According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), energetic Fall begins August 7 every year. But in TCM energetic Fall doesn’t immediately follow Summer as it does in most people’s minds. The season called Earth does. In fact, there are four 18-day transition periods of the Earth element throughout the year(1)—one after each of the four seasons of Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter.
“Why is it then that Earth is most specifically awarded the place between Fire and Metal? The qualities of nurturance, abundance, fullness and ripeness align it naturally to the time of harvest, that time of year when the energy is neither rising (Fire) nor falling (Metal), a period of balance and harmony. Earth finds its natural place in the seasons of nature’s maturing.” —John Kirkwood, The Way of the Five Seasons: Living with Five Elements for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Harmony
Earth Element TCM
TCM urges us to live in harmony with the seasons and their respective elements for our best health and enjoyment of life. Each season and element in TCM possess many attributes and conditions, including skin conditions and emotions. Because the five element lines are quantum energetic, able to move towards the deepest core of the mind-body system, these lines also balance emotion.
Spring: Wood. The quantum energetic Wood line clarifies oily skin, lightens spots and stimulates blood flow and vital energy for a matte finish. Transform emotions of anger and lack of confidence to feel more kind and confident.
Summer: Fire. Quantum energetic Fire line products soothe irritated sensitive skin, reduce excess redness, cool and calm skin and balance the energy of red blood circulation. Bring feelings of joylessness or over-the-top expressions of joy to a state of joy-in-balance.
Fall: Metal. The quantum energetic Metal line eliminates impurities, decongest s and brightens dull skin, plumps fine lines and balances the energy of blue blood circulation. Balance emotions of worry and agitation and know that all is well.
Winter: Water. Quantum energetic Water line skincare super-hydrate mature very dry skin, increase elasticity and balance moisture retention. The line gives you a sense of zenitude.
And there’s the additional fifth season: Earth recurring four times a year. Quantum energetic Earth skincare detoxifies impurities, balances blemishes and acne, reduces enlarged pores and encourages the energy of lymph circulation. If you’re out of balance in the Earth emotion you’ll feel overwhelmed from over-caretaking causing you to feel unstuck or unable to finish projects. Feel more free to express yourself creatively.
Earth Element TCM General Lifestyle Practices
We cannot separate ourselves from nature. Humankind lives an integral important part of it.
For this reason, living in harmony with the rest of nature all around us, and especially with the Earth element TCM can help build and strengthen a physical body with internal systems equilibrium.
Eat, exercise, sleep and wake in alignment with the energy of the season and its element.
Give, love, contemplate, and nurture yourself in alignment with the ways of the Earth element TCM.
Your physical health will benefit and so will your entire well-being including emotional. It’s how you can better ward off illness and keep your mental, emotional and spiritual aspects in balance and thriving. Earth element TCM lends itself perfectly to care and health of your body.
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The ancient Chinese intensely and over time observed the human body and how it functions.
They also observed the movements of the heavens and climatic conditions. They realized that each element in TCM embodied an entire set of unique attributes.
These attributes include color, taste, smell, sound, direction, weather condition, emotion, skin condition and organs. For example, the color for Earth element TCM is yellow, and the organs are stomach and spleen.
Earth Element TCM Insights for Harmonious Living
The Earth season offers us time to think about harvesting what we have sown in the previous season.
Earth is simultaneously two energies:
a time of decrease or slowing down (the yin energy aspect)
and abundance (the yang energy aspect).
For the Earth element TCM, you might find it helpful to incorporate the following practices into your everyday life:
Observe the fruits of your labor in many arenas of your life:
your relationships
your level of joy and happiness
the care of your heart, both literally and figuratively
the care of your digestive system
Contemplate the harvest aspect of your life. Notice areas that are bearing fruit and those that aren’t. Learn from this and give fruitful areas more focus and let go of the fruitless ones.
Focus on nurturing yourself. Let your intuition show you how.
Support your digestion not just of food but your thoughts and emotions. This enables your thoughts and emotions to reach your mind and spirit.
Wind down your pace of living. Gather in all the energies you’ve created, lived and spent throughout the previous season.
Recognize and appreciate the bounty of the earth. See how you can be bountiful and generous in your life as you give to others and yourself.
Get down to what’s truly necessary in your life. What is needless or a distraction? Now take steps accordingly. This is an important practice as you prepare to enter the next energetic season. You want to bring your best energies to it.
Observe and mirror nature at this time of year. The cycles of nature metaphor teach so much. Contemplate how seeds you plant (both physically and metaphorically) reap similar kinds of harvests. Think about the seeds you’ve sown and know that harvest comes from that planting. Then every harvest bears the seeds for the next season of your life.
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Endnotes:
For your reference, the Earth periods of the year are:
January 18 to February 4
April 18 to May 5
July 20 to August 6
October 21 to November 7
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Source:
Kirkwood, John. The Way of the Five Seasons: Living with Five Elements for Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Harmony. Singing Dragon, 2016.
Photo courtesy of Brigitte Tohm at Unsplash