Autumn Practices

Autumn: Letting Go, Seeking Inspiration.

Here are some Valuable practices for the Season:

Resolve old gripes with those around you so that you can move on. Let go of pain that causes you unnecessary suffering. If appropriate, write down the things you need to release, then burn the paper.

Clear out spaces where clutter collects. Do a deep clean and organize medicine cabinets, filing cabinets, storage closets, and bookshelves. Recycle or give away whatever you no longer need.

Autumn is a great time to cleanse the body. Do a short fast or eliminate toxins from you diet. Focus on simple, seasonal cooked foods.

Assess your schedule and clear out any activities that you are done with - pare down to essentials.

Pay special attention to your lungs and breathing - exercise outdoors with an emphasis on filling your lungs with pure air and energy.

Seek out things that inspire you - read an inspiring book, listen to music that moves you, view art that touches you, listen to an inspiring speaker.

Honor that people and things in your life that add value to your experience.

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

Practices for Late Summer

Take time to really savor - go for a walk in Nature. Walk slowly. Pay attention to the sounds & the smells.

Go apple picking.

Do a gratitude meditation. Spend a few minutes feeling grateful for the people in your life and the ways in which you are blessed.

Visit your farmer's market and savor the visual feast. Take home a basket of goodies and prepare a harvest meal.

Assess your stores:

Do you have what you need on a physical level? This is a good time to asses your cold weather clothing, do any mending that is needed.

Do you have what you need on a mental level? Are there any new skills you want to acquire? Any classes you are interested in taking or books you have been wanting to read?

How are your spiritual stores? Are you feeling peaceful, full & satisfied inside? How do you replenish your Spirit?

The Energy of Late Summer:

Late Summer is the Season of the Earth Element. In each of us, this Element is responsible for receiving and processing nourishment. The Stomach and Spleen are the organs of this Element. When we eat a meal, our Stomach receives and digests our food. The nutrients are then moved throughout the body and assimilated; made a part of us.

The same action happens in the mental and spiritual realms. We take in information and our mind must digest it and assimilate it in order for it to become our own.

I especially notice the functioning of this Element on the spirit level. When our Earth does not function appropriately we feel may unsatisfied, annoyed, or empty.

"Everything in my life is good, but I don't feel good - I should feel grateful, but I just feel burdened by it all, annoyed with everyone who wants my attention, like I just want to get away from it all" might be what is said.

Often times this is the result of not being able to take in and receive nourishment from ones life. People and activities that could feed & replenish us, just turn into burdens. Its like sitting down to a meal when you are still full from the last one - there's just no room to take in anything more. If we are not adequately processing, digesting, and assimilating nothing satisfies.

Acupuncture can directly treat this imbalance - supporting the natural ability to receive and process. There are other ways to help yourself when you notice that you are feeling out of balance in this way. One of the best is to just stop everything. Take a few hours off - no phone, no email, nothing coming in. Let yourself relax and feel the Earth underneath you. Go for a walk, taking in the beauty of your surroundings. Quietly tending to chores can also encourage the Earth to come into balance and process more efficiently.

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

Summer Practices

Some ideas for Summertime activities:

Celebrate! Take advantage of the natural enthusiasm of the Summer and do things that bring you Joy.

Work from the Heart. Recall your passions and express yourself from your Heart in everything that you do.

Play! Take a tip from little kids. Join a team, get on a swing, paddle a boat, laugh with friends, build a sand castle, play catch, and go hiking

Notice the unique fragrance and presentation of the flowers in bloom. Let yourself blossom and show yourself to the world. See the beauty in those around you.

Eat berries by the handful - its like storing up sweet sunshine for the Winter.

Connect with people you may not have seen in awhile. Reach out to neighbors and extend yourself a little more that you might in cooler months.

Notice when you need a quiet break from it all and take a day to be indoors and more still - a day of quiet Yin within the Yang season.

For more info go to The Center for Classical Five-Element Acupuncture in Seattle.

Spring Pear Tree

Each spring I closely watch my little pear tree. I see it grow blossoms, each one a part of the tree's plan for the year ahead. I see how much fruit it is hoping to create and mature over the growing season. Some of the blossoms are pollinated and set fruit. I look closely to see the slight swelling within the fading flower which is pear shaped even from its earliest days. I watch excitedly as the fruit begins to grow until I see tiny pears about an inch long. Then, a strange thing happens. The tree drops some of the baby pears. Does it realize that it took on too much? Wise judgment to know that if it tries to go forward with all of the plans, it will not work. So, it edits.

The remaining fruits grow to maturity - a harvest for people and birds to enjoy - and seeds contained inside to grow another generation.

I see this process inside of myself. All of the exciting, hopeful ideas that my mind generates. So much potential! Then, the moment I realize that if I pursue all of them, it will come to nothing - there will not be enough to go around. Am I sufficiently in balance to know what needs to be cut from my plan in order to allow for a successful harvest down the road?