), Air (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and Water (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces). Each of these elements is associated with different strengths and weaknesses, and it is believed that people born under certain zodiac signs may be more prone to certain types of physical or emotional issues.

For example, people born under the zodiac sign of Pisces, which is associated with the element of water, may be more prone to knee pain and other issues related to the element of water such as emotional instability, or lack of adaptability. Similarly, people born under the zodiac sign of Capricorn, which is associated with the element of Earth, may be more prone to knee pain or other issues related to the element of Earth such as feeling unsupported, or lack of grounding.

I actually have a Capricorn Stellium and my North Node in Pisces – I have suffered with both connections to knee pain that these signs represent. 

In Chinese medicine, knee pain is often seen as a sign of imbalances in the body’s energy pathways, known as meridians. According to this perspective, the knee is connected to the Bladder meridian, which is responsible for the flow of energy throughout the body. Imbalances in this meridian can manifest as pain, stiffness, or weakness in the knee joint.

But it’s not just about the physical discomfort, Chinese medicine also sees the body as a holistic system, and the knee pain could be a sign of an underlying emotional or spiritual issue. For example, according to Chinese medicine, the Bladder meridian is also connected to the emotion of fear. So, if someone is experiencing knee pain and also going through a difficult time in their lives and feeling a lot of fear, it could be a sign that this emotion is causing an imbalance in the Bladder meridian, which is manifesting as knee pain.

So if we go back to the idea that knee pain is associated with instability, emotional upheaval, inability to stand up for oneself or feeling unsupported, it is easy to see how fear may also arise as a consequence.

Fear of moving forwards, fear of being unsupported, fear of instability and what may come with that and fear of having to speak up or set boundaries for example. 

What can you do about it?

Now that we understand the connection between knee pain and emotional well-being, how do we prevent emotional stress manifesting into physical symptoms? The short answer is that we can’t always. But, we can address it head on as soon as the body signals us to do so. 

Long term, we can keep practicing being more self aware, more centered in ourselves, more grounded and more connected to our emotional self in particular. Regular check-ins with your inner self, or mini you, can be very helpful with this. 

For some more specific examples of stress-reducing techniques and tools for emotional support that can help to reconnect to your emotional self and reduce knee pain :

• Mindfulness meditation: This involves focusing your attention on your breath and the present moment, which can help reduce stress and improve emotional well-being. There are many guided meditations available online or through apps like Headspace or Calm that can guide you through this practice. I also have several meditations and guided channeled journeys available in the Soul Shop or in the Warriors of Ascension Sanctuary, as well as in every programme I have available. 

• Yoga: This practice combines physical postures with breath control and meditation, and has been known to reduce stress and anxiety for thousands of years. There are many different types of yoga, so it’s important to find a style that works for you and your body. 

• Deep breathing exercises: Simply taking slow, deep breaths can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which can help reduce stress and tension in the body. One simple technique is to inhale deeply through your nose for a count of four, hold for a count of four, and exhale slowly through your mouth for a count of six.

• Journaling: Writing down your thoughts and feelings can be a helpful tool for processing emotions and gaining insight into patterns and triggers. Try setting aside some time each day to write about whatever is on your mind, without judgment or censorship. I find the beginning or end of the day to be the best time for this. 

• Therapy: Working with a certified therapist can be a powerful tool for addressing unresolved trauma or blocked emotions that may be contributing to knee pain. There are many different types of therapy available, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, trauma-focused therapy, somatic therapy and MindBody Reconnect therapy, so it’s important to find a therapist who specializes in the areas you need support in. I personally use Somatic and MBR therapy as well as different healing modalities such as NLP, energy work and ancestral healing. 

Remember, everyone’s journey is unique, so it’s important to find the tools and techniques that work best for you. With patience, persistence, and the support of others, it is possible to heal from emotional trauma and reduce knee pain. 

If knee pain is coming up for you atm, perhaps this article has been useful in helping you to reflect and given you some ideas of practices you can do yourself to delve deeper and alleviate the pain. 

Did this article resonate with you? 

Please feel free to share with someone who may find this article helpful or comment below with your own experience or questions if it feels aligned to do so.

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