Hi purjo,
Energy moves from the third eye area through the upper palette of the mouth, to the tongue, to the throat. The upper palette is a thick place for energy to move through. Perhaps this may be something, for whatever reason, connected to your interest in this. Personally, I have never heard mention of a 'blocked tongue'. I would not be concerned with these details.
There are even more specfic points along this route , but I would suggest that you don't view this exercise in reference to these more detailed/specfic physical body reference points . Even the word 'route' to me suggests a more linear view of small universe.
To the best of my understanding, which certainly has limits(!), viewing small universe would be best from more of a perspective of experiencing emptiness. How one moves it more that direction, is by losing specifics like the ones you mention.
Small universe is done in a very specfic way to SFQ. It is a Taoist meditation one can find reference to, from other masters, or in other qigong systems. Getting to these specifics, moves it more away from SFQ method, in my opinion, and more towards how it is viewed by other masters. In all other versions I have encountered, it is very linear, focused on specific points, closed breathing( breathing is in through the nose, then along this linear perceived/visualized route, as opposed to being completely open, merged with the universe and breathing openly from 'all' directions. Another, major difference is breathing in both universal and spiritual energy(om). I have never encountered other methods utilizing spiritual energy in this meditation. That in itself is huge, and has nothing to do with the mechanics of routes and points.
My experience with this meditation as given, is that I move from area to area. The experience in each area, is a varying degree of emptiness, and/or a complete immersion or wonderful feeling, of a combiniation of feeling this merging, dispersion, openess, depth, at each area that is complete, as far as me being there, not necessarily seeing or experiencing specifics in reference to points or this route. Like yielding to each area or place, and it being complete. The area seems to expand and touch other areas, so the areas sort of bridge to each other, more in a three dimensional way. Perhaps due to the breathing in from all directions, and in reverse, one's feelings or experience of the area penetrating, or radiating out in all directions. No line or route within that. I do experience the move from area to area, but my focus is that, the area, not the route, and this repeating immersion, merging, and depth of feeling, relative to the area. As I go forward to each area, it is a very smooth moving or shift to the next area, and that focus on the area moving the energy there, from the previous area. Like walking across a stream with rocks sticking above the water. I move from rock to rock, and pause at each rock , become still, and merge with the sound of the water, hear the wind, feel the sun, etc., breath in the energy, expanding, merging, emptiness... Each pause(although there is movement within that) or place is wonderful. If I look at this example, and then start stepping down into the water, and follow a line from rock to rock, and stand on a specific point on the rock, it starts to become more rigid and linear, and my feet get wet! The in between part becomes too much of my experience. The best part is what I feel at each area, and moving my focus from one area to the next, and maybe feeling the energy drawn to the area, from the last area, but more so, a repeated immersion into a level of emptiness. Breathing slowly, makes each area even more expansively experienced, becoming everything I experience, again, not a sense of linear progression through accupuncture points along lines. As far as concerns of a blockage somewhere in all this, that concern serves as no help. Simply focusing on the method as given and doing it. Doing the exercise, transforms you, in regards to healing and opening up. The energy flow increases, the flow opens things up. You could view it like water again, and a river or stream. As the water level rises or the flow increases, more debri gets swept away.
Even this view is still limited, regarding the spiritual energy aspect. I see no direction or shape to that, no physical limitations, and as opposed to a directional flow and effect regarding a blockage, more a 'transformation' of everything. Transformation , say, is different to me, rather than the mechanics of locating and removing a specific blockage. Just light, or just sound, feeling, transformation. Like merging with something to change everything, as opposed to specific points, or specific blockages, as focus's. You let the energy do its thing. You yield, relax, relax, relax, merge, you open up , blockages release as you both expand , open up, and also have greater sense of a depth reached in an area, effecting deeper things.
There is nothing wrong with viewing oneself completely within this meditation, periodically, or whenever, as perhaps an inner universe, these areas as energy orbs or planets, or stars within an inner universe,,,,or candle/candle flames all burning simultaneously, as you perhaps step back and view the whole thing. The experience at each area is more the experience of the exercise for me, with each area involving a similarity of process, but perhaps having a specific quality. Say the heart area having a different feeling than the lower dan tien, or the throat area, etc. They reference different aspects of self, physical, feeling, even karmic release.
If one has specific physical blockages you are focused on, the exercise can be utilized moved closer to that specific. Infusing that part of the body, relative to the blockage, with all this wonderful energy, with the conscious intention of bringing healing energy to that physical proximity. On the other end, maybe experiencing the whole of the moving from area to area like a soothing, smooth mantra that takes you into emptiness , with no awareness of specifics, coming back from emptiness here and there, or not, re-emerging into the flow of the exercise and then returning to emptiness again..
I have babbled on here, but hopefully, addressed your post! From a postion of having some experience, I can't emphasize how wonderful Master Lin's version of this traditional exercise is.
love,
gallen
