Time To Wind Down
Autumn
The vibrant, extroverted energy of Summer is waning and it is time to turn our attention inward to the Yin seasons. I love this time of year. The temperatures turn cool, the air is clear and crisp and the sky turns that incredible shade of blue that you only get with the seasonal shifts. Nature is slowing down and we should too.
Chinese medicine counts Autumn as the pivot point between Yang and Yin. A season of contraction that asks us to start spending our time looking inward, reflecting on what we want and moving on from what we have that isn't serving us.
The Lungs and Large Intestine
Every season has an organ associated with it and Autumn's organ is the Lung. Along with the Lung comes its Yang partner, the Large Intestine. Our Lungs are responsible for taking in 'the new', filling our bodies with the oxygen we need to think clearly and function optimally. The Lungs also represent our immune response and are particularly vulnerable during Autumn. Many will begin to notice that their immune systems going sideways, with allergies and respiratory diseases becoming common this time of year.
Grief is the emotion that classic Chinese texts attribute to the Lungs . We are more likely to feel grief and sadness during this time and it can come up in a myriad of ways. Be gentle with yourselves. Let the feelings come and move through your body.
On the other end (literally), the Large Intestine is responsible for letting go. In the last stage of digestion the Large Intestine takes everything that our body hasn't used and lets go of it. Emotionally, it can be a good time to look at what we are holding on to, honour why it's still there and look for ways to move through it. Constipation can be common during this season as the air and our bodies become dryer, along with an unwillingness to let go of things that aren't serving us.
Given this information, we can recognise that our immunity and digestion become extra important during this season.
Things You Can Do To Align With The Season
Adjust your sleep schedule. There will be longer nights and you should take advantage of the lower light and rest.
Daily breath work to help strengthen your lungs and boost immunity.
Exercise such as Yoga, Tai Chi or Qigong that align breath with gentle movement.
Increase your intake of foods that moisten the Lungs: apples, honey, rice, spinach, and pears are great for this.
Incorporate pungent flavours into your cooking to build immunity: onions, garlic and ginger are perfect.
Book in for an Acupuncture/Chinese herb consult. Chinese medicine can help to balance your body by assisting with any immunity and digestive issues that come up.
I'll leave you with one of my favourite recipes for this time of year. Soon the temperatures will reflect the season change and you'll be ready with this one. Be well.
Crispy Caramelized Pork Ramen Noodle Soup w/Curry Roasted Squash
Photo credit: Half Baked Harvest
