Autumn

When I rise up

let me rise up joyful

like a bird.

When I fall

let me fall without regret

like a leaf.

                        -Wendell Berry

As autumn draws in, we become aware of changes around us: leaves change color, cooler air arrives, night draws in as the days shorten and in the inland northwest we begin to get rain. If we are sensitive to these rhythms internally, we can experience them as the warm expansive energy of summer gives way to the more inwardly directed energy of autumn.

Autumn is a peculiar time of the year with a fascinating double aspect. There is the abundance of the harvest in the field and then the disappearance of all of that, prior to the great leveling and seeming barrenness of winter. We are being called to balance. There is still work to be done gathering the harvest and buttoning things up in preparation for winter, but there is a call to reflection, as well. How will we use our bounty to make it through winter? How do we manage our resources, both inner and outer?

The imagery of Chinese characters here is beautifully evocative. Qiu, the character for autumn is made up of two characters, one indicating a stalk of grain with a full head, and the character for fire. Grain burnt or ripened by the fire of the sun is ready for harvest.

This can be a good time, as we are drawn more inward, to pause and reflect on what has been ripened in us, the harvest in our lives. What did you sow during this last passage of time and has the harvest been fruitful?

In the body, the Metal organs are the Lung and Large Intestine. They both share a rhythm of taking in and letting go. We cannot hold on without letting go or it can lead to stagnation and disease, diminishing our clarity and inner brilliance.

My wife and I experienced several deaths in the family this year, one physical and the other psycho-emotional. Though it is natural for the elders to pass on from this part of life, death has a way of drawing us to look inward at our own gardens, our own life’s work. Am I sowing and cultivating that which I truly desire to be the harvest of my life? Or, is it time to let go of that which no longer “grows corn” for me?

Some practical suggestions for establishing resonance with the energy of Autumn:

·  Honor yourself for the hard work you do to become conscious.

·  Take in the fresh air of autumn.

·  Prune foods from your diet that are not supportive; deep cleansing is more appropriate to      springtime.

·  Clean your house, your windows, your garage; bring in light and clarity.

·  Let go of things, which no longer serve you.

·  Allow time for meditation, prayer and reflection, so you feel connected to something greater than the self.

·  Exercises such as walking, tai chi, qigong and yoga move our bodies gently, as well as circulating our energy (though most of us have plenty of food and warmth, classically this was not true, so conserving our vitality is quite appropriate to the energetics of autumn).

Spring in the Mountains

“Since men and women are produced by the universe, it is the relationship with the universe which is taught.       The Way of Heaven, Claude Larre, SJ

Spring

So, what can we learn about ourselves by paying attention to the life and energy of springtime unfolding all around us? The ancient Chinese text known as the Book of Changes or Yi Jing, tells us that “true quiet means keeping still when the time has come to keep still and going forward when the time has come to go forward. In this way rest and movement are in agreement with the demands of the time…”

Since the time of dormancy and storage appropriate to winter has passed, it is time to move forward with renewed vision and growth. Spring is the Wood element or phase in Chinese philosophy and medicine and is associated with birth, the color green, the east and the rising sun. In the body it is associated with the liver and gall bladder networks, our tendons/muscular forces, the smooth flow of our energy (or not) and our capacity for planning, vision and decision-making.

Wood is an implacable force of nature and at times, tender-looking shoots will rise right up through a concrete sidewalk or asphalt pathway. But, for wood to be healthy, it also needs to be well-rooted—it’s not all about the ascent. Bamboo, for example, shoots up vigorously, but then gathers this energy and creates a node or joint to reinforce this vigor, before rising up again. This insures that it remains both strong and able to yield in the wind.

In our bodies strong, flexible tendons insure that we are able to be upright and sturdy. The smooth flow of energy through our bodies, minds and spirits allows us to feel grounded as we face of the changing winds of life. We are able to take a stand, to feel empowered in who we are.

When out of balance, we may become inflexible, indecisive or unorganized. We can be quick to anger. Sometimes, stifled vision or planning leads to frustration, impatience or even a loss of hope. The liver network point Gate of Hope, is a point that may provide a fresh perspective. Points of the gall bladder network such as, Bright and Clear and Eye Window speak to the capacity for clarity and vision, inspiration and direction in our life.

Things you can do:

·       Eat fresh, organic greens - they’re beneficial for the liver

·       Walk - exercise those muscular force

·       Find a high place from which to set your gaze into the distance and dream

·       Enjoy the birdsong and the easy unfolding of the time

·       Spring does not last forever – make wise use of your time so that which you sow, is that which you truly wish to reap

Winter in the Foothills

The three months of winter are called closing in and preserving.

- The Inner Classic chapter 2:

Winter has resonances with the Water element or phase of seasonal energy in Chinese medicine, as well as with the north, cold, the kidneys, our bones, the salty flavor and the emotion fear.

It is wise to consolidate, guard and preserve our energy during this time of year. Getting more sleep is important and can help reduce fear and anxiety associated with becoming overwhelmed. Restorative practices such as qigong, tai ji and yoga are all excellent ways of nourishing life deepin our core. Even taking a warm bath with salts can be supportive. Keep it simple.

Foods that warm and nourish at this time of the year are best, such as root vegetables, winter squash, onion, garlic, chicken and fish, as are salty foods such as miso and soy sauce. It is best to avoid raw and cold foods.

I find it interesting that the Chinese ideogram for cold, han, represents people covered in straw huddling under a roof.