Whew! Well August flew on by and maybe not quickly enough. We had 30 straight days of 100 degree weather here in Houston and not a lot of rain to cushion the weight of that heat. It's funny since the new school year has started and everyone is getting into Fall mode when really for this area, Fall doesn't start until November, when it actually gets 'cool'. We are technically in late summer mode, and boy do many of us wish it wasn't this hot.
September marks the approach of the Fall Equinox, a day when the day and night are equally twelve hours long. It is technically the last heat of the summer and brings in the first chill of fall; traditionally a time for harvest and celebration. This year it is going to fall on September 23rd, pun intended.
The way Traditional Chinese Medicine breaks down the seasons with the five elements is rather interesting when we get to the Earth element. Spring is connected to Wood, Summer to Fire, Late Summer to Earth, Autumn to Metal and Winter to Water. Late summer is the shortest season and barely recognized due to its short length, the last month of summer and the middle of the Chinese year (the lunar calendar year that starts in late January, early February). But it also is connected to transition periods of the seasons, the equinoxes and solstices.
Late summer represents the transition of the extroverted yang of the hot summer season to the more subtle, inward and cooling yin of Autumn and Winter. It is a time of contemplation, harmony, stillness and being grounded. To meditate on where you are at in the middle of the year and decide which direction you wish to take it.
I'm sure everyone has felt the pull to start wondering about the rest of year when September presents itself. Maybe renew our New Year's Resolutions, getting back on that exercise program or continue our projects we started earlier this year or wrap them up if they are finished. We may wonder about what our plans will be for the holidays and plan our trips and shopping accordingly.
The Earth element is the central element that is the foundation and harmonizes the rest of the four elements. The organs in the body tied to the Earth element are the Spleen and Stomach and not only the actual organs, but the energetic pathways they govern on the body. When we tonify the Earth element we are encouraging the body's immune system function as well as digestion and assimilation. Very important jobs to maintain health on a daily basis.
There are two aspects of constitutional qi or energy that are represented in the body. The one you are born with, your jing or essence that you can consider your DNA or gifts from your parents. The other is the food, drink and air you breathe everyday, which determines how you maintain the health and vitality you were born with.
The Earth element is tied to the daily maintenance of health, constitution and handling everyday stressors. When we have imbalances in our energy level, appetite, digestion and elimination and even women's health issues we can often find the imbalance stemming from the Earth energy within the body. And not just physical imbalances can accomplish this, the more subtle stressors like worry and emotional strain can take a toll on the body and be the root of an Earth element imbalance.
Earth element is tied to sweet taste and the color yellow. When a person is feeling weak, tired or angry, sweet foods are the best pick me up to improve one's outlook as well as physical well being. However, when one craves sweets everyday or constantly, that represents a disharmony within the Earth element. Potentially more on the emotional and spiritual aspect of having excess, chronic worry and not feeling grounded and with a strong foundation in one's life.
To be in tune with late summer season, one should consider foods that are harmonizing and grounding in nature. They would be slightly sweet, potentially rounded in shape and golden or yellow in color. Examples are millet, corn, carrots, cabbage, soybeans, garbanzo beans, peas, sweet potatoes, chestnuts, yams, tofu, sweet rice, amaranth, apricots, cantaloupe, squash and potatoes. Simple preparation for food is recommended, not too much seasoning for a more mild flavor. A good time for soups, casseroles and rice dishes with several ingredients to choose from.
This has also been known as the time for purification or detox with a short, light fast honored in many cultures. But that isn't for everyone and should not be undertaken without easing into a fast of one day at a time and then adding a day to build up to a desired time. The body exudes a lot of energy digesting food and when one does a fast it halts the body's focus on digestion. This increases the opportunity for healing, taking care of things it didn't have time to focus on before and has the added benefit to give mental clarity to one's life.
Despite our eagerness for Autumn to come soon, late Summer is a great opportunity for contemplation and rejuvenation. May you find your inner peace and enjoy the moment.
