Entering Winter

Autumn is changing to Winter in Seattle. Most of the leaves have fallen and are waiting in piles if they have not been taken away. All that energy from the sun, rain and soil went into the production of so many leaves. Oak leaves in particular are so sturdy; thick, hard to even tear apart. As they sit in a compost pile, laced with horse manure, they break down slowly, becoming rich soil thanks to the worms and microbes. As the pile gets one last turn before it is tucked in for a winter slumber, I think about the yucky stuff in each of us that melts slowly into enriching insights if we are willing to give it some air and proper attention. Like jealous feelings that lead us to realize that in the light of consciousness all positions are equal, all is one. Or the intense grief and heartbreak felt when we are rejected. It shows us the depth and capacity for love that exists in our hearts.

As we move into Winter, are there any areas of difficulty that you want to unearth and explore, and then allow to soften and melt during the dark months, liberating and enriching you for the Spring?

Autumn Practices

In Autumn we Let Go.
Move downward.
Seek Inspiration.

Here are some great practices to make use of the energy of the season:

Clean out the old:

• Go through your home and work place. Clear out places where clutter collects. Clean out closets, filing cabinets & medicine cabinets. Comb through your bookshelves for items that you no longer need. Sell, give away or recycle as much as possible.
• Assess your schedule - clear out any activities that you are done with - pare down to essentials.
• If there is any unfinished business in your relationships, clean it up
• Let go of pain that causes you unnecessary suffering. If appropriate, write down the things you need to release, then burn the paper.
• Autumn is a great time to cleanse the body. Eliminate toxins from your diet and eat simple, whole foods.

Receive the pure energy of the season:

• Go for a walk and breathe deeply - experience the clear, crisp air and feel how much energy it gives you.
• Honor the friends, relatives, pets, colleagues who add to your life.
• Seek out things that inspire you - read an inspiring book, listen to music that moves you, view art that touches you.
• Is there anything that you want to add to your life to enhance your health, energy or soul? Meditation, regular breathing exercise, a gratitude journal are some examples.

Engaging with this season also prepares us for the deep stillness of Winter, when it is appropriate to be more quiet and restful. May you have a rich and beautiful Autumn!

For more information about Five-Element Acupuncture, see the Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.

Practices for Late Summer

Late Summer is almost gone...

While its still here:

Go apple picking

Do a gratitude meditation - focus on all that you are grateful for or spend a few minutes at the end of each day feeling gratitude for specific people, events or moments.

Take a long slow walk outside, really taking in and savoring all that you smell, see, hear.

Bake a pie or crisp - share it with loved ones.

Slow down and let the magic of life and Nature feed you.

Let pear juice run down your wrist as you take a sweet bite.

Have an acupuncture treatment to facilitate balance and being in harmony with Late Summer.

For more information see The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.

Late Summer

Aaahhh! Late Summer! A sweet time! The harvest is flowing in - plums, pears, & apples are literally falling from the trees. Tomatoes are popping off the vines. Blackberries are sweet and abundant, slipped warm from a branch into our mouths. The earth is feeding us.

Chinese philosophy recognizes five seasons - Autumn, Winter, Spring, Summer, and Late Summer. It is Late Summer in Seattle right now. The heat of Summer is gone - the earth is cooling and Nature is pouring forth a great harvest.

The energy of Late Summer exists in each of us. When it is in balance we truly receive. We feel nourished & satisfied with our lives and the abundance that we have. There is a sense of gratitude for our health, family, and friends. We feel delighted with life!

For more information see The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.