Best Practices for Living In Harmony with Energetic Fall

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the Metal element corresponds to the energy of energetic Fall (August 7 to October 20). To understand the energies of the season, keep in mind the metaphor of the mountain composed of minerals of all kinds. Its base is wide and firmly rooted to the Earth. At the same time it reaches upward towards the heavens with authority and might.

Keep in mind this metaphor of the mountain as you realize that Metal:

• gives us our sense of quality and value

• offers us an avenue for looking at the majesty that lies beyond ourselves

• extends to us the power to let go thereby returning us to us our essence

• represents a paternal energy.

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Our inner attributes of the Metal element give us a sense of self-worth.

Metal is meant to be the period of tranquility of our conduct.

Metal reflects back to us our core issues. Even if we don't have a particular affinity for Metal, we are all called to deal with our core issues during Metal/Fall.

Metal calls us to connect with the most refined aspect of ourselves. People with an affinity for Metal tend to to be drawn to beauty. They enjoy symmetry and find inspiration in purity. 

Metal qualities include fortitude, independence, focus, intensity, righteousness, fluency in speech, determination and power. 

Metal’s Emotions

Metal types inevitably learn the importance of becoming less opinionated, accepting change, and letting go of the past. Metal types tend to dwell on the past if they are unaware so they need to be attentive to the action of letting go.

In TCM, the emotion of grief is associated with Metal. The challenge is to express grief and then let it go otherwise it can fester into persistent negativity and abject sadness. 

There’s often an acute awareness of time passing and growing old in the Fall. Know that this is part of the energy of the season. Just let those thoughts go without dwelling on them. 

In Fall, the Metal element is at its peak and particularly responsive to treatment. At this time of year, if we are out of Metal balance either physically, mentally or spiritually, the season's energies are very much supportive of bringing us back into Metal balance.

The energies of the season can support the replenishing of depleted mineral stores in the body and/or bringing Metal back into balance mentally and spiritually. 

Metal governs human behaviors such as organization, order, communication, the mind, setting and protecting boundaries. 

For your best harmonious energetic Fall experience, explore these:

1. Engage in self-evaluation.

2. Be open to new experiences; let go of always only what is familiar.

3. Stand up for what is right.

4. Follow your heart.

5. Persevere through challenges.

6. Take action even if you’re fearful; embrace hope.

7. Consolidate and begin storing energy for the upcoming Winter months.

8. Take time to meditate.

9. Speak only when necessary; stop the small talk.

10. Exercise your will calmly and quietly.

11. Contain yourself and behave with a degree of restraint.

12. Gather your soul and spirit together; explore your core issues.

“There are three months of autumn,

they denote taking in and balance.

The qi of heaven becomes tense.

The qi of the earth becomes bright.

Go to rest early and rise early,

get up together with the chicken.

Let the mind be peaceful and tranquil,

so as to temper the punishment carried out in autumn.

Collect the spirit qi and cause the autumn qi to be balanced.

Do not direct your mind to the outside and

cause the lung qi to be clear.

This is correspondence with the qi of autumn and

it is the Way to nourish gathering.

Opposing it harms the lung…”

— from The Neijing Suwen

Feel Great In Summer. Be Its Mirror Reflection.

According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Summer runs from May 6 to July 19. TCM encourages us to live in harmony with each of the five seasons of this time honored medicine: Spring, Summer, between seasons, Fall, Winter. Living in harmony with the season means you become a reflection of the season. Become Summer’s mirror reflection. It will bring you benefits on all levels: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.

The Yellow Emporer's Classic (Neijing Suwen) is an ancient medical text that provides many of TCM’s health and healing tenets. The jewels of wisdom contained in it the ancient Chinese derived over centuries of astute observation and study.

The Yellow Emporer’s Classic gives us the following proven Summer lifestyle strategies:

"In the months of Summer there is an abundance of sunshine and rain. The Heavenly (cosmic) energy descends, and the Earthly (telluric) energy rises. When these energies merge there is an intimate connection between Heaven and Earth. As a result, plants mature and animals, flowers and fruit appear abundantly.

One may retire somewhat later at this time of year, while still arising early. One should refrain from anger and stay physically active, to keep the skin breathing and to prevent the chi from stagnating. One can indulge a bit more than in other seasons, but should not overindulge. Emotionally, it is important to be happy and easygoing and not hold grudges, so that the energy can flow freely and communicate between the external and internal. In this way, illness may be averted in the Fall. The Summer season of Fire and Heart also encompasses late Summer, which corresponds to the Earth element. Problems in the Summer will cause injury to the heart and will manifest in the Fall.

Spring is the beginning of things, when the energy should be kept open and fluid; Summer opens up further into an exchange or communication between internal and external energies…

In the Summer, if too much sweating occurs in the heat, the chi will escape, the breath will become course and rapid, and one will feel irritable. This happens when heat attacks the exterior. If Summer heat attacks and enters the interior, it will affect the mind and spirit, causing confusion, mumbling and fever. For relief, the pores must be opened to release the heat.

In Summer, the weather is generally hot, and when there is extreme heat it produces Fire, which can burn and char things, producing the bitter taste. Bitter-tasting substances can clear the Heart. the Heart governs the blood, the Fire of the Heart produces the Earth, the Heart opens to the tongue, and therefore subtle changes in the Heart can be reflected in the tongue."

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Tips for Living the Mirror Reflection of Summer:

• The days are longer in Summer; Wake up earlier in the morning to get your fill of Summer life. When Winter comes, we'll soon realize how short-lived Summer was! Enjoy the season!

• Summer yields all kinds of luscious, colorful, vitality-laden foods; Eat the cooling foods of Summer like melons, peaches, cucumber, and fresh greens, some of which are transitory and sorely missed in colder seasons. Enjoy their flavors, textures, and nutritive gifts now, while you can!

• The sun is radiant with warmth, life, and joyful exuberance; Should anger bubble inside you, stop and take a look to see if you can’t transform it to love with the warmth of your inherent true self.

• The season is full of energy and passion; Seek out new exciting experiences and give your new discoveries your all.

• Summer is active and alive with the growth and ensuing maturity of abundant flora; Be more physically active, allowing your body to blossom with full blown energy and vitality.

• Summer is cheery; During this season, connect with what makes you laugh as often as possible. Bring colors into your environment for good cheer in all sorts of creative ways.

• Summer, in its aspect of maturity, connotes wisdom. Balance heightened levels of physical activity with spiritual practices such as conscious slow breathing techniques, meditation, and introspection for the life wisdom you seek.

• Nature is on full display in Summer; Focus on being all you can be during this season and allow yourself to blossom on full display and color.

Key Attributes of Energetic Summer and the Fire Element

Energetic season begins May 6 and ends July 19 according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Fire is the element that associates with energetic Summer—the time of sun, heat, growth, expansion, warmth, increased light, and abundance.

Fire is the most yang of the five elements. But since all things are both yin and yang in this universe of duality, Fire may also express as yin. Taoist astrology assigns the color red to yang Fire energy and the color purple to its yin aspect.

Emotions can be either in or out of balance depending on whether the energy we are in is in or out of balance. Personality traits can be positive or negative.

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Fire personality traits and emotions may include:

• love, both interpersonal and divine

• open-heartedness

• joie de vivre, joyfulness

• happiness

• generosity of spirit

• warmth

• playfulness

• flirtatiousness

• a compulsion to call attention to themselves

• passion

• dynamism

• reason

• self-expression

• optimistic

• positive

• enthusiasm

• excitement

• vanity

• jealousy

• frustration

Symptoms of Fire imbalance can show up physically and emotionally as:

• excessive or lack of perspiration

• rashes, hives, hot skin eruptions

• sleep disturbances, insomnia

• palpitations, irregular heartbeat

• restless or explosive energy

• inappropriate laughter

• disaapointment as the logical outcome of an out-of-balance and immature approach to relationships

A Fire type tends to find success in life through his or her predisposition to be warm-hearted and generous. They find experiences of love, compassion, fun, joy, and pleasure very healing yet they may find sharing joy and laughter without the goal of a reward in mind challenging.

Like hot molten lava, Fire can be unpredictable and changeable, chaotic and challenging to contain. It’s active, combustible, energetic, animated, and powerful.

In TCM, Fire’s body organs are the heart and small intestines. Therefore a fire personality may have a disposition for heart problems, such as heart attacks or may experience minor digestive problems in the small intestines.

Fire types are lovers and protectors of the heart. They tend to be driven to find love and intimacy sometimes at the expense of other important arenas of their lives. They can also be thrown off stable emotional course when experiencing traumatic events.

Other attributes of the Fire element include these:

• Color: red

• Tastes: bitter

• Direction: South

• Voice quality: laughter

• Smell: scorched

• Symptoms of imbalance with Fire include:

• Expectation: true love

• Stress response: loss of joy

• Emotional perception: hurt

For tips and tools on holistic Summer living, be sure to check out our former blog posts on the Summer energetic season:

• Eight Keys for Getting the Most Out of Summer Life… In Harmony with the Season

• Eight Refreshing Uses of Lavender to Cool and Soothe in Summer

• The Top Cooling Foods of Summer

• Summer Lifestyle Tips: How to Feng Shui Your Summer Season, Home, Party and Even Yourself and Enjoy Summer More

• 15 Spectacular Benefits of Having Fun This Summer

…

Source:

Moss, M.D., Charles A. Power of the Five Elements: The Chinese Medicine Path to Healthy Aging and Stress Resistance. Berkeley: North Atlantic, 2010. Print.