LATE SUMMER REFLECTIONS
by Doren Day, L. Ac.
Golden light sifts through the trees as I sit on my deck feeling the softness of the air. The sweet tang of a perfectly ripe peach arrests my senses. My friend, sitting across from me, b egins telling me that her mother is in decline. My heart goes out to her – I make sure she knows that I care.
The quality of Late Summer is in the air these days, and according to Chinese Medicine we can use those qualities to benefit our lives. Late Summer is a special season that comes with the harvest, slightly cooler mornings and a sense of abundance. Late Summer expresses the energy of the Earth Element. Within ourselves the Earth Element represents our ability to take things in, to receive and to be nourished by our lives.
As always, each Element is a representation of the qualities of a season, as well as an expression of particular energy systems, organs, and aspects of our body, mind and spirit. The organs of the Earth Element are the Stomach and Spleen. The Stomach is literally how we take things in from the outside world and make them into ourselves so that we can be nourished. On the most basic level, we need to take in food that can sustain us.
We also need to take in other types of things from the world in order to lead a full, healthy life. We need to take in information, stories, feelings and love, and we need to be able to process, or “digest” them. The Earth Element helps us do this.
The emotion associated with the Earth Element is Sympathy. Not only do we need to receive love and care from the world around us - we also need to give it. It is a human need to express love, and feeling sympathy or empathy is part of how we do that. It is the most natural thing for the earth to produce its bountiful harvest, and it is natural for a mother to hold and comfort her baby. The baby receives that care with total acceptance, melting into his mother’s arms.
When the Earth Element is not working well however, we begin to have problems in these areas. We may not be digesting our food well. We can eat the healthiest food in the world and if it’s not being assimilated, it will do us no good.
We may have trouble digesting information. Thoughts may churn over and over and never get anywhere. We may feel an insatiable hunger for stories or information, but they may never be assimilated or remembered.
When the Earth Element is suffering, we may feel an imbalance in the emotion of Sympathy.
We can feel that no one understands us, or gives us what we need. We might be so aware of our need for Sympathy that we can no longer feel anything for others. Or we might go overboard giving sympathy, caring and attention to others and never be able to receive or take in any caring for ourselves.
When the Earth Element is imbalanced, the most direct way to affect it is through Classical Five Element Acupuncture treatment. Five Element Acupuncture can bring direct support to the Element that is your “weakest link,” giving you a renewed feeling of inner strength, balance and improved health. We can also support the Elements within ourselves by living in harmony with the seasons. Late Summer is an excellent time to support your Earth Element.
Here are some suggestions:
Enjoy the Harvest — pick some of your favorite ripe fruits and vegetables and take the time to savor the colors and flavors.
- Consider What You Feed Your Mind — are you reading too much “junk?” Do you need to have a news “fast” once a week, where you read more peaceful words those that are reported daily? Try reading, or re-reading, some words that uplift you.
- Nature is Sweet — cut back on sugary items and enjoy more of nature’s sweetness, peaches, melons, yams, grains, apples, corn, etc.
- Connect with your Caring — think of someone you know who is suffering. Find one kind thing you can do for them.
- Be Thankful — make a list of the things you are grateful for. Allow that gratitude to fill you up for a time.
- Slow Down — chew each bite of food completely and fully experience your food. You may find you are full sooner than you expected.
